A few yards of fabric and miles of conflict.

When I'm confronted with a harsh word from a stranger, I feel acknowledged.
Not hurt nor insulted - I feel at ease.
The fact that his hostility was towards me and not another sister.
A young, old or new sister with no mister to protect her from the man that dissed her.
Let her go in peace, pick on me I'd rather take her place.
The ummah is one body so let this limb take the pain.
The fact is, I owe it to the rest of the body, everyday's a struggle for my brothers and sisters and this is nothing so let me be brave for this once.

I stand tall as he shouts his remarks, I look at the face that dared to disgrace.
No sign of fear, "what can my enemies do to me?" Like Ibn Taymiyyah,
I ignore his hysteria. No doubt I can shout and show that I mind.
But with the scorching heat, I remember the day of reckoning.. So I cool off
Who's going to be laughing then?
The way that they speak to me, I know that with a bit of sabr (patience) it's worth it.

I think of a thousand words to say back,
But hey! I'd rather fight the devil within, than curse with a word of sin.
Then I feel a gentle breeze that comforts me, I smile; but not smugly.
Reassured, that my Lord is watching over me.

Confronted once again, a woman quite curious this time.
But curiosity, didn't kill this cat.
"What's that on your head?" I bet she's thinking, "does she wear that in bed!?"
So I dropped the bomb (pardon the pun), I take her hand and greet her.
I feel the fear in her palm, "stay calm, I can cause no harm, it's just a peice of fabric, my dear."

Don't look at me like I am responsible for 9/11, 7/7 or any other malarkey that rhymes.
I must assure you, submitting to my Lord is no crime.

No man can ever force me to cover or uncover
Nor can he treat me like an object,
Put me on a board, for all eyes to see, like a classroom subject
I'm liberated from the media, but not free.
Freedom that leads me off the rails; is not what I need.

I'd rather be judged on a scale of good and bad deeds,
Than a panel of men that dictate that anorexia is the newest trend.. Well, for this week
I'd rather be beautiful in a way that you needn't envision.
Than swallow chicken pills to get that bootyful figure
What's really foul is that men in agencies can "emancipate" women through nudity,
Yet, when another unshackles her dignity.. He's a misogynist to force this woman to cover her chest.

My chastity is my pride,
I submit to my Lord, and so I cover.
Your assumptions are derived from meaningless media chit chat.
If striving for a better place in heaven, and not on the catwalk means that I'm oppressed, then say what you like!
Your bigoted comments are irrelevant, I only care for The Benevolent, but one day you may respect that.

Satan's eyes

She has taken over me for a period of time,
It's because I forgot He, who created me
how is it that I neglect
yet He saves me even after this moment I die

I let her take over and put my morals aside.
I looked into his eyes, "fiery" he cried,
resembling that which.. could be our destination.

Because of her he'd bother me each time,
he told me my undivided attention would keep him alive
does he not care that I have already died?

Who is there to love?
When between us, she would intercede
she'd get into my mind
Creating moments of lust.

Ummatul Muslimeen,
what would they say?
On that day with him who taught us the way.
He (My Lord) won't even look at me, oh the disgust!

The deen I demeaned,
a representation so it seemed.

A hijab I wore but beneath it I was unclean,
I looked ugly it didn't sit right
It never did,
with my clothes so tight and my tongue so foul.

That's when it loosened,
yet again she intervened
I was with him once more.

Months later a done deed
on these white sheets,
a sin I conceived
no mother nor man to hold my hand.

until this day, I'm alone
watching the sin
as he spreads his bastardly disease

And she's not here for reassurance
neither is he,
they loved each other,
just used me to plant a seed.

The seed, confused, angry, growing into a fragile tree.
With his roots embedded in ungodliness
he curses me, "because of you no daughter of the righteous will look at me!"

Alone again, so dirty, so cheap
awaiting for those white faces
to send the letter enclosed with "a question for the dead"

If only I had looked away, that day
Or even lowered my gaze.
No son would I have left behind,
With no lesson or guide.

I'm 6 feet beneath the soil.

Too late for regrets
my heart tightens,
I can't breathe,
my soul torn away.
"If only I could repent one more day!"

waiting for the day of turmoil..

I wake up.
It's just a dream,
tears run down my cheeks.
Trembling as I wash from head to feet.

I pray and return to my bed,
Allah on my mind, dhikr in my chest
I could have died but,
"It's.. just a test".

He Has given me another chance.

I swear to remain chaste and slay the devil that wishes to lead me astray.
Next time I'm possessed with Satan's eyes.
I'll remember to lower my gaze
or I'm destined with her in eternal flames.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Prophet (saw) said: "And the eyes commit zina (adultery). Their zina is gazing."

He (saw) also once said to his companion Ali: "Ali! Do not look once after another, for the first look is for you (since it happens accidentally) while the second is against you."

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest." (An-Nur: 30-31)

This is just something that came to mind; I am not a poet, neither am I trying to be. However, I think literature is a very powerful tool and so I used it to express my stance on something that is unfortunately becoming a norm within our communities.
May Allah protect us all and as women, help us take the women of Jannah as examples, as they were promised Paradise (i.e, the companions of the Prophet (saw) and others mentioned in the Qur'an).