Sara Bokker is a former American actress, model, fitness instructor, and (and now) an activist. She is an American woman, who had lived in Florida and on the South Beach of Miami. She abandoned her bikini, a symbol of her liberty as she used to perceive it, for niqab (face veil).
I am an American woman who was born in the midst of America's "Heartland." I grew up, just like any other girl, being fixated with the glamour of life in "the big city." Eventually, I moved to Florida and on to South Beach of Miami, a hotspot for those seeking the "glamorous life." Naturally, I did what most average Western girls do. I focused on my appearance and appeal, basing my self-worth on how much attention I got from others. I worked out religiously and became a personal trainer, acquired an upscale waterfront residence, became a regular "exhibiting" beach-goer and was able to attain a "living-in-style" kind of life.
Years went by, only to realize that my scale of self-fulfillment and
happiness slid down the more I progressed in my "feminine appeal." I was
a slave to fashion. I was a hostage to my looks.
As the gap continued to progressively widen between my self-fulfillment
and lifestyle, I sought refuge in escapes from alcohol and parties to
meditation, activism, and alternative religions, only to have the little
gap widen to what seemed like a valley. I eventually realized it all
was merely a pain killer rather than an effective remedy.
By now it was September 11, 2001. As I witnessed the ensuing barrage on
Islam, Islamic values and culture, and the infamous declaration of the
"new crusade," I started to notice something called Islam. Up until that
point, all I had associated with Islam was women covered in "tents,"
wife beaters, harems, and a world of terrorism.
As a feminist libertarian, and an activist who was pursuing a better
world for all, my path crossed with that of another activist who was
already at the lead of indiscriminately furthering causes of reform and
justice for all. I joined in the ongoing campaigns of my new mentor
which included, at the time, election reform and civil rights, among
others. Now my new activism was fundamentally different. Instead of
"selectively" advocating justice only to some, I learned that ideals
such as justice, freedom, and respect are meant to be and are
essentially universal, and that own good and common good are not in
conflict. For the first time, I knew what "all people are created equal"
really means. But most importantly, I learned that it only takes faith
to see the world as one and to see the unity in creation.
One day I came across a book that is negatively stereotyped in the
West--The Holy Qur'an. I was first attracted by the style and approach
of the Qur'an, and then intrigued by its outlook on existence, life,
creation, and the relationship between Creator and creation. I found the
Qur'an to be a very insightful address to heart and soul without the
need for an interpreter or pastor.
Eventually I hit a moment of truth: my new-found self-fulfilling
activism was nothing more than merely embracing a faith called Islam
where I could live in peace as a "functional" Muslim.
I bought a beautiful long gown and head cover resembling the Muslim
woman's dress code and I walked down the same streets and neighborhoods
where only days earlier I had walked in my shorts, bikini, or "elegant"
western business attire. Although the people, the faces, and the shops
were all the same, one thing was remarkably distinct--I was not--nor was
the peace at being a woman I experienced for the very first time. I
felt as if the chains had been broken and I was finally free. I was
delighted with the new looks of wonder on people's faces in place of the
looks of a hunter watching his prey I had once sought. Suddenly a
weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I no longer spent all my time
consumed with shopping, makeup, getting my hair done, and working out.
Finally, I was free.
Of all places, I found my Islam at the heart of what some call "the most
scandalous place on earth," which makes it all the more dear and
special.
While content with Hijab I became curious about Niqab, seeing an
increasing number of Muslim women in it. I asked my Muslim husband, whom
I married after I reverted to Islam, whether I should wear Niqab or
just settle for the Hijab I was already wearing. My husband simply
advised me that he believes Hijab is mandatory in Islam while Niqab is
not. At the time, my Hijab consisted of head scarf that covered all my
hair except for my face, and a loose long black gown called "Abaya" that
covered all my body from neck to toe.
A year-and-a-half passed, and I told my husband I wanted to wear Niqab.
My reason, this time, was that I felt it would be more pleasing to
Allah, the Creator, increasing my feeling of peace at being more modest.
He supported my decision and took me to buy an "Isdaal," a loose black
gown that covers from head to toe, and Niqab, which covers all my head
and face except for my eyes.
Soon enough, news started breaking about politicians, Vatican clergymen,
libertarians, and so-called human rights and freedom activists
condemning Hijab at times, and Niqab at others as being oppressive to
women, an obstacle to social integration, and more recently, as an
Egyptian official called it--"a sign of backwardness."
I find it to be a blatant hypocrisy when Western governments and
so-called human rights groups rush to defend woman's rights when some
governments impose a certain dress code on women, yet such "freedom
fighters" look the other way when women are being deprived of their
rights, work, and education just because they choose to exercise their
right to wear Niqab or Hijab. Today, women in Hijab or Niqab are being
increasingly barred from work and education not only under totalitarian
regimes such as in Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt, but also in Western
democracies such as France, Holland, and Britain.
Today I am still a feminist, but a Muslim feminist, who calls on Muslim
women to assume their responsibilities in providing all the support they
can for their husbands to be good Muslims. To raise their children as
upright Muslims so they may be beacons of light for all humanity once
again. To enjoin good--any good--and to forbid evil--any evil. To speak
righteousness and to speak up against all ills. To fight for our right
to wear Niqab or Hijab and to please our Creator whichever way we chose.
But just as importantly to carry our experience with Niqab or Hijab to
fellow women who may never have had the chance to understand what
wearing Niqab or Hijab means to us and why do we, so dearly, embrace it.
Most of the women I know wearing Niqab are Western reverts, some of whom
are not even married. Others wear Niqab without full support of either
family or surroundings. What we all have in common is that it is the
personal choice of each and every one of us, which none of us is willing
to surrender.
Willingly or unwillingly, women are bombarded with styles of
"dressing-in-little-to-nothing" virtually in every means of
communication everywhere in the world. As an ex non-Muslim, I insist on
women's right to equally know about Hijab, its virtues, and the peace
and happiness it brings to a woman's life as it did to mine. Yesterday,
the bikini was the symbol of my liberty, when in actuality it only
liberated me from my spirituality and true value as a respectable human
being.
I couldn't be happier to shed my bikini in South Beach and the
"glamorous" Western lifestyle to live in peace with my Creator and enjoy
living among fellow humans as a worthy person. It is why I choose to
wear Niqab, and why I will die defending my inalienable right to wear
it. Today, Niqab is the new symbol of woman's liberation.
To women who surrender to the ugly stereotype against the Islamic modesty of Hijab, I say: You don't know what you are missing.
Sara Bokker is a former actress/model/fitness instructor and
activist. Currently, Sara is Director of Communications at "The March
For Justice," a co-founder of "The Global Sisters Network," and producer
of the infamous "Shock & Awe Gallery."
“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment