Book of Signs Foundation » Individual & Family Life

The Values Women Carry and Beauty

obaloch — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 04:49:55 +0000

Is an objective definition of female beauty possible?

Yes. Here’s one:

A popular working definition of ‘objective’ is the fact that when something is objective it is true for absolutely everyone. This leads many to conclude that since everyone finds different women attractive to different degrees that beauty is therefore not objective, but subjective – “in the eye of the beholder”, as they say.

This is nonsense. No woman or man could ever be the abstract definition of anything.

While it is true that there are very minor variations in what we find attractive in a woman, in general we find the same women are attractive, so the trick in a quest for an objective definition of female beauty is not to look at the differences but at the similarities in what we all find attractive.

To begin with we must look at a few of the women that we personally consider attractive and find the qualities which they share. This is the starting point – but not the ending point – of objectivity in female beauty.

Then, if you want a completely objective definition of female beauty, you must compare the traits that you personally find attractive with those that others find attractive. The objective definition then, by the popular conception of such, will be that quality or qualities which everyone agrees on.

The fact that at this level of objectivity it seems impossible to find even one such quality that absolutely everyone agrees on is not, as we are constantly told today, proof that female beauty is not objective. It is proof only that people have given up looking.

The one quality which all beautiful women share which absolutely everyone has no choice but to agree on.

That quality is: the beautiful woman’s ability to represent values.

All beautiful women, regardless of who finds them beautiful, represent values. Specifically they represent the values of those who find them beautiful. For example, if you value strength, you will find a strong woman more beautiful than a cowering child. If you value health, you will find a woman with clear skin more beautiful than one with blemishes. If, for some reason, you value death, you will find women with white skin, bloodshot eyes and black lips attractive.

Female beauty is the representation of values. This is true for absolutely everyone, regardless of their values, their culture, or their individual preferences. And it is absolutely true regardless of which specific women anyone finds attractive.

Female beauty is the representation of values in women.

That is an objective definition of female beauty. That means women can bring about the proper values by representing their beauty in with positive values. Women can show the beauty of modesty by beautifully dressing modesty. They can represent the values of being holy, by beautifully dressing holy. They can represent the values of independence, by dressing differently. The Muslim women show the values they stand for, especially to the men, because men find beautiful the value they are looking for in women. Women are carriers of culture, ethics, values and what should be and should be beautiful. When a female dressing in provocative way, then she will attract men who value that quality in women (entertainment and fun).

Vegetarianism In Islam

obaloch — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 06:36:43 +0000

“Meat is not a necessity in Shari’ah (Islamic Law), and in the old days most Muslims used to eat meat, if they were wealthy, like middle class—once a week on Friday. If they were poor—on the Eids (on days of celebration).”

“So traditionally Muslims were semi-vegetarians. The Prophet was, I mean, technically, the Prophet (SAWS) was in that category. He was not a meat-eater. Most of his meals did not have meat in them. And the proof of that is clearly in the Book of Muwatta—when Umar His disciple says, ‘Beware of meat, because it has an addiction like the addiction of wine.’ And the other narration in the Muwatta—there is a chapter called ‘Bab al-Laham,’ the chapter of laham, the chapter of meat. Both are from the disciple of the Prophet Umar. And Umar, during his rule, prohibited people from eating meat two days in a row. He only allowed them to eat [it] every other day. And the Ruler (Caliph) has that right to do that. He did not let people eat meat every day. One day he saw one man eating meat every day, and he said to him, ‘Every time you get hungry you go out and buy meat? Right? In other words, every time your lust wants meat, you go out and buy it?’ He said, ‘Yeah, dear leader, ana qaram,’ which in Arabic, ‘qaram’ means ‘I love meat’—he’s a carnivore, he loves meat. And Sayyidina Umar said, ‘It would be better for you to roll up your tummy a little bit so that other people can eat.’”

If you study the modern meat industry, you will find out that a lot of the famine in the world is a direct result of the overconsumption of meat in countries like the United States and Canada and Europe, because the amount of grain needed to produce 1 pound of meat, right, is much greater than the amount you need to produce grain itself. And beef in particular—I really recommend Rifkin’s book Beyond Beef. It’s an extraordinary book. And it’s interesting ‘Baqara’ is also a chapter of the Qur’an (‘kill the cow’), because beef-eating societies just have massive impact on the environment, on natural resources, on all these things. And traditionally the Muslims were not cow-eaters, they were sheep and lamb [-eaters] when they did eat meat.”

Lives of Animals

Sleeping Well

obaloch — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 01:20:04 +0000

In this short talk, Arianna Huffington shares a small idea that can awaken much bigger ones: the power of a good night’s sleep.

078.009 And I (your God) made your sleep for rest,
078.010 And made the night as a covering,
078.011 And made the day for seeking livelihood. (Quran)

Light and Darkness: A Sign of God

The Beauty of Being a Muslim Woman

obaloch — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:42:14 +0000

Here is a song, that expresses the emotional and spiritual reality behind the hijab. Muslim schalors have mentioned many of the benefits of wearing the head scarf…some of which are; (1) a wife becomes more attractive to her husband, (2) A lady beams with more grace, (3) men treat her as a person of authority, and (4) as she is blessed with her covering, everything she does made into a blessing.

The Beauty of the Veil

obaloch — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:29:55 +0000

The Veil is a privilege not a burden…

Christian Man Defends The Head Scarf

obaloch — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:06:39 +0000

Even this gentleman is a bit loud, but the point he makes is well worth listening to for both the Muslims and Non Muslims. The head scarf is good for America, and American society.

How to Wear a Hijab

obaloch — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:09:15 +0000

The following clips show how Muslim women wear the Hijab. We invite every lady to try the hijab out and see how it feels…

Education of Muslim Women

obaloch — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:39:45 +0000

Here is Muslim lady who talks about herself, and her expereince in learning while being a Muslim. Her comments are based on her experience as a Muslim.
She also talks about why she started to cover herself up.

Marrying A Muslim Man and Some Concerns

obaloch — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:57:30 +0000

Hi,

I am a 38 year old woman who was raised a Christian my whole life. I recently met someone that has made me very curious about the Islam religion. I started reading the English translation of the Quran and I am very thankful that you put this email address in here for questions. I have a question, or, I would like the verse above to be better explained to me.

It says: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more strength than the other and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and gaurd in the husbands absence what Allah would have them gaurd. As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill conduct, caution andwarn them against the specific faults, at first, refuse to share their beds next, beat them lightly at the very last. But if they return to obedience, seek not against them means of angering them. Truly, Allah is most High, most Great.

I have 2 concerns here. The first being who decides if the wife is being disloyal or is having ill conduct?? Secondly, is it really saying to beat their wives??

I was taught and do believe with all of my heart, as it states in our marriage ceromony, “to love, honor and obey our husband. I will always do that for fear of Allah. If you could add anything to this verse to help me better understand it, I would appreciate it very much.

The reason, as you probably have guessed. I have met a Muslim man whom I intend to marry. He is unlike any other man I have known. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you,

Answer: Hi,

I hope you are doing well. Yes, you raised some very important questions, that deserves some reasonable answers. There are two things that we have to deal with. First, is the correct understanding of this verse of the Quran and second, and equally important is, to ask your future husband what is his feelings of this verse. If his understanding is different from what I will be presenting you with, then your marriage consideration should be based on his understanding of this verse. However, you are not just thinking of marriage, you are also considering to embrace Islam, so yes, if it is important for you to get a clear understanding of this verse of the Quran.

Also, let me from the very start mention, if a man beats his wife, its not because of this verse, rather like many unfortunate men who batter thier wives,so to some Muslim men may hit and abuse thier wives…but then someone may confuse this verse with that , and think that is sanctioned by Islam. This is not true.

Literally, the verse is saying the following if a wife shows ill conduct (that is only one thing, cheating on her husband). If a man not suspects, but knows that his wife is not being loyal to him. Also, if he also does not want to make a it a law and order situation, nor does he want the issue to become public, but settle the matter in the house. Then he has to take three steps (showig the it can not be demostic voilence because the persons anger has been put to control by the steps), first to communicate with her, second show some distance to her and third to use force to stop her from leaving the house to go to some other man. At this level of interpretation we say, it is better to save the family and to stop her from leaving, and then follow it up with the following verse

“And if you fear a breach between the two, then appoint judge from his people and a judge from her people; if they both desire agreement, Allah will effect harmony between them, surely Allah is Knowing, Aware. ”

meaning now that he stopped her from leaving, even though he may not want to make the issue public, but what the Quran suggests is to bring in her family and his family to resolve the issue between them. At the literal level we say, it is better to stop her from leaving even if it requires force as an attempt to save the marriage, by using interventioin methods by the family. So, this is the literal understanding of the verse. Of course she may decide at anytime to have a divorce, this is a situation, where she is not seeking a divorce for some reason, and yet would like to be with someone else. She at anytime can go to a judge or Imam and seek a diovrce. So, the Quran is saying “men are caretakers of women”, and if she does something to hurt the marriage, the man has a right to take steps to save the marriage.

That was a literal interpretation, at a deeper level this the beating in this verse was explained by the Prophet, and used he a gesture to show, that the pupose of the verse was to tap her lightly. So, one may ask, why tap her, what will that do?

per⋅cuss
/pərˈkʌs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [per-kuhs] Show IPA
Use percuss in a Sentence
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–verb (used with object)
1. Medicine/Medical. to strike or tap for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
2. to strike (something) so as to shake or cause a shock to.
–verb (used without object)
3. Medicine/Medical. to strike the surface of a part of the body for diagnostic purposes.

If the wife is not behaving like her normal sense. The Quran suggests to percuss in the medical sense to see why she is not her normal self; therefore the verse in this sense can be applied to men and women.. Here is a link to see percuss being used in therapy.

http://www.therapeuticresources.com/67-0662text.html

Are Muslim Women Outside America Oppressed?

obaloch — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:30:08 +0000

The American public must come to understanding that there are over 7 Million Muslims in America, and it is one of the fastest growing religions in the nation. Americans are choosing Islam as their lifestyle and belief system. However in this documentary we want to highlight the situation of the Muslim women outside our homeland. We want you to decide if these are oppressed