Amid a nationwide debate in France surrounding attitudes towards the Islamic veil, or hijab, a French rapper has surprised fans by announcing her conversion to Islam and choosing to wear a headscarf.
Mélanie Georgiades, known as Diam’s, has gone through what onlookers have described as a “complete transformation” from an image she had prior to 2009.
Since 2009, Diam’s had been unusually absent from the mainstream rap scene, prompting more than three years of controversy over her whereabouts, despite making the odd public appearance with her scarf. But recently the French rapper made her first television appearance with her new image.
Diam’s appeared in an exclusive TV interview with French TV station TF1, to talk about a past experience with drugs, including hallucinating narcotics, and being in a mental asylum until she discovered the “serenity of Islam.” The rapper said the religion was introduced to her by coincidence, when she saw a Muslim friend praying.
Diam’s, said she has been married for over a year and is a now a new mother, moving far away from her drug-relate past.
In her TV interview she said her “conversion to Islam was the result of a personal conviction, after understanding the religion and reading the Holy Quran.”
When asked about wearing the hijab in France, a country which has banned the niqab, she said: “I believe that I live in a tolerant society, and I don’t feel hurt by criticism, but by insults and stereotyping and ready-made judgments.”
Asked by her host about why she is wearing a hijab while many Muslim women don’t wear it, and don’t find it to be a religious obligation, she answered: “I see it as a divine order or a divine advice, this brings joy to my heart and for me this is enough.”
Shall we say her new name is Diam? She should have got a new name.
It is great effort on her part to part ways with ridiculous things. May Allah bless her soul with perpetual happiness. Ameen.
About Hijab, It is good to wear it but at check posts and security matters, the face should be visible.
If there was not so much vice in the world i.e. nudity and sex and drinking and gambling, there may not be need for Hijab. But in the present state of the world, it is necessary to use something to avoid any trouble.
If a lady has applied make up then she should even cover her face in public.
Her beauty should be for her own near and dear ones only.
She has learnt good lessons about Islam. WE pray to Allah that she makes speedy progress towards real salvation. It is the duty of those who have guided her that they should not cheat her or hurt her. They should not let her down.
The issue of inner sense of modesty (applicable to both men and women) and its outward manifestation as veil or hijab is a matter entirely between a woman and her Creator. There is no compulsion in religion. Due observation of recommendations and commands of the Qur’an is dependent on Taqwa and voluntary seeking of the pleasure of Allah- ultimately within the domain of intentions.