When Ramadan rolls around, everyone gets ready. Qur’an recitation fills our homes and hearts – taraweeh and qiyam take over our nights – our days are sprinkled with thikr and supplication – The days are charged with excitement. Every day is a chance to earn reward, every day a chance to be forgiven. And when the last 10 days of Ramadan come around, those last 10 nights, we gear up even more, ready, anticipating, searching for the best night of our lives. And then, before we know it, Ramadan is over. And we wait again for the next yet, hoping and praying to be blessed with witnessing another Ramadan.

The world of movies and acting is an enticing one to many, full of bright lights, fancy clothes, and promises of fame and happiness. Even some Muslims are so busy staring into the lights, they’re blinded to the reality of it. Hala Sheha is a contemporary sister of our times – and until a few years ago, she was also a famous Egyptian actress. In a recent television interview her husband did on an Egyptian channel, Hala called in to the program to tell her story, and give a few words of advice.

I underwent open heart surgery. And the next day, I woke up from the surgery, and the stitching and everything had been completed. The doctors were passing by, those supervising patients in the intensive care unit. And this was immediately after my waking up from the anesthetic, after 24 hours from the operation. The nurse in charge of me noticed a matter – something in the blood – so he informed the doctor on duty. So the doctor asked another doctor, and this other doctor asked a third doctor, until there were nearly 14 people, doctors and others in charge of patients, gathered.

I wore my best hijab last night, a beautiful, shiny hijab with bright embroidery and sequins. I never wear bright scarves when I go out. I try for dull, matte colors – usually black, if I’m being honest – to match the black abayas I wear. I don’t want to look bad when I go out, but I don’t want to look particularly attractive or decorated when I’m outside my home either.

Sheikh, I’m troubled about the affairs of Muslims these days. There’s a fierce campaign against the niqab going on. Niqab is being attacked, as if there is nothing else wrong or ailing the Muslims except for the niqab, and the magazines are attacking Muslims and all that is Islamic. There are even famous Shuyookh attacking the niqab, and the prevalent phrase is that niqab is an “ignorant, outdated custom.” Sheikh, I would like you to comment on this fierce attack which has bothered us all.