When I read titles like
A letter to Islam: we are women, not things: iLIVE
Fills me not with trepidation but as a muslim woman, my back is automatically up.
I can't take away the experience this woman has had at the hands of the men in her life, but I fail to see how her generalisations make me want to empathise with her.
In one swift article she has insulted me, my intelligence and disrespected my choice- yes my choice to remain muslim.
My friend Saaleha said it perfectly. "it's tiresome we shouldn't have to apologise all the time"
I am by no standards a feminist, islamist and detest the term moderate muslim. Yes South African Muslims are possibly the only nation of muslims that are allowed to practice freely, regardless of the sect they belong to.
But I refuse to have to explain that EVERYTIME. She disrespects me by saying: No self-respecting woman can be Muslim.
I can't fight for every muslim in the rest of the world, I can only change perceptions when I encounter them.
I respect her right to state her opinion, much the same as I have the right to negate her statements.
I will accept that people like her are scarred by their experiences but she doesn't speak for me.
I am more woman today because I am muslim. It gave me rights, taught me bounderies and allowed me to find alternate means to express myself,to be educated, to be free.
My Islam taught it to me. My Father lived it and the every other man I have met and or encountered respected it.
Virtue Signalling and the right brand of Islam in the Muslim community
Virtue-signalling, for those who have never felt drawn to the term, is the apparently modern crime of trying to be seen doing the right thing. The implication is that the virtue-signaller does not really believe what they are saying but simply wishes to be admired as a good person. It is most often used against celebs who identify with more fashionable or liberal political causes such as feminism, gay rights, racial diversity or concern about climate change. I have yet to see a popular figure in Social Media in South Africa who have used their religion to (and keep up here) to perpetuate their version of Islam and super judginess on other Muslims. Both locally and abroad. You've heard of a humble brag but have you heard of the humble shame? No? well... This is a new action, and certainly is the weapon of the new modern faithful muslimah hoping to correct another brother/sisters actions, using their version of what's culturally acceptable versus what they...
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