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Sultaana Freeman's Struggle Inspires

July 8, 2003
by Rosetta Scott

I'm probably not what you view the typical Muslim woman to be. I'm not oppressed. I like to shop and I love surfing the web. But, I am also a Niqabi - a Muslim woman that chose to cover her face to please Allah.

I still get weak at times. I still feel the pressure of being 21 years old living in the United States.

Most of my peers are "hanging out" at the beach. Half-clothed, chasing the opposite sex for a hook up. Yes, I still get hot, despite what some may think and I do have a mouth underneath my veil. I stay covered not because any person has ordered me to.

I do it to please Allah. I believe in the Quran and the Sunnah (the ways of our last Prophet and his companions).

In Surah 33 verse 59 it states: "O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughter and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (ie screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful."

I hold the Quran to be the sacred word of Allah. Therefore, I believe it is my obligation as a Muslim to follow it.

If a woman walks around "clothed yet naked" than she is drawing attention to herself. But, being completely covered, even if a male was to look at me, there is nothing to stare at. My clothing is not showing the shape of my body. There is nothing for a man to look at and lust after.

I was born in Germany and have lived in the United States the majority of my life. My family and my husband have all served proudly in the United States ARMY. I remember when I first heard about Sultaana's case last year. She really inspired me.

I began to wear Niqab but faced some difficulties. I looked for help with my family and being that they are non-Muslim and I did not have a job at that time, I heard a lot of comments like: "You should just take that thing off so you can find a job" or "The girl at the gas station down the street doesn't wear her hair covered, why should you?" It was a very rough year.

I even went to the sisters and brothers in my Muslim community to seek their advice and kindness. I never found it. Instead I got more rude comments and stares from my own Muslim ummah (community) than I did from perfect strangers on the street.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I did try Niqab (face veil) for a short while and was not successful. I removed it because I was not ready and I was not doing it for the right reasons. I was more worried about what people thought than I was about what my Creator would think.

A year passed and I got married. Through the support and encouragement from my husband, I decided to again wear Niqab.

Shortly after I had began wearing my veil again, Sister Freeman's case came more "interesting" to the media. I followed the trail closely. I kept listening and realized exactly why I was wearing my Niqab. For the same reason thousands of other Muslim sisters are doing it. To please Allah. Because we realize it is what Allah has ordained for the Muslim women.

The day that the verdict was announced in Sister Freeman's case, I was away for the weekend. It wasn't until I got home and checked my email that I saw Sultana had lost the case. I was devistated. I wanted to do something. I wanted to help... I just didn't know how.

The denial of Sister Sultaana's request to simply care for her family as any other person in the USA would is sickening. We in the United States always claim we are moving forward but, this has been a huge step backwards.

Sultaana Freeman does not form a threat to anyone. We have established that she is not a security risk but, the state of Florida still refuses to allow this woman to drive because she covers her face? Because she wants to serve Allah in the matter that she sees fit. How ridiculous can we get?

So we've all identified the problem. Now let's work on a way to fix it. Why not allow a fingerprint to be placed on Sultaana's driver's liceanse and scan it if and when pulled over. No one else has the same fingerprint. You would be able to pull the neccessary records without violating the rights of this sister.

Sultaana, you have served as a great inspiration and a role model to me. I appreciate your struggle and desire your happiness and your rights. Please never fear that you are alone. If no one else is ever around, Allah is.

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