By Mabrouka Al-Tajoury
Wikipedia Definition: ‘In Islamic terminology, the dunya means: the temporal world and its earthly concerns and possessions as opposed to the eternal spiritual realm or the hereafter.’[1]
"Islam teaches us that dunya is distant. One of the root meanings for dunya is to reach out for grapes that you can never grasp, because that’s the nature of dunya; you will never be able to get it; it will always evade you.’’ ‘’Don’t let the deluder, delude you.’’
How can the dunya ever be important?
~ If dunya is Satan’s world then how can any vice be considered important? In short, the answer can be simple:
‘’…perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.’’- Holy Quran [02:216]
That is:
· The dunya can be your beneficiary or opponent – it depends on your reaction. See, the dunya throws at you evil temptations and by neglecting it, you benefitely receive reward and by falling for it, only brings you darkness. Therefore, the dunya ‘which one hates’ is actually good for them in that when avoiding it, it increases them spiritually. The dunya ‘which one loves’ is actually bad for them in that it decreases them spiritually.
· An example of what we might consider as vice or negative that can actually be positively effective and important is the following:
"I asked for Strength, and Allah (swt) gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom, and Allah (swt) gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity, and Allah (swt) gave me the Brain & Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage, and Allah (swt) gave me Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love, and Allah (swt) gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors, and Allah (swt) gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted, but I received everything I needed!’’ – by Anonymous
What is the importance of the dunya in a Muslimah’s life?
~ Gossip Attack!
The dunya uses the media like talking about celebrities best and worst outfits, commenting on who’s gained or lost weight etc; in order to try to brainwash her that gossip is normal. But she blow washes the dunya away by neglecting dark talk and advising others to stop. Five points for the sister!
Islamic Gossip Facts
Prophet Muhammed sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever conceals [the faults of] a Muslim, Allah will conceal [his faults] in this life and the Hereafter.’’
Ding-Ding-Ding! The Muslimah wins by five – nil. Devastated are the supporting audience of the dunya which are the dark devils while cheering, smiling, and clapping are the sunlight angels for her. Sister, how many points have you earned? You are in a constant arena with the dunya; make those angels smile and more importantly make Allah proud of you!
Reference
Bismillah
What’s dunya?
Wikipedia Definition: ‘In Islamic terminology, the dunya means: the temporal world and its earthly concerns and possessions as opposed to the eternal spiritual realm or the hereafter.’[1]
"Islam teaches us that dunya is distant. One of the root meanings for dunya is to reach out for grapes that you can never grasp, because that’s the nature of dunya; you will never be able to get it; it will always evade you.’’ ‘’Don’t let the deluder, delude you.’’
How can the dunya ever be important?
~ If dunya is Satan’s world then how can any vice be considered important? In short, the answer can be simple:
‘’…perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.’’- Holy Quran [02:216]
That is:
· The dunya can be your beneficiary or opponent – it depends on your reaction. See, the dunya throws at you evil temptations and by neglecting it, you benefitely receive reward and by falling for it, only brings you darkness. Therefore, the dunya ‘which one hates’ is actually good for them in that when avoiding it, it increases them spiritually. The dunya ‘which one loves’ is actually bad for them in that it decreases them spiritually.
· An example of what we might consider as vice or negative that can actually be positively effective and important is the following:
"I asked for Strength, and Allah (swt) gave me Difficulties to make me strong. I asked for Wisdom, and Allah (swt) gave me Problems to solve. I asked for Prosperity, and Allah (swt) gave me the Brain & Brawn to work. I asked for Courage, and Allah (swt) gave me Danger to overcome. I asked for Love, and Allah (swt) gave me Troubled people to help. I asked for Favors, and Allah (swt) gave me Opportunities. I received nothing I wanted, but I received everything I needed!’’ – by Anonymous What is the importance of the dunya in a Muslimah’s life?
Sisters in Islam, the dunya is important in that it can be a vast gateway OPPORTUNITY for you to receive further reward by avoiding it, which therefore, betters your mental, spiritual, and psychological life and elevates your presence here in this life and the next. Now, Let’s zoom in on a boxing arena between the Muslimah and dunya where the dunya becomes important for her in elevating spiritually by avoiding its attacks. These attacks can be the following:
~ Makeup Attack!
In a boxing arena the dunya aims high trying to paint makeup on the Muslimah to distort her perception of beauty, but she overcomes it by true beauty of her noble characteristics and morality of her words. One point for the sister!
Makeup Facts
· [3] Layla Mandi, as a Canadian convert to Islam and with an extensive background as a make-up artist, Mandi was unsatisfied with the quality of the beauty products available to her as a Muslim. “There are pork derivatives and alcohol in most cosmetic products,” ‘‘Many shampoos, moisturizers and lipsticks contain pig by-products such as placenta, blood, urine fat and gelatin obtained from boiling pig skin, bones and hooves.’’ She therefore made her own halal makeup products.
· [4] Women’s makeup draws 33% more men. (than without it)
· [5] Health experts have gone as far as linking some of the compounds used to make cosmetics and toiletries with side-effects such as skin problems, premature ageing and even cancer.
· [6] Makeup can have a psychological effect. The use of make-up causes women to become dependent on an artificial mask and to have a negative image of their true selves. It promotes a shallow image of the world where beauty can be bought with money.
~ Tight Clothes Attack!
The dunya flashes materialistic clothes to wrap her in darkness but she burns it off by illuminating her nour of correct hejab. Two points for the sister!
Tight Clothes Fact
· [7] Wearing tight clothes can affect your health. For example:
- By wearing tight clothes around the waist this will cause you ‘Acid Reflux’.
- By wearing figure hugging tops creates ‘Back Acne’.
- By wearing tight pants around the pubic area traps heat becoming warm which therefore causes you ‘Yeast Infection’.
- By wearing tight jeans causing restriction in hip movement causes chronic ‘Back Pain’.
~ Body Perfection Attack!
Dunya gives primacy to the body because it views the female as an object so it tries to convert her focus onto achieving body perfection. She angelically fights back by ‘firstly’ bettering her inner self and then her body in terms of cleansing & health. Three points for the sister!
Body Facts
· [8] Psychological research has consistently shown that women feel unhappy with their body after looking at images of thin, idealized models, which are typically represented in the media.
· [9] McKinley and Hyde (1996) found evidence that body surveillance is related to lower body esteem and increased restricted eating and disordered eating among young women (Stacey L. Sinclair)
~ Gazing at Male Attack!
Using media, magazines, & other means, the dunya tries to lure the Muslimah’s eyes towards men. But like hurricane she blows down dunya by simply lowering her gaze. Four points for the sister!
Gazing at Men Facts
· [10] Research shows that the male gaze affects more than the self – it has serious deleterious effects on the female recipient of the gaze. One such study (Calogero, 2004) revealed that the male gaze results in the female experiencing significantly more feelings of shame and embarrassment about her body. In fact, a female does not have to actually experience the male gaze; only imagining or anticipating a male gaze triggers the same negative psychological response. Further, other research indicates that body shame is correlated with eating disorders and depression.
~ Makeup Attack!
In a boxing arena the dunya aims high trying to paint makeup on the Muslimah to distort her perception of beauty, but she overcomes it by true beauty of her noble characteristics and morality of her words. One point for the sister!
Makeup Facts
· [3] Layla Mandi, as a Canadian convert to Islam and with an extensive background as a make-up artist, Mandi was unsatisfied with the quality of the beauty products available to her as a Muslim. “There are pork derivatives and alcohol in most cosmetic products,” ‘‘Many shampoos, moisturizers and lipsticks contain pig by-products such as placenta, blood, urine fat and gelatin obtained from boiling pig skin, bones and hooves.’’ She therefore made her own halal makeup products.
· [4] Women’s makeup draws 33% more men. (than without it)
· [5] Health experts have gone as far as linking some of the compounds used to make cosmetics and toiletries with side-effects such as skin problems, premature ageing and even cancer.
· [6] Makeup can have a psychological effect. The use of make-up causes women to become dependent on an artificial mask and to have a negative image of their true selves. It promotes a shallow image of the world where beauty can be bought with money.
~ Tight Clothes Attack!
The dunya flashes materialistic clothes to wrap her in darkness but she burns it off by illuminating her nour of correct hejab. Two points for the sister!
Tight Clothes Fact
· [7] Wearing tight clothes can affect your health. For example:
- By wearing tight clothes around the waist this will cause you ‘Acid Reflux’.
- By wearing figure hugging tops creates ‘Back Acne’.
- By wearing tight pants around the pubic area traps heat becoming warm which therefore causes you ‘Yeast Infection’.
- By wearing tight jeans causing restriction in hip movement causes chronic ‘Back Pain’.
~ Body Perfection Attack!
Dunya gives primacy to the body because it views the female as an object so it tries to convert her focus onto achieving body perfection. She angelically fights back by ‘firstly’ bettering her inner self and then her body in terms of cleansing & health. Three points for the sister!
Body Facts
· [8] Psychological research has consistently shown that women feel unhappy with their body after looking at images of thin, idealized models, which are typically represented in the media.
· [9] McKinley and Hyde (1996) found evidence that body surveillance is related to lower body esteem and increased restricted eating and disordered eating among young women (Stacey L. Sinclair)
~ Gazing at Male Attack!
Using media, magazines, & other means, the dunya tries to lure the Muslimah’s eyes towards men. But like hurricane she blows down dunya by simply lowering her gaze. Four points for the sister!
Gazing at Men Facts
· [10] Research shows that the male gaze affects more than the self – it has serious deleterious effects on the female recipient of the gaze. One such study (Calogero, 2004) revealed that the male gaze results in the female experiencing significantly more feelings of shame and embarrassment about her body. In fact, a female does not have to actually experience the male gaze; only imagining or anticipating a male gaze triggers the same negative psychological response. Further, other research indicates that body shame is correlated with eating disorders and depression.
~ Gossip Attack!
The dunya uses the media like talking about celebrities best and worst outfits, commenting on who’s gained or lost weight etc; in order to try to brainwash her that gossip is normal. But she blow washes the dunya away by neglecting dark talk and advising others to stop. Five points for the sister!
Islamic Gossip Facts
Prophet Muhammed sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever conceals [the faults of] a Muslim, Allah will conceal [his faults] in this life and the Hereafter.’’
Ding-Ding-Ding! The Muslimah wins by five – nil. Devastated are the supporting audience of the dunya which are the dark devils while cheering, smiling, and clapping are the sunlight angels for her. Sister, how many points have you earned? You are in a constant arena with the dunya; make those angels smile and more importantly make Allah proud of you!
Reference
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunya
[2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zEdgSEnr38
[3] http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=4586
[4] http://www.spring.org.uk/2009/02/womens-makeup-draws-33-more-men.php
[5] http://themedicalsanctuary.com.au/health/why-make-up-can-be-bad-for-you/
[6] http://www.debatewise.com/debates/2144-is-make-up-bad-for-you
[7] http://www.medimanage.com/my-worries/articles/perils-of-tight-clothes.aspx
[8] http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/04/05/how.materialistic.advertising.messages.negatively.shape.female.body.image
[9] http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb1416/is_1_28/ai_n29242967/
[10] http://sakina08.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/lower-the-gaze-the-impact-of-the-gaze-on-females/
Share your views below :)
[2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zEdgSEnr38
[3] http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=4586
[4] http://www.spring.org.uk/2009/02/womens-makeup-draws-33-more-men.php
[5] http://themedicalsanctuary.com.au/health/why-make-up-can-be-bad-for-you/
[6] http://www.debatewise.com/debates/2144-is-make-up-bad-for-you
[7] http://www.medimanage.com/my-worries/articles/perils-of-tight-clothes.aspx
[8] http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/04/05/how.materialistic.advertising.messages.negatively.shape.female.body.image
[9] http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb1416/is_1_28/ai_n29242967/
[10] http://sakina08.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/lower-the-gaze-the-impact-of-the-gaze-on-females/
Share your views below :)
.jpg)
4 comments:
This great article of yours enlightened a path for me, thank you sweetie, May Allah grant you all you deserve.
MashaAllah, what a wonderful article, sis! :) JazakAllahu Khair!
Assalamualkum sister Salma,
Jaz'zak Allah'hu Khayur for taking the time to read and I'm glad you liked it. May Allah further enlighten you and guide you towards righteous knowledge and noble implementation of what pleases Allah.
]PEACE[
Assalamualkum Potential Hejabi,
Jaz'zak Allah'hu khayur for taking the time to read. And may merciful Allah bless you for your generous kindness - ameen.
]PEACE[
Post a Comment