Author: Corbin

Theresa Corbin is an indoor-sy type who holds a BA in English Lit and an Master's of Library and Information Science. She has lots of opinions and more work experience than cats have lives. Corbin has been a teacher, office manager, hemodialysis tech, fundraiser, designer, interfaith and inter-cultural bridge builder, public speaker, researcher, editor, and writer. Her hero is Elastigirl for obvs reasons. Corbin is a socially poised introverted and HSP. Her hobbies include thinking, giving unsolicited advice, and putting her phone on silent.

Islam! Since 610

February 21, 2013November 23, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 4 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

It amazes me how little the average American/Westerner knows about Islam. But, then again, I have to remind myself how little I knew about Islam 15 years ago.

In fact, I had never heard of such a thing. Nowhere in any of my high school history classes had I even heard of a religion called Islam, nor had I been introduced to this knowledge prior to high school in the 9 years I spent receiving knowledge from nuns at the local Catholic school.

Sure, I slept through several lectures on the Ottoman Empire in my teenage years, but I am pretty sure what I was napping through did not include an introductory discussion on a major world religion. How do I know that? Well, let’s just say that of all the tests I failed, never once was there a question about Islam.

If I had been quizzed during my youth about what a Muslim was or what Islam was, I would have responded that it was something like an Indian or an Arab, not that I knew there was any difference between Indians and Arabs. I was shamelessly sheltered. But at the risk of dating myself, this was well before 9/11.

Now that the U.S. and many Western countries are all up in Iraq (pronounced ee-ROCK not i-RACK) and Afghanistan (I won’t even go into the pronunciation of the “gh” sound in this word), both Muslim countries.

Now that Islam is the fastest growing religion.

And now that 1/4^th of the world’s population is Muslim, most of the Western world continues to be in the dark about what Islam really is. What’s up with that?

Here is a quick rundown of this “strange” thing known as Islam broken down into four basic categories: Religion, God, Book, Prophet. So we can be informed, so we can dispel ignorance that leads to fear, so we can be reminded, and/or so we can be guided.

The Religion:

It is very simple. Islam is a major monotheistic religion. Islam is not a cult formed in the 18^th century, as I have heard people prosthelytize—YIKES!

Nation of Islam is to Islam as Wicca is to Chrisitanity

Islam is a way of life. Islam is not an Eastern culture as some have “politely” informed me. Some even think that you have to be “black” to be Muslim, as my husband (another white convert) was informed in high school. This was probably because of the religion known as the Nation of Islam, which has VERY little to do with Islam.

Anyone can become a Muslim and enter the religion of Islam, regardless of culture or race. Islam only requires belief.

The God:

Muslims worship one God. Muslims are not moon worshipers, nor do they worship the prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessing be upon him- PBUH), as some Baptist congregations claim.

The God of Islam is the creator of everything. He* is not the creation. He is the Master of the Day of Judgement. God is in no need of help and has no partners. He is one. Period. The only one worthy of worship. Period.

He is the same God as the Christians believe to be God the father.

In Judaism, He is known as Jahweh.

The Book:

Photo used under Creative Commons from franca L

The holy book in Islam is the Quran (pronounced core-ON not coooo-RAaaN).

The Quran features the same traditions as the original Bible and the Torah. Not because it is infringing on these traditions’ copyrights, but because they are true and valuable lessons for all mankind. Because God is bringing people back to His original message.

Muslims believe that the original Torah and Bible were true texts, until man meddled with them.

The Quran remains in its original edition, unchanged.

The Prophet:

The Quran was first revealed to the last prophet, Muhammad (PBUH), in a long line of honorable men in 610 CE. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was known, even to those who hated him, as an honest and trustworthy man. How many people can say that about their enemies?

Muslims do not worship Muhammad (PBUH). He was a man. Muslims don’t worship men. Men are flawed. Muslims believe in Jesus as they believe in Abraham, Moses, Isaac, and Muhammad (Peace be upon all of them). Muslims believe in these men as prophets sent by God, and not gods themselves or partners with God.

God sent prophets to men over and over with the same message of His oneness.

We kept getting it wrong and going astray. We kept worshiping the creation and not the creator. God kept sending us prophets to get us back on track until Muhammad (PBUH), who was the last prophet sent to all mankind.

This is the foundation of Islam:

Islam is a monotheistic religion. God is one and only one.
There are holy books sent by God – Torah, Bible, Quran. The Quran being the most reliable.
Muhammad is the prophet.
There are angles. Angel Gabriel delivered the message from God to the prophets.
God has a divine decree that does not know the limits of time.
We will all be held to account for our deeds on the Day of Judgement.

*The pronoun “He” is not meant to suggest that God has a male gender. As gender implies a lack or need of another. God is not to be associated with being either male or female because God is not in need of anyone or anything. “He” is only used because of a lack of a non-gendered pronoun in the English language. And “She” would be equally inaccurate.

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Non-Muslims Say The Darndest Things … About Hijab

February 14, 2013November 23, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 15 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

My mind was spinning after the Hijabology post from last week. I kept chuckling to myself about some of the comments I get from perfect strangers and people I meet in my life. So, I thought it would be fun to share some of these comments with y’all.

Please feel free to share some of the zany comments/questions you have received / asked. Don’t be shy!

Here is my list from most common to the weirdest comments/questions about hijab, and the responses I wish I could give.

Q: Why you wear dat?

A: See the blog post “Hijabology”

Q: Ain’t you hot in all them clothes?

A: Yes, and you are hot in that tank top. We live in The South. It is 3,052 degrees year round. We are all hot!

Q: Do you have cancer?

A: No, I am trying to quit.

Q: Are you a Amish or something?

A: Don’t be racist.

Q: I like your wife. Is she a nun?

A: Ummmm, a wife and a nun? Seriously?! No. And I grant you permission to speak directly to me. You’re Welcome!

Q: Oh My God, it’s a ghost?

A: BOO!

Q: You look like Mother Teresa.

A: Well, I am a “Teresa”, but I ain’t nobody’s mama.

Q: I SEE you!

A: Good job on learning how to use your eyes! Next, maybe you will learn how to use your manners.

Q: Look, it’s a ninja!

A: Darn! I thought I was in super stealth mode.

Q: Why do they keep letting God D@mn terrorist in my country?

A: I don’t know why they let you in my country to terrorize me with your ignorance.

Q: What are you, like, Jesus?

A: Yes, but it’s pronounced hey-SEUSS.

Q: Wow, what a beautiful scarf!

A: I love you!!!

Hijabology

February 6, 2013November 23, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 7 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

I asked myself, “Self, what is the first question (and often the only question) people ask you about your religion?” Then self said, “hijab!”

Photo used under Creative Commons from Ranoush

To be clear, hijab is not a headscarf. Hijab is a standard of modesty for men and women as was revealed by God in the Quran (Quran 24:30-31). But many people use the word hijab to mean the headscarf some Muslim women wear.

Whatever you call it—hijab, head scarf, garb, head wrap, turban, and some more insulting things which I will not mention here—it is the first thing people notice. I am kinda tired of talking about it, explaining it, defending it. It is not the most important part of Islam or Iman (faith).

But Western attention focuses so much of what it “knows” about Islam on the way Muslim women choose* to dress that it is important to continue to talk about, explain, and defend. *If a woman is wearing a headscarf to please her husband or father, this is not from Islam.

The day to day questions I receive from perfect strangers about my headscarf can range from innocent and curious to downright mean, but what all the questioning boils down to is: “Why do you wear that?” And my first thought of course is to give a smart-alecky response like: “Oh, I love to wear converse because they give me that I don’t give a crap look that I love so much.”

But then I rein myself in—I know they are referring to the gorgeous accessory I use to cover my hair—and I respond by rote: “For God and Modesty”.

Four little words. That’s all. It sums it up, but falls short.

If I gave the full answer/history/misconceptions to passing strangers, I fear I may be committed or burned at the stake (In the small southern cities in which I have resided, Muslims are scarce. So, the lack of knowledge is understandable, but unfortunately xenophobia is rampant).

So let’s get down to brass tacks with my longer, but still short-ish explanation of the headscarf people inaccurately call hijab.

No! not another definition! Yes, kind reader, another definition.

Hijab [he JAB] (n)- 1. A style of dress for women and men that expresses modesty and a devotion to God. 2. A word that often is used to mean headscarf which is a cloth that covers the hair, ears, neck, and chest worn in public by Muslim women who wish to please God and be recognized as a believing woman. 3. A piece of cloth that reveals innocent enough ignorance sometimes accompanied by bigotry when worn in public.

To the Western world the hijab/headscarf that some Muslim women wear has a connotation of oppression, male-dominance, female silence, suffering, and subordination. You know, all the dark and shady things that have come to represent The East in The Western psyche.

*Point of contention/personal pet peeve: Islam is not an Eastern religion. Sure it started in The East, just as Judaism and Christianity did, but it is absolutely a world religion. However, the hijab/headscarf is normally tied up in the Western mind with all that is Eastern.

For most Muslims, the scarf and modest clothing represent strength, piety, confidence, a sense of self-worth, and a woman’s right to have full ownership over her own body and not be viewed as a sexual plaything.

For me, when I first encountered Islam, I was of the Western thinking in regards to women dressing modestly, for no other reason than this was some kind of programming to which I had been subconsciously subjected. However, as a young woman, I knew the crushing insecurity that came along with being put on display at all times, as a subject to be critiqued by all who crossed my path. I knew I was expected to mold my appearance for unattainable approval. And I was crushed my the weight of it all.

I became increasingly frustrated by the harassment and disrespect I received as an American woman dressed as a typical American woman. I was perceived as available. And was so rarely treated with respect that should be shown to any human being no matter how I acted, or what words I spoke, or what I achieved. Sure, some women enjoy this kind of attention, but it was not for me.

Then I did something weird. I listened. I listened to a Muslim woman answer my very own question of “why do you wear that?”

And the answer was so obvious and attuned to my own nature that I was shocked when she said, “So that I can be recognized as a woman who believes in God and should be respected and not harassed. So that I can be spared the cross hairs of the male gaze. So that I can give consent to who see me and who does not.”

When I found out what hijab was really about, I wanted to allow myself these rights. It took time and a lot of courage, but I finally started observing hijab in 2001, and I LOVE allowing myself this freedom.

A Quick and Dirty Guide to Islamic Parts of Speech: Part 1

January 31, 2013November 23, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 6 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

If you have ever heard someone confuse Middle Eastern politics with the religion of Islam, or you yourself have mix up the cultural identity of “Arab” with “Muslim”, or you have been called “Islamic” when you are really a Muslim. If any of these things have ever happened to you, keep reading. What follows is a practical guide to the basics of the what, when, who, and how of Islam, Islamic, Muslim and more.

Islam [iss-LAMB] (n.)- One of three major monotheistic religions, a religion of a long line of prophets, the last of whom was Muhammad, born in the 6^th century CE. A religion with 6 pillars of belief and 5 pillars of practice, a religion of one God (the creator of all things) who has no partners.

ex: Islam, it ain’t you momma’s religion … um … well, it ain’t my momma’s religion, but if Islam is your momma’s religion, that’s cool too.

Islamic [iss– LAMB- ick] (adj.)- Anything used to describe a place or thing that has to do with Islam. People are not Islamic.

ex: I am excited to wear my awesome Islamic attire to the Islamic center, but alas, I am not Islamic. I am a Muslim.

Islamist [say it however you want because it is not a word] – something the Western media made up to sound like they know what they are talking about without doing any actual research on Islam.

ex: Fox news caster: The world is ending so you have to give us all your money and do what we tell you, or the Islamists win.

Muslim [MOOSE– limb] – 1.) (n.) Any person who believes in the one-ness of God, the Day of Judgement, the true prophets who came with proof, the angels, and in the Quran as the word of God. And who does the five pillars of Islam: prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, testament of faith, and charity 2.) (adj.) anything used to describe a person, place, or thing. Can be used to replace Islamic, but it’s a one way street. Islamic cannot but used to replace Muslim.

ex: Some sources say that only 20% of the 2 billion Muslims (n.) are from the Middle East. By God! I believe that is a minority of Muslims (n.)!! That would explain why there are all kinds of people who wear Muslim (adj.) clothes at the Muslim (adj.) Center.

islamwich [iss-LAMB-witch] (n.)- 1.) An awesome blog about Islam and the reactions that occur when Islam appears in Western culture. 2.) A sandwich that is made without the use of pork.

ex: Before you eat that islamwich, tell all your friends about the blog islamwich.com, and follow islamwich.com on FB, Pinterest, Tumblr, & Twitter (@islamwich).

But seriously, pass it on.

P.S. Pronunciations really depend on who you are talking to. The only thing you should really be careful of in these pronunciations is swapping “S’s” for “Z’s”. This is common English practice, as in “itz my blog, I will end my sentencez with prepositionz if I want to!”, or the infamously clichéd “wazzzup!”… i.e. it is not Muzlim, or Izlamic etc. The “S’s” really sound like “S’s” 😉

Part 2 is here