I’m not sure what it is, the coming of 14th August, or my involvement in Swat Relief campaigns or the addition of numerous Pakistani friends, but I’m actually feeling a tad bit patriotic towards the Country. Especially compared to this post here that I had made a couple of months back.
Although I still wouln’t do the ‘I live and die for the Country…’ thing.
I’m involved in one the relief organisations involved in sending relief to Swat and other IDP’s and therefore I’ve been keeping upto date with the situation currently happening in Pakistan.
And lets just say, I’m totally disgusted and appalled to hear that some of the cities are going to refuse to give government aid and/or let the IDP’s in their cities. What is wrong with people? Especially the ministers?
The Country is in absolute turmoil, this is one of the largest internal displacement in the World and its as if Pakistanis within Pakistan don’t care. And are more concerned about ethnicity and other such political separatist crap. Ugh!
Not to mention, I’ve personally gotten news that food sent by UN was taken in by people and is being sold outside the camps when the people inside are going hungry. How can anyone be so cruel?
Pakistanis need to come out of their crap hole of ethnicity and cultural issues.
I’m so pissed right now. In fact, you know what? I’m now happy i don’t have feelings of patriotism towards the Country. I’ve always felt apologetic about that. I’m glad I was born and brought up outside so I don’t have the cultural baggage that comes with being a Pakistani or the feeling of ethnic differences that children are brought up with since their young. It’s not like the Country doesn’t concern me, but at least I give justice and right where they are due instead of looking at things with a cultural or ethnic lens.
This was an issue that I was meaning to write about in the past few days. An issue I think that needs to be dealt with.
Two years ago, when I was visiting Pakistan [Karachi], after quite an interval I was a bit surpised to realise none of the Women went to the Mosques. Not for Jumuah prayers or Eid. Then I also found out, most Masajids do not even have a space for Women.
I go the Friday Prayers regularly and it is normal for me to do so. As it is for a lot of Women who attend Jumuah prayers. So let’s just say, I was a tad bit disappointed. Although I still go to go as the Mosque my Grandfather goes to has space for Women. [Its tiny!]
After doing a bit of research, I realised there were several reasons for this.
Firstly, most of the Sub-Continent Muslim Countries are followers of the Hanafi Madhab. [For those of you who do not know what I'm talking about, google it].
The Hanafi Madhab is the madhab of Imam Abu Hanfiah [rahimullah] and in some cases highly discourages Women to go into Masajids to pray. However, in Islam there is no actual prevention for Women to go to pray in Mosques but the reward for Women to pray in their houses is better.
There is a difference here. What people have done is, they’ve taken the ‘discouraged’ part and have made it ‘haram’. I’ve heard in some places in India where Women are physically stopped and absolutely forbidden to go to the Mosques. This is not Islam. The houses of Allah are for both Men and Women.
Yes, for a Woman it is more rewarding that she prays in her house, but there is no prohibition for them to go to the Mosques.
Abdullah Bin Mas’ud reported the Prophet (pbuh) as saying: It is more excellent for a woman to pray in her house than in her courtyard, and more excellent for her to pray in her private chamber than in her house. [Sunan Abu Dawood Vol.1 Chapter 204 Hadith No.570]
In fact, in some cases the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam asked that the Women go to the Mosque [For example: Eid Prayers] and certain Ulema also, especially in our times say Women should go to the Masajids when they are not getting Islamic knowledge at home.
Let us go into the time of the Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wasallam. The Women were very much active in all parts of the religion. Ayesha radi Allahu anh is ranked as one of the greatest scholars of ahadith. They were teachers, Mothers, Nurses. They were seekers of knowledge. A Woman once argued with Umar Ibn Al Khattab radi Allahu anh and won. Umar – who was one of the greatest and strongest Man of that time, one of the four righteous Caliphs and a close companion of the Prophet SAWs. And yet, a Woman won an arguement with him on a religious issue.
There are clear narrations that Women too would sometimes go to pray in congregation in the Mosques. When Umar Ibn Al Khattab [Radi Allahu Anh] was martyred, his wife was praying in congregation behind him. There is no case or incident that has been narrated that the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam actually stopped Women from coming into the Masajids.
In fact, he did quite the opposite:
The Prophet (pbuh) said, ‘Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from going to the mosque of Allah.’ [Sahih Muslim Vol.1 Chapter 177 Hadith No.886]
“If the wife of any one of you asks permission (to go to the mosque) do not forbid her.” (Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book of Salaah, Chapter 80, Hadith No. 832)
I’m not advocating that Women go for every Salaah to the Masjid, what I’m advocating though is that Women should not be prevented from the Mosques and should be active members in their community.
I feel the need for this is now more than before. And the reasons why I think so is because:
I don’t have anything against the Hanafi Madhab per se [Incase I start getting hate comments 
] but I am against how somethings are being [mis] interpreted and how blind following should not be how we shoud be following our religion.
We need to go back to the authentic sources of the Qurán and Sunnah and give each other our rights.
So I have a flight for Karachi on the 8th of December for the evening. I thought I’d be excited [I'm going after a few years], but surprisingly my excitement has sort of died down. I think it was the whole process of, ‘Oh we’re going! … No, we’re not! Ok-ay, we’re going again! But… no seats! Wait, seats might get done… might not… might get done… might not… might get done… Names in the waiting list… Are we going?.. Final verdict by the Parents: We’re not going! It’s not safe enough – Enough is enough… Cousin Calls – seats are done!’
We had four different people trying in two different parts of the World for our seats. I just realised how much Karachiites must love their city, the flights are all freaking packed!
Our house is a mess, or more appropriately according to my Mom, ‘A Jungle or a bhangar khaana’. There are suitcases strewn here and there, the dining hall has turned into our packing area and there are clothes in literally every room in the house. [Ok-ay, maybe not the kitchen or the bathrooms], but well, you get the picture. This is what happens when we do ‘rushed packing’. Not to mention, 8th of December is Eid here!!!
My Sister is leaving tomorrow because her seat got done for the 7th as there were no more seats available for the 8th.
I feel that I have *so* much to do but I don’t know where to start. 
I think I stress for no particular reason about every itsy bitsy little thing. I think more so now because I wasn’t prepared for this particular trip and was planning to spend Eid here. My hennas not done [Although that should be the least of my worries right now], and I won’t get time to get it done in Karachi, because we’re going to reach there at night but I doubt Qurtuba do midnight henna. Heh.
I probably like a stupid ditzy female worrying about Henna when I have a bucket load of work to do, but whatever.
I’m nearly done with my packing, i don’t need to keep a lot anyway considering nearly all my shalwar kameez are already in Pak, just need to keep a more skirts/t-shirts and I’m going to for a little last minute shopping for a pair of jeans the mall with my Sister in the morning and see if I can get a few gifts too for the cousins. [And you're probably thinking, what in the world is she going getting Western clothing to Pakistan?Well, ladies and gentlemen, the advantage of wearing an Abaya/Hijab is that no-one knows what you're wearing inside! 
]
And to be honest, it’s way more comfortable then handling shalwar kameez. Shalwar Kameez is the way to go if you’re in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan, however wearing an Abaya gives you the benefit of wearing whatever you want. Although, God Forbid Aunties get a peak of what you’re wearing inside! Too many times I’ve heard the ignorant comments of, ‘Oh she’s a Hijabi and she wears Western Clothing’.
Although 1) I always wear an Abaya everywhere, including here and recently in Pakistan too – and if not, i’m in SK and I have a chador perfectly draped around with an added Hijab if i’m in Pakland.
2) The only time they see me without it and Hijab is when it’s all girls – so Islamically I’m not exactly sinning, but who is going to tell that to ignorant aunties?! [Aunties who don't cover themselves but like to criticise others!]
3) You can actually get away with being modest and wearing Western clothing at the same time. In fact, when I’d initially started out with Hijab [Just the headscarf] I’d colour combinate it with all my skirts/dresses/tops. However, no matter how decent you look even with Hijab, Western clothing isn’t exactly the best option in some parts of Pakistan. I guess every place and country has what is ‘acceptable’ and what is not ‘acceptable’, regardless of religion or anything else.
Anyway, before this turns into another post about Aunties I’m going to give it an end. I can feel the excitement build up again… I just spoke to my cousins, and they’re already planning a halwa pouri nashta. It’s not halwa pouri Im exactly excited about, but the re-union!
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