Fashion - the God of the youth
One of the most pressing concerns for a lot of Muslim youth today is the role fashion plays in their lives. Far from being dictated by the laws of Allah, many of us are instead slaves to fashion, an addiction that has the power to ruin lives and our changes of winning the ultimate battle to gain entry to paradise. Brother Showkot Ali discusses this idea in this month's fantastic feature...
Clothing, we all have to wear something, even though on occasions we would prefer to wear as little as possible especially when the weather is very hot, which for the UK is a rarity. Some people would prefer if we wore nothing and went back to nature, which they re-create in nudist colonies, some even go topless when they sunbath and there are beaches reserved exclusively for that purpose.
Many of us whose countries of origins are in the Indian sub-continent understand the dilemma of having to buy two different wardrobes for each country, Summer clothes for holidays abroad and winter clothes for life in the west. The other problem we face is that clothes bought in the west can be worn over there and regarded as being trendy and cool. While clothes bought from back home are considered backwards and out of fashion when worn in the west.
So this thing called fashion has now cropped up and we need to understand what it is and how it affects us, I say us because it affects me as well.
In the west unlike abroad you have to buy your clothes from a shop, whereas in Pakistan or Bangladesh you can actually have your clothes made for u, such as shirts, trousers etc after all the labour is cheap and we are all millionaires once we times our pounds or dollars by 120 etc. Also if you wear any clothes made in the west you are regarded as being trendy and in some remote villages and areas you can actually be regarded as a trend setter with your western clothes. Someone told I met when I was in Bangladesh that youth used to wear a sheet wrapped around them called the longhi, but since the many visits by Londonies (us westerners ) now they all wear tight jeans or trousers especially when they visit the town otherwise they will be regarded as village bumpkins and looked down upon.
But in the west you are very conscious about what you wear, we often hear about this thing called " In " and " Out " in relation to clothes and we are all very careful to be in and not out, coz the consequences are horrific, worse than Jade Goodey on a bad day. Newspapers and magazines have sections where these things are discussed at great length.
So in order to be in we need to carefully and diligently follow and observe what the latest top model, actress and singer is wearing, for boys its what the top footballer, actor, sportsman, or singer is wearing.
It's not just about wearing nice clothes and looking hot but also the label and brand name is also very important. So brands like Nike, Adidas, Prada, Fila, Nokia Is the in thing but they come at a price which is beyond most of the youth's budget. So what to do if you don't have rich parents? Getting a job and doing things on the side, illegal things like selling copied cds, computer games etc help to raise the funds for an expensive past time of keeping in with fashion which is worse than a drug or alcohol addiction. For some petty crime is the answer mugging younger kids, extorting money, shop lifting, selling drugs and stolen mobiles, and car stereos is the answer.
It's funny and sad that even inside the masjid shoe racks have signs telling us not to bring expensive trainers to the masjid for fear that they might be stolen and to keep valuables safe. SubhanAllah if we are not safe from theft inside the houses of Allah then where are we safe? And it does happen. I once had a pair of new shoes stolen from one masjid and I'm not insinuating that it was the people praying there who did it. Someone told me that back home there are people who take an old pair of sandals when they go to pray but when they leave they take the most expensive and latest pair with them. A friend came up with an idea to prevent shoes and sandals from being stolen, leave one pair in one rack and the other pair in another rack, thieves will not steal one shoe or sandal, it's the matching pair they seek.I actually tried this and it works.
So this fashion craze amongst the youth does lead many to crime in order to feed this expensive habit and conform to society after all who wants to be viewed by friends and peers as being the sad person who buys his clothes form jumble sales and second hand shops or even Tescos or the market.
For some who cant keep up or afford the latest gear fakes have become a very big growth area, where you can buy what your mates are wearing plus the label for a fraction of the price and even the experts cannot tell a fake from the real thing.
This is illegal but the principle if "it's not hurting anyone then what's wrong with it applies here". At school I had a mate who used to sell labels which he cut out from old clothes and sell them to people to sew onto their cheap clothes and thus giving the illusion that they were the latest gear, very sad I know, just goes to show the extremes people are willing to go to in order to please people and fit in.
Oh, we Muslims really enjoy our shopping trips back home, buying the latest dvds, cds, computer games, and of course clothes, most of which we see in the high street shops are in fact made in sweatshops of the 3rd world.
So in most cases we come back with not just the mosquito bites, weight loss due to diarrhea and married to our cousins but also, looking trendier then when we went a great advertisement for our countries of origin.
The advertising industry spends billions every year to advertise their brand names and wares on football shirts, massive billboards, films, commercials and anywhere else one chooses not to look. They are everywhere and you can't escape even if you wanted to.
All of this creates the want and desire to buy thing which we don't really need but are in fashion, everyone is wearing it, and it does look nice. There has been many a time I bought things from just window shopping which looked nice. I fooled myself into thinking I can wear it later and save money in the process.
For the rest please click
http://www.7cgen.com/index.php?showtopic=7717
[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/21/nmuslim2...
[size=10]The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.[/size]
[size=9]Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)[/size]
excellent Article brother Showkat, MashAllah..
a lot of points in that article, which i strongly agree with.
that is so true.. i don't know if it still happens, but i know bare people who've had to walk home bare footed after eid prayers.
its sad.. but it happens.
Keep the articles coming bro.
[b][i]Round and round the Ka'bah,
Like a good Sahabah,
One step, Two step,
All the way to jannah[/i][/b]
Im what you could call an 'old-school' hijabi - first started wearing it when i was 3-4 years old (i attended a muslim school) - so ive been able to see the slow change in hijab fashion over the years..
The changes i have seen, especially in recent years though, saddens me somewhat. Whilst im a big advocate for looking nice and taking pride and care of your appearance 
(i do roughly 3 different sports a week) , i see the hijab as becoming more and more a fashion accessory, rather than a piece of modest attire (which it predominantly should be) :?
Take hijab pins as an example, arent pins like [url=http://www.itsapinthing.com/proddetail.php?prod=CRY011&cat=22]THESE[/url] a little too flashy? :shock:
Am i being a little too picky and uptight?
[size=9](i guess you could wear that for an evening out, or a wedding..? :? )[/size]
ps. that shoe thing is a global phenomenon! - we went to Turkey a couple of years ago, and someone stole my brother's traners :?
May Allah shine sweet faith upon you this day and times beyond. May your heart be enriched with peace, and may your home be blessed always. Ameen.
to be honest.. I dont know the ins and outs of the Islamic laws regarding hijab.
i personally dont see a problem with women wearing nice burkas etc.. as long as it dont reveal the shape of the body, whats the prob with shiny pins?
i've got a friend who owns http://www.silkrouteclothing.com/ sorry for spamming Editors and Admins..
a lot of the clothing on there arn't your traditional stuff, as its been influenced by urban wear.
personally i see no problem with having a pocket here a button there, if the material is jeans, or the scarf pins a bit shiny.... as long as it dont let the imagination of men go wild as to whats underneath its all good.
just my personal opinion (may Allah forgive me if I've got it wrong).
[b][i]Round and round the Ka'bah,
Like a good Sahabah,
One step, Two step,
All the way to jannah[/i][/b]
Assalamu alaykum Sis/Bro Khan :--)
I dont have a problem with places like Shukr, Iman Fashions, Silkroute clothing, etc (i bought some stuff from there a while back
), but i do feel that there is a line between what should be considered suitable islamic attire and ostentatious pieces of clothing/accessories..
May Allah shine sweet faith upon you this day and times beyond. May your heart be enriched with peace, and may your home be blessed always. Ameen.
i can understand what Amal is saying they can add an element of attraction to a hijabi girls wardrobe which can otherwise be low key. I'm not into the bling bling pin you showed as an example however in the correct setting i.e a wedding as u suggested or Eid i don't see the problem with it. Outside of that well it's not my thing but someone else may like it.
We may be muslims but no one says we can't have beautiful things and beautify ourselves, Allah loves beauty, and as long as you have the means and aren't excessively wasting money it's perfectly fine. The tricky bit is remembering who we're beautifying ourselves for. Keeping up with the jones' or for ourselves and our loved ones?
u guys seen the tiger torn effect on the jilbab on the hijabshop online..now i think that's going a little bit too far. it reminds me of those fitted tops on the highstreet it's a direct imitation of it. gosh it's sooo naff. if i wore that my bruv wud say what' happened to ur jilbab were u in a fight looooool
thing with all these fashionable jilbabs i've tried and tested them in the past but i always come back to the minimalist plain style. a
p.s thanx for the link khan like the site the army style jilbab is cool, if they can make it looser looking i'd consider it. You can't buy online tho can u just gives a list of stockists...i'm not in london
The pin on the link Amal posted up is tacky no offence to anyone who wears that kind of thing.
The ones at the bottom of the this link, the blue/crystal/pink ones are pretty:
[url=http://urbanmuslim.netfirms.com/hijabpins_store/nfoscomm/catalog/product...
Some on this link at the bottom are pretty too: http://www.hijabpins.cn/windows/b2.htm
I love wearing hijab pins, I have a few, its just an acessory which gives the hijab a nice touch. I love wearing jewellery and since I can't wear short chains I take hijab pins as an alternative, something sparkly
(i'm crazy I know)
thank you for enlightening us by linking The Telegraph, 100... :roll:
[size=9]I NEVER WORE IT BECAUSE OF THE TALIBAN, MOTHER. I LIKE THE [b]MODESTY[/b] AND [b]PROTECTION[/b] IT AFFORDS ME FROM THE EYES OF MEN.[/size] [url=http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/Dust.html]Dust, X-Men[/url]
Tut tut 100man...
What made you take that story seriously? Was it the dumbed-down stereotype-confirming headline?
The only thing coming anywhere near to supporting the headline is a quote from an unnamed "friend" to say that "She [the mother] started to develop her own circle of friends and allowed the girls to express themselves in a more western way."
Unless you know more 100man. Do tell...
ßeast and *DUST*,
I could just have easily cited the [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/6379833.stm]BBC[/url] or [url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article2290050.ece]The Independent[/url].
I cited The Telegraph because I buy The Telegraph and read it in The Telegraph. Perhaps I'm not supposed to read about honour killings.
You may have noticed Showkat posted another of his bleats about the west and how westernisation results in lewd and criminal behaviour. He didn't back it up but I'm sure he has a point that people value what they steal. The solution to crime lies in abstaining from crime, not in railing against fashion and "westerners". The article I posted illustrates that point quite clearly, I would have thought. But be like Showkat and typecast as anti-Muslim any view (or newspaper) that highlights and objects to his attitudes, by all means. We need more like him.
[size=10]The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.[/size]
[size=9]Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)[/size]
The BBC, Independent and Telegraph don't back up their assertions. The BBC only has that one line which you quoted to say that the father murdered his family for being "too western". The Independent only has the first para and last para to give any credence to the headline.
For other reports on this tragedy you can also read the [url=http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/s/223/223884_father_blamed_for_killer... News[/url] and [url=http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1203877.most... Telegraph[/url].
The Asian News quotes Detective Superintendent Gradwell as saying “Because of the circumstances we will never know why he did this but there is the fact that his son Adam was terminally ill in hospital, there was a marriage breakdown and financial problems. But there can be no excuse for what happened. This is domestic violence at its most extreme.” The Independent only quotes him in passing and the Telegraph doesn't quote him at all.
The Lancashire Evening Telegraph quotes him as saying "We are never going to know exactly why he did it but there are a number of issues. Adam went into Christies Hospital that day. There were financial difficulties, which were not huge but there was quite a bit of debt. Caneze's brother Barry told us about a distancing of Mohammed and Caneze. They wanted different things. Caneze didn't want her daughters to have arranged marriages but exactly why he did this, we can't give a reason."
No quotations to back up the assertion that a clash of cultures was the reason for the murders and suicide.
We're not asking you not to read about honour killings (how this case constitutes an honour killig I don't know). We're just asking you to read such stories with a little circumspection. Look for evidence/quotations.
If you wanted to challenge what Showkat was saying then you should have done so, instead of letting an unreliable "exciting cause" story do the talking for you.
Anyway, I haven't read Showkat's opening post - just gave it a quick once over. However I'll read it properly and raise any points that bother me - just for you.
Having read Showkat's article I don't see where he is railing against "westerners" - unless you mean Western Muslims who are into fashion and a passing reference to Mr Atkins.
I would agree with you that fashion does not lead to crime. However, Showkat can, if he did a bit of research, highlight many adverse consequences of a consumerist society.
Oh and I disagree with the idea that buying clothes for Pakistan is a "dilemma".
It is true that your other links give an explanation for the stress, but that explanation on its own doesn't really explain why he killed his family. The Telegraph, Independent and BBC explain that he was angry at his family becoming too western. I don't really know why we're debating it, to me it isn't a slur on Muslims but that there are some like this guy who have a thing about honour and murder.
Possibly not his worst, but then I don't like Showkat, and I read all his posts as a never-ending condemnation of all things western. All he does is [color=black]b[/color]itch. As far as I can see everything I've said stands, and I can't see any problem with the Telegraph article, and I know you don't like The Daily Telegraph but I find that instead of the odd constructive complaint - like they might have mentioned more of the murderer's circumstances - you are wholly cynical. Occasionally fathers kill their wives or daughters because they are proud control freaks who feel their honour is at stake, and the press were saying this was one of those. Call it a stereotype if you like.
[size=10]The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.[/size]
[size=9]Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)[/size]
He just needs a little more insight. He will get it.
And people will continue beating sense into him til he loses his weak arguments.
I myself will just allow him to post as he does. Not that I agree with him. At all.
But I failed in having an ontopic discussion with him on a small topic. anything bigger, and it will be the same lost cause. oftopic,. questions answered by questions. no answers given.
But saying that, I find it extremely hard to dislike people (thinking back there is only one person I have actually disliked. another who annotyed me, but I did not dislike.). It takes effort. Effort I am not willing to expend. So I just categorise him under 'will get it one day soon' and be on my merry.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
I'll practise more self-restraint. Thank you.
[size=10]The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.[/size]
[size=9]Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)[/size]
Honour killings do happen. But that does not mean that any time anyone who can be shown to a Muslim kills his wife and/or daughter that he was doing it for honour. Nor does it mean that Johnny Foreigner killed his wife and/or daughter because he was not able to live in a civilised country.
Look at how the Lancashire Telegraph quotes Detective Superintendent Gradwell (someone who led the investigation and knows what he is talking about):
Several factors are alluded to which could explain the motive for the murders. However, it is concluded that the exact reason cannot be given. In light of this lets compare the Telegraph’s headline and opening para to that of the Asian News:
The Telegraph’s headline is specific and to the point. It leaves no room for doubt as what the motive for the killings was. Whereas DS Gradwell had left very explicit room for doubt as to what the motive was.
[list]DS Gradwell: but exactly why he did this, we can't give a reason.
Telegraph: Father killed family for being too western[/list:u]In the Telegraph’s opening para we are told about what the inquest heard. But we are not told who the inquest heard this from nor are we given a quote. We are told about a motive but this is not the Telegraph telling us directly, it is the Telegraph telling us this info second hand. Given the fact that the motive is not expressed as absolute fact, the headline should have included quotation marks instead of being the direct and absolute statement that it was. However, any doubts about the opening para are put to rest by the support given to it in the second para.
The Asian News’ headline is not out of line with what DS Gradwell said – the father was responsible for the murders. The opening para too says nothing to contradict DS Gradwell. Just as DS Gradwell outlined multiple factors, so does the Asian News. The Asian News uses the word “may” to emphasise that the reasons outlined are possibilities and that the exact reason is not known.
Where the police, in lieu of a criminal investigation, do not identify an exact motive, the Telegraph is seemingly in no doubt as to what the motive was.
Where the Asian News seems able to keep its reporting limited only to the facts relevant to the story, the Telegraph tries to tie the story into wider debates and discourses about integration.
Asian News: Father blamed for killer blaze
DS Gradwell: ... but exactly why he did this, we can't give a reason.
Telegraph: Father killed family for being too western
OK. I don't think the Telegraph got it wrong. fwiw they do link to an article on his [url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=AY1I03EWB32MZQFIQM....
[size=10]The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.[/size]
[size=9]Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)[/size]
I don't see how that makes a difference.
The linked-to story would not have appeared in Thursday's print edition.
Not that you've made it clear why the Telegraph got it right.
I don't see how they didn't. You feel since they didn't have a supporting quote from the inquest they can't be trusted, but I don't feel that, and the fact other, more liberal press used the same line suggests the headline was in order. Since we weren't at the inquest that's all it boils down to, along with *DUST*'s objection to my citing the Telegraph.
[size=10]The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.[/size]
[size=9]Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)[/size]
Where the Independent outlines several factors leading up to the murders and gives prominence to one, the Telegraph focuses only on one motive.
Where the police is unclear about an exact motive why does the Telegraph have no hang ups? [list]DS Gradwell: but exactly why he did this, we can't give a reason.
Telegraph: Father killed family for being too western[/list:u]Instead of telling us the facts of the matter, the Telegraph is framing this story into wider discourses.
The Telegraph is not only giving us selected facts but also a perspective through which to view these facts.
Pretty unrelated but:
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
That's a fair assessment, ßeast. I'm happy with either, for the purposes of making my point the Independent article will do.
[size=10]The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.[/size]
[size=9]Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)[/size]
Don't tell me I have to go through the Independent article as well...
However, it's already been done (a bit).
http://forum.mpacuk.org/showthread.php?t=24092
I thought you already did.
Maybe he did have some other motive. I'm not going to bother digging up some other story about an honour killing, it's unfortunate for me the story I used as an example is being contested. Well done for your analysis.
[size=10]The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.[/size]
[size=9]Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)[/size]
erm i do see articles like the one above as a slur on muslims. honour killings have been happening for a long time and prior to 9/11 and the subsequent media propaganda demonising all muslims and our faith articles like the above have become the norm in the media. There was no need to mention the guys faith here was there, since there was no concrete proof that he murdered his family based on religious views, even the police said so, so why are the media paintinga different picture, to sell their trashy papers?
Honour killings tend to happen amongst the asian community, the asian community does not just refer to "muslims", it usually refers to hindus and sikhs too, but rarely do you hear the headlines referring to these faith groups, perhaps it's coz the faith is insignificant in these cases, it's more about cultural and relationship breakdowns.
The telegraph is usually full of false articles about muslims it belongs in the trash with most of the papers, but the sun deserves to be at the bottom of the pile for its filth.
just because i dislike the Telegraph it doesn't automatically mean i agree with everything in the Independant. :roll: i did notice you chose not to quote the Guardian, which offers a different explanation, with no mention of 'western lifestyle': Similarly, i don't like the Telegraph, and read most of its articles as a never-ending condemnation of all things Islamic. All it does is [color=black]b[/color]itch (and present assumptions as facts). :roll:
[size=9]I NEVER WORE IT BECAUSE OF THE TALIBAN, MOTHER. I LIKE THE [b]MODESTY[/b] AND [b]PROTECTION[/b] IT AFFORDS ME FROM THE EYES OF MEN.[/size] [url=http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/Dust.html]Dust, X-Men[/url]
thats how i came back from my recent trip to pakland
not married though :roll:
btw likening being into fashion to God is too extreme
looks like an earing
i'd wear this one tho
http://www.itsapinthing.com/proddetail.php?prod=CRY009&cat=22
[b][color=indigo]There so pretty ! My sisters are in love wid hijaab pins, u can get sum really nice ones depending on where u look.[/color][/b]
i used to be really into them
i've lost most of em now
best place to get them from is islamic bookshops
and islamic fairs
and hijabshop.com
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