What strange thing in Muslim women's hijab(the veil)?

[mobkem]

I am surprised when I hear from the surprisingly non-Muslims about Muslim women's hijab

Look at these pictures
These images of the Virgin Mary, Mother Teresa, veiled Muslim girl



What similarities?

They are veiled !!

Certainly Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary respectable two women

What is strange?

Muslim women wore the veil !!
Or
Christian women not to wear the veil, such as the Virgin Mary and Mother Teresa and the nuns
What is strange !!

[JoeyKnothead]

Threatening women who don't want to wear a veil, in order to get them to wear one, is the difference. For me it doesn't matter whether the threat is from someone's god, or humans, but that folks are being threatened for not wearing something.

[TrueReligion]

Threatening women who don't want to wear a veil, in order to get them to wear one, is the difference. For me it doesn't matter whether the threat is from someone's god, or humans, but that folks are being threatened for not wearing something.

I think realy you have a very big misconception that muslims force women to wear Hijab.

H I J A B: HOW IT PROTECTS AND BENEFITS WOMEN AND SOCIETY
-----------------------------------------------------------

Dear Brothers and Sisters Assalamu Alaikum

I want to INFORM you through the words of a sister, why and how hijab (Islamic code of dress) protects a woman and what are its advantages. This is not coming from me but from a WESTERN woman who was born and raised in the western culture, spent most of her life on the wild side, found a deep vacuum in her life, discovered Islam, accepted it wholeheartedly, and turned her life around completely - for the better. This sister is an Irish American, has a Ph.D., teaches in a prestigious US university, wears hijab wherever she goes - in the class rooms while teaching, in the conferences and meetings she attends. She is very proud of Islam and her hijab and in the following explains the advantages and wisdom of wearing hijab. So please read with an open mind. Those who are open to reason get the guidance and better their lives, but those who have "eyes but can't see, and ears but can't hear" will wander in the wilderness of life forever. No amount of logical reasoning will help them. However, our job as Muslims, i.e., those who surrendered to Allah, is ONLY to convey the message to the darkest corners of the world. Our job as Muslims is not to impose anything on disbelivers because as Allah says in Quran, "For you is your religion, and for them is theirs".

May Allah give guidance to all of us and enable us to follow Islam which is the manual of human life. May Allah grant us the wisdom to understand Islam and to live our lives to its fullest by following its teachings. May Allah make us realize that education is not only about getting a piece of paper called degree but education is about learning and understanding life, the world, and the etiquette of living. May Allah enable us to find solutions to all the problems we encounter in life in His great message - the message of Islam. Ameen.

O Allah, no amount of gratefullness will be enough to thank for the blessing of your message of guidance you have given us. O Allah, enable all human beings to know the message of Islam, so this world will become a cradle of peace and stability and so that the forces of darkness will be defeated from the face of the earth. May Allah be our guide in this journey of life. Ameen.

Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, Irfan Hasan.

NOTE: The emphasis in capital letters are mine.

--------------START OF SISTER'S MESSAGE -----------------

H I J A B: MUSLIM WOMEN'S HEAD COVERING
The Quran, the Muslim's holy scripture, clearly enjoins Muslim men and women to dress and behave modestly. Muslim women are specifically instructed to cover their heads when in the presence of non-mahrem (potentially marriageable) men:


. Surah Al-Nur (the Light) (24:31) in the Quran states: "They (the believing women) should draw their head coverings over their bosoms...". . Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59) states: "O Prophet [PBUH] Tell thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they should put on their outer garments; that is most convenient in order that THEY MAY BE RECOGNIZED (as Muslims) and not be molested."
[MY COMMENT: This is an effective rebuttal to the argument some Muslim women have against wearing Hijab, that by wearing it they will be recognized and will be attacked. Allah clearly wants Muslims to be recognized in whatever community they live in. Their lives lived as Muslims will get other people interested in them and that will be a way of spreading the message of Islam. People will approach them and ask them why they dress like that, why they are different. Their curiousity will automatically draw them towards Islam. Allah is the most supreme starategist of the universe. He blessed us with the message of Islam (Islam means peace and security and told us strategies to spread the message which only benefits us and not Allah. Allah is beyond all needs.

Allah says in Quran that if the whole world gets united against a Muslim and want to harm him, they won't except if Allah wills, and if the whole world unites to benefit a Muslim, it won't except for Allah's will. Therefore security comes from Allah. Allah is the protector of believers. One should NEVER FEAR ANYONE BUT ALLAH and then all of his/her fears will be erased from the heart. Those who bow before Allah, bow to no one in the world - no one. As great poet of the east Dr. Allama Iqbal said (in Urdu) :


yeh Aik sijda jesay tu garaaN samajhta hai hazar sijdooN say daita hai aadmi ko nijat Translation: This one bow (to Allah) which is so hard for you,is the bow that saves you from thousands of other bows.
END OF MY COMMENT]
Both of the above Quranic references instruct the Muslim woman to cover herself with a large, loose overcoat (jilbab) and full head covering (khimar) so that no provocative part of her body will be visible. Her modest appearance would MAKE IT CLEAR TO EVERYONE THAT SHE IS A CHASTE, BELIEVING WOMAN, and no one is to molest her or sexually exploit her [My Comment: This is an effective solution to the problem of sexual harassment because a Muslim woman's modest appearance is a social statement that she is not to be messed with!!].

THE BENEFITS OF HIJAB (COVERING) FOR WOMEN
. For Muslim women, COVERING THE HEAD IS NOT THE SIGN OF DEGRADATION or oppression. It is a commandment from Allah, who is not male or female, and thus, would not discriminate against women, a segment of His creation.

. Rather, HEAD-COVERING IS A SIGN OF PURITY AND DIGNITY. It highlights the Muslim woman as a pure, chaste woman and sets her apart from the immoral behavior associated with women who dress immodestly.

. The HIJAB IS A SORT OF "SCREEN" BETWEEN THE CHASTE MUSLIM WOMAN AND THE EVIL THAT EXISTS IN THE WORLD. When a woman wears a hijab she is less likely to be harassed by men with lusty motives; SHE IS LESS LIKELY TO BE EXPLOITED FOR HER BEAUTY AND FEMINITY.

. The Hijab allows a woman to move about outside the confines of her home WITH HER ATTENTION ON THE TASKS SHE HAS SET OUT TO DO. The Muslim woman does not try to impress anyone but Allah when outside of her home. She is not concerned if men find her attractive, or if people are impressed because she has the latest fashions, or the newest hairstyle. She leaves her home as a SELF-CONFIDENT PART OF HUMAN RACE, not as a fashion-plate seeking stares and adoration in order to gain self-esteem.

. The hijab cuts down on competition among women. How many people in the West sacrifice financial savings and health in order to have plastic surgery - in a desperate attempt to meet up to an unrealistic standard of beauty. IN ISLAM, WOMEN ARE APPRECIATED FOR THEIR KNOWLEDGE, PIETY AND CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY. When women wear hijab one finds that the most beautiful women are not necessarily the most popular. Rather, a woman is assessed for her mind, and not just superficial physical traits.

Without knowing the real concept of Hijab, and the whole story, you can;t blame just because you heard in Media. its un-ethical and wrong practice my friend, please come to know the real detail, and than show anything against humanity or opression of woman if you find any.

Thanks

[T-mash]

I am surprised when I hear from the surprisingly non-Muslims about Muslim women's hijab

Look at these pictures
These images of the Virgin Mary, Mother Teresa, veiled Muslim girl



What similarities?

They are veiled !!

Certainly Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary respectable two women

What is strange?

Muslim women wore the veil !!
Or
Christian women not to wear the veil, such as the Virgin Mary and Mother Teresa and the nuns
What is strange !!

Mary is wearing a cloak.
And do you think Mother Teresa is wearing a nun-outfit so she won't get raped by the men around her? Or because she is not allowed to show her hair?

[JoeyKnothead]

From Post 3:

TrueReligion, since this is a discussion section I'm trying not to debate you, but to discuss our different perspectives. I do agree with the notion that a person of a particular religion should be bound by that religion's laws (except where such laws are in violation of a nation's laws). I'll also agree when you tell me I have no right telling Muslims how to approach their religious teachings. but...

As a non-Muslim, my perspective is the hijab is a symbol of oppression, where it is required for one group and not another - but again, a religion and its standards and all that.

This is true for any notion that a woman or man should dress in a particular fashion. Wear what you wish, and walk proud as a human. Let the gods sort out what clothing they accept or reject. Go naked for all I care, just don't wear a given piece of clothing out of fear or other pressure.

If a woman were to say she didn't want to wear it the hijab, but still worshipped Allah, I'd say she shouldn't be ostracized for her decision, but that Allah alone should be left to judge.

To those women that embrace the hijab I say good for you, for those women that see it as a symbol of oppression I say it is a civic duty not to wear it (but understand circumstances may require it for one's own safety).

Let Allah make His decisions, and let you make yours.

[TrueReligion]

From Post 3:

TrueReligion, since this is a discussion section I'm trying not to debate you, but to discuss our different perspectives. I do agree with the notion that a person of a particular religion should be bound by that religion's laws (except where such laws are in violation of a nation's laws). I'll also agree when you tell me I have no right telling Muslims how to approach their religious teachings. but...

As a non-Muslim, my perspective is the hijab is a symbol of oppression, where it is required for one group and not another - but again, a religion and its standards and all that.

This is true for any notion that a woman or man should dress in a particular fashion. Wear what you wish, and walk proud as a human. Let the gods sort out what clothing they accept or reject. Go naked for all I care, just don't wear a given piece of clothing out of fear or other pressure.

If a woman were to say she didn't want to wear it the hijab, but still worshipped Allah, I'd say she shouldn't be ostracized for her decision, but that Allah alone should be left to judge.

To those women that embrace the hijab I say good for you, for those women that see it as a symbol of oppression I say it is a civic duty not to wear it (but understand circumstances may require it for one's own safety).

Let Allah make His decisions, and let you make yours.

Right, I agree of what you said. But I said in the start of my statement, that Its misconception among people, that Hijab means opressing the women, and its a general understanding that no women want to wear Hijab, only muslim men are forcing her.

Only I clear this misconception, otherwise there are many muslim women in the world, who don't wear Hijab, and no one is forcing them to wear as well.

But if some1 give example of Saudi-Arab or Iran, its their country law, and we dont have to object for that. its every person's duty to follow the country law.

Thanks for understanding the points again.

[Furrowed Brow]

They are veiled !!

Er....they are not veiled.

Veiled means to cover the face...they only got their heads covered.....no problem with that.

The veil ....covering the face...on the other hand puts back feminism and female liberty back about 800 years whilst enforcing a medieval gender divide and reveals a screwed up attitude to women and sex and gender roles.

On this point western democracy should be quite unequivocal. The veil has no place in a modern western democracy. It should be banned from all forms of public life and government institutions. Teachers, schools, nurses, police, politicians, places of employment etc should all be areas and and areas of employement where people are barred from covering their faces unless on riot control or ski trip or sand storms or some special occasion.

An age limit for veil wearing should also be introduced. I'd pluck for 18.

Veil wearing for private citizens otherwise should be discouraged but not banned. covering the head for religious reasons should not be legislated against and where possible respected.

I work across n orth London and have seen an increase in the number of women wearing the veil over the last 5 years or so. I think we need a Muslim Emily Pankhurst to step forward.

[TrueReligion]

They are veiled !!

Er....they are not veiled.

Veiled means to cover the face...they only got their heads covered.....no problem with that.

The veil ....covering the face...on the other hand puts back feminism and female liberty back about 800 years whilst enforcing a medieval gender divide and reveals a screwed up attitude to women and sex and gender roles.

How?

On this point western democracy should be quite unequivocal. The veil has no place in a modern western democracy. It should be banned from all forms of public life and government institutions. Teachers, schools, nurses, police, politicians, places of employment etc should all be areas and and areas of employement where people are barred from covering their faces unless on riot control or ski trip or sand storms or some special occasion.

Does Western democracy means it represent whole world?

An age limit for veil wearing should also be introduced. I'd pluck for 18.

Veil wearing for private citizens otherwise should be discouraged but not banned. covering the head for religious reasons should not be legislated against and where possible respected.

I work across n orth London and have seen an increase in the number of women wearing the veil over the last 5 years or so. I think we need a Muslim Emily Pankhurst to step forward.

And why we would need this? any reason or justification?

[Ms_Maryam]

I think a lot of people are missing the point.

The fact is, throughout history, it was seen respectable for women to cover their hair, veil, headcovering, whatever you want to call it.

[Ms_Maryam]

Good thread.

I think the point is being missed, however. I think the point is that veiling, or whatever you'd like to call it, has it's roots throughout history, not only amongst Muslims.

From the earliest records, it was a sign of respect/status for women to cover their hair. An Assyrian legal text, which dates back to the 13th century BC forbade prostitutes from veiling, restricting it's use to "respectable" women. There are many other examples of this from people who weren't even Muslim.

Now if you disagree with the hijab, and feel that it is a sign of oppression, that's a whole another debate.

I'd definately recommend finding out on the history of veiling.