A Letter to the West that Raised Me

**BlissfullyJaded** · 06-29-2005

Sorry if this was posted before..I searched but didn't see it..

Anyways, thought it was interesting..

A Letter to the West that Raised Me
by Yasmin Mogahed
(Monday June 20 2005)

Growing up, you read me the Ugly Duckling. And for years I believed that was me. I am a woman—that ugly duckling among men. For so long you taught me I was nothing more than a bad copy of the standard.

I couldn’t run as fast or lift as much. I didn’t make the same money and I cried too often. I grew up in a man’s world where I didn’t belong.

And when I couldn’t be him, I wanted only to please him. I put on your make-up and wore your short skirts. I gave my life, my body, my dignity, for the cause of being pretty. I knew that no matter what I did, I was worthy only to the degree that I could please and be beautiful for my master. And so I spent my life on the cover of Cosmo and gave my body for you to sell.

I was a slave, but you taught me I was free. I was your object, but you swore it was success. You taught me that my purpose in life was to be on display, to attract, and be beautiful for men. You had me believe that my body was created to market your cars. And you raised me to think I was an ugly duckling.

But you lied.

Islam tells me, I’m a swan. I’m different—it’s meant to be that way. And my body, my soul, was created for something more.

God says in the Quran: ‘O mankind, We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another (not that you may despise each other). Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of God is the one who is most righteous” (Quran 49:13).

So I am honored. But it is not by my relationship to men. My value as a woman is not measured by the size of my waist or the number of men who like me. My worth as a human being is measured on a higher scale: a scale of righteousness and piety. And my purpose in life—despite what the fashion magazines say—is something more sublime than just looking good for men.

And so God tells me to cover myself, to hide my beauty and to tell the world that I’m not here to please men with my body; I’m here to please God. God elevates the dignity of a woman’s body by commanding that it be respected and covered, shown only to the deserving—only to the man I marry.

So to those who wish to ‘liberate’ me, I have only one thing to say:

Thanks, but no thanks.

I’m not here to be on display. And my body is not for public consumption. I will not be reduced to an object, or a pair of legs to sell shoes. I’m a soul, a mind, a servant of God. My worth is defined by the beauty of my soul, my heart, my moral character. So, I won’t worship your beauty standards, and I don’t submit to your fashion sense. My submission is to something higher.

With my veil I put my faith on display—rather than my beauty. My value as a human is defined by my relationship with God, not by my looks. So I cover the irrelevant. And when you look at me, you don’t see a body. You view me only for what I am: a servant of my Creator.

So you see, as a Muslim woman, I’ve been liberated from a silent kind of bondage. I don’t answer to the slaves of God on earth. I answer to their king.

:applaud:

**Keltoi** · 05-07-2007

Westerners just have a different view of the female role in society and what is appropriate or inappropriate attire. The feminist movement has changed many things, most of them good and some of them bad. This generation of Western women view the religious requirements of Muslim women as sexism and male dominance. They believe they are doing what is "right" by denouncing it, the same way they denounce the traditional role of women in any walk of life.

**Amadeus85** · 05-07-2007

Originally Posted by Jazzy

So why can't the West accept that with Muslim women? Either way, they're stuck with their hypocracy. You have to wonder why they look beautiful for themselves OUTSIDE of the house. Society deems it that you cant be beautiful unless you have the latest trend or the lastest cosmetics. Most of the people who dress nice outside look like slobs inside the house.

As i know hijab is banned in universities in Turkey, and the niqab( the whole body cover) is not seen well in Morocco, Tunisia and even Egypt.So its not only about West.
Anyway, when a muslim woman comes to european country, she must be aware that she has to obey laws of this country.

**- Qatada -** · 05-07-2007

Originally Posted by Keltoi

Westerners just have a different view of the female role in society and what is appropriate or inappropriate attire. The feminist movement has changed many things, most of them good and some of them bad. This generation of Western women view the religious requirements of Muslim women as sexism and male dominance. They believe they are doing what is "right" by denouncing it, the same way they denounce the traditional role of women in any walk of life.

Life's become much more hectic for the women who chose to work, not that the 'morals' before that were good either - yet Islaam removed all this immorality over 1400yrs ago.

Think about it, the same woman who works now has to lookafter the children, and support the household - alot of the times without a father in the family either, maybe because he ended his relationship with her for another woman? And the wife never really had a right to justice. Almost as if she was being 'played on.' That's what they call guys who cheat on females, they're known as 'playaz' and they're actually praised by society and the media [who controls and portrays the morals set in society.]

So in reality - the oppression is even worse now, except its at a different scale.

Regards.

**Chiteng** · 05-07-2007

Originally Posted by Jazzy

So why can't the West accept that with Muslim women? Either way, they're stuck with their hypocracy. You have to wonder why they look beautiful for themselves OUTSIDE of the house. Society deems it that you cant be beautiful unless you have the latest trend or the lastest cosmetics. Most of the people who dress nice outside look like slobs inside the house.

Actually no. There are many women that ignore societal norms.
Most men I know, agree that female earning power is becomming more important than outward affect.

Women can just as easily wear sneakers and sit in a cubicle coding.
And no reason why not.

The original poster is fixated on one aspect of the culture.
She is correct, insofaras that aspect is concerned.

But that aspect isnt the culture.