Saturday night in cpt:
Most ppl are rushing around hitting the club scene, being mall rats or movie maniacs…
What did I do on sat night?
I tried out the purdah scene.
Yeah, I’m for real!
I’ve been toying with the idea for so long.
A buddy of mine said: On the down side, I’m wayyyyy too excitable. I start being super happy, then I get flushed and I can’t breathe under the purdah. You need to speak louder and more clearly so your voice isn’t muffled. Eating is NOT easy, takes awhile to gauge where your mouth is, and how far to pull up your purdah. You see ppl you know ,but you’re ‘hidden’ from the world. Life behind the veil doesn’t dictate that you’re devoid of feeling or emotion. Wondering what spurred on this adventure?? More thoughts on hijaab, niqaab, and jilbaab when I have time. 
I was at Canal Walk, all dressed up, like a lil blue halaal doll.
Durban and jhb are more accommodating with their facilities for women in purdah, there aren’t that many in cpt. And so it was, walking around… I felt ‘content’, safe, protected in some ways. Its like you’re not accountable for anyone looking at you, and for their thoughts, or zinna of their eyes.
‘purdah women arouse a sense of curiosity, you always wonder what they look like’
I will forever be in awe of women who choose to take this path. It is NOT easy. Sure you feel nice, you feel pretty even, but you have feelings of weirdness about the skankily dressed chick walking passed you with the diamond g-string showing 
is it wrong to feel a sense of superiority? Maybe it’s a wrong word to use, In the sense that you feel ‘whole’ and good. I dunno, there’s a rush of warmth that courses through you, well maybe its just me feeling excited about the adventure.
And YES YOU CAN SEE WHERE U GOING!!
I was particularly irritated when someone said
‘how do they see where they’re going’
Jeez doofus! My body is covered, NOT my eyes.
We just giggled and went on.
Under normal circumstances I would not do this, its just a mockery of hijab. BUT my cousin, who is in purdah, was down from Durban , covering the National Qiraat competition in cpt over the weekend. It was a use it or lose it moment. I guess I’d always wonder what if. My dad was so chuffed, dressed to match us in a black kurta 
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OMG! I dont believe you!
Well, I suppose it must be an interesting experience. This is a topic that I have been discussing quite a bit recently- I believe in the right of a woman to dress in whatever way she feels comfortable- niqab included…
i cant expect it to be easy. a friend of mine once told me that the biggest problem with it is that she feels very self conscious wearing it…but that it makes her feel more Muslim.
as for the ‘u always wonder what they look like’ – i know every guy has those same sentiments – u gotta wonder how fashionably extravagant a woman is under all of that
take care and have a nice day
LOL @ bilaal
Maybe i should put up a pic of me in the purdah instead 
*giggles*
Yes i took a pic!
*rolls eyes*
Its really interesting. You get alot of respect and ridicule. But also more attention than u usually would.
@zee…
or whenever i feel spiritually there. First u need purdah of your gaze and your heart. I think its more of a fascination to me now coz i’ve been spending alot of time in the musjid since ramadaan, and i feel awfully naked that men still look at ur face and guys make salaam to the ‘pretty muslim girls’
well, i would think at first they feel self conscious but they get used to it. I’m considering the fundamentals behind it… who knows… maybe in a year
i wore purdah for 8 weeks straight out of choice in a foreign country…it was liberating…and made me feel like a woman ..
puresoul:
well done:)
its a very uplifting hey:)
wow! 8 weeks
i don’t think i’m ready to give up wearing my 49 hats yet :{
I also admire women in purdah. There are alot of ladies studying at wits with purdah and I admire the courage in their conviction to wear the purdah and stick to it. As you said its not easy and women in purdah always suffer weird glances by passes by. Nice experiment
K
We say we hide and protect ourselves from this world.
Infact we we hide and protect ourselves from ourselves.
and for me… that is sad.
so you had a great experience with it, maybe one day i should try it when im a tad bit older. im just not keen on the eating in public as you said its difficult.
I dont know any women in my family who wear the ‘ purdah ‘ so if i do wear it i’ll be ther first ….
did u try driving with it on ?
I’m where u r nw.since i was small i always thght id one day wear niqab.a few months ago i had this intense desire to start wearin it.2mnths passd,then 1nite aftr taraweeh at the masjid,i went and bought 1.the salespersn said ‘mabrook!n was so happy 4me.i cudnt w8 2wear it,but the next dy wen i put it on,i felt like a non-entity.i jst cudnt walk out wif it.muc mor 2say so wil rite blog on it.
1 mor thing.i dnt bliv niqab is compulsory,but rather a means to distance oneself frm the superficiality of the world.n it is a spiritual evolutn.4me,i dnt like it that guys stil hit on one,even in abaya.im not dressin 2attract them,so y do they stil look?so niqabs the answr.n women hav2 sacrifice cos we r stronger.ps:my sistas wore it one dy 4fun,but i’l save story 4blog
Why are you women still rambling about the attention you get from men etc
theres alota plastic here
goes to show how fake some of you are. if i were you, reconsider your intentions
Purdah is to be shielded from the gaze of the opposite sex.
that took awhile… but there we go: http://icanbuyhappiness.wordpress.com/2008/10/16/life-files-part-2-niqaab/
Mash Allah sis, to give you a tip on niqaabs.. not all are the same.. most actually are pretty awfully to wear. However..I came across a very nice one.. at Sawants.. ask for the single layer at the new books shop.. and really dont wear pink scarf with a black niqaab.. its a real bad look! And wear it from time to time, it gives you that hijaab.. between those prying eyes.. and yes.. we are wearing cos of the men.. but we fear Allah.. so why not.. we love Allah and we love to follow Quran. There are many different opinions. But why not stay on the safe side? OH.. by the way, women were ordered to wear a khimar “خمار” (not himar.. thats a donkey), so that it be a veil (hijaab) for them. Khimar described was a long covering, from head to ground.. (something what the women of Yemen, Saudi Arabia and parts of Iran wear..) and when non mahram men approached, they used to pull down the covering over their face.. so I guess the niqaab makes it easier these days LOL. So it all comes down to having Haya*. And sis bibi-aisha, I agree with you.. when ever I go to a function.. I dont have an issues. No one wants to come and shake your hand.. and may Allah forbid.. kiss!! Just because your neighbor “uncle” saw you grow up.. doesn’t make him your mahram. So back off!
*haya – http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/Haya.htm
Also check out the rest of Mission Islam website.. its run by a fabulous sister! http://www.missionislam.com/