HIJAB AS AN ISLAMOPHOBIA AND THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF MUSLIM WOMEN PART (02)

HIJAB AS AN ISLAMOPHOBIA AND THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF MUSLIM WOMEN

Some people believe that the Islamic faith is oppressive to women. In the west, particularly in France, the Hijab or headscarf that many Muslim women wear has become a symbol of this perceived oppression. This blog explores the experience of wearing the Hijab of Muslim Women of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It will draw attention that why some Muslim women consider it a mark of empowerment, what kind of motivation they have to wear the Hijab, and how the Hijab protects them.

MEMOONA ASHFAQ

Assalam o Alaikum wa-raḥmatu llāhi wa-barakātuhu. I am Memoona Ashfaq. I am a student. I am doing my graduation in BS Zoology from a great institute GC UNIVERSITY LAHORE. Today the purpose of my writing is to highlight the importance of the hijab for girls. Hijab is a symbol of modesty and protection. The Qur'an instructs Muslim women and men to dress modestly, and for some, the hijab is worn by Muslim girls and women to maintain modesty and privacy from unrelated males. I started to observe abaya and veil in my university life. Before that, I used to carry a scarf but the 1st day at the university was the 1st day when I started àbaya and hijab. And then I feel it is very comfortable and easy to carry. Initially in my 1st semester, one of my friends said it is just a start. It is a university. People just start this kind of hijab and are then unable to persuade it just because of the opinions of people around us. You will also not be able to persuade this. It was the time when I decided that I will continue to wear the hijab just because it is the beauty of our Islam. And now it's my 7th semester and still, Allah Pak blesses me strength to follow the hijab.

Hijab has three roles that should be considered by Muslim women: it should be not form-fitted, it should not be transparent, and it should not be attractive.

I, as a Muslim woman, feel very comfortable wearing the hijab. For me, the hijab means religious devotion, discipline, reflection, respect, freedom, and modernity. I am pro-democracy because for me democracy means having choices in how to live our lives. I also support and promote mutual respect between Muslim and non-Muslim women. I want the world to treat Muslim women with the same respect they treat other women, from other religions and cultures who wear headscarves such as Hindu women, Jewish women, Greek women, and Catholic nuns. The assumption that wearing a hijab is oppressive should change from an oppressive idea to a liberating one.

When it comes to Muslim women, Hijab is expressed in not only the covering of the head but also typically covering the body when dressing, without tight clothing. It can mean only showing the hands and feet and face- hence wearing long sleeves, pants, and the commonly worn headscarf, such as the hijab, which covers the head and shoulders. In South West Asia and North Africa, it is common to see women wearing Abayas, which are cloaks that cover the entire body. And why we as Muslim women are not following the basics of our religion that are safety tools for us. Because the hijab overtly indicates that she is a Muslim woman. She represents the values that she follows in Islam.

"The beautiful thing about it is that I'm representing a religion".

"So when I do something, I am seen as a Muslim woman that did something. After I talk to others, I hope they'll remember me as the hijabi who was kind, well-spoken, and outgoing. “I hope my words may have some positive impact on society. And as Muslim girls, it is our 1st priority to Follow Islam which is a very easy and beautiful religion. Thanks.

 

KAINAT FATIMA

I am Kainat Fatima, 22 years old and a student of microbiology. I started wearing Hijab or dupatta after my matriculation, I am still not obeying it the way I should but it is still better than before and will be perfect with time INSHALLAH.

The first thing that motivates me is the LIFE OF LADY ZAINAB ع (daughter of Hazrat Ali ع), the way she obeyed is extraordinary. Secondly, I feel better when wearing any such modest thing that I do wear western too so I can tell the comfort zone is being less exposed.

Does Hijab protect you?

Yes PERIOD.

Will you suggest other Muslim women to wear Hijab?

In this case, only advice to all the women including MYSELF is keep trying less is not the less if not stopped, everyone owes a different journey may be one day we will be obeying it perfectly so don't try to find arguments AGAINST HIJAB. Give others their time take your time. Live it up you all QUEENS.

 

 

RIDA IQBAL

My name is Rida Iqbal. I am from Karachi and 20 years old.I started wearing a hijab when I was in Class 8.

There are many things that motivate me to wear a hijab. First of all, it is the order of my Allah and his Rasool. And surely there is goodness in every order of his. In addition, in this period full of temptation, it is the best solution to avoid the evil eyes of the men. In my opinion, the beauty of every girl is in the hijab.

The hijab is the best protection for all girls. I feel very protective and comfortable when I am in a hijab. The identity of hijabis girls is unique and different from all others. Hijab represents all the girls as Muslim women.

I love wearing a hijab and I am proud of it.

 

AFSHEEN RIAZ

I am 17 years old and a student in my first year. I started wearing hijab from 6 class and niqab from 9^th standard. Alhamdullilah

I started it because, I feel awkward and I used to see my family girls in hijab afterward. When I read Quran with Urdu translation so I learned that it is not a choice it's an obligation from Allah almighty then I started niqab. Absolutely hijab protects me because it's a barrier between me and the evil eyes of people. Surely, I will suggest girls wear it because it's a commandment of Allah. Sunnah of Hazrat Fatima(R.A) and inshallah it will become a deed which will take us to Jannah because ONE GOOD DEED WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR OTHER GOOD DEED.

 

 

AREESHA ANSARI

My name is Areesha Ansari. I'll be 20 years old in the next month InsjaAllah. I am currently a first-year MBBS student. I started wearing a hijab when (1) I was 12 years old. I would wear it all day all night.. even in front of my family... because I felt comfortable in it... I was demotivated by many far-related individuals who thought I was being forced to wear it by my parents. I feel like hijab is my uniform...something that constantly reminds me of my boundaries, my haya, and my individuality as a Muslim.. to me it's a submission to Allah that I follow his commands.

And since the Prophet (ﷺ) said: If you don't feel ashamed (from Haya') do whatever you like." This hadith is sacred to me, Because haya is what brings life to the soul. Hijab indeed is a blessing and protects me from my desires and helps me in controlling them. I feel protected from shaitan at some levels only because the hijab reminds me constantly of my goal for Jannah. I as a hijabi felt comfortable and secure in it. Hijab is a command not only to women but also men. We all have to be in our uniforms and show the world that it isn't oppression.

The honor of Women in Islam

 

THE HONOR OF WOMEN IN ISLAM

I would like to do a quick analysis of the time before the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). So before Islam in the Arab peninsula when girls were born and someone come and tell the father that a female child was born to his wife. His face used to go dark with shame and anger and then he used to contemplate how do I get rid of myself of this Museebat. Then some Arabs didn't do that but many of them would go and dig a hole and bury the female child alive. Other than Arabia, in the subcontinent of India women had another kind of challenge. There traditionally all the men used to marry younger girls and then naturally as men died first and yet girl remained alive, the religion and culture required the young girl would be burnt with  corpse of her husband. Then they make firewood and the young girl had to sit on top of it. And then they used to lit the fire. Besides this, in Europe people didn't consider women human, and then later the catholic church said women are human but defected. They said the woman is inevitably evil like her mother eve who took the man out of the favor of Allah Almighty and make him eat from a forbidden tree. So, this was the situation of women before Islam and in this climate, Islam came. Allah Almighty honored the world with Islam. One of the first revelations of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) was about;

 

وَإِذَا ٱلۡمَوۡءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتۡ

And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked

بِأَيِّ ذَنۢبٖ قُتِلَتۡ

For what sin she was killed? ( Surah At-Takwir)

 

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) established  this act is Haram in Islam. Even, in these days Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) was finding survival difficulties of his own life but He was preaching emancipation of womankind. Islam called the news of female birth glad tidings.

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجۡهُهُۥ مُسۡوَدّٗا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٞ

And when one of them is informed of [the birth of] a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief. (Surah An-Nahl)

There is even one chapter in the Glorious Quran devoted to women and named "An-Nisa" which means women. In old times women did not get any part of inheritances when their relatives died. So Allah Almighty revealed a verse about inheritance, giving the just of it to women. Then in the end mentioned both sexes, male and female as well, have the right to inherit what is left by a late relative.

Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females? But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two-thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one's parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children and the parents [alone] inherit from him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children - you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise. (Surah An-Nisa: 11)

 

In Islam, the rank of a mother is more dignified or glorified, even before that of a father. This is witnessed in one of the Prophet Muhammad's (Peace be Upon Him) hadith that follows:

An apostle asked the Prophet PBUH: "O Messenger of Allah Almighty, among all mankind who is it that I am much obliged to glorify?" The Prophet answered, "Your mother." "And then who else?" again the man asked. "Your mother," again the Prophet answered. "And then who else?" the man ask for the third time. "Your mother still answered the Prophet. "And then who else?" asked the man for the fourth time. "Your father," at last the Prophet said.

Subhanallah (Glory be to God). Women are ranked in such great and noble positions as they are mentioned by three times in a row by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). So do you see that initially women were very downtrodden but Islam lifted them up. So the rank of Women in Islam is extremely high that not any other Religion can compete with it. But you know, the greatest ranks or positions also have greatest responsibilities. If you are a girl, Islam makes you so much more important, but what responsibilities it is giving to you?