Why hijab

At a time when female rulers anywhere in the world were unusual, she was the primary upholder of religious authority in what was then a prosperous and peaceful kingdom.

In the next issue: What is Islamic law? You can read all six articles in this Understanding Islam series on TheConversation. Why do Muslim women wear a hijab? How a growing number of Muslim women clerics are challenging traditional narratives.

EU court allows companies to ban headscarves. What will be the impact on Muslim women? Sociologist Killian explores how Muslim women construct and manage their identities in a foreign culture. Festival of Social Science — Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire. Edition: Available editions United Kingdom. Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in.

Verse 59 of chapter 33 quoted previously gives a very good reason; it says,. Women with shawls and veils can breastfeed anywhere without calling attention to themselves, while baby is protected from dust and flies. In most non-Western societies, the dress and ornaments of women celebrate the mothering function. Ours deny it.

Note that she also specifically mentions the salwar, kameez and jellabas that are used by Muslim women in the East.

Feminists and the Western media often portray the hijab as a symbol of oppression and slavery of women. My father made an interesting observation in an article that when the Europeans penetrated the interior of Africa a century ago, they found some tribes who went about naked. They forced the tribes to wear clothes as mark of civilization. After all, it is rest of the world which is now imitating the ways of the so-called primitive society.

I am surprised at the society which shows tolerance towards those who would like to go around topless but finds it difficult to tolerate a lady who by her own choice wants to observe hijab! Wearing the hijab has given me the freedom from constant attention to my physical self. Because my appearance is not subjected to scrutiny, my beauty, or perhaps lack of it, has been removed from the realm of what can legitimately be discussed. Hijab is not a symbol of oppression. Women are oppressed because of socio-economic reasons even in countries where women have never heard about hijab.

On the contrary, the practice of displaying pictures of almost naked women in the commercials, billboards, and in the entertainment industry in the west is a true symbol of oppression. Neither does the hijab prevent a woman from acquiring knowledge or from contributing to the betterment of human society. Historically women have also greatly contributed to Islam. Lady Khadijah, the first wife of the Prophet, played a significant role in the early history of Islam.

If you don't think your hair adds much to your beauty why do you not just shave it off? When she said in her soft spoken but steady voice 'why don't you shave it off' I realized at that point how important my hair really was to my overall appearance.

Active Image The hijabi woman continues They show their bodies for no other reason then to promote their sexuality in an attempt to turn on as many men as possible and become the envy of every woman.

They are ruled by the fashion industry buying one pair of expensive jeans and shoes and tops after another. Don't get me wrong, it's important to enhance your beauty, it's Islamicaly practiced, but in our homes not for public viewing. You might be surprised to know that I dress quite differently in my home, for my husband, with my hair done up nicely, a little make-up and clothes that show the shape of my figure.

I want my husband to love all my attributes. I smile at her , give an inquisitive look and choose not to interrupt. What's so sad is that many western girls sit at home crying themselves asleep at night because they can't fit into the 'glamour girl' persona and they fear they will never be pretty enough. You'll find year-old girls selling themselves sexually through their provocative messenger profiles over the Internet all in the pursuit of popularity.

It is my belief that to live an Islamic life and to choose to wear hijab helps to diminish these problems in society greatly. If more women were treated for who they are rather then what they are do you not think the world might be a better place?

Getting over the shock that she's totally normal at home, a born Canadian, well spoken and obviously well educated and I'm feeling ashamed at the fact that I immigrated to Canada from England at the age of four and I thought I was the Canadian here.

I realize I look like an ignorant fool for having assumed so much about her simply because she chose to cover her head and wear unrevealing clothes. I felt a sense of real embarrassment come over me, feeling my cheeks getting flush as I began to really think about her point of view. Thoughts were racing through me, Was I wrong? I thought she was oppressed? I thought back on those chubby teenage years when I was horribly teased about my weight and the boys wouldn't look at me or talk to me.

I remembered I was never appreciated for who I was. Only the pretty girls got the attention but I never really thought about what kind of attention. Now that I'm older and have a killer body I show it off and I love the attention it gets me. But why do I love it? Do I love that all these strange men go home having sexual thoughts about me?

Is it really good that when a married man walks by me with his wife he takes three looks before he's hit on the back of the head?

I callously walk on with a grin on my face. What happens when he goes home, is his wife upset, does she love him less, does he love her less, have I caused a problem in their marriage? Am I proud of the fact that the girls are all wishing they were me? Do I give it a second thought that after meeting me they go home and start skipping meals and escalade down a dangerous crash diet lifestyle that can harm their health? Am I proud of the fact that when I talk to men they aren't looking at me or even listening to me they're starring at my chest, is this something I want?

I know why I got that administrative job. The day of my interview I purposely wore a low-cut blouse and a tight mini skirt knowing it could help my chances of getting in. After getting the job I realized I wasn't even qualified and it's been a stressor ever since. Thing is my boss doesn't seem to care that I don't get the work done. I feel bad that the other girls in the office have to do the work I never finish. I know they talk badly about me but I've been trying to ignore it.

My boss hasn't even considered firing me instead he just keeps inviting me into his office to share lunch break with him while he watches my every bite of food.