Girl In The Green Scarf by Scarf Face

 

I wonder if you recognize the topic from ‘The Confessions of a Shopaholic’. Rebecca Bloomwood struck a chord deep within me –not for her overflowing wardrobe, which was a time bomb waiting to explode; nor her financial mid-life crisis, which resulted in a hide and seek relationship with her account officer. I resonated with her unique way of embracing life, which stood her out uniquely from others –the ability to live and let live; viewing the world from unimagined perspectives. This is a quality so rare, but so distinct –like a rich emerald green scarf draped on the mannequin’s neck in a shop window. The next question is pretty obvious: ‘who is this girl in the green scarf?’

You don’t know her name, or her station in life; you probably haven’t even really looked at her. What you do see is the ‘alien’ heap of fabric covering her head and her baggy clothes. At first, you think perhaps she’s having a bad hair day. The next time you see her, you think maybe she’s making a fashion statement. But then you see her a third time and decide she’s just strange. Had you paused for a minute, or less; or even had the nerve to strike up a conversation, you may have learnt that her name was Summaya. You would have learnt that under that heap on her head was the most lustrous, ebony curls with highlights from red henna dye; that the ‘baggy clothes’ was called hijab and cloaked underneath were her ripped Tiffany Amber jeans and killer Louboutins; that her figure was an eight to die for, yet tucked away from the prying eyes of the world. You would have learnt that she was just practicing her Muslim faith. But then that breeds another thought in your head doesn’t it? You think she’s oppressed.

In my experience, people have always tended to react negatively towards situations which they perceive as a deviation from the ‘norm’. The human mind is not created this way, but over time, it has been programmed to accept a system of beliefs imposed on the individual either by external influences such as culture and society, or by even by himself. Hence, everything which seems different, a threat to his established order, is automatically rejected. This is the natural reason why twins were initially killed at birth, people resisted colonialism, and the famous ‘African time’ has survived through the years. In the same vein, it doesn’t seem normal to you that any woman would want to voluntarily cover herself in this clime and times –in the era of female ‘empowerment’ and the Kardashians???

Take off the blindfold and open your eyes. That girl in the scarf isn’t much different from you and I. She has the same color of blood, the same desires and dreams, and most definitely the same capacities given the right opportunities. I mean, sure she chooses to look different and sees things a bit differently too, but there isn’t anything strange or wrong about that, if only you give your mind a chance, without the preconceived normalcy of things, or any prejudice. I’m not saying that there is a pervading disregard for or discrimination against women who choose to observe hijab, but I’m not saying there isn’t. What I am saying is that there is a need for us to begin a conscious effort in broadening our perceptions of people and life and discarding rigidity in our values and ideals. Nobody has the right to define ‘normal’, because that in itself is the greatest absurdity you could think of!

This is the proper introduction to the essence and objectives of this column. It details the adventures of life through the perceptions of a young Muslim girl. I shall discuss topics ranging from feminity, to governance, career, education and random musings of my hyperactive mind. Each discussion I hope, enlightens readers about the Islamic perspective of any given situation. Do not worry; I don’t intend to embark on evangelism of any sorts. The only message I seek to preach is that of knowledge and salvation of the imprisoned human mind – Rebecca Bloomwood’s theory of live and let live.