To My Muslim Sisters
The
western non-Muslim bigots have long history of blaming Islam for being
racist toward women. In fact, it’s their Holy Books, the Bible and Talmud –
which depicts women in the most insulting ways – from the “First Sin”
to a “girl’s birth being equal to being born nothing”. Islam on the
other hand is the only major world religion, which liberated women from
pagan culture of Judeo-Christianity and raised them equal to men in
spirituality and rewards in the life after death. Holy Qur’an has
mentioned women 172 times in praise and Holy Qur’an has dedicated two
chapters after women – Surah “Nisa” and Surah “Marriyam”.
In
2006, fascinated by Lebanon’s Islamic Resistance, Hizb’Allah’s, heroic
fight against world’s fifth deadliest army, Israeli Occupation Force
(IOF) in Southern Lebanon for 34 days – A Canadian Christian feminist
and writer, Joanna Francis, wrote the following article in her personal blog.
Between
the Israeli assault on Lebanon and the Zionist “war on terror,”
the Muslim world is now center stage in every American home. I see the
carnage, death and destruction that have befallen Lebanon, but I also
see something else: I see you. I can’t help but notice that almost every
woman I see is carrying a baby or has children around her. I see that
though they are dressed modestly, their beauty still shines through. But
it’s not just outer beauty that I notice. I also notice that I feel
something strange inside me: I feel envy. I feel terrible for the
horrible experiences and war crimes that the Lebanese people have
suffered, being targeted by our common enemy. But I can’t help but
admire your strength, your beauty, your modesty, and most of all, your
happiness. Yes, it’s strange, but it occurred to me that even under
constant bombardment, you still seemed happier than we are, because you
were still living the natural lives of women. The way women have always
lived since the beginning of time. It used to be that way in the West
until the 1960s, when the same enemy bombarded us. Only we were not
bombarded with actual munitions, but with subtle trickery and moral
corruption.
They
bombarded us Americans from Hollywood, instead of from fighter jets or
with our own American-made tanks. They would like to bomb you in this
way too, after they’ve finished bombing the infrastructure of your
countries. I do not want this to happen to you. You will feel degraded,
just like we do. You can avoid this kind of bombing if you will kindly
listen to those of us who have already suffered serious casualties from
their evil influence. Because everything you see coming out of Hollywood
is a pack of lies, a distortion of reality, smoke and mirrors. They
present casual sex as harmless recreation because they aim to destroy
the moral fabric of the societies into which they beam their poisonous
programming. I beg you not to drink their poison. There is no antidote
for it once you have consumed it. You may recover partially, but you
will never be the same. Better to avoid the poison altogether than to
try to heal from the damage it causes.
They
will try to tempt you with their titillating movies and music videos,
falsely portraying us American women as happy and satisfied, proud of
dressing like prostitutes, and content without families. Most of us are
not happy, trust me. Millions of us are on anti-depressant medication,
hate our jobs, and cry at night over the men who told us they loved us,
then greedily used us and walked away. They would like to destroy your
families and convince you to have fewer children. They do this by
presenting marriage as a form of slavery, motherhood as a curse, and
being modest and pure as old-fashioned. They want you to cheapen
yourself and lose your faith. They are like the Serpent tempting Eve
with the apple. Don’t bite.
I
see you as precious gems, pure gold, or the “pearl of great value”
spoken of in the Bible (Matthew 13: 45). All women are pearls of great
value, but some of us have been deceived into doubting the value of our
purity. Jesus said: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither
cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet,
and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7: 6). Our pearls are priceless,
but they convince us that they’re cheap. But trust me; there is no
substitute for being able to look in the mirror and seeing purity,
innocence and self-respect staring back at you. The fashions coming out
of the Western sewer are designed to make you believe that your most
valuable asset is your sexuality. But your beautiful dresses and veils
are actually sexier than any Western fashion, because they cloak you in
mystery and show self-respect and confidence. A woman’s sexuality should
be guarded from unworthy eyes, since it should be your gift to the man
who loves and respects you enough to marry you. And since your men are
still manly warriors, they deserve no less than your best. Our men don’t
even want purity anymore. They don’t recognize the pearl of great
value, opting for the flashy rhinestone instead. Only to leave her too!
Your
most valuable assets are your inner beauty, your innocence, and
everything that makes you who you are. But I notice that some Muslim
women push the limit and try to be as Western as possible, even while
wearing a veil (with some of their hair showing). Why imitate women who
already regret, or will soon regret, their lost virtue? There is no
compensation for that loss. You are flawless diamonds. Don’t let them
trick you into becoming rhinestones. Because everything you see in the
fashion magazines and on Western television is a lie. It is Satan’s
trap. It is fool’s gold.
I’ll
let you in on a little secret, just in case you’re curious: pre-marital
sex is not even that great. We gave our bodies to the men we were in
love with, believing that that was the way to make them love us and want
to marry us, just as we had seen on television growing up. But without
the security of marriage and the sure knowledge that he will always stay
with us, it’s not even enjoyable! That’s the irony. It was just a
waste. It leaves you in tears. Speaking as one woman to another, I
believe that you understand that already. Because only a woman can truly
understand what’s in another woman’s heart. We really are all alike.
Our race, religion or nationalities do not matter. A woman’s heart is
the same everywhere. We love. That’s what we do best. We nurture our
families and give comfort and strength to the men we love. But we
American women have been fooled into believing that we are happiest
having careers, our own homes in which to live alone, and freedom to
give our love away to whomever we choose. That is not freedom. And that
is not love. Only in the safe haven of marriage can a woman’s body and
heart be safe to love. Don’t settle for anything less. It’s not worth
it. You won’t even like it and you’ll like yourself even less
afterwards. Then he’ll leave you.
Sin
never pays. It always cheats you. Even though I have reclaimed my
honor, there’s still no substitute for having never been dishonored in
the first place. We Western women have been brainwashed into thinking
that you Muslim women are oppressed. But truly, we are the ones who are
oppressed; slaves to fashions that degrade us, obsessed with our weight,
begging for love from men who do not want to grow up. Deep down inside,
we know that we have been cheated. We secretly admire and envy you,
although some of us will not admit it. Please do not look down on us or
think that we like things the way they are. It’s not our fault. Most of
us did not have fathers to protect us when we were young because our
families have been destroyed. You know who is behind this plot. Don’t be
fooled, my sisters. Don’t let them get you too. Stay innocent and pure.
We Christian women need to see what life is really supposed to be like
for women. We need you to set the example for us, because we are lost.
Hold onto your purity. Remember: you can’t put the toothpaste back in
the tube. So guard your “toothpaste” carefully!
I
hope you receive this advice in the spirit in which it is intended: the
spirit of friendship, respect, and admiration. From your Christian
sister – with love…
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