Thanks for the feedback but this is a purely a community event so only parents will be present primarily mothers . yes the event is supervised by males but I feel by refusing to take part it only strengthens the narrative that Muslim women are oppressed to the extent their not allowed to take part in communal events . I must stress I am in full hijab as are the majority of participants. As western citizens I'm not saying change the divine law but at least use wisdom.
I just feel times were ultra conservative and this damages our image.
I often have pondered about this
ultra conservative and this damages our image
Every single time i am reminded how foolish we are. To give you some examples. I am a unmarried Muslim male. I do talk to my neighbor. On one side western neighbors (male and female). I talk most of the time to my male neighbor and i also have made it clear about certain things with whole female things etc with my female neighbor. She respected it and did not object whatsoever. How you make it clear is part of wisdom. For example why not looking at other women as a Muslim male or talking to them.
I now and then say hello to my western female neighbor if we are in direct eye contact so to say or have a very small talk and leave it like that. On the other side is a Muslim couple..to the male i talk. To his wife i do not greet unless she greets me first. I THINK because of that they even come to like me more.
However the foolish part that i am talking about is to "force" yourself to "adapt" to THEIR way of life and thinking. I have seen often it is not necessarily we are at fault with or Islamic values, rather it is THEY just do not care to listen or find out why this or why that. My western neighbors alhamdulillah do want to listen, but there are so many other that rather feel offended somehow. This isn't because you offended them or differ from their opinion, it is rather the disease in their heart.
To be honest, this whole topic was "to justify" yourself, you were not here to "question" or seek some answer, you rather want to justify ..you see what i have done..etc. etc. Dealing with wisdom by dipping your toe in lava isn't really wisdom when somebody knows it is lava and it will harm you by even approaching it. In this case when Allah already made clear to us this or that.
I try now and then to refresh the signs of the Day of Judgement and just yesterday i re-read this hadith.
======Hadith=====
“Before the Hour comes, there will be tribulation like pieces of black night, when a man will wake up as a believer but be a disbeliever by evening, or he will be a believer in the evening but will be a disbeliever by morning.
And the one who is sitting will be better than the one who is standing, and the one who is standing will be better than the one who is walking, and the one who is walking will be better than the one who is running. So break your bows, cut their strings and strike your swords against rocks, and if anyone enters upon anyone of you, let him be like the better of the two sons of Adam. (i.e. the one killed, not the killer).”
Source used:
https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah/36/36
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I have read this hadith many times over some years but just recently maybe about 1-2 months ago i understood it why Rasullah(saws) said one who stands is better than who walks and the one who walks will be better than one who runs etc. etc.
It is partaking in the fitnah. If lets say person X partakes 10% in the fitnah, while person Y takes 20%, person X is better than person Y. If person Z partakes 30% in the fitnah person Y with 20% will be better than person Z.
Some acquaintances of mine (western people brought up as Christians, but have left Christianity more or less) i tried to make some things clear just recently to them about how corrupt the world has become and the acquaintance said "yeah, but what can we do about it?". I said stop voting as this whole system is already corrupt. They laughed at me more or less..this was sort of wake up call..that these people do NOT care to listen..to question..to think. They have been herded like pack of sheep so much they do not think for themselves anymore. So whatever "community" they even introduce to "bring people together", there are more than enough other ways to do da'wah without free mixing. For example, taking a walk in to the park or when in the park having a chat with a female from your side or for me to a male as i often do have small talk with people outside. The question rather is if you are not that type, how come you do not have small talk with other females of other faiths when you do even your groceries. Why "wait" until "community-gatherings" are introduced as you MUST play according to THEIR rulings, while having a small talk with your western female neighbor or just other neighbors from the neighborhood at the store..and thus according to ISLAMIC rulings of not free mixing.
So if you talk about "wisdom"..what is more wisdom? Going according to THEIR rules of free mixing OR creating your OWN game by YOUR rules? Think about it.