h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Muzaakboy,

Thank you for posting your very enlightening entry, Islam And Women.

For a long time now, as a C of E Christian woman myself, I have known that it was really only the extreme minority Islamic groups, such as the Taliban, who were causing such dramatic misconceptions about Islam - especially in matters pertaining to women. I noticed that Muslims were beginning to appear on TV saying "Islam is really not like this at all" and "we are peace-loving people". Fortunately, these Muslims, and articles such as yours, are helping the rest of us to realise that most Muslims do not agree with the ways in which extremists behave. And many female Muslims are perfectly happy to dress modestly and follow the rules of their chosen faith, in much the same way that Christian nuns are happy to cover themselves up and spend most of their time in prayer.

I recently saw an Islamic comedienne in a TV comedy show. She always appears on stage modestly-dressed with her hair covered. She makes jokes about all kinds of Muslim womens' issues and speaks in quite cheeky terms about the way non-Muslims see Muslims along with terrorism. I had to admire her bravery in the satire of such things. She gets heckled a lot but she carries on regardless.

Your entry is very educational. I hope many more people read it.

Best Regards,

P.

There's a lot of very interesting information here

I'd like to see a couple of footnotes here and there, for example after the quote from Hinduism on the role of a wife, and a footnote giving the source for Tertullian's comments.

One of the things many non-Muslims don't understand is the veiling of women, and it might be helpful to include some information on that, including the options open to Muslim women regarding the covering of hair.

To be truthful, I would change the question of how many people have ever spoken with a Mulsim woman and replace it with something along the lines of "Many non-Muslims have never conversed with Muslim women about their beliefs and status in Islam"; and I'd take out the last paragraph and let the piece speak for itself. Just my opinion.

Addressing the subject of women in Islam is really important, especially now, in a culture that doesn't generally understand Muslim women's lives.

It also occurs to me that maybe the provision of some resources, such as websites and books on women in Islam, at the end of the article might encourage people to read further about the subject.

Actually the veiling of the woman is not one hundred percent accurate as the Quran says to draw your scarfs over your bosums, this is because in the old days the dressed worn showed cleverage and this was not allowed so it was asked to draw scarfs over this area. Problem is over the years people have decided that it implies a woman has to wear a head scarf which it does not. As fot the covering of the face that is not Islamic really. You are referring to the Hijab and the Hiqab. The Hijab covers the hair and is allowed in Islam and many Hadiths say that one should cover there hair though if you do or do not does not reflect on your faith. As for the Hiqab well that is the bit that covers the face. That was only asked to be done by the Prophets wifes and so it does not have to be done either. It is actually a choice thing but the Hiqab usually reflects on a more status and social culture that a Islamic thing.

Thanks for your posts.

Adib

Salaam Pinky.

Yeah one of my best questions is why the womans head scarf in Islam is seen as a sign of her oppression and the Nuns head scarf is a sign of her respect and faith.

Thanks for the words.

Adib

That information about the veil is something I think you should definitely include - it's such a common cause of confusion amongst non-Muslims that it would be a brilliant addition

Here I will include this link to a site. Though I do not agree with all of it. Mainly because in some places it goes on about mans thing when its both of there thing like the rite to divorce. Reading this site makes it sound like only the man can do it which is not true.

http://www.geocities.com/rationalreality/women.htm

Anyway may be some use still.
As for the veil thing I was going to right a seperate entry on that but maybe I wont and just include it instead as I am short on time these days.

Thanks for your input.

Adib

I'm glad you're considering adding the information in to the main article - because the veil is such a visible indicator of a woman's Muslim identity, it's something we non-Muslims tend to immediately associate with Islam, and getting accurate information would be a really good thing.

I did find the following webpages devoted solely to explaining the veil in Islam, and which do so in positive terms: http://islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam/veil.htm
http://www.al-islam.org/about/contributions/liberationbytheveil.html

Yeah good. I have been trying to explain it but not getting anywhere. I will put the links in as they would be handy. Thanks alot.

Adib

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this site has a few good sites as well on the subject.


http://quranicverse99.tripod.com/pathtoparadise/id17.html

Islam insists on hijab.
This order was not given only to the UMMulMUMINEEN(wives of the prophet) But also to all other muslim women.
If u want to confirm this u should read the SURAH AHZAAB.
Hope u find ur answer.

No where does it mention hair. The Quran says draw your veils over your bosoms. Plus in the Hadith where it says about covering up the hair and face it is referring to the prophets wives and not the general population. Which is why it is a matter of option. Though different branchs and countries have different options. Visit Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Yeman and you will see different dress codes there. It is essential to dress modestly but not essential to cover the hair.

Why don't you look into surah Al-ahzaab. In this surah all the muslim women have been ordered to wear hijab. I will write the correct Ayah when i find it

I will re read it.

Ok I thought I knew which ayaat you was referring to so I will explain it in a few days time. Maybe tomorrow. Just thought I will let you all know I will reply to it soon, I'm just busy doing work and anti war stuff at the mo.

Talk soon.

Adib

Its aayat No. 59 of surah ahzaab.

Yeah I though it was that one.

It says 'O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing woman, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): That is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And God is oft-forgiving, most mercifull.' Sura al ahzab, ayaat 59.

Firstly this Sura is dealing with two main issues which being:

1) The attempt by voilence and brute force to crush the truth

2) The attempt by slander to poison relations between men and women.

At the time this Sura was revealed what was happening was that the kufr (non believers) where attacking Muslims and molesting Muslim women when they where out and about.
The usual attack sites being around the toilets which in those days was a isolated hole in the ground of sorts.
These non believers where doing this and using a poor excuse to try and get away with it, that being that as Muslims and non Muslims dressed the same they could not tell the difference.
This clothing exposed areas of the flesh that we all now have to cover.

To deal with this Allah (swt) revealed to Mohammad (pbuh) the verse printed above.
The first part of this verse is telling us it is not just a message for the prophets wives (pbu them) but for all believing women.
Women are asked to cover them selves espessially when travelling away from home. eg: going from Birmingham to London or New York.
The alternitave to this woud have been to lock them up in the homes. This verse actually refuets all claims of Muslim women being chained up in there homes as it says that they can travel around.

To clarify more the garment asked to be worn is the Jilbab or jalahib (plural). This is a outer garment that covers the whole body like a long gown. Which is where other myths come in to play about Muslim women should only wear Jilbab. This is based on missunderstanding as at the time of this ayaat the Jilbab was about the only garment that was decent to wear. As long as the clothing fits the guidelines in sharia law it can be worn.
Anyway the object of this covering up was not to restrict womens liberty but to protect them from the conditions that existed in Medina at that time.
Another myth I would like to disperse of right now is that those who wear the Hiqab can not see properly.
After going round to a brother and sisters house we got talking on this subject and she had several Niqabs which she made us put on and you can actually see very clearly through the little slit.
The reason she did this was so that we had first had knowledge of looking through one and so could argue the case to those who critizise. Though the Niqab is actually voluntry or not to wear.

Anyway back to the subject at hand.

Many people brand this type of clothing on Women of Islamic dress and say that we Muslims are the only ones who say what can and can not be worn. Revealing there lack of history knowledge.
Distinctive public dress has always existed in some form or another for males and females as a mark of honour or distinction for both east and west since the earliest civilisations.
And it still exists today in some form or another. eg: How many times have we all judged some one just on the basis of what they are wearing?

The veiling of women actually began in Assyrian law at around the 7th century B.C, thouygh this was only done on married women and not allowed for slaves and women of ill fame.
Remeber that it comes in handy when they accuse Muslims of veiling women.

The last part of this ayaat is showing that thr ruling is not absolute. If for any reason it could not be observed then God is oft-forgiving and most mercifull.
Which means if there is a valid reason for not wearing Hijab then Allah will take this in to account.

So though it mentions about covering up it does not really mention hair or the face. But that being said it is well established that it is best to cover the hair.
At the end of the day it is the womans choice and can not be forced on to her.
Rether or not a Muslim woman does or does not wear Hijab and covers her hair does not reflect on how pois she is.

Sorry for the late reply.

Allah hafiz (thats the Urdu speaking Muslim form of Good bye in case you do not speak Urdu).

Adib Qasim