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March 7, 2010 82 Comments

my-hijab_my-choice

Image Source: blackisred

Written by: Farah El-Sharif

I am inclined to respond to Farida Farouk's article 'Lower Thy Gaze? Avodart without prescription, ' as it appeared on 7iber on March 2, 2010. In her piece, Farouk uses ample Qur'anic sources to differentiate between concepts such as hijab, khimar and jilbab to show that "hijab" as we know it today is somehow misunderstood to have become a "purely political issue, promoted by the Muslim Brotherhood movement" and a reminder of "the Muslim resistance to what the West might stand for such things as modernity, secularism, Buy avodart from india, feminism and globalism." While I agree that there have been many negative (and positive!) cultural, social and even political dilutions to our understanding of any scriptural source, I am wary that approaching subjects such as these with pure speculation rather than sound knowledge might risk making gravely false claims about Islamic teachings on the matter, and the millions of Muslim women who willingly choose to wear the hijab.

[caption id="attachment_4963" align="alignright" width="308" caption=" "I'm a hijabi too. And no… the Muslim Brotherhood had nothing to do with it…"(image source: EWTN)"][/caption]

Indeed, cost avodart, Muslim women and men alike do have a choice in all aspects of their religion, not merely what dress they choose to wear. While I'm sure some can appreciate Farouk's reminder that "Muslim women have a choice", we actually need not go further than the Qur'an itself to remind us that we are responsible over our own actions: "There shall be no compulsion in religion, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path" (Qur'an 2:256), avodart without prescription. It is important to add therefore, that part of the Muslim creed is the realization that the choices we make in the everyday facets of our lives will either bring us closer or farther to reward in this life and in the hereafter. So, Buy avodart pills, the fact that we have a choice in Islam does not mean that Muslims are thereby somehow immune from making a "wrong choice." This is perhaps how Islam is unique to Christianity, for example; Muslims are meant to find happiness by embodying the teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah in their everyday life from what they wear, what to eat, how to spend their money…etc. Therefore, the typical scenario for many Muslim women, including myself, avodart vendors, shows that covering our bodies (and hair) is in fact a "right choice", not just "a choice" – a humble fulfillment of God's clear commandment, and an adherence to recommendation of his beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him:

Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest. Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, Avodart prices, except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do. (Qur'an 2:85).

While I welcome Farouk's effort at "researching" the Qur'an for proofs that the hijab Avodart without prescription, is a political fabrication, I would have hoped to see a less simplistic approach in tackling a rich issue such as this, especially when referring the Holy Book. After all, esteemed scholars of Islam have studied the fiqh of the Muslim dress and moral code for centuries, long before the Muslim Brotherhood ever existed, and have come to a legal consensus that covering the hair and body is, in fact, avodart buy, a fard – a religious obligation – for every Muslim woman, no matter how "liberal" or "radical" any given Mufti is on other issues. Farouk single-handedly abrogates centuries of this legal tradition by reading verse 31 of Surat Al-Noor in explaining that the covering that is recommended is that of the bosom only, and not the hair. I will not go into the misinformation of this tafsir for the sake of time, Avodart pharmacy online, but I ask, is it possible that zeenah only means bosoms thereby making it normal for Muslim women to reveal their breasts to " their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, avodart malaysia, or their women". (Qur'an 24:31) Excuse my crassness, but surely this is a preposterous thought by any measure.

I would like to add that Farouk also makes a hasty and incomplete claim by asking: "why don't the men just control themselves?" Well, the Qur'an is clear that "modesty codes" are to be followed by women and men both, avodart without prescription. If Farouk cared to do her research with more care, she would find that the verse she sites is actually preceded by another verse commanding men to lower their gaze too:

" Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do" (Qur'an 24:30).

From an Islamic standpoint, Order avodart on internet, preserving piety and modesty is a reciprocal relationship incumbent just as much upon men as it on women. I would advise Farouk and anyone else who is interested in understanding the spiritual and social function of what is today commonly known as "hijab" by consulting reliable sources. For a modern interpretation, I would recommend the works of Sheikh Mohammad al-Ghazali al-Sakka, may God rest his soul.

All of this doesn't annul the fact that, from a traditional Islamic perspective, avodart online stores, wearing the hijab should be a matter of choice, despite the sad reality that it is sometimes done – or not done – for the wrong reasons. The popular political or cultural trends of any given time do not make hijab Avodart without prescription, any less of a religious requirement (except when a woman's safety is compromised, ex. hijab in America right after 9/11) When Farouk says "hijab is usually sought out by men, who are concerned about protecting the sexuality of the female in question in order to protect their honor" is alarmingly misinformed a claim. If anything, Avodart, Islam came to eradicate such backwards thinking. Most women I know who choose to wear hijab either do it out of their own free will, and sometimes even against the will of their fathers or brothers. The type of "forced", "cultural" hijab Farouk is referring to is the exception, not the norm. By assuming that most Muslim women who wear the hijab are oppressed, Farouk contradicts her initial plea that hijab should be a choice: according to her logic, hijab – a political tool of patriarchal oppression – should not be condoned at all, avodart without prescription. Such rhetoric is reminiscent of biased Orientalists or some Islamophobes in extremist secular societies in laïcité France, avodart in australia, that seek to make it illegal for a Muslim woman to exercise her religious freedom of wearing a headscarf in public places.

I am especially wary of Farouk's equation of hijab with a Muslim resistance to "modernity, secularism, feminism and globalism": for many professional, educated and bright Muslim women I know, Drug avodart, there is no contradiction in wearing the hijab with being liberal or modern, traditionalist or feminist, globalist or authentic. I even find this "clash ofcivilizations"-type claim rather insulting (and I am not easily insulted): it is not my intention to turn this into a personal story, but I am only sharing it because it is a scenario that happens so rampantly, and yet is not told nearly enough. After having had made the conscious choice to wear the headscarf in the US, order avodart overnight delivery, I do not believe that I was going through an identity crisis, nor was I trying to make a political claim in the West (and I promise you I wasn't brainwashed by an "Ikwani Imam", and rest assured my father could care less whether I wore a peacock leaf or a sombrero – let alone a mere scarf – on my head). Avodart without prescription, I consider myself lucky enough to have been awakened to my spiritual capacity as a dignified Muslim woman, true to the teachings of my sophisticated creed. I felt more "modern, global and feminist" in the process – and yes, Low cost avodart, even more beautiful and feminine knowing that I had control over who could see my God-given attributes, or my zeenah as the Noble Qur'an so aptly calls it. Echoing the great Martin Luther King, I ask, what greater return to the "content of our character" than an act of emancipation from the debasing tendency for men to judge a woman's worth based on her looks?

Perhaps this is a matter of perspective, but I think high heels, mini-skirts, where to buy avodart, outrageous hairdos and starving oneself to achieve unrealistic body image are more oppressive pursuits than a headscarf can ever be. Wearing a headscarf, I do not feel militant, oppressed or ignorant; quite the contrary, I feel honored, Fda approved avodart, proud and strong to be resembling the noblest of women in history, from Mary the Mother of Jesus to Fatima, the lady of all the women of the world - may God be pleased with them both. And even if that weren't my attitude, I don't believe anybody has the right to assume anything about me, my political views, my family or my educational background just by looking at my appearance. Isn't that is in itself a form of oppression and disrespect?

It is ironic – and somewhat sad – that an American Jewish journalist could perhaps capture the very essence of hijab better than Farouk, avodart online pharmacy, my Arab Muslim sister, when she wrote about the subject last year:

The West interprets veiling as repression of women and suppression of their sexuality. But when I travelled in Muslim countries and was invited to join a discussion in women-only settings within Muslim homes, I learned that Muslim attitudes toward women's appearance and sexuality are not rooted in repression, but in a strong sense of public versus private, of what is due to God and what is due to one's husband, avodart without prescription. It is not that Islam suppresses sexuality, but that it embodies a strongly developed sense of its appropriate channelling - toward marriage, the bonds that sustain family life, Buy avodart internet, and the attachment that secures a home.

The extremely apologetic rhetoric used by Farouk is in my opinion as dangerous as – if not more than – radical Islamist thought: when one forgoes the richness of the Muslim tradition by thinking they are promoting a "moderate" outlook, one in fact risks abandoning the skeletal structure of Islam altogether and its true potential to create a wholly moral, balanced and healthy society. By making totalitarian claims over what it means to be "modern" and "free", aren't we basically just adopting a form of empty inferiority complex towards "the West". I'm not so sure what is so modern and liberating about domestic abuse and rape – social ailments that are ten times more prevalent in "the West" than they are in Muslim-majority societies.

Thank you, buy avodart us, Ms. Farouk, for the reminder that "Muslim women should know that they have a choice in these matters and that their lives should be their own". And thank you for remembering us, we the poor, sad and oppressed muhajjabas that are not only choking in our headscarves by the Ikhwan and our awful fathers, but also face obstacles such as "illiteracy and inadequate healthcare" too. Thanks, but… no, thanks.

Mohanned

While I disagree with some of the points you make, I applaud you for the well thought and the well written reply. Good Job!

On a side note: Don't you think that sometimes enablers lead to unintended consequences that in many cases make some “choices” becomes less of what they actually are,i.e. choices? The fact that your personal experience is distinct from the experiences of many other women leaves you with little wiggle room when it comes to defending some of your beliefs.

Some “interpretations” of religious texts enable oppression in many forms. Such interpretations need not to have been made in specific time in history,but rather they evolved with time to only become more extreme.In a way the society and the majority of its members become primed to accepting and supporting things they otherwise won't.
Anas

“ Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze …” However, nobody is forcing a man to lower his gaze, no special cloth is used to force him to lower, not a punishment. Because men who have written these religious laws don't feel like forcing themselves, but they can sure force a pitty women to wear the Hijab. It's her fault men get aroused, isn't it?!!

The Hijab is a desert heritage, pure and simple, you will find it in most desert societies around the world. It is simple oppression and the fact that you have chosen to wear it doesn't make less oppressive as a tool to control women.
faridafarouk

If you have carefully read my piece you would know that I did say that BOTH Muslim men and women are asked to lower their gaze, when they find themselves face to face with one another.

The fact that you compare your hijab to what Mary the Mother of Jesus wore makes no sense. The dress worn by Mary and Christian nuns is different from the hijab. Also the Christian nuns are the women, who hold themselves by vow to poverty, chastity and obedience and dedicate their lives to the service of the church. In other words, they are equivalent to male monks, hence the dress they wear to differentiate themselves from normal Christian women. Muslim women do not belong to the category of nuns, nor do they dedicate their lives to the service of their mosques or religion. So there really is no comparison here!

Now regarding what I said about covering the bosom. Avoiding eye contact and covering sexual organs appropriately are two of the ways through that both Muslim men and women should avoid commission of adultery. Also, Muslim women are not just supposed to cover their bosoms before strangers, they are also required to keep their bodies and their bosoms covered with an extra piece of cloth from many other close relatives.

You claim that modernity and liberty in the west go hand in hand with rape and domestic violence, well let me ask you why did you study in the West?? Just because we don’t have enough statistics and research about domestic violence and rape in the Arab and Muslim world doesn’t mean that they don’t take place. In fact they do, and thanks to the internet we read of many horrible and disgusting stories happening throughout the Arab world. You say the West has rapists and domestic abusers. I would say that in the Arab and Muslim countries we have honor killings, child abuse and an alarming percentage of murder rates especially of women; where they are persecuted by the laws of certain countries when they are victims of violent crimes (assault, domestic violence, rape), where self-defense can hold the same consequences as committing the original crime. Comparatively speaking, both the Arab and Muslim world are light years behind the West counterparts.

The Muslim Brotherhood has prompted and spread their teachings to urge women to wear the hijab and this has become predominantly evident over the past 20 years. However, you claim and have said over and over again in your article that women have a choice to wear the hijab. I am not debating the fact that SOME women do make that kind of choice and like you said, I have already mentioned it in my article. However, the claim you make about MOST women having a choice and that the ones who are oppressed and forced are the exception is weak! The ONLY women who have a choice to wear the hijab are the ones who are empowered i.e. well educated and financially independent, if we want to get technical about this, I can tell you that no more than 20% of Arab women are in the work force and I am being generous with the figure I am gave! Until women are actually empowered and can take their own matters into their own hands in all aspects of their lives, will I take your argument about the general choice of wearing the hijab seriously!
farahelsharif

Sir, no one is forcing the women either. Why are you equating gaze = cloth? One should lower their gaze no matter what the other person is wearing.

So you are saying I *choose* to oppress myself? Wow. Did you even read my article?
Muslimah

Farah,
Thank you for writing this article. As a Muslim woman who wears hijab, I am so tired of others speaking on my behalf when they do not even know the first thing about why I wear hijab and what the benefits are. Have you noticed that the only people in agreement with points of view like Farida's are Muslim women who don't wear the hijab, men, and non-Muslims? But you never see a Muslim woman who actually does wear hijab sharing the same view! This, in itself, speaks volumes. Thank you, Farida, but we (the ones who wear hijab) will be the ones to speak on our own behalf.
Anas

I did read your article and no, you don't choose to oppress yourself, you're just following what you have been ordered to do, to wear a Hijab. You're being a good obedient girl!

It is logical that both sexes have to lower their gaze but what's not logical is that a woman is forced to cover head-to-toe and a man can walk around half-naked, ankles to just above his mid-section. Doesn't this give you a tiny hint of how unfairly you choose to live?

If god told you ” … and concerning the hair, that's optional.” Do you think any girl would then choose to wear a Hijab?! Heck it's optional and it's really hot in summer, no woman in her right mind would wear it. I bet you only a small wacky minority would then choose it, since it's not obligatory.

Grow up and stop thinking like a child, take command of your life.
Anas

Sorry, correction.. “Knees to just above his mid-section.”
ahmedhamdan

“Perhaps this is a matter of perspective, but I think high heels, mini-skirts, outrageous hairdos and starving oneself to achieve unrealistic body image are more oppressive pursuits than a headscarf can ever be! ” So true sister and i wonder why the same people who are agaisnt Hijab don't write about such issue. Thank You Farah For your Post
Down with ignorance

Anas, maybe you should attempt to “grow up and stop thinking like a child”, why don't you start off by reading or researching the issue of veiling instead of firing away groundless assumptions and child-like insults. One of Farah's main arguments pointed out that hijab is more than a physical embodiment of religion, it in fact signifies a certain spiritual connection with God and religion. “Hair” or “heat” is really not the issue here. Of course, religion and the extent one chooses to follow it is a personal choice, however it is quite petty to oppose a matter you don't seem to even slightly grasp.
nas k

about a month ago I was in a Palestinian refugee camp,while I saw some horrific and inhumane conditions ,there is one image that really caught my eye and has been on my mind since.The sign in the Islamic controlled section of the camp simply read ” Ukhti, Hijaboki aghla min dammi”

translated, this more or less means ” Sister , your hijab is more valued than my blood”

a couple of weeks before that I had a a fight with a en employee at a public sector institution in Amman, I was mad that the accountant was missing for over 50 mins cause he went to pray and his superior did not seem to think there is anything wrong with that.

the head of the a commercial section of a certain govt walked in on a meeting I had with them a few days after christmas and and I wished him a merry christmas , a confused woman wearing the hijab later told me: how dare you ? a muslim , wish a christian a merry christmas

I believe this view of Islam is more dangerous that the armed militant groups themselves, so what if my government is raising taxes without justification? that 50% of our people cant read or write? hey at least I pray five times a day and since I am not goin to win any war with the current circumstances at least I am working for the after life, this seems to be how most of my people practice their religion, while they are not extremist in the sense that they are not terrorists their ignorance ways are even more dangerous .they have given up on change, they have given up on the fight with the conditions we live in because they seek that ever lasting heaven that not even here on this earth,

I am not saying the good ladies on this debate belong to that group, however , they obviously do not represent the majority of women who wear hijab, most Jordanians donot speak english ast well, there for, your command of the language puts you in a category of its own among the citizens of the country , let alone the category of women who wear hijab,

The majority of women who wear the hijab come from very different back grounds, you for example wont scold me for wishing a christian a merry christmas , ( at least thats the impression i got from your civility during the debate) and I dont think you take an hour away for work just to pray.

Most men in Jordan dont see anything wrong with giving away their daughters to marry men they have not met, Most Jordanian women agree that their husbands have the right to beat them up if they act up. You mean to tell me that women has the same understanding of the hijab as you? I am sorry but that is simply not true.

These women are told when to talk , what to say, whom to marry , when and where they are allowed to leave home, etc etc , so yes hijab on these women is not something they chose, and go to east amman, and then tell me whether you think the 6 year old girl wearing the hijab has a choice not to wear it now or when she is an adult!!!

in saudi arabia its a law, so how can you say women there have a choice?

by focusing on our own personal understanding and conditions , you are missing the point.
farahelsharif

thank you, 'down with ignorance' … “واذا خاطبكم الجاهلون قولو سلاما” right?

anas – not that I think I need to make this clear, again, but I do. have “command over my life” by choosing to be a Muslim woman. and perhaps you need to brush up on your knowledge of biology – there are differences between men and women, men don't cover as much as women do because it would be pointless for men to wear hijab. if the concept of awra meant anything to you, having this conversation would make sense. since it clearly does not, then please excuse me in advance if I choose not to respond to your comments in the future.
asoom

Farah, THANK YOU! I can't say I agree with every one of your points but I'm so thankful that an intelligent woman wrote a beautiful article to counter Farida Farouk's piece.

I read Farida Farouk's article a few days ago and I just became really angry reading it. However I just didn't have the time to properly reply and since I'm in the middle of a hectic semester I couldn't afford to defocus like that anyway. So I'm so thankful that someone was able to represent.

First of all I'm so sick of men or women that don't wear hijab intending to “educate” the rest of the world about hijab. Just stick to speaking for yourselves please.

Second of all I was so angry that I was reduced to being part of a political movement. My decision to wear hijab was very personal and I don't go around preaching to others about hijab. It pisses me off that I find myself having to justify my choices (like now for instance). SO, my response to farida farouk putting me into a category of being part of a pop movement is that I'm sorry to disappoint you ms.farouk (and all who agreed with her), but there are some people that actually make decisions and do things purely for the sake of God. Some people's primary motivations behind actions is ACTUALLY a religious one. It's for a reason way above any of that that is cultural, religious, traditional or bla bla bla. Does that ever occur to you?

Maybe your brain is too cluttered with your know-it-all arrogance or worldy distractions to truly comprehend that concept.

I'm a hijabi by choice, now please leave me alone.
farahelsharif

hmm I don't know whether to be flattered that you would consider me such a unique example, or saddened that missed MY point of the entire article: just because you see a million men and women not embodying that true spirit of Islam, doesn't mean it's Islam's fault.

you cited sad and unfortunate examples from a palestinian refugee camp, to your work place, to saudi arabia to prove the point: look how those Muslims are, Islam is bad. well, I argue that TRUE ISLAM is an antidote to backwardness, extremism, closed-mindedness, ignorance, ingratitude, arrogance…etc. you are right to be frustrated by the guy who spends 50 minutes at prayer or the lady who scolded you for saying merry Christmas, I would argue they have adopted an outward religiosity devoid of an inner, spiritual core – the most important part. the prophet, peace be upon him, when asked who was better: the man who sits in the mosque all day or the man who provides for his family, said the provider is better. the reason why I think this laziness, selfishness and a trend to deform Islam from what it really is, happens because of an ignorance towards the true teachings of our religion from an early age – also the political system is closed, and the Arab nationalist project made religion to be archaic and old, its ulama's obsolete. today, we are witnessing a desire to return to our more glorious past, a time when Muslim could indeed balance deen and dunya better than today, but are witnessing a lot of hurdles in the way. don't underestimate the effects of colonialism, militarism, authoritarianism, materialism and westernization on Muslim majority societies today. and despite all of that, I still don't think abusing Islam is excusable, but we must come to the realization that Islam – if understood and implemented correctly – will become a civilizing medium, rather than a debasing one. we need educated and brave men like you to speak up and educate other Muslims around them, rather than curse these crazy religious people. and if that doesn't work, then study your own tradition the way that suits your intellect and better judgement, but don't judge others and call it a day.
http://www.lasharaffiljareemah.ning.com/ Deena

Thank you very much for your engaged and sensitive response (I mean the latter in the most positive of manners). Though I do not see eye to eye with you on all points, and I do not wear the hijab myself so I am not one to speak, but I deeply respect your ability to respond to simplistic understandings of what it means to be 'empowered' and 'oppressed'. Thus, I wholeheartedly agree that “high heels, mini-skirts, outrageous hairdos and starving oneself to achieve an unrealistic body image” can all be mediums of oppression that propel (insecure) women to pursue the (lustful) male gaze as a sign of legitimation.
However, in your defence of hijab and its emancipatory potential in this regard, I am wary once again of simplistic understandings that equate a woman's dress with her world views and (implicitly) morality. While hijab may be one way for some women to feel respected and enlightened, and more able to partake in engaging effectively in their societies, other women feel compelled to do the same without wearing a hijab, with just as much self-respect and dignity.
Similarly, just like emancipation is not exclusive to unveiled women (some are ‘oppressed’ others are not), it also isn’t exclusive to women who do wear the hijab (even while the majority of women who wear the hijab, as you pointed out, do so out of choice, you must account for a minority who can not claim ownership over their own bodies). Simplistic understandings from either perspective are detrimental to solidarity. While I say that, I am inclined to empathise with women who wear the hijab for always being put on the defensive.
In my personal view, rhetoric from both sides can in fact marginalise those who just want to lead ethical lives and are fed up of having to explain their dress choices (whether they wear the hijab or not) as a testament to their personal values and ideals. I mean, can’t we just get over this already?
Deena

Also, I once found the discussion here useful, it's been on my favourite list since:
http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/dress/hijab.html
Thanks again :)
Anas

Was I firing away? Yes I was and I'll attempt to be less aggressive. Now let me try to logically find some reasoning here…

“..it in fact signifies a certain spiritual connection with God and religion” I believe that this connection you're referring to here is in fact a feeling that she gets when she submits to God's will and I use the word Submission here because that is the literal translation of the word Islam (يسلم نفسه لله). It is obedience and this obedience is what gives her this feeling of connection.

Taking control of one's life means here that one should examine & question all that has been given throughout generations & society, put in context, scrutinize and then choose.. Although Farah believes that she has accomplished that, however I believe that she has at the end chosen the path of obedience to get that special connection you are talking about. Thus 'directing' reason for the sake of a connection, a feeling.

I leave the witty answer for you…
Anas

Farah I do apologize for the irritating way I have commented before, it was written quickly while I was at work.

“Have command over your life” not by being a Muslim woman but by being a self-directed, independent & free-thinking woman. I do honestly mean it. What I think you're trying to do is be a follower and by writing you're piece, you were trying to rationalize what you have chosen to follow. Please read my comment on the person who commented before you, I think it clearly explains your position.
nas k

Nowhere did I make the statement that its islams fault , what I clearly said was the following

most of our people live in poor conditions and are not well educated and not well read , Greece publishes more books than all our countries put together,thus there understanding of Islam is lacking. most muslim women who wear the hijab live under such circumstances ( this is simple math really) and thus have no say in the decision of wearing the hijab.

you and the other ladies that have chosen to do so , you did this with your OWN conviction, you did this because you chose to apply the teachings of Islam the way YOU understand it.

your brother did not force it on you, nor did he claim that your hijab is worthy of his own life, nor did your father put you in one when you were 6 years , the majority of women however do not come from these conditions, this is the point of my previous post , plain and simple.
hamede

Good post thank you.
Sean

“Therefore, the typical scenario for many Muslim women, including myself, shows that covering our bodies (and hair) is in fact a “right choice”, not just “a choice” – a humble fulfillment of God’s clear commandment, and an adherence to recommendation of his beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him:”

OK, if this is the case, can you please explain why so many of the high-profile Muslim women in leadership positions who are direct descendents of the Prophet (pbuh) do not wear the hijab? If the issue were so clear, it seems they would be the first to don it but, often, they are among the most “Westernized.” And I am using that term in the pejorative sense you use it (e.g., “high heels, mini-skirts, outrageous hairdos and starving oneself to achieve unrealistic body image”), even though it bears little correlation to the daily reality of most Westerners. Not every or even most Westerners look that way, and some Africans, Asians, Latins, and, yes, Arabs, do, so it seems to me what you stereotype as Western is actually perhaps simply a more modern take on femininity.
Mohanned

One more thing from a theoretical perspective: When you say “choice” what do you exactly mean? Is it the choice to avoid punishment in the after life?

The rewards and/or punishments attached to some behaviors from a religious perspective leave believers with little choice. For example, if someone believes that committing one of the greatest seven sins leads to hell,then his/choice are about not committing such behaviors rather than committing them. Same thing for Hijab, if not wearing hijab is punishable in the afterlife then those who don't wear it are the ones who actually chose. The ones who do, didn't choose in the theoretical sense,in a way they chose to obey in order to avoid punishment or to gain the rewards attached to the behavior- rewards need not be things in the afterlife, they might be the sense of pride, privacy, ownership, individualism, etc…

BTW, I am not trying to allude to anything. I am simply trying to look at the issue from a different perspective.
Pingback: Another Side of The Hijab Story « my treasure
rimasaifi

Although most educated women who wear Hijjab do that on their own will , sadly women or even young girls are forced to wear hijab either by relatives or by merely following traditions in their surroundings . I can't argue on Hijabb being Wajeb I guess the Quran and Sunna are clear that it is. I don't wear the Hijab but don't argue about it Legitamacy I just feel I can't handle the pressure of being the representer of Islam i.e. when I wear the Hijab I want to be completely certain that I can own it . Which I can honestly say that some woman in different parts of jordan don't honor it as matter of a fact most disgrace it by acting unislamicly . For me Islam should be realised by action not only by this piece of cloth. The Hijab should be what completes it not what represent it .
bambambi

It is a well written article, and as a human you are free to do whatever you want and wear whatever you want if you wish to… but in an afterlife with consequence you are practically limited in your choices when you will be punished in the after life for certain choices that you make.
This is like saying that a kid has a choice to put his hand in the fire, but it's a foolish choice to make… it's not like you are pushing the idea that it is an inconsequential choice like wearing a blue scarf over a red one it is put as quite the important and grave source.
That is reflected by you mentioning that the hijab is a fard, and i presume you consider it a fard ayn rather than kifaya… the reality is and history of the veil is that was not widely adopted by muslims.
In pre-islamic times it was used to denote status and to distinguish people, During the Abbasid period the majority of muslim women where unveiled and only the upper class cared about their cloth and fashion, and probably most famous of that period is Zubayda wife of haron al rashid.
So what you are saying that an important part of islam was not adopted by the majority of muslims during the golden age of islam? Actually it was adopted during this period to imitate the upper class, and during that time segregation of the sexes was adopted.
All those things were not instituted in Islam, and while it remains a choice it is a choice that no one should shame the other party for not taking.
Logically speaking if a women was required to cover completely why the hell would the quran ask the men to lower their gaze if there is nothing to look at? is hair such a fatna that the reason for the hijab is to cover the hair when the arabs have been known to flirt with beautiful or is there another reason ? would it be to dress modestly perhaps ?
I honestly could care less either way people think, what i feel strongly about is people saying things about religious issues with total divorce of the history of islamic religion and the norms that were in islamic society completely ignoring 1400 years of history and sticking to selective recollection of 20 years of ISlam
umomar

Allah yatik alafia Sister Farah,

Thank you for your well written response. Alhamdulillah you have the ability and knowledge to respond.
While many have said you are an exception to most Jordanians, I happen to know many women here in Jordan who wear the hijab with Islamic pride and out of their own choice. These women have studied their religion and know their God-given rights.
I became a Muslim in the States and we moved here seven years ago to raise our children. While we have benefitted from this arrangement, I have to sadly say that it has been a disappointment to be around so many Muslims who are ignorant of their own religion and those who use this ignorance to keep others from the Straight Path. Those who do have the ability to speak against the injustice must do so. It is our duty and I applaud your work so far. May God guide you.
Muslimah

Bambami,

You said: “Logically speaking if a women was required to cover completely why the hell would the quran ask the men to lower their gaze if there is nothing to look at?”

When God told men to lower their gaze, He was not only saying to lower their gaze from veiled Muslim women. It is a general command to lower the gaze from all women, whatever they may be wearing.
Muslimah

Nas K,

My daughter is 12 and wears hijab/jelbab…has been wearing the hijab since she was much younger. According to you and many others, she is being oppressed because she had no “choice.” In reality, it is my responsibility as a parent to teach her about modest dress and behavior before she becomes a teen when it is very difficult to counter popular fashion. I also teach my sons to “lower the gaze” and expect the highest standards of behavior from all of them. It is an insult to women in East Amman to say that they don't know why they wear the hijab. You do not know the people writing here and cannot make assumptions about where they come from based on the fact that they write English well. People like us (who do speak English) have the responsibility to speak out in conversations like this so that other women (who don't speak English) can also have a voice.
bambambi

thats my point as well, the hijab is not some magic garment that desexualizes a women, though some might argue that, and stops people from objectifying her with their looks. If the point of hijab is to wrap a women in a desexualized container then there wouldn't be a command for women to lower their gaze and be modest with their eyes and what they see if what they expect to set their eyes on is already desexualized and has nothing to show of her self.
The writer went on and on about how it is her choice, and her answer for why she wears the hijab is simply “because islam said so”, now that is a perfectly good reason but it is not a personal choice if you believe you are required to adhere to this to get what you want in the afterlife.
It is even more contradictory how she describes her self as more beautiful afterwards, and since beauty is considered the root of temptation she considers her self more tempting with the hijab … assuming that she doesn't cover her face, wouldn't she agree that a beautiful face with piercing eyes is a lot more tempting than a lock of hair?
So I ask you this, if the point of the hijab is not that, to make a women less sexual and tempting to men, what is it then?
Nas k

Musilmah,

yes it is your responsibility but to sexualize your pre teen daughter I think is wrong , with all due respect if she told you I want to take it off will you allow her? no you wont and thats not giving her a choice, plus what choices do kids really have when they are that young in any matter of life?

there are other way to teach kids how to dress and act responsibly , its like your saying if she does not wear hijab then she will dress inappropriately , which is a flawed reasoning because there are literally millions of arab women who act and dress right without the hijab.
Muslimah

Sorry Nas, I do not understand your reasoning. I am against sexualizing my daughter — that is why she wears hijab and does not wear make up, tight clothes and other “sexualized” forms of dress.
Muslimah

Bambani,

Sorry, but I don't understand what you are saying here:

“If the point of hijab is to wrap a women in a desexualized container then there wouldn't be a command for women to lower their gaze and be modest with their eyes and what they see if what they expect to set their eyes on is already desexualized and has nothing to show of her self.”
Ramona

pure crap!
Nas K

she is 12 years old she began wearing it a few years ago, the fact that she is wearing the hijab sexualizes her, why? because you are making the statement that at 9 years old ,guys are goin to be checking her out!!!!!! and you still did not answer the rest, will you allow her to take it off if she does not want to wear it?

how come there are million of respectable women out there that dont wear the hijab?
bambambi

sorry a bit confusing … I simply was trying to say is that if there is nothing to look at why would the men be asked to lower their gaze ?
or in other terms
that if if we presume that the point of hijab is to make a women less tempting to men why would they be asked to not look?
what i'm trying to get that is understand what is the purpose of the hijab in your view? certainly is something we, as humans, can rationalize no?
bambambi

Real class, and your referring to your argument with that statement i presume ?
Ramona

Who gave anyone one of us the right to equate or associate the hijab to it being a choice of political will, cultural, modernity, secularism, feminism and globalism and all the other skisims I have seen the enemies of Islam or those who 'choose' not to wear the hijab use.

Listen here…………….God Almighty created the heavens and the earth and all that they contain (humankind, Jinns ect)

God Almighty has put on this earth everything that is needed to sustain all the inhabitants of the earth.

Therefore, If The Creator of the Heavens and the Earth and all that they contain commanded us to worship Him alone and give our thanks to Him The Most High..

Who are we to debating about what choice we have in the matter..

I mean, He mentioned in the Qur'an, there is no compulsion in religion

And yes, He The Most Just has given us choices, to choose the right path or the wrong path

And yes, there are consequences in the after life if we don't submit to these commands…

But Allah The Most Merciful..has given us glad tidings of the rewards in store should we 'choose' to comply, and warnings and the punishments in store if we 'choose' not to comply

But as always, man is arrogant. And he uses that freedom of choice to question the very One who has given him life! and will take away that life and everything he owns at the prescribed time!

So, while I may not possess the intellect or linguistics to argue to debate with those who oppose the commandments established by God Almighty

Why is it we always try to attack those who are trying to adhere to these commands………..we go as low as to critique a 6yr old who is wearing the hijab

That 6yr old's parents are the ones who are responsible for that child, and naturally, a parent tries to mold a child based on their moral, belief etc. It is the 'choice' of that child to question or adhere to those values and beliefs later on based on intellect.

Please……………as I have stated before……………..there are many perceptions out there as to why women wear the hijab…………but I can assure all you critics out there that if you all should take the time out to do a proper survey of women who wear the hijab…

they will tell you………………I am submitting to the will of their Creator.. because once that sweetness of faith reaches the heart… we strive just to do that…

And yes! with the knowledge of what is in store in the after life if we don't

After all…Shouldn't the One who Created us all Know.. that is our nature to go astray from the right path……………………were it not for the threats or punishments promised in the after life……………

WHAT WOULD THIS LIFE BE LIKE………………JUST LOOK AROUND AT WHAT IS TAKING PLACE……Look at those who 'choose' not to abide by the commandments of God

we say we have intellect…but its just utilized to critique those who WANT to submit to the commandments of God…..instead of using it to better one's self and seeking the pleasure of Our Creator, the One worthy of all Praise and Thanks
Ran

I would only like to quickly object to your statement, “I’m not so sure what is so modern and liberating about domestic abuse and rape – social ailments that are ten times more prevalent in “the West” than they are in Muslim-majority societies.”
Do you have any figures to support this claim? I don't, but I don't believe it to be true. Domestic abust and rape probably seem more prevalent in the west because they are investigated better. I agree with Farida; thanks to the internet, we now read more about what's going on- women being put in prison for protection from honor killings, and others deliberately burning themselves to escape a life of domestic abuse (a very disturning report I just saw: http://uk.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=1316544). Still, many women in our societies live in fear, and it makes it really difficult for them to talk about the brutal injustices they go through.
I'm not implying in any way that Islam is responsible; I only disagree with your suggestion that societies with a muslim majority suffer “ten times less” of these crimes.
Fred

I find the assumptions “a woman who does not wear a hijab is being sexualised” or “a woman who does not wear a hijab is not dressed modestly” that seem to be at the basis of some of the arguments here over-simplistic. As if there was nothing in between a hijab and over-sexualised dress. What about, for example, a business suit or just some ordinary jeans and t-shirt? Over sexualised? Not modest?

Who is the judge as to what is modest and what is not?

Why do we not simply expect men to stop gaping at women, whatever they wear?

I also fail to understand why it should be okay that there are strict regulations regarding the dress-code for women and no regulations for men' dress-code. Equality?

And no, I can not understand when girls as little as 12 or younger are told to adhere to a certain dress-code, whatever that may be. Why not give them some freedom and some peace of mind?

I also don't understand why several commentators here seem to asume that there is something like a Western dress-code and that that dress-code must, by definition, be immoral. Have you gone to “the West”? What on earth did you see there?

No, I don't wear a hijab. I am happy to wear what I choose to wear. And I love to feel the wind in my hair.
Muslimah

Bambambi,

Thank you for clarifying. What I was trying to say in my previous comment is that God is addressing believing men and women in the Qur'an – and both are asked to lower the gaze. God did not say this to mean that it ONLY applies to interactions between veiled Muslim women and Muslim men. It applies to all forms of interaction between the two sexes, including interactions between:

1. Veiled Muslim women and Muslim men
2. Veiled Muslim women and non-Muslim men
3. Unveiled Muslim women and Muslim men
4. Unveiled non-Muslim women and Muslim men

I think you will agree that the eyes can communicate mutual attraction between the two sexes, whatever their faith. So, even when the hijab is present, we need to go a step further and lower our gazes so that we do not take the next step to what might be a prohibited relationship.

I have personally tried both ways of living and have seen the positive effects of hijab. But even wearing full hijab is not effective if one does not lower the gaze.
Muslimah

Actually, that is not the way I have presented hijab to my daughter. I have never stated that guys might check her out or even suggested it. You are assuming that the default is that girls don't want to wear hijab so we have to use various tactics to convince them of its worth. In fact, girls usually want to be like their mothers and feel comfortable emulating the same dress and behavior. My daughter knows that the hijab is part of our Muslim identity, and it is highly unlikely that she would express a desire to take it off after being raised this way. Yet I did not pressure her…it was a normal course of events. I know many women who do not wear the hijab and do not find them less respectable than women who do wear the hijab. If they are Muslims, however, they are neglecting an important aspect of Islam.
Nas K

you still have not answered me on several points, will you allow your daughter not to wear the hijab? will you allow her to become an atheist? a secular?
Fred

Addition:

To clarify my point, I should have written in the last line:

I am happy to wear what I choose to wear – and not what some texts, scholars, people or fashion gurus tell me to wear.
farahelsharif

Allah yafiki Um Omar, jazakum Allahu khayran for your comment and encouragement. Any good in the article is from Allah, and any shortcomings I have shown are from myself. Please keep us all in your duaas! God does not change a condition of a people until they change what is in themselves… Allah yihdeena.
Different Anas

The reason you don't understand: read Ramona's reply above.
ريم

Yes there are girls who are forced to wear hijab, but there are also those who get to make this choice and some people cant just accept it’s a conscious decision. Some people have to philosophize the definition of choice to desperately prove the idea that the choice of Hijab is produced by socially structured acts. To them, if I choose to wear Hijab religiously, it is an act of irrational obedience and family influence, and If I chose not to wear it, then I am in control. A CHOICE is a CHOICE…I chose to wear Hijab, I chose to be obedient to Allah's rule, I CHOSE to have religion rule over my life. Not because I have not voiced out how I rationalized these decisions and rulings, it means that I am a blind follower. Why is it that when a decision is made based on religion, then it becomes a case for socially structured decisions and the agency of the person is ignored? While when a person is dressed in a “liberal” manner, then it's a conscious decision ignoring that it is also socially structured decison like everything else we do in our life. It is like telling people that you don’t drink, if you explained that its for health reasons, they are fine with it , but if you say its religious, they give you the eye of sympathy.

On another note we should avoid making sweeping generalizations whether in favor or against Hijabis or non Hijabis. Setting yourself as a representative of any of these groups will do them more damage than good as they will still be looked at in bulks ignoring diverse different narratives. There are Hijabis who chose to wear it and those who are forced to, and non hijabis who are pious and religious just as much as hijabis and vice versa. We should treat every case by itself, as I don't think I want ANYBODY to talk on my behalf when it comes to my decisions on such issues, However I would love to hear their personal stories that belong to them and only them to learn from diverse experiences.
mcdermottwire

Thanks to both Farah and Farida – you've managed to handle a very sensitive issue in a thoughtful, engaging manner.

I think it's incredibly important for women like Farah to articulate her point of view. There is no reason that a woman who consciously decides that wearing a hijab is a legitimate act of faith should be ridiculed or stereotyped as some mindless, oppressed drone. Some of the most active, intelligent, and outspoken women I know are muhajibat, for reasons purely their own.

With that said, I think several legitimate points have been raised without adequate response:

1) What if the woman does not want to wear a hijab? If she's forced into it but doesn't believe in it, is it really an act of faith anymore? Correct me if I'm wrong, but one of Farida's original points was simply that the choice is often taken out of the woman's hands, by parents/fiances/husbands – is this not an issue? I have no problem with a parent or a husband suggesting that he would like the woman to wear a hijab….I do have a problem, though, with the countless cases in which her opinion is ignored and she is coerced into becoming muhajiba.

2) I find the argument that the hijab is worn to preempt “male gazing” incredibly shallow. I am perfectly happy to accept religious interpretations supporting the hijab as a symbol of piety or anything else. But to suggest that without the hijab we should somehow expect (and approve) sexual harassment/”boys to be boys”..ouff, THAT scares me. This is an issue that goes far beyond the hijab, and I think it's symptomatic of wider social problems with gender issues.

3) My final point is perhaps irrelevant…still, I want to pick up on something that Nas K mentions above. Institutionalizing the hijab as a “necessary” marker for respectable women (as is done in many communities in Jordan) has dangerous consequences. It may be illogical, but many people make the mental leap and begin to define non-veiled women as shameless, immoral things. I use the term “things” very consciously – the dehumanization that goes on is quite extensive and dangerous – the moral codes may exist in theory, but certainly not in practice. If you don't think that Christians, foreigners, and many other generally non-veiled women are NOT stereotyped in that manner….you're kidding yourself.

While we should be careful to respect the women who do decide to wear a hijab, it's equally important to respect those who choose not to. The negative stereotypes of muhajiba women are just as unfair as those of non-veiled women….and while I enjoy reading the various religious/philosophical interpretations of this specific issue, I think it's very clear that we deal with wider social problems that go beyond the word of God, whatever that may be. Let's not ignore those problems, because they are very real.

Apologies for the ramble :)
zenah

Thanks for the rebuttal really. Farida's article was based on a poor non-educated opinion. I don't wear the hijab, but I wish, that one day I will by reaching that level of faith for those women who do.
bambambi

Thank you… Exactly in the big picture of things the hijab is just a piece of clothe when so many things are more important to being a good muslim than just being a hijab. IMHO
bambambi

total submission without understanding or question is absolutely the best kind of religion … bravo
Ramona

I really don't have time to respond to silly comments… Obviously, you know nothing about Islam…because If you knew…this discussion would definitely not be happening

This is not a joking matter.

I don't know when I am gonna die. So, with full knowledge of the glad tidings of trying your best to 'SUBMIT' to the will of the One who created me in this life and the after life, I will try to make use of every moment I have wisely.

May God Almighty guide us all to the straight path ameen

Some of the comments I have seen on this forum are similar to some of the stories mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an about some of the people who came before us, who rejected their prophets and the divine inspirations they came with.

I will reiterate again! God The Most Just has given us all the right to choose. But the nature of man, in his arrogance and ungratefulness, uses this God-given 'freedom of
choice' to challenge and/or question the very One who gave it to them.

May God Almighty help us!