New Camera, why are you fuzzy? I suppose I must read the instructions... :)
However, I like this outfit, the funky pink top, black undershirt and jean skirt. Opinions? Despite the fuzziness, for which my techno-ineptness is to blame, I am certain.
Also, what is it about niqab? It's just...beautiful...seriously, I try it on, and it's like a whole 'nother person...
What does it say that I think this is my favorite picture of myself?
What does it say that I think this is my favorite picture of myself?second pic a little fuzzy, yes, because, you know, camera issues...
I've always wondered what our covering sisters actually wore underneath their abayas ...
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abaya
now I know... jeans and a very pretty top! :0D
Love the funk!!
ReplyDeleteGMTA! I was just trying on niqabs last night, this time up in my bedroom so no nosey boys could come busting out onto the front lawn. As soon as I put a niqab over my face it's like... paradise. Such anonymnity...(sp?) and privacy!
There's a big deal made about how full hijab with niqab etc makes women "invisible" but I don't think that's the case at all. I keep wondering what it is like to live in a niqab society and be able to walk around in public without everyone you know seeing and noting your every move... you can just be. You're not on a stage with friend and foe picking you out of the crowd. I hate it when people are like, "I saw you at the supermarket yesterday." I never know what to say. Like... "Ok. Now what?"
I'm not paranoid or anti-social, I'm just a private person and I wish that we women in the West had more opportunity to live much more cloistered lives. I love how in many Muslim countries women get their own section of the houses and such. When male guests come here to speak with Erlend I make tea and lay out snacks and then I close the kitchen door and disapear.
I don't like it how people can just walk around the house as they see fit. Especially their kids! Children today seem to have leave to invite themselves into every room they please! I feel as if there's hardly any privacy in a home these days. Back in the day women had a visiting parlor and people didn't walk through the house seeing every minute detail of the famiy's private life.
Of course if I wore niqab here I'd totally be recognized LOL! There'd be no privacy or anonymnity. But as I wore that niqab while sitting on my bed I was like, "Imagine how awesome this would be! Even my facial expressions would remain private." I especially desire privacy while praying. That's a very private moment between ourself and God. People just tromp around churches regardless of who's praying and you feel invaded half of the time. I'm taking my niqab to the monastery that we're visiting over the weekend and I'm going to wear it when I go into the chapel for some private prayer. Maybe I can start wearing my mantillas in such a way that I can draw a portion over my face while praying...
Very pretty outfit, Amber. I went out of town and am behind on reading your posts. Off to catch up now.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love niqab, and I love your outfit in these too.
ReplyDeleteDo you ever go out in niqab? I haven't gotten one yet because some friends told me that my wearing hijab makes people uncomfortable and I don't want to make it worse. But I wish it was less of a "weird" thing to do in our culture, and I could cover as much as I want to without getting the stares and making people afraid of me. Ah well.
I think at some point I will at least get a niqab for myself, to wear when I am not around other people who might be uncomfortable. I'm not sure if this defeats the purpose, but it also feels to me like it adds a level of seriousness and quiet that I think is good for prayer too, not just for modesty when going out in public.
I lived in Saudi for a while and once you are attuned to it a niqab (or similar) isn't so private. You have to veil your eyes for that. Women become very focused on eachother's eyes and if only your eyes are visible it is very hard to conceal much and it makes no difference at all to your every move being noted - that's cultural and much, much more intense in a 'covering' society for some of the very reasons they cover in the first place. Also in covered societies women rarely go out alone so they are still recognised in the souk or wherever by their husbands plus unless they are rich when the husband's friends come they just go and sit in the kitchen like women the world over who don't want to listen to football talk :-)
ReplyDeleteIs the camera fuzzy because you pressed the low light button? Mine is mean too :)
ReplyDeleteI love the way it brings out your eyebrows and eyes. Mashallah, you are a gorgeous niqaabi!!!! How do you feel about niqab? Do you feel that it's required? Not required? Love you!
Ahavah,
ReplyDeleteHeh. That top is wacky, but I really do love it.
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteIt is a very private feeling, isn't it? I don't use my niqab for prayer, but I'm considering buying one of the other kind, like you have, to try it.
Susanne,
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to (your) town. :)
Sanil,
ReplyDeleteI've never left my property in niqab.
Allow me to expand: I bought it as a sort of curiosity thing. I wanted to see what it was like. The kind I got is a two-piece, or 'half' niqab. It's the veil, which is just a cloth on an elastic to go around your head and the khimar. The problem with this is that the elastic is too big. It doesn't hold the veil in place on it's own. I have to put it on and sort of tie the elastic in a knot when I have it in place, or pin it behind my head (I just use a barrete (sp?) and fold the elastic over and clip it like that). Were I to wear niqab more often, and in public (say, if I was Muslim), I'd definately go for one of the full face veils, which to my understanding go over your head and (most) have three different layers.
However, despite having bought it for curiosity's sake, I have found a practical use for my niqab.
When I'm doing yard work the niqab is a part of my sun guard. I tend to blister insanely on my face when exposed to too much sunlight. So, in addition to long sleeve shirts, long pants, a khimar and a hat, I've begun using my niqab. And, sunscreen. Seriously, it's a problem for me.
margi,
ReplyDeleteYou're most likely right. Actually, I'm just assuming that you're right since you've actually been there, and I've not. :)
Everyone has their own bearing, etc. I can spot friends in crowds without ever getting a good look at them.
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI don't *think* I hit the low light button, but I don't know. :) I was pressing a lot of buttons.
Thank you!
Hmm...well, please keep in mind that anything I say on the matter would merely be my own opinion.
On a personal (and very shallow level) I love the way it looks. I love the sense of privacy and shielding that I get from it. I love the 'I can see you but you can't see me' thing. *shrug* I can't imagine wearing it in public, however, unless I was in a Muslim country.
Now, as for whether or not it's required in Islam? I'd rather not say anything on that. It's not an issue for me, so I've not really made an in depth study of the issue. I've read arguments from both camps, and both make a lot of sense. Women who feel that it is a part of their obligations should be free to wear them (barring security concerns) and women who don't, should be free not to.
You look very nice with niqab! I love your retro-print top.
ReplyDeleteI am not Muslim, but I have taken to wearing hijab and abaya. Sometimes I wear niqab and gloves, too. It can be very difficult when the weather is over 100 degrees, as it has been for the last week!
Hijab makes me feel peaceful and focused like nothing else.
I have been looking for a niqab like yours, but there are no shops here that sell even hijab, although I got a fantastic scarf at Target yesterday that is a light, breathable fabric and long enough that I can fashion in into both niqab and hijab! It's a lovely turquoise and purple. : )
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the blog, and thank you! Though I tend to think that any woman in niqab looks beautiful. :)
I have the same issue in that there are no stores in my area that sell Islamic clothes, which, while I'm not a Muslim, I find meet my needs for modesty much more efficiently than some other forms. Scarves you can find, like you said, at Target or Wal-mart, though I prefer Target. Niqab, abaya, jilbab, etc. you've (or at least I) have to go online. I'm waiting for my first abaya and jilbab as we speak, actually. :)
Hi! I commented as "Anonymous" the other day. I just opened an account, so I'd like to add you as a friend. Is that okay?
ReplyDeleteHeather (fka Anon),
ReplyDeleteWelcome again. :) Feel free to follow me, though I can't promise to always be entertaining.