Even other religions teach modesty and modest covering then why are only Muslim women targeted? Why are they called supressed or looked down upon in society? Rukaiya Sayed
When we see these three ladies, what similarity do we notice? Yes, it is hijab, the body covering i.e. wearing modestly and not revealing body parts. If we ask Christians, why do nuns wear hijab? The answer would be, because they are the best of our women who have dedicated their lives to God, so they deserve respect, it shows their nobility and righteousness. Similarly, a Muslim woman who wears hijab does the same exact thing. She dedicates her life to the love and pleasure of God the Almighty Who is the creator of the heavens and the earth.
So why is there so much of discrimination? She observes the highest level of morality and modesty. We should have tremendous respect for all the women who wear hijab / practise modesty. Ironically, people look down upon hijabi women. They are discriminated and are labelled as oppressed women. Most of the time people ask: Why do only women have to cover in Islam? Why not men? Why is there no restriction on men? Islam, which is the religion of guidance, answers to these questions.
Islam has strongly emphasised the concept of decency and modesty in the interaction between opposite genders. Before addressing women covering, Allah commands men and women to do the following:
In Chapter 24 Surah An-Noor (the Light) ayah 30, Allah commands Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ): “Say to the believing men that: they should cast down their glances and guard their private parts; this is better for them.” This is called hijab of the eyes. Here Allah orders the believing men not to look lustfully at other women and prevent any possibility of temptation and cast their glances downward. This clearly states that Allah has put restriction upon men too. In the next ayah Allah gives the same command to women as well. Then why is it assumed that if a Muslim lady or a girl casts the eyes downwards while talking to the opposite gender or does not shake hands with him, she is rude, introverted or that she is reserved and lacks confidence. We Muslim women just abide by the commands of Allah the Exalted.
After the hijab of the eyes came the order describing dress code for women. In the same Surah in the following ayah Allah says: “And do not display their beauty except what is apparent, and they should place their khumur over their bosoms.” Khumur is something (a piece of cloth) with which a woman covers her head. Back then women of Medina in pre-Islamic era used to put their khumur over the head with two ends tucked behind and tie at the back of neck.
By saying place the khumur over the bosoms, Allah orders women not only to cover their head but also to let the two ends of the cloth be drawn over their bosoms, covering the ears, neck and upper part of the chest. This is the command of Allah Who is the Lord of the world, and who wouldn’t want to obey His command? In the chapter 33 Surah Ahzab, ayah 59, Allah gives the following command to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ): “O Prophet! Say to your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers that they should let down upon themselves their Jalabib.”
Jalabib is plural of Jilbab i.e. loose outer garment. This means that Islamic dress code for women not only consists of headscarf but also includes overall dress that should be long and loose. But this seems to be alien to some of the people when they see women in hijab.
Even in the Bible, Prophet Jesus (peace be to him) talks about head-covering. “But if a woman has a long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for covering.” Corinthians 11:15 “For if a woman does not want to cover her head, let her also have hair cut off, but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or shaved, let her cover her head.” Corinthians 11:16 This clearly shows that even other religions teach modesty and modest covering then why are only Muslim women targeted? Why are they called supressed or looked down upon in society? Rather they should be highly respected and appreciated as they are following the correct path of Allah (SWT) shown by our Prophet (ﷺ). They just abide by the Qur’anic injunctions as well as the Biblical teaching more than our non-Muslim women do.
[Rukaiya Sayed, MCOM, PGDCA, is based in Goa]