Muslimah Fashion in The Media: What do you think?

There is a big discussion happened in regard to the article on Muslimah Media Watch written by Diana, entitled 'Coverage of “Fashionable” Muslim Women Cramps Our Style'. You can read the article and all of the comments replying to the article here.

Below is my comment in reply to the article:

Assalamu'alaikum wr wb.

It's nice to have this kind of discussion here, and I would like to share my opinion too, as I wrote on the comment's section on Hijab Style Blog, with some addition:

I personally feel happy with the way media represent the muslimah style and fashion recently. Most of them appreciate our faith and our modest style.

But sometimes Media try to make 'hot stories' by creating contradictions or conflicts between something (eventhough this may have a positive value, but sometimes this is not right, and media should remember that they have responsibilities, ethics, and values to write stories/articles based on that). 

In this case, Media, in some way, contributes to create a dichotomy between niqab/abaya wearer and tunic-jeans wearer, or could be between hijab-wearer muslim women and non-hijab muslim women... the perception that some people on the other side are more or less pious than the other. This kind of perception, shaped by the media, can make an uncomfortable situation for us, muslim women, that actually it shouldn't like that.

Ideally, we, as muslims, have to bear in mind that all of us are trying our best to obey Allah SWT; to do what Allah wants us to do. All of us are just trying our best, in our way, to be close to the "Real Truth from Allah". We all have the same intention. So, there is no need to get into dichotomy, trichotomy, etc, and to judge each other.


And about our clothes as a hijab, me as a hijab fashion blogger too, have a basis according to Qur'an:
Surah 7:26

O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness,- that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition!

So clothing does not have to be drab. It is all right for both sexes to use clothing to enhance beauty as well as to cover nakedness. The most important thing is to be modest and righteous.

One more thing I'd like to add is in regard to the BBC's question: “But doesn’t the showy nature of fashion contradict the essence of Hijab?”

In my opinion: No, it doesn't contradict. I think based on the ayah above, it's okay if we are showy about our clothes, as long as we're NOT SHOWY about OUR BODY. (Allah knows best)

Fashion is showy. It shows creativities on clothes/outfits. So does 'Muslim Fashion', it is showy, it shows creativities on modest clothes/outfits ('modest' according to Islamic rules).

So, what is wrong with 'Muslim Fashion'? Perhaps for some people, the reason why they want to deal with 'Muslim Fashion' is because they do want to fit in and be a part of mainstream society (nothing wrong with this as long as they keep follow Islamic rules in their life, for example: wearing hijab in western style; And people have their own reason why they want to fit in);
And for some other people, is because they want to create beautiful outfits (still within Islam's rules of modesty) in their own style as their self expression. And this is all right too according to the ayah above.


Do you have any other opinion? What do you think about the way media covers muslimah clothing? Please share with us? It's all right if we have different perception or different point of view. These will wider our horizon... ;)

Note: Read also the most recent article about muslimah clothing in these media:
The Guardian: Muslim schoolgirls show that faith and fashion are not incompatible
MLive.com: Islamic fashion now appeals to non-Muslim women, too

And tell me what do you think about those articles?

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