The Hayaa Oasis

Amidst the chaos of dunya, there is a gutwrenching fear that settles in my heart at the sight of our ummah. As I observe our brothers and sisters, I discover the rising inclination to compromise one’s awrah becoming parallel to that of the rising population who have gone to sleep in their adherence to the key Islamic values taught to us by our beloved Prophet (salallahu ‘alaihi wassalam).

Weekly Writes written by Umm Idris. 11.07.25, 12:00pm.

Lately, I look around and I feel afraid. A kind of fear that stems from the certainty of how this world is truly ready to be doomed and yet a sliver of hope still carries itself in the clouds for some kind of salvation or change. As I walk the streets of a nation lost in its nafs, I contemplate the true meaning of what it is to be asleep. As a non-Muslim, yes, for sure it is frightening to know that many of them are only promised Jannah at their proclamation of the shahadah. I, however, look to our Muslim ummah.

What has our ummah become? A quick turn to my left and I look upon young ladies in hijabs, and yet, the curves of their bosoms reveal themselves. A pause later and you would see their shapely hips sway at every high heeled step, intentionally beckoning any passing by to take a glance. A flock of ladies with humps on their head larger than the crowns of monarchs today. Another with layers of make-up designed to beautify and yet, only really takes away their true noor. Then another with careless thought, exposing their necks, arms, skins above the ankles and calling it unintentional. Others with rationale to wear tights, turbans and skin-tight exercise clothes designed for non-Muslims but if it falls past the buttocks, it is okay! Even then, a fraction of these women cared little if their camel toe shows so long as they have their hair hidden.

A swift whip of my gaze to the right and I cast my eyes upon men with jeans falling to show their underwear, shorts falling short from their knees, and haircuts strangely now deemed normal for Muslims. Their beards trimmed regularly, some even shaved to fit a style. I watch quietly as they lust after the women around them, their eyes raping the view of their bodies as they lick their lips and picture themselves indulging in zina if they had the chance.

Gone were the days couples had jealousy over one another. A scroll down the Instagram and you find yourselves sifting through picture after picture of men showcasing their wives proudly, dressed to impress, their young beautiful uncovered daughters put up in family photos like livestock on sale for perverts to masturbate to. Wives continue proudly sharing to their girlfriends views of their husbands and children, igniting silent envy and nazr that I am almost certain the Companions of our Prophet (salallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) would shudder at. In the age of social media, the masses have forgotten about hiding themselves and choosing wisely who to entrust such intimate moments to.

And yet, we wonder why our banks never seems to fulfill our financial needs, why the food fills our bellies but we continue to crave and subsequent meals remain unsatisfactory, how our debt never ceases to end. As the number of likes grow on their publicised accounts, they encounter the strangest of misfortunes, increasing taxes, salary ceilings that never stop lowering themselves, the family car that never needed constant servicing suddenly meets its demise, homes filled with luxury but a growing distant among its inhabitants, and the forever confusion of working endlessly without feeling the final relief of reaching retirement peacefully.

A stroll in the park and I find myself looking closer to those in relation to me, and those I made personal acquaintances with. I wonder if they contemplate these things like I do. If we are all silently frightened as we stand amongst the masses who tells us to stay silent in advice, accused of judgment and arrogance rather than fear for their sake in the name of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). But then, I cannot help but ask myself: “If we are that afraid of the wrath of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), why do we stay silent at the need to advise and correct our fellow brothers and sisters?” “Why do we continue to actively socialize and welcome those who transgress so much that they carry heavy fitnah wherever they go, and we still accept them into our homes?”

I wonder what goes in the minds of many who see no issue in visiting others (with non-mahrams present) in clothes that ignite inappropriate desires or thought. Even amongst the most loyal of spouses who keep their gazes strictly glue to the floors, the children of these hosts witness this and internalise it. Even then, I question heavily those who dare such immodesty, “do you not find it disrespectful to the spouse of the non-mahram you are visiting for you to be immodestly dressed?” And this applies to any such case where a person leaves their home in such clothings or conduct. Whether it is in the street or to a restaurant. I wonder if they had a moment of pause at the mirror, or a moment’s hesitation, thinking or questioning if this was the right way to go.

Many would argue I am judgmental or strict, excessively conservative and have no right to place my nose into the business of others. Some would exclaim, “Instead of policing how I look, demand your children and husband to lower their gazes and to understanding the free will of mankind.” Others more pronounced would declare, “Worry about yourself. You have no rights over me.” But that is the most misleading impression of today’s fitnah. That the public eye has no rights to dictate how a person conducts themselves. Is it not sane to expect that another woman does not attempt to dress sensually in the presence of our own husbands? Or that another man does not become excessively ostentatious in his presence to gain the attentions of his brothers’ wives? Would it not be rational to want to keep our sons and daughters in environments dignified in nature, without bosoms to ogle or swaying buttocks to be hypnotized by? When has it ever been the case that Islam welcomes the expression of physical sexuality in the views of others? It always begins with the slightest of desires to look “decent” in public. A year down the road, half of them have taken to welcoming turbans with sweetheart neckline cocktail dresses to network parties. Oh but it is okay though, because despite the cocktail dress accentuating your feminine curves, you are wearing an inner long sleeve and tights to cover your skin.

What logic is this?

If disapproving such obscene and tacky manner of dressing constitutes being judgmental or extremist, then so be it. I certainly would rather be able to blindly pick anything within my closet to lend any of our Prophet’s (salallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) wives with ease rather than face the shame of having what is made treasured and precious only for my husband for all to see and enjoy. Dare I say, today’s obscenity has become what I could call prostitution of the eyes. What was once seen as a mortifying fashion disaster, like having one’s cleavage exposed, is now argued to be an encourager of self-expression for women. The deeper the neckline, the braver and desirable she becomes.

It is true what has been said time and time again, by countless sheikhs, imams, scholars, the Companions and even our Prophet (salallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) himself.

It was narrated by Usamah bin Zaid and Sa’eed bin Zaid bin ‘Amr bin Nufail that the Prophet (salallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) said that “I have not left among the people after me, a Fitnah more harmful upon men than women.” (Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, 2780, sahih)

We often overlook the reality of how women truly have become the carriers of fitnah. It is our bodies that ignite carnal desires, our allure that inspires today’s entertainment and marketing, the consumerism that never ends and the heinous crimes of many immoral men. While money can bring heavy greed for power and control, nothing brings a man to his knees that the desire for women. In my personal opinion, it is the most likely reason why it is us who are charged with the responsibility to protect our awrah. In fact, if you want to see it in a more empowering and ridiculously feminism-focused light, you could even consider you are charged with the task of ensuring modesty to protect weak men from their own nafs.

No one can say that they have never heard of another person saying women are the fairer of the sex, and that we mature earlier and faster, we are the leading support in the lives of men and that without us, society would ultimately crumble. And so I simply wonder how it has come to this: us forgoing the command of the hijab and believing it is acceptable to imitate the attire of disbelievers. Do not get me wrong. I hold no dislike nor hatred for non-Muslims. In fact, I hope our ummah continue to pray for them to be welcomed into the fold of the righteous path. And that we stay patient and respectful no matter how we are treated, because our conduct speaks volumes to the teachings of our Prophet (salallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) and so if they do not attack Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) or His messenger (salallahu ‘alaihi wassalam), then I truly don’t think we need to have any ‘beef’ with them.

It bugs me though, that our youth have come to idolize such values outside of the fold of religion. From the way they are dressed to the memorisations of song lyrics and tv quotes. It has become rare and highly ‘unachievable’ to some to expect a lifelong learning of the Quran and striving to be a hafiz or hafizah of the words of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). I recall memorizing entire paragraphs of a textbook as a child fighting to achieve grades that hold no meaning in my grave but given great latitude or rather margins of error when it came to perfect recitation of the Surah Al-Fatihah, let alone other Surahs.

As I look down upon the faces of my children, I feel that familiar shiver down my spine thinking about the type of fitnah they must navigate and fight against. How difficult it will be for my son to find a pious wife who loves Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) more than anything else, or my daughters to trust a man of deen who will dedicate his entire life to pleasing and following the commands of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) first before that of anything else and raise my grandchildren and guide my daughters to the correct path every day. In a world where fitnah has touched every inch of our lives despite our fighting aversions and rebellions, what can we do but hope and pray that Allah (salallahu ‘alaihi wassalam) test us not with our children’s deens at the very least? My mind is often plagued by how in trance the masses are to the powerful influences of shaitan and the worldly pleasures that provide temporary gratification. I shudder at the thought of how my own relations may very well be one of them and have no idea, or worse, are fully aware but cannot fight against the forces of their nafs.

As a fellow sinful Muslimah, I cannot put complete blame on any individual because the fact is we are all a prisoner of our circumstances too. Some with stricken fear of financial instability, others with struggles of marital bliss, a few with situations so mindbogglingly problematic it is hard to see through the grey areas. The truth is, my heavy tongue lashing against the immodesties of today stems from my own heavy guilt of being one of the masses who were once asleep and following the unsuspecting flock to their doom. In the early years of womanhood, like many, I was seduced by the ideas of fitting in where a secular society advocated western modernisation of fashion. In the time it took for me to be invited by Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) to the hijab, I unknowingly perpetuated the cycle of spreading fitnah by simply not adhering to the commands of appropriate modest wear in accordance to Islamic laws. Without the right forms of the hijab, it didn’t matter what a woman was dressed in. Rather, it was the simple sole fact that we were not dressed as a Muslimah should be that finally sank in one day as I pinned my first shawl and adjusted my abaya.

I thought to the past where I faced sexual assaults from men (muslim and non-muslim) back in the years I was unaware of the importance of my awrah and I well up in tears. How frightful it was that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) tried to protect me from evil and even myself and I failed to see it. It was only then that something in me began to beckon my interest to jilbabs, kaftan abayas, and even khimars. The day I made that final decision; my husband readily took action and made it possible to make complete change in my closet that even accommodated niqabs no one expected I would choose to wear.

No Muslimah is perfect. None of us are at the peak of our iman or ibadah because if we always are, then there would be no need for trials and tests in this dunya to test our niyyah and our devotion to Him. It is in the moment of self-reflection for change that divides us between sinners. The one who sees their mistakes with repentance and resolve against it and reject it strongly for the sake of themselves and others and of course Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), or the one who admits their mistakes but finds themselves with no effort to make any choices to climb out of that rut of a cycle dooming them to an endless path of no return. I humbly and shamefully share my failures and weaknesses in hopes that you, my dear sister (or brother), will learn from them and take my warnings seriously.

Do not follow the path of ignorance. Do not succumb yourselves into the “just a little bit” of make-up or an extra inch of height in those heels or a little belt around that loose abaya. Run far away from that temptation and do not give in no matter what you do. If need be, choose not to leave your home entirely if that is the resolve you must have to protect yourself. While others are asleep, you are reading this, you are one of the few who might be awake or who Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has chosen to wake up. Nothing is a coincidence. Not you here reading my weekly writes today. Not every fleeting moment of doubt you encounter looking at your outfit in the mirror nor questioning your niyyah in every act you do.

Akhirah is not so far away, as much as we are lying to ourselves and hoping to believe out of fear. Qiyamah could very well be tomorrow for you, upon your death. Do you really want to die in a such a state?