Mixed reactions trail Muslimahbeauty pageant won by Nigeriangirl

Mixed reactions have trailed the just concluded
World Muslimah Beauty Pageant organized for
the Islamic womenfolk as a suitable option to
the glamorous Miss World beauty pageant. The
pageant which held in Jakatar, Indonesia last
week, saw young Nigerian University of Lagos
student, Aisha Ajibola Olabiyi, clinch the
winning title, with a cash prize of $2,200 and a
trip to Mecca.
Muslim women and scholars have reacted to
the pageant. Some feel the pageant violated
the Islamic rule on women, while others say
it's a welcome development. See their reactions
after the cut...
Islamic activist, Professor Lakin Akintola
released a press statement commending the
organizers of the pageant as well as felicitating
with the winner. Professor Akintola said:
"We align with the contest in view of the
fact that the criteria were not indecent
exposure and provocative postures. The
contestants were tested in the areas of
recitation of the Glorious Qur'an, Islamic
biography, Islamic jurisprudence and
current affairs. The event has also proved
beyond reasonable doubt that Islam
doesn't repress its women neither does it
push them to the background. The event
has added another feather to the cap of
Nigeria and the African continent as a
whole.
However some other scholars have
expressed
their opinions against the pageant saying
"Muslimah beauty is for the husband to see
not the world."
Faraq Musadiq, the president of the Muslim
Student Society of Nigeria, UNILAG chapter
said:
Regardless of the goodness the organizers
claim they are trying to achieve with it,
the means is totally unlawful and both the
end and the means must be justifiable by
Islam. finally the prophet made it clear
when he said "Whoever copies a group is
part of them"
Also speaking against the pageant, the
President of the Muslim Students's Society of
Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos Area Unit, Alhaji Qasim
Badrudeen said
"We cant commend such act because it is
not part of our religion. Our niqab (veil) is
not for beauty contest. It is for modesty.
Hijab is our epitome of honor and should
be treated as such. It should not be used
for a dog-to-play thing and we must know
that because some people are doing it
doesn't mean we should do it. Remember
what our prophet said, anyone that
behaves like them is one of them.
Aboo aamir al-Atharee, a popular Ede, Osun
state Muslim Scholar said the Paegent is
madness, foolishness, craziness, corruption of
land calling to lewdness and obscenity. He said
"May Allah help Eka Ashanti, the
Indonesian chief organizer of the contest
to quick repentance".
A scholar for the pageant said:
"It is a good initiative but I don't support
the word 'beauty contest' because there's
nothing like that in Islam. They should
have tagged it 'The World Quranic
Competition or something else instead of
pageant"
Aisha Zarumi described the pageant as a sinful
act in the sight of Allah. She said
"It is madness of the highest order.
Innovation is spreading everywhere. End
time is near and the future of our kids is
at stake. It is a horrible act, very
shameful"
Abiodun Subair said
"It is not what you contest for, simply
because others are doing it. Do we really
have to follow Christians in everything
they do, even when it leads to doom? This
is un-Islamic. We are described as the
best ummah, so we are meant to be
imitated, not imitating or copying people
ignorantly."