Sunday, October 11, 2009

Thank You Stylish Muslimah

Assalamu alaikum,

I sent a request to another blogger whose blog is about stylish modest Islamic clothing...

She actually did try to find something, and when she couldn't, she tried to come up with something
http://stylishmuslimah.blogspot.com/2009/10/equestrian-hijabi-hardest-request-yet.html

I appreciate it, really I do.

I'm internally really conflicted about the skirt issue. When I converted I was under the impression that a very long shirt with loose pants would be fine. Now I'm hearing that a skirt is the only way to really be modest. Unless the pants are so loose that they look like a skirt. :(

A lovely woman named Joyce that I found on muslima sewing blog had this to say to me: "My attitude is not to sweat the small stuff and make Islam harder than what it was intended to be......It's all about intention."

I find this to be somewhat comforting, although I know there are people that would argue with her. I want to ride AND still be modest. When I do give in and take another set of riding lessons, I try to be as modest as I can. Even before converting I never noticed anyone looking at my riding pants inappropriately. The vast majority of people around me when I have worn riding breeches were women, and even with a few males scattered around I was basically just one in a sea of girls wearing the same thing. I supposed we looked rather scruffy though.

Finding a women's only swim time is difficult enough in the US. Imagine trying to find a women only barn...they are essentially a female domain (the ones I have been to), but it is hard to avoid having some male support staff - a vet, a farrier, the people that bring hay...

Nora

1 comment:

  1. Salam Nora,
    Boy am I glad you asked that blogger ideas for riding clothes. I want to start showing and I wasn't sure what to wear. Seeing those creative photos gave me some ideas. Where in the US are you? I am taking dressage and since my instructor is female, I wear breeches and a knee-length shirt. The only male workers are those who clean the stall. But yeah I have to start thinking of riding in front of male judges and spectators .

    I live in Mt Vernon, WA. What kind of horse riding did you do before? I am really glad I found another Muslim female who enjoys riding too. :D

    Heba

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