Ammara Šabic Langic was born in Rijeka , 1974. She is a writer, a poet. Although she suffers from a multiple sclerosis , she is an active person that motivates a lot of people.
Al Rasub: Ammara, can you tell us something about your early education and place of your birth?
Ammara Šabi? Langi? : I was born in Rijeka, Croatia, 1974. I graduated from secondary school – fourth grade of trading course, with the intention to continue my studies on the field of economics. Meanwhile, war, followed by bad occasions have caused me to be denied this intention. I didn’t complain too much because it wasn’t something i really loved. My love was for the medical profession, and psychology. Also,by the will of Allah, I studied religion and religious rules and, as such, in the absence of staff at the Islamic Community in Rijeka (now „Islamic Secondary School“), I got a religious teacher certificate, with the intent to finish madrasa in Zagreb and then faculty, as a part-time student. But I got married and gave birth to four babies. I focused on my family and in trying to educate my children in the best manner. Now when my kids are already grown up, I have possibility to make my dreams come true; I’m studying Islamic Pedagogical Faculty in Zenica.
Al Rasub: Did something particularly inspired you to become a writer ?
Ammara Šabi? Langi? : To start writing a blog in which many women recognized themselves,I was largely influenced by my desire to leave some certain values to my children. The story of the daily commitment of a Muslim woman and to remain faithful. Namely, it happened to me to be affected by multiple sclerosis. Sometimes it was happening to me that I can not speak or write. I barely managed to hit the keys on the keyboard to write about my thoughts. I wanted my children to get to know me, because I became even more aware of the limitations of human life and abilities. And through it to get to know themselves, to understand the importance of self-examination that needs to be present every day in a life of a Muslim.
Al Rasub: Have you ever been confronted with provocations and opposition cos of what you are doing, as a writer, poet, bloger?
Ammara Šabi? Langi? : Of course, any public work is subject to criticism. I’ve encountered resistance and criticism only from people that are described as „little people who care about little things“ ,and as “a burden on the earth and in heaven.” Lack of understanding of priorities and the role and place of women in Islam has led some people in this position. There were a few constructive critics, from which I learned, advice’s that refined me, and suggestions that have helped me to avoid the mistakes I made. This is the positive side of interactive Da’wah.
Al rasub: Can you tell us something about your books?
AmmaraŠabi? Langi? : My books … books that I do not call them „books“. I call them notebooks. Primarily out of respect for the books of knowledge, and science written by great minds of Ummah. I am a poet, and we “wonder of the world.” Allah in the Quran mentions us in a negative context, with the exception of those who fears Allah, and stay away from sins. First book is a collection of poetry, and the other is collection of poetry and writings from my blog that its readers have recognized as useful and interesting. I didn’t write to make my fortune, although the poetry itself is fortune, and I hadn’t set a goal anything but to shift the spotlight from a marginal things that are shown as “large” to the essential things in our daily life to give difficulty in living Islam, and they were often seen as “little” things, about which is very rarely or never spoken. Here I mean primarily interpersonal relationships. I participated as an author in a joint collection of poetry, which circulation was donated as a charity. It gives me great pleasure.
Al rasub: What does it represent to you a ” modern, successful ” woman? We can often hear, especially from the western media, how Islam expect from a woman to dedicate herself only to her family, giving up on her identity and life goals. How can balance be achieved?
Ammara Šabi? Langi? : Often these standards are imposed by Muslims, who put the custom and tradition over the religious Islamic conception of the role of women and their place in society! And that is what gives the right to the Western critics of women in Islam. Muslims are the ones who have forgotten that one of the greatest Muslim minds through the history of Islam was a woman (e.g. Aisha r.a. )
Al Rasub: What is your opinion on women who are in politics? Are they being criticized by the majority and how to change that opinion, that is often social imposed in some parts of the world, that being a woman means giving up on the chance for improving her abilities and impacting the change in the world?
Ammara Šabi? Langi? : I do not agree with the participation of women in politics. This role belongs to men. However, the inevitable question arises: Do those who criticize her involvement in politics have right to criticize, when they have showed their irresponsibility towards their functions? If a woman is to blame for the fight in which she was left alone, and the burden that it is not intended to be worn by her in order to prevent greater harm? This should be considered. All these criticisms are of men who trespassed trusts! Certainly, I believe that women must have a role of counselor, because the Prophet used to consult his wives.So, women have their own “cabinet”, even in politics.And, women must have a position of “Minister for Women’s Affairs,” which will illuminate current issues of women and suggest possible solutions.
Al Rasub: How can a woman affect changes in the world? You were a witness of situations in Arab countries and their revolutions. A woman from Yemen received a Nobel award cos of her role.
Ammara Šabi? Lagi? : Woman affects all changes, from the changes in world to the changes in the family. And the fact that some women dont have an “attitude” is actually ,indeed an attitude, a retrograde one of course. I congratulate to our sister , because its a big step to dawa. I personally know women who have such influence on the social life and consciousness of the public. In Bosnia ad Hercegovina the greatest activists for human rights, developing awareness of the unity of the ummah and humanitarian activities are, actually, women. I am very proud of them. I very gladly include in their activities. Like Zemira Gorinjac said ” Where are our mans? If they were here today talking about the Israeli aggression against Palestine i would be at home, at warm, with my children. And they call us “the gentler sex” , and at the same side they prevent us from being devoted to our tenderness. Prophet , at his time very gladly listened a woman that was a poet, Hanse. Poets, if they are aware of Allah and consistent with the task of elevating the Word of Allah and justice, are developers of the awareness. My poet is revolutionary, and many people are encouraged to wake up from a decades, winter sleep. I am sure that there are many examples like this.
Al Rasub: Are the media influencing on women’s conscience? What kind of role are they imposing on women?
Ammara Šabi? Langi? : If we consider that media are actually a hoax then a Muslim woman must be aware of the 6 ajah ,Surat Al-?ujur?t :
” O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.”
From each of their words we must seek hidden messages. Its a bigger threat that we left our children to televisions and internet without any control and limits.
That is the role of a Muslim woman as the one that is forming an already unhealthy society ,in a better way in the future. How can we allow such things? How are we going to stand with this in front of Allah?
Al Rasub: According to statistics woman are getting more and more educated and economically independent. Are male population seeing that as some kind of a threat?
Ammara Šabi? Langi? : Male population generally missed its manhood, but of course, there are exceptions. But now i am talking about those who see female femininity as a threat. A successful man is not afraid of the success of another man, because he does not see in him a mirrow of his failure. Every sane man will be proud of his successful wife, encouraging and helping her along the way, with the overlook at the frontiers of Islam and not arbitrary interpretations unrealized personalities.
Al Rasub: Is it possible to be a modern and religious woman at the same time? What does it mean to you ” a modern woman” ?
Ammara Šabi? Langi? : I said before that Islam does not recognize the term “fashion”. A Muslim woman is not a trend, but current and fully affirmed all times. Our relation with ourselves is the problem. Are we satisfied with the rules of Islam or we want something more, to feel “modern” and “contemporaneous”?. Maybe the problem is in not knowing the truth and in this ego war in male-female relations.? That`s why i write articles about this topic. If a Muslim woman stand up for her rights ,rights that are within Islam, which are the guarantee of her success in both world, through which she is not deprived of the joy of life and the full realization of her personality in this world, and it also leads to happiness in the hereafter. Danger to the personality of a Muslim woman is not so much in the Western views but rather in an attempt of some group of Muslims to put her in a “box ” that they call “islamic” , and by that breaking rules of Allah.
Al Rasub: What are you future plans?
Ammara Šabi? Langi? : I do not have specific plans for the future. I work today as if I will die tomorrow, but also as if i will live much longer. My basic dua ( supplication) is that Allah gives me words and deeds which He is satisfied with. If there is khair (good) in it i will continue to write, with the permission of Allah. Also, I’m totally involved in the Association of Citizens’ Solidarity-Bosnia “, as an activist on the issue of human rights, affirming, and helping the Ummah in all matters vital to its survival , with special attention to the issue of Palestine, Syria and other areas where the blood of Muslims is spilled. This is a part of my life that gives me a complete feeling of existence. I hope to respond with gratitude to Allah on the benefits of the abilities that He has given me, because I saw how easily they could vanish. At one point i got blind , due to my disease : “Say, “Have you considered: if Allah should take away your hearing and your sight and set a seal upon your hearts, which deity other than Allah could bring them [back] to you?” Look how we diversify the verses; then they [still] turn away. ” (Surat Al-‘An`?m) . Only Allah gave me my vision back , because there is no known cure for this disease . Its like that with every abilities, with poetry, oratory, breathing . It`s only up to us, to use those given things for the truth, as the truth is one, like Allah is one.
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I’m proud of her :)***