Muslim Women

In a not so helpful world, there are selfless people who dedicate their free time to help others in their own special way. There are those who recognise the extraordinary value of proper marriages in the construction of a pure and peaceful society. One such person is Arifa Faridi, who hails from a well-educated and respectable family in Hyderabad. She served as a senior officer in the industries department and after retirement, now spends her free time in helping desperate parents of unmarried girls and boys to find suitable matches for them. Kindness being an integral part of her disposition, she has a vast social circle. Thanks to her efforts, a number of girls from her family and friends are leading a happy married life. She does not do it for any monetary gains, but only to satisfy her desire for social work, for the pleasure of Allah. Arifa spoke to Seema Saleem about her mission. Excerpts from the interview.


How did your mission begin?

It all started when a close relative of mine was much worried to get her divorced daughter re-married. She asked me to help. I decided to help, and started looking for a suitable match for her in the matrimonial columns. I also gave an advertisement in the local newspaper. After three months of immense efforts, we could finally find a suitable match for her; now alhamdulillah she is happily married. I see the plight of most of the parents these days, I decided to do whatever I can to help such worried parents.


What do you think is the best and easiest way to find a match?

Matrimonial columns in the newspapers are proving to be very helpful these days. You can follow these columns regularly and contact on the given phone numbers, when you find someone close to your requirements. Every family has some responsible person. He/she should make efforts through these columns.


What do you think is the reason for the growing difficulties in finding an alliance for girls these days?

Not only for girls, even for boys it has become difficult. Dowry is not the major hurdle these days. I know it still exists, but more in the lower middle and lower classes. But in the upper middle and high classes, people have become over-ambitious. They want everything in a girl/boy. Their demands are rising day by day. They don’t want to compromise on anything, but what happens finally is that they get exhausted and end up marrying someone less suitable who they have rejected earlier. There are instances of mothers/sisters of the prospective grooms telling me, “the girl should be like an actress But I ask them to come down –to- earth. There was a lady who once said , every thing is OK but she should have been an inch taller… we are looking for a girl with 5.5 height. Such things are really disgusting. And there are girls whose parents have some strange demands like the boy should be in Dubai only as her elder sister stays in Dubai…. the boy should not have many siblings or responsibilities or should not sport a beard, etc.


What is your advice to parents?

While choosing a spouse for your sons and daughters, look into their level of righteousness, their education, good reputation of the family, their attitude and behaviour because these are the pillars of a successful marriage. Do not concern yourself with just good looks, high status, a luxurious lifestyle or other things that look attractive.

Nimah is the first Saudi woman poet whose works have been published in the United States.


Nimah Ismail Nawwab, who comes from a long line of Makkan scholars is a young Saudi who shot to international fame and prominence with the recent publication of her collection of poems, The Unfurling. She is the first Saudi woman poet whose works have been published in the United States. Her essays and articles on Saudi society, customs, Islam, art, crafts, cuisine and calligraphy have been published in Saudi Arabia and abroad and have been translated into Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese and other languages. She is blazing a trail in Saudi literature with her poetry and her work. The poem ‘The Streets of Makkah’ is excerpted from The Unfurling (Copyright: Nimah Ismail Nawwab).


Explaining the background of the poem, “The Streets of Makkah”-the inspiration for it, Nimah says: “ What prompted “The Streets of Makkah” is not only the special place this country holds for all Muslims, but also my own connection to the city as a youngster. I was struck by the unique beauty of the buildings, their wooden facades, height and their architecture. But the main inspiration for this poem and another piece for the new volume is the destruction of such homes as the city expands. Such homes have to be preserved and maintained.” One of her poems, “The Awakening” which is about the Intifida was taught at the College of Arts in Dammam by a professor as part of the English Criticism course. The second volume of her poems is in progress. Her new poems to date include pieces on the tsunami, the business world, women, the homeless, the youth among others.


Nimah lives with her husband and children, Aminah and Ibrahim, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Visit Nimah’s Web site at www.theunfurling.com or email her at arapoet555@yahoo.com

Zikra’s book on Islamic Dress Code for Women, is simple and straightforward.


Many books have been scripted by men on the veil, the hijab and the dress code for Muslim women, but hardly any by women. That is why Zikra Zohra’s book, Islamic Dress Code for Women, An Appraisal, is so special.


Zikra is a young scholar doing research in Islamic studies in Srinagar. She is a journalist and a social scientist as well. Most of her writings are on Islam. She is the editor of her journal Women’s Voice and is working as President, Women’s Students Welfare Society, (J&K). In this book, she explains the importance of dress in Islam for mankind in general and women in particular. This topic has been the subject of so much misunderstanding and criticism. The writer has tried her best to present the correct understanding of the Islamic Dress Code for Women.


What makes this book different is the systematic presentation about the significance of dress. Taking relevant verses from the Quran relating to modesty, the reader is taken through tips about wearing and selecting dress in Islam, Muslim woman’s sphere of adornment and beautification, the veil, three detested characters to be detoxified and the conclusive theme.


Many things which are forgotten in our day-to-day rush of life, like the prayer one can read while putting on a new dress, are also well defined in the book. Zikra’s book is essential reading for all those, especially women who want to deepen and clarify their misunderstanding of the Islamic norms of dress. It is a relief to read a book that attributes its contents to the Quran and Hadith and the tone of the writings of the author is all the more pleasing as it keeps clear of being “preachy” and has a simple down-to-earth style.


Do not miss to pick up this book from Zikra Zohra, Women’s Students Welfare Society, GPO, P.O.Box 151, Srinagar, Kashmir. Email: women-sws@indiatimes. com. Price: Rs 30/-

The streets of Makkah,
Long bordered with tall, tall homes,
White-washed homes, wooden homes,
Built on every corner, mountain top, ridge,
On the valley floor of the sacred land.
Tall, tall homes,
Centuries old homes,
Studded with brown-aged latticed windows,
Overlooking mysterious labyrinths, winding walkways,
Alleys echoing with the passage of sounds,
Voices of those long gone
Voices of families, friends all known to one another,
Welcoming strangers from other lands,
Spending sheesha*-filled nights,
In the open on the Dakkah**
Hours of tea drinking, hours of tales,
Brimming with told and untold stories,
Of past generations, present generations,
Held in collective memory,
A memory retaining the glorious past,
Undeterred by the present.


*Sheeshah: Hubble-bubble

** Dakkah: a raised bench