someone sent me this advice today - whilst it was unsolicited - i feel it is insightful and inspiring and it it something i want to share with you.
Please refer all the aayaats (verses) quoted very carefully
Alhamdulillah! By Allah's grace I am able to get myself close to Allah. I study AlQuraan always based on the following FORMULAS. Yes, formulas!
1- When I am clean from my mind and from my heart, at such times, I feel myself very close to Allah. This is because, if we have problem in our minds and heart then it may lead us to go astray. 2:10-11, 3:7 [chapter : verse]
2- I start reading AlQuraan by seeking refuge in Allah from Shaitaan. 16:98
3- I always try to follow Arabic Text, even when I used to read translations, and I used to follow multiple translations [lets say about 8 in different languages that I know by different translators, btw I know only 3-4 languages] to extract the closest meaning of the original text 12:2 and there is no problems in Arabic language 39:28
The best way I found to understand the exact meaning of the words used in Arabic in AlQuraan is to find the same rooted words and check its usage in different aayaats. That helps me a lot.
You can pray how Allah guides you by studying AlQuraan, you don't need to follow anyone 7:3 [rather you can take help from anyone] in the world, cause, Allah guides who He wills and His guidance is the only true and correct guidance 2:120, 18:17, 39:37. So, better to get direct guidance from Allah.
And no need to pray Salaat in Arabic, you must understand what you SAY [not recite but say] in Salaat 4:43 and you are free to pray your Salaat in your own language, Allah understand all the languages. Through Salaat you can create a link between you and Allah, I believe that you can form such link in your own language strongly, instead of parroting other language.
In fact, no book on the earth is needed to help to understand AlQuraan correctly. Allah said, there are lot of contradictions in any book other than AlQuraan 4:82 and when Allah is the One who gives you knowledge of AlQuraan 55:1-2, you don't need any other book.
You don't need to get confuse, listen to everyone but ask Allah for help and guidance [it is needed always] toward HIS true path. As I said above, if you are pure from your heart, sincere and honest to yourself, then you don't need to worry, Allah, will surely guide you, but please DO NOT RUSH, there is a time for everything from Allah and wait until Allah judges for you in every case. 10:109
You don't need to worry for where to take a start, you can read AlQuraan from anywhere, anytime, Allah knows what you need from guidance so, He will show you what you needed depends upon your base knowledge. Believe me, so many times you may get surprise, to get exactly what you were looking for, just by reading AlQuraan randomly from anywhere.
This is all happens because, Allah knows about us, He is our Creator.
I always ask others to study AlQuraan alone cause:
1- We may diviate from the path of Allah if we follow other books as they contain maximum contradictions 4:82
2- What do we need other books for, when we already have everything with us in detail and explained 16:89, 6:38, 6:114
3- We ask Allah for the guidance to the straight path 1:6, Allah said AlQuraan guides you to the straight path 17:9
Hence, no other books needed.
You can start from anywhere, even just by opening AlQuraan randomly from anywhere, that is really helpful, inshaAllah. If you are confused about anything, just seek Allah's help and keep that topic on hold and wait until Allah clarifies it for you 10:109
Yes you take down notes of what YOU study by yourself to cross reference WHEN you find the similar topic while reading AlQuraan. I used to use marker to mark the words or aayaats straight in AlQuraan [hard copy] itself while reading by adding another sura and aayat number at the side [as side note] where the same word or similar aayat or same topics I find.
InshaAllah, it will help you a lot, again, please DO NOT RUSH it may not lead you anywhere but deviate from the true path of Allah.
I am not doing any special favor to you but we should remember always, that who ever does good is for his own self and who ever does evil is also for his own self. 17:7 So, my reward will be with Allah, inshaAllah.
Sorry for the looooooong post but I hope this may help you, inshaAllah.
So that is the long and short if it. i agree God is the one who will impart knowledge and guidance from the scripture to us - i also agree that we should focus on God alone - and yes i agree that salat need not be said in arabic alone - i always re-iterate - during salat, it i sthe soul reaching out to its creator - you have to know what you are saying and what you are putting forward on behalf of your soul - personally i use a mixture of arabic as i understand the translation, english and yoruba which is my native tongue. all in all for my creator.
anyways good advice ought to be shared so here is my share....
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Distraught
My Lord, i feel desolane and alone.
I know no helper except thee
I have no help except that which Thou sends for me
I know of no guide tolead me through my darkness
I have no guidance but that which Thou inspires me to
I have no knowledge except that which thou bestows on me
I have no comfort save that which Thou gives me
I need strenght from thee to be able to understand and comprehend.
I need courage to do that which must be done by me
I need thee ever more
i need patience to be able to carry on - for i feel as though as i cant go on, i cant take anymore
but give me patience my Lord to persevere, patience to hold on, patience to remember to pray and praise thee
i am falling my Lord - Please help me, I feel so alone and in despair
I need strenght not only for me but for my Child, I need strenght to cast away the moments of blue that is descending upon me.
I need strenght and courage not only for me but for my child, I need strenght to carry this child
Please dont take this child from me, please support me Lord - You alone are my Provider , my Support My King.
Maybe i am amplifying it much more than i should - but right now i dont know what to say, what to do, what and how to be - i just know of you Lord, my help and comfort.
I know no helper except thee
I have no help except that which Thou sends for me
I know of no guide tolead me through my darkness
I have no guidance but that which Thou inspires me to
I have no knowledge except that which thou bestows on me
I have no comfort save that which Thou gives me
I need strenght from thee to be able to understand and comprehend.
I need courage to do that which must be done by me
I need thee ever more
i need patience to be able to carry on - for i feel as though as i cant go on, i cant take anymore
but give me patience my Lord to persevere, patience to hold on, patience to remember to pray and praise thee
i am falling my Lord - Please help me, I feel so alone and in despair
I need strenght not only for me but for my Child, I need strenght to cast away the moments of blue that is descending upon me.
I need strenght and courage not only for me but for my child, I need strenght to carry this child
Please dont take this child from me, please support me Lord - You alone are my Provider , my Support My King.
Maybe i am amplifying it much more than i should - but right now i dont know what to say, what to do, what and how to be - i just know of you Lord, my help and comfort.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Speaking sense......
I saw this article just today on submitters perspective and for once i can say there there is sence in what the person who wrote the article is taalking about - the most important part (i have made in bold and my comments are in red))that made me acclaim - yes that's it - God wont leave you(person who wrote this article) and will bless you for saying this.
To read or not to read, That is the question… or is it?
Often new submitters ask if they should read the subtitles, footnotes and appendices in Dr. Rashad Khalifa’s translation of the Quran. Depending on whom they ask they will get different answers.
In some Quran study groups this has become quite an issue, with different Submitters taking different stances. Some say that they must not be read because they are not in the original Arabic Quran, while others say they must be read because they are the teaching of the Messenger of the Covenant. In a few situations perhaps even rules have been made.
But I would like to suggest that to read or not to read is not really the question. Rather it is: Why we are trying to tell how others they should be following Submission? (May God forgive me, I have done it too, so I am speaking to myself as well.) i too must admit that wether i like it or not - when i am trying to explain sometimes to people i fall into the trap of trying to tell others how to behave - but i recognise that this is wrong - i can only give my view point - what the person chooses to follow is up to them afterall.
In my personal understanding true Islam, Submission, is not an organized religion. To me there is no religious hierarchy but rather each of us is individually responsible to God alone. We stand before Him absolutely on our own. So to me each of us must make our own decisions; it is our neck. Of course we are encouraged to consult with one another: i fully agree with this statement whole heartedly - and this is when i acclaimed in happiness - what i have been trying to make people understand - we only answer to God - so many people - and in this case those who call themselves submitters - fall into a trap of wanting conformity - same prayers, same thoughts - but the human being is not a machine is he? i believe the race is towards rightwousness and each of us through Gods provisions upon us(individually) have different levels of logic and undestanding - it is not a case of one person is right and the other is wrong - it is rather in my view a case of our lives are different, our experiences are different - so therefore our understanding and thought processes will be different - there is no right or wrong - God knows those who are serving him and putting him first in all their decision processes - after all God is the best Guide and it is He who will provide us with the necessary logic/understanding to appreciate and know His words and how we are best placed to worship him. consulting is a way whereby we share ideas and viewpoints - we cannot get upset or angry at the another persons rationale or conclusion - life afterall and in essence the worship of God is a working Progress till the end of our life span.
the submitters that i know - want conformity - but with worshiping God - i believe the only conformity that can be appreciated is WORSHIPPING GOD ALONE. that is the utmost binding glue that makes us all kindred spirits - i guess it all about tolerance - one vital ingredient that WE ALL FORGET DUE TO ARROGANCE - and by arrogance i mean that voice in your head that makes you think you are superior because you think you have found the right explanation to things.essence of a verse or thought.
[42:38] They respond to their Lord by observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Their affairs are decided after due consultation among themselves, and from our provisions to them they give (to charity).
However, this is different from our trying to make rules that others must follow. When we are consulted we should of course give our understanding while recognizing that indeed others have an equal right to their understanding. As per above statement
[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.
I personally find wonderful information, knowledge and wisdom in Dr. Khalifa’s words, both written and spoken and captured on tape. But they are not a source of religious law. God tells us clearly that the scripture is the only such source: Personally i do not find them relevant to my path to God - i guess i regard it as any other article someone has written - i have never been able to follow through - i do not agree with some lines of thought - and i agree with the aurhot - khalifa's notes are not a source of religious law - but you will be amazed at the numbers of "submitters" that regard it as so.
Quran: Fully Detailed*
[6:114] Shall I seek other than GOD as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed?* Those who received the scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any doubt.
*6:113-115 Upholding any source beside the Quran reflects disbelief in the Quran (Appendix 18).
Nor are they a source of guidance:
Quran, the Whole Quran, and Nothing But the Quran - sometimes we has humans forget that it is all about the QURAN and the guidance therein - it is God who will reveal its guidance to us - not for any man to be able to explain it to me -
[6:19] Say, "Whose testimony is the greatest?" Say, "GOD's. He is the witness between me and you that this Quran* has been inspired to me, to preach it to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear witness that there are other gods* beside GOD." Say, "I do not testify as you do; there is only one god, and I disown your idolatry."
*6:19 This verse proclaims the Quran as the only source of religious guidance. Those who uphold additional sources, such as Hadith & Sunna (lies attributed to the Prophet), are defined as idolators.
These are my thoughts, but I must respect those who have a different opinion. After all, God is guiding each of us individually. AGREED
[64:11] Nothing happens to you except in accordance with GOD's will. Anyone who believes in GOD, He will guide his heart. GOD is fully aware of all things.
One of the great joys of Submission is the diversity we are blessed with in our community. We come from different nationalities and different religious, cultural, educational and family backgrounds. And yet we form the bricks in one wall. And the fact that each brick is a slightly different shape makes us stronger, like walls of mortar-less natural stones whose shapes are so perfectly fitted together that they are still standing thousands of years later.
What a gift. Praise God. May He continue to make our wall a strong and resilient one!
copied from: http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/SP/2011/nov/page3.html
this life is interesting indeed - personally speaking - when reading khalifas translation - i find omissions and his choice of words not a true representative of what i feel the verse is saying - but nevertheless - i have always maintained that the translation of Quran from original into any language is a tricky business and i commend anyone who tries to do it - it is always difficult - because the translator will first have to make sense of it - and by their making sense of it - they are already conditioned to be subjective and they are limited by their experiences and understanding - it is this limited scope that they are trying to pass on to others - i always encourage people to pick up the scripture and read themselves for themselves - Never let anyone tell you they can explain a verse to you - they can only give you their viewpoint - and that viewpoint is not binding - no matter how esteemed that person is to you or the community - for those who do not read arabic - it is best to get different versions of the translation and compare - God willing - God will direct one to the right meaning.
Khalifas translation is by no means in my view authorised - it contains mistakes and omissions where in a translation of the scripture of God there should not be any mistakes/omissions - but overall it is a good read - somewhat simplistic in its overview but a good base to start from - and as one reads and reads each day, one gets to see the chop and change of words that are used by the translator that makes it confusing to arrive at a logical sequence - but that in itself is a learning spurt spurring one to find out more about the choice of words, omissions and general flow of verses.
an example of the chop and change in a simplistic way is the use of the word "exalted" which he has translated from as tabaraka and taa'la -
for example - Most Exalted is God 7:54- he translates as Tabaraka llahu - also he uses Most Exalted is God - Fa taa'la llahu 20:114. but elsewhere he uses wataa'la llahu - He is the Most High.
on doing a bit of searching - "tabaraka" using the corpus arabic dictionary - is noted as "Blessed" - which for me rings somewhere in my head as the tail end of the word "Baraka" - is "Blessing" - http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=brk
also when looking at the other word "Aa'la" - this i guess is used elsewhere as "High" - so by saying "wa taa'la" - will can mean as "Most High"
all i can say is comme si, comme ca - to God belongs the most beautiful names - whichever attributes one uses -
this notion that we submit to God alone - is what i feel many submitters who are in process forming alliances over the 3 vs 5 prayers - shoul adopt - i have been told that some 5 prayer submitters are saying that we should not pray with the 3 prayer submitters and shouls hsun them.
To read or not to read, That is the question… or is it?
Often new submitters ask if they should read the subtitles, footnotes and appendices in Dr. Rashad Khalifa’s translation of the Quran. Depending on whom they ask they will get different answers.
In some Quran study groups this has become quite an issue, with different Submitters taking different stances. Some say that they must not be read because they are not in the original Arabic Quran, while others say they must be read because they are the teaching of the Messenger of the Covenant. In a few situations perhaps even rules have been made.
But I would like to suggest that to read or not to read is not really the question. Rather it is: Why we are trying to tell how others they should be following Submission? (May God forgive me, I have done it too, so I am speaking to myself as well.) i too must admit that wether i like it or not - when i am trying to explain sometimes to people i fall into the trap of trying to tell others how to behave - but i recognise that this is wrong - i can only give my view point - what the person chooses to follow is up to them afterall.
In my personal understanding true Islam, Submission, is not an organized religion. To me there is no religious hierarchy but rather each of us is individually responsible to God alone. We stand before Him absolutely on our own. So to me each of us must make our own decisions; it is our neck. Of course we are encouraged to consult with one another: i fully agree with this statement whole heartedly - and this is when i acclaimed in happiness - what i have been trying to make people understand - we only answer to God - so many people - and in this case those who call themselves submitters - fall into a trap of wanting conformity - same prayers, same thoughts - but the human being is not a machine is he? i believe the race is towards rightwousness and each of us through Gods provisions upon us(individually) have different levels of logic and undestanding - it is not a case of one person is right and the other is wrong - it is rather in my view a case of our lives are different, our experiences are different - so therefore our understanding and thought processes will be different - there is no right or wrong - God knows those who are serving him and putting him first in all their decision processes - after all God is the best Guide and it is He who will provide us with the necessary logic/understanding to appreciate and know His words and how we are best placed to worship him. consulting is a way whereby we share ideas and viewpoints - we cannot get upset or angry at the another persons rationale or conclusion - life afterall and in essence the worship of God is a working Progress till the end of our life span.
the submitters that i know - want conformity - but with worshiping God - i believe the only conformity that can be appreciated is WORSHIPPING GOD ALONE. that is the utmost binding glue that makes us all kindred spirits - i guess it all about tolerance - one vital ingredient that WE ALL FORGET DUE TO ARROGANCE - and by arrogance i mean that voice in your head that makes you think you are superior because you think you have found the right explanation to things.essence of a verse or thought.
[42:38] They respond to their Lord by observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Their affairs are decided after due consultation among themselves, and from our provisions to them they give (to charity).
However, this is different from our trying to make rules that others must follow. When we are consulted we should of course give our understanding while recognizing that indeed others have an equal right to their understanding. As per above statement
[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.
I personally find wonderful information, knowledge and wisdom in Dr. Khalifa’s words, both written and spoken and captured on tape. But they are not a source of religious law. God tells us clearly that the scripture is the only such source: Personally i do not find them relevant to my path to God - i guess i regard it as any other article someone has written - i have never been able to follow through - i do not agree with some lines of thought - and i agree with the aurhot - khalifa's notes are not a source of religious law - but you will be amazed at the numbers of "submitters" that regard it as so.
Quran: Fully Detailed*
[6:114] Shall I seek other than GOD as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed?* Those who received the scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any doubt.
*6:113-115 Upholding any source beside the Quran reflects disbelief in the Quran (Appendix 18).
Nor are they a source of guidance:
Quran, the Whole Quran, and Nothing But the Quran - sometimes we has humans forget that it is all about the QURAN and the guidance therein - it is God who will reveal its guidance to us - not for any man to be able to explain it to me -
[6:19] Say, "Whose testimony is the greatest?" Say, "GOD's. He is the witness between me and you that this Quran* has been inspired to me, to preach it to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear witness that there are other gods* beside GOD." Say, "I do not testify as you do; there is only one god, and I disown your idolatry."
*6:19 This verse proclaims the Quran as the only source of religious guidance. Those who uphold additional sources, such as Hadith & Sunna (lies attributed to the Prophet), are defined as idolators.
These are my thoughts, but I must respect those who have a different opinion. After all, God is guiding each of us individually. AGREED
[64:11] Nothing happens to you except in accordance with GOD's will. Anyone who believes in GOD, He will guide his heart. GOD is fully aware of all things.
One of the great joys of Submission is the diversity we are blessed with in our community. We come from different nationalities and different religious, cultural, educational and family backgrounds. And yet we form the bricks in one wall. And the fact that each brick is a slightly different shape makes us stronger, like walls of mortar-less natural stones whose shapes are so perfectly fitted together that they are still standing thousands of years later.
What a gift. Praise God. May He continue to make our wall a strong and resilient one!
copied from: http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/SP/2011/nov/page3.html
this life is interesting indeed - personally speaking - when reading khalifas translation - i find omissions and his choice of words not a true representative of what i feel the verse is saying - but nevertheless - i have always maintained that the translation of Quran from original into any language is a tricky business and i commend anyone who tries to do it - it is always difficult - because the translator will first have to make sense of it - and by their making sense of it - they are already conditioned to be subjective and they are limited by their experiences and understanding - it is this limited scope that they are trying to pass on to others - i always encourage people to pick up the scripture and read themselves for themselves - Never let anyone tell you they can explain a verse to you - they can only give you their viewpoint - and that viewpoint is not binding - no matter how esteemed that person is to you or the community - for those who do not read arabic - it is best to get different versions of the translation and compare - God willing - God will direct one to the right meaning.
Khalifas translation is by no means in my view authorised - it contains mistakes and omissions where in a translation of the scripture of God there should not be any mistakes/omissions - but overall it is a good read - somewhat simplistic in its overview but a good base to start from - and as one reads and reads each day, one gets to see the chop and change of words that are used by the translator that makes it confusing to arrive at a logical sequence - but that in itself is a learning spurt spurring one to find out more about the choice of words, omissions and general flow of verses.
an example of the chop and change in a simplistic way is the use of the word "exalted" which he has translated from as tabaraka and taa'la -
for example - Most Exalted is God 7:54- he translates as Tabaraka llahu - also he uses Most Exalted is God - Fa taa'la llahu 20:114. but elsewhere he uses wataa'la llahu - He is the Most High.
on doing a bit of searching - "tabaraka" using the corpus arabic dictionary - is noted as "Blessed" - which for me rings somewhere in my head as the tail end of the word "Baraka" - is "Blessing" - http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=brk
also when looking at the other word "Aa'la" - this i guess is used elsewhere as "High" - so by saying "wa taa'la" - will can mean as "Most High"
all i can say is comme si, comme ca - to God belongs the most beautiful names - whichever attributes one uses -
this notion that we submit to God alone - is what i feel many submitters who are in process forming alliances over the 3 vs 5 prayers - shoul adopt - i have been told that some 5 prayer submitters are saying that we should not pray with the 3 prayer submitters and shouls hsun them.
I for one will not and never do this - I will pray with anyone who is praying to God alone - be it christian jews or even those who are not fully practicing - as long as the prayer is directed to Him alone - everything else of for God to judge as he knows intentions better than anyone.
Division is a tool of the devil and we should start realising this and concentrate on God alone and worshipping God alone and stop worrying about peoples thought processes and fate - we should worry about our own neck and our fate.no one can tell anyone else how it should be done, the best way to pray, the best way to worsip God, what to say in prayer - how to speak to God, this is up to the individual soul as it is the soul from each person that is accountable at the end of the day.
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe - there is no other God but thee my Lord, in this life and hereafter. Guide me to thee - with truth and with your light which illuminates and clears the way to thee. Keep me forever devoted to thee in this life and hereafter - to praise and glorify thee always. For all Glory is Thine, all Praise, Authority and Kingship, in this life and the hereafter , Be thou Glorified Most Gracious Lord.Monday, 2 January 2012
Ablutions and Hair - the negro womans problem...
IT has long since been a subject of interest of mine with regards to this aspect.
I am fascinated regarding interpretation over this aspect - Ultimately God knows best and may He guide us to the truth and grant us the understanding needed to accept it.
i remember i asked one of my muslim friends on how she observed just normal ablution - given that she too like me was prone to changing her hairstyles and unlike me she used weavons - ( these weavons are temporarily atached to the hair in some instancves covering the whole head) - the issue at hand being that with various hairstyles - contact with water is not really a yes yes in these instances.
she advised that in particular to weave-on she just left a bit of her scalp free at the back and touched water with that part;
hmmmm - with regards to myself - i and weaveon dont mix - not that i dont like it but that i cannot reconcile ablution with it - i just have to be able to wipe my hair with water and with a weave on - this does not let me do that effectively.- i dont honestly buy touching part of your head with water - and i know some people just take the weaveon as their hair and just wipe da weave with water - me i canne do that.
i asked other ladies but they were not keen to answer me. i guess for fear that maybe what they have ben doing may be percieved as wrong -but really i am not out to judge i am just looking at a way forward with this issue
if i had this issue with ablution then the greater issue of ghusul will be more apparent -
as a woman - ghusul of incumbent on me after menstruation, after sexual contact -
i remember growing up and the labourious instructions given to us at religious studies - start with washing your privates - then with intention - some long long spill that i have to memorise for washing each part of my body - then pour water on yourself from head to toe - making sure the water reaches every part of your body - then by washing the right side of your body - three times - do not touch your privates( something to that effect) then wash the left side of your body three times - all the time making sure that this is done in silence apart from the dua to make -
too complicated - i am sure at certain times of my growing up depending on which religious book i read, this practice was different when i tried to follow it - it was change after change - well until at least i started to look at the Quran itself -
As far as my knowledge goes - God correct/forgive me if i am wrong - the requirements regarding ghusul - is in relation to having a bath. thats it - it does not give step by step instructions - as is seen with ablution - but just says have a bathe after sexual contact. See 5:6 and 4:43 and 2:222 as verses from the Quran
so these countless changing reauirements (which depends on the religious book that you may be reading and also largly which sub-denomination of faith you follow) were from hadiths.
anyhow to cut the long story short - with regrads to the bathing - this then brings another set of subjective notions -
what exactly constitutes having a bathe - pouring water over your body? and in particular hair?
one can be said to have had a bathe - and may not have washed their hair with it. - when i say wash hair - (i mean pour water over their head.)
and one can also be said to have a bathe and washed their hair.
so in the case of ghusul - wash hair or not wash hair?
my instincts go with wash hair - but if i am nohest my practice is depending on what i have on my hair.
sometimes i may just pour water on my hair, or sometimes i dip my hands in water and rub them all over my scalp my opinion.
when i try to look back to see how other people do it
i think jews regard ghusul (which is mikveh) as imersion in water from head to toe - so this includes wetting the hair. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikveh
I am fascinated regarding interpretation over this aspect - Ultimately God knows best and may He guide us to the truth and grant us the understanding needed to accept it.
i remember i asked one of my muslim friends on how she observed just normal ablution - given that she too like me was prone to changing her hairstyles and unlike me she used weavons - ( these weavons are temporarily atached to the hair in some instancves covering the whole head) - the issue at hand being that with various hairstyles - contact with water is not really a yes yes in these instances.
she advised that in particular to weave-on she just left a bit of her scalp free at the back and touched water with that part;
hmmmm - with regards to myself - i and weaveon dont mix - not that i dont like it but that i cannot reconcile ablution with it - i just have to be able to wipe my hair with water and with a weave on - this does not let me do that effectively.- i dont honestly buy touching part of your head with water - and i know some people just take the weaveon as their hair and just wipe da weave with water - me i canne do that.
i asked other ladies but they were not keen to answer me. i guess for fear that maybe what they have ben doing may be percieved as wrong -but really i am not out to judge i am just looking at a way forward with this issue
if i had this issue with ablution then the greater issue of ghusul will be more apparent -
as a woman - ghusul of incumbent on me after menstruation, after sexual contact -
i remember growing up and the labourious instructions given to us at religious studies - start with washing your privates - then with intention - some long long spill that i have to memorise for washing each part of my body - then pour water on yourself from head to toe - making sure the water reaches every part of your body - then by washing the right side of your body - three times - do not touch your privates( something to that effect) then wash the left side of your body three times - all the time making sure that this is done in silence apart from the dua to make -
too complicated - i am sure at certain times of my growing up depending on which religious book i read, this practice was different when i tried to follow it - it was change after change - well until at least i started to look at the Quran itself -
As far as my knowledge goes - God correct/forgive me if i am wrong - the requirements regarding ghusul - is in relation to having a bath. thats it - it does not give step by step instructions - as is seen with ablution - but just says have a bathe after sexual contact. See 5:6 and 4:43 and 2:222 as verses from the Quran
so these countless changing reauirements (which depends on the religious book that you may be reading and also largly which sub-denomination of faith you follow) were from hadiths.
anyhow to cut the long story short - with regrads to the bathing - this then brings another set of subjective notions -
what exactly constitutes having a bathe - pouring water over your body? and in particular hair?
one can be said to have had a bathe - and may not have washed their hair with it. - when i say wash hair - (i mean pour water over their head.)
and one can also be said to have a bathe and washed their hair.
so in the case of ghusul - wash hair or not wash hair?
my instincts go with wash hair - but if i am nohest my practice is depending on what i have on my hair.
sometimes i may just pour water on my hair, or sometimes i dip my hands in water and rub them all over my scalp my opinion.
when i try to look back to see how other people do it
i think jews regard ghusul (which is mikveh) as imersion in water from head to toe - so this includes wetting the hair. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikveh
i guess there is no issue with wetting the hair - the actual issue lies when you have done your hair and it i snot practical to wet it??
but then God word/command over vanity of this life???
i guess it is clear?
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