I was talking to my daughters yesterday about studies that say a percentage of suicide cases among girls and adolescent…
I was talking to my daughters yesterday about studies that say a percentage of suicide cases among girls and adolescents is a result of hating their appearances! One of my daughters said to me: "Yes, it's true...we often hear from them the phrase: I look ugly!"
The problem is bigger than many parents imagine...A girl spends time on platforms like Instagram... where they exchange pictures of "artists," "singers," and "celebrities"...then the girl sits comparing herself to these "beauty role models"!
The girl doesn't know that many of these undergo surgeries and suffer psychologically to maintain their external appearance...
She doesn't know that these are the clearest examples of women's "objectification," treating her as a commodity, not as a human being.. and that many of them hide under the layer of skin and its cosmetics and creams a crushed, disturbed, scattered, weak, fearful soul...
The girl hasn't learned from her parents, nor in her school, nor in her society that her value is in her religion and the beauty of her character and soundness of her mind and goodness of her heart...all of which are acquired qualities that don't require cosmetics or surgeries, and only increase in beauty with time, unlike physical beauty which may fade and wither..
Her upbringing wasn't based on Allah's saying: (Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you) and the saying of our Prophet peace be upon him: (Indeed, Allah does not look at your bodies or your forms, but He looks at your hearts) (narrated by Muslim).
Rather, even young men's and men's standards when marrying are often related to external appearance and neglect goodness of heart and purity of soul...
And the result: The girl hating her appearance (which for her is the measure of her value)...so her self-image becomes shaky, and she may even object to her destiny!
My daughter....be strong and independent, strong in your faith and pride in your religion and what Allah has granted you of qualities, and independent of the false standards circulated by some girls of your generation and society...Your value is not determined by these people, for they don't possess happiness or tranquility for themselves, let alone to grant it to you. And gather your heart on the pleasure of the One who looks at your heart, Glory be to Him, to live content, tranquil, pleasing.