MSA Union supports World Hijab Day on 1st February 2014

MSA Union supports World Hijab Day on 1st February 2014

World Hijab Day kicked off last year on the 1st February 2013, an initiative started by Sister Nazma Khan. She is a born Bangladeshi, who moved to the USA at a young age. Her Hijab was her anchor and pride, but to those who did not understand and accept it, it was the complete opposite. Many young girls and ladies around the world go through this struggle of intolerance to the Hijab when in fact wearing the Hijab is a choice, a right and a beautiful blessing.

The meaning of the Hijab is a veil of modesty to cover ones physical self which is a practice done by Muslim women according to the guidelines of Islam.  It is the headscarf or veil worn by the Muslim women. It can also be used to describe the veiling or seclusion of women in some Islamic societies, customarily practiced in order to maintain standards of modesty.

This year, we stand together in support of the World Hijab Day movement. We invite all our Muslim and non-Muslim friends, sisters, colleagues and mothers to spend a day in wearing the Hijab as to experience this wonderful gift.  This grants us an opportunity to learn tolerance towards each other, to gain an understanding of the practice and spread the word of peace. Join our sisters in over 100 countries in spreading the word and engaging in the better understanding of Hijab.

With recent happenings in the world, like talk of banning of the Hijab in some countries, it is important that we display that Hijab remains the choice of the individual- a choice that should not be taken away from any individual. It should not be a burden or obstacle. We should not feel judged for wanting to wear this garment so let us break the glass ceiling in a positive way and invite others to our beautiful way of Hijab.

We would like to encourage you to be part of this movement in the following ways:

1. Invite and encourage a sister (Muslim or non- Muslim to wear the Hijab on this day but also explain to them the beauty of the Hijab when doing so
2. Visit the World Hijab Day facebook page and post a little story about your experience through Hijab so that others may be inspired https://www.facebook.com/WorldHijabDay
3. If MSAs are able to hand out a few scarves to ladies in their surroundings as gifts when inviting them to join World Hijab Day this would be awesome!
4. Join us on twitter on Fri, 31st Jan 2014 at 8 pm as we spread the word and invite all to join World Hijab Day
5. Support this movement directly or indirectly according to your means

Please check out this link for more information on how this all started and be inspired!

YouTube video by Nazma Khan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fgohZYqbmE

World Hijab Day website: http://worldhijabday.com/

Yours in Islam

Shukran Jazeelan

Nasreen Hamdulay

Head of Community and Social Outreach

MSA Union of South Africa

 

Statement: MSA Union Supports Egypt Anti-Coup Pro-Legitimacy Protest.

Statement: Union of Muslim Students’ Association of South Africa support the call by The Anti-Coup Pro-Legitimacy National Alliance and the Egyptian community in South Africa

23rd January 2014

The Union of Muslim Students’ Association of South Africa (MSA Union) - in our commitment to support the oppressed peoples in the world and to advocate for social, political and economic justice -  support the call by the anti-coup pro-legitimacy national alliance and Egyptian community in South Africa. The anti-coup pro-legitimacy national alliance is a “movement that emerged in response to the violent Coup that took place in Egypt a few months ago. A coup that has Overthrown the first democratically elected president, committed merciless massacres, silenced opposing voices, abolished the peoples will that has been mechanized through five different democratic elections and referenda, abrogated all gains of the January 25 Revolution and reinstated Mubarak's authoritarian regime”.

MSA has witnessed the events unfold in Egypt with great dismay as the democratically elected President Dr Muhammed Morsi was illegally removed from his office by a military coup. We take a position that supports legitimacy in Egypt. The banning of the Muslim brotherhood is indeed a travesty of justice. The revolution on January 25th was a historic moment in time when world watched Hosni Mubarak step down and the hope for democratic process was born in the hearts of every Egyptian citizen.

We commend the people of Egypt, many of whom youth and students who sought freedom, liberation, justice, and the right to self- determination in the initial protests against the brutal Mubarak regime. We also commend those who have refused to participate in the recent military sponsored referendum. The oppressors have claimed the right to rule, ousting a legitimate president, pretending democracy. We reflect on the words of the poet Voltaire who said, “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

We celebrate the courage of the people of Egypt who are rising up against oppression and in honouring our fellow comrades we demand accountability from their oppressors and stand in solidarity with the citizenry who are taking a stand against the illegitimate military regime. We also stand with members of the Muslim Brotherhood and anti-coup protestors that are currently undergoing imprisonment and torture at the hands of the same regime.

MSA Union supports the peaceful protest taking place on Saturday, January 25th, 2014. This day will be commemorated internationally on the anniversary of the revolution. Our alliance seeks the support of diverse array of groups in South Africa. We encourage the wider South African community and our constituency to support this action in the spirit of Justice as Egyptian people strive against dictatorship. 

              

Statement issued by MSA Union of South Africa

For more information, contact:

Yusuf Talia, President - MSA Union of South Africa, Yusuf.Talia@msa.org.za

Raeesa Ghoor, Secretary General - MSA Union of South Africa, raeesaghoor@gmail.com

The Muslim Students' Association (MSA) was established in 1973. It has grown to be one of the largest student representative bodies in South Africa. The MSA aims to assist in developing students and creating an active citizenship. This is done by developing structures to create a national and influential student representative body, leadership development programs, advocating for social, political and economic justice through campaigns, social projects and humanitarian initiatives that are all student based.

We thank Iram Yousuf for her contribution to this statement.