Keeping women behind the "veil" in Islam is not degrading th

[Guest]

The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The ‘hijaab’ or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the ‘subjugation’ of women under Islamic law. Before we analyze the reasoning behind the religiously mandated ‘hijaab’, let us first study the status of women in societies before the advent of Islam
1.
In the past women were degraded and used as objects of lust

The following examples from history amply illustrate the fact that the status of women in earlier civilizations was very low to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity:

Babylonian Civilization:
The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife was put to death.

2 Greek Civilization:
Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations. Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called ‘Pandora’ is the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity of women was precious, and women were held in high esteem, the Greeks were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitution became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.

3
Roman Civilization:
When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common amongst the Romans

4

Egyptian Civilization:
The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.

2.
Islam uplifted women and gave them equality and expects them to maintain their status.

Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.

Hijaab for men

People usually only discuss ‘hijaab’ in the context of women. However, in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijaab’ for men before ‘hijaab’ for the women. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Noor:

\"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.\"
[Al-Qur’an 24:30]

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

Hijaab for women.

The next verse of Surah Noor, says:

\" And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons...\"
[Al-Qur’an 24:31]

4.
Hijaab includes conduct and behaviour among other things

Complete ‘hijaab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijaab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijaab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijaab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijaab’ of the eyes, ‘hijaab’ of the heart, ‘hijaab’ of thought and ‘hijaab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.


5.
Hijaab prevents molestation
The reason why Hijaab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Qur’an in the following verses of Surah Al-Ahzab:

\"O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women 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 Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.\"
[Al-Qur’an 33:59]

The Qur’an says that Hijaab has been prescribed for the women so that they are recognized as modest women and this will also prevent them from being molested.

6.
Example of twin sisters

Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down the street. One of them is attired in the Islamic hijaab i.e. the complete body is covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, a mini skirt or shorts. Just around the corner there is a hooligan or ruffian who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? The girl wearing the Islamic Hijaab or the girl wearing the skirt or the mini? Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt or the mini. Such dresses are an indirect invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. The Qur’an rightly says that hijaab prevents women from being molested.


7.
Capital punishment for the rapists

Under the Islamic shariah, a man convicted of having raped a woman, is given capital punishment. Many are astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence. Some even say that Islam is a ruthless, barbaric religion! I have asked a simple question to hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose, God forbid, someone rapes your wife, your mother or your sister. You are made the judge and the rapist is brought in front of you. What punishment would you give him? All of them said they would put him to death. Some went to the extent of saying they would torture him to death. To them I ask, if someone rapes your wife or your mother you want to put him to death. But if the same crime is committed on somebody else’s wife or daughter you say capital punishment is barbaric. Why should there be double standards?

8.
Western society falsely claims to have uplifted women

Western talk of women’s liberalization is nothing but a disguised form of exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honour. Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’ women. On the contrary it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers, hidden behind the colourful screen of ‘art’ and ‘culture’.

9.
USA has one of the highest rates of rape

United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any country in the world. According to a FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average 1756 cases of rape were committed in U.S.A alone. Later another report said that on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes are committed in USA. The year was not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans got ‘bolder’ in the following years.

Consider a scenario where the Islamic hijaab is followed in America. Whenever a man looks at a woman and any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic hijaab, that is the complete body is covered except the face and the hands upto the wrist. After this if any man commits rape he is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such a scenario, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?

10.
Implementation of Islamic Shariah will reduce the rate of rapes
Naturally as soon as Islamic Shariah is implemented positive results will be inevitable. If Islamic Shariah is implemented in any part of the world, whether it is America or Europe, society will breathe easier. Hijaab does not degrade a woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity.

[durga]

Goodness God!! such bull !!!! in the name of religion !! Why does NOT ur religion say that a man needs to close his eyes ? or maybe look elsewhere?.. when he gets to know he may come across a woman? why does he have to think of teasing or rapeing?! why does ur religion NOT say that as long as its NOT his wife, he shud NOT think bad of this woman !? and to top all this, THIS man can have 5 wives?!! and yet he wants some more !! U be in the burkha and see how it feels to be in one.. u garb ur face with a veil, in ur own bedroom for just an hour and see how u may feel ! u get ur testicles or whatever is done for the women in ur religion to theirs\'!! and see how it feels. In the name of GOD, be it alah ! or whichever God.. don\'t do this to urselves, anything too much is too bad.
incidentally, I know of some muslim girls, in burkhas from my school days, who had boy friends and I being a hindu, did not have ! I know of some close muslim friends who have been raped/mutilated/harrassed/ bodily harmed/emotionally harmed by thier OWN fathers/brothers/cousins/ and their respective friends too !!!
this is inspite of the burkhas and the supposed modesty!
do you think India/pakistan/ and all the rest of the nations, all over the world are do not have the instances of rapes more than what you have quoted abt\' USA ?!!! If you, by any chance, think so, I am so sorry.. that U are so naive or stupid or such a NUT!!! Don\'t ever think soembody elses\' freedom is other\'s rightful choice is to rape !! everybody\'s freedom IS important.. jst as a man\'s is to him, so is that of a woman\'s to her\'s. U live like her, just for ONE DAY..the ways u say ur religion says the woman to be.. and feel it that U R going to be living so always.. if u r a normal human being.. then I am sure, u do know how you would feel !!
the nature, for whatever reasons, has made a woman suffer, every month, and during the birth process too.. levae us alone, from all this ruccas. Learn to respect us for the way we are. what we are and be wonderful to us, just for that reason that we have the capacity to grow our child inside our bodies and have the courage to go through all the pain and forget all about it and raise our children with such wonderful love that nobody on earth.. even THE FATHER cannot give such love.. just for that simple reason that this mother had the child in her womb for not a day or 2 but straight for nearly 300 days !! and the capacity to be able to feed the child from ones own body, to be able to make the food and feed, that by itself stands so very apart from that of the father\'s role in the childs\' life ! That in itself shud be tHE REASON for every man and woman to respect another female..in any species leave alone think of teasing or raping !! aww, come on... please. grow up. U R a hyderbadi. make us all proud that u can see it this way too, please?

[durga]

sorry . there are some typos. i was too emotional and anguished when i was replying to this message.

[Nyx!]

Well, it wud have been better if u wud have mentioned ur gender, but some of what u say is right.. I mean some of ur opinions r really plausible…and for Durga I wud like to say… u r missing something sis, as the person has written, that Islam has the same law for both men and women… read it again… he/she says that even men r ordered to lower their gaze if they get any erotic thots for women… and I think this is the one person (I m talking about the starter of the board) I have met or heard who knows what actually hijaab is… I mean, its not necessary that u cover ur eyes and face also in hijaab… u can expose ur face and hands as the person states… The second point about having 5 wives… U know Durga, we r mere humans and whatever is written in holy scriptures be it Geeta, Bible, GuruGranth Sahib, or Quran, we fail to decipher it as it has to be and the same has been done by the mullahs or the men of Islam. Islam does not say u SHOULD/HAVE to marry 4 times. This was only the practice during the advent of Islam… to produce more of ur own kind. And the main point, Almighty God has not told in Quran to marry 4 times as and when u like, u have to assure the girl’s parents that u can fulfill all her wishes.. and there shud b some dire circumstances under which u remarry. This has been coolly misstated by the so-called men of the society… and in turn they tarnish Islam’s name… There are many more myths about Islam which people need to correct.. but I cant state all of them here… but it pains my heart to see the people upholding the glory of Islam tarnishing it.

But I agree with ur thot that someone else’s freedom shud b respected. I am not totally against u or for that matter I am not at all against u, I m just trying to clear some of the wrong notions that u have .. that’s it .. no hard feelings. Even I am a Muslim, but I have never faced such humiliation from my family or my acquaintances. Yeah, I agree most of the Muslims are like that, but I wud like to draw ur attention to the rest of the Muslims who are far better than some of the broad-minded people. I belong to one such family and all of my relatives r from the same school of thought. So, I just think that everyone can make a difference by putting in a little effort.

[Shaad-Aabaad]

Would like to correct Nyx and help clear misconception about Islam that is often highlighted by Islam baiters and that is of polygamy or the right to having 4 wives(not 5 Durga)...

<br> As you know the holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and each of the revelations had some significance or the other. During one of the many wars that happend during the early years of Islam (I think though I am not sure, the War of Badr), there was wide spread death and destruction. Many of the menfolk were killed in the battle leaving behind Widows and orphans. The ratio of women to men was high indeed. It was at this time that Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) got a revelation that talked about allowing upto 4 wives to help the widows of war. However, it is to be noted and Nyx has rightly pointed it out too, that there are many conditions attached to this that uphold women\'s rights. Clarifications are welcome.

[Nyx!]

Shaad Bhai, if you are correcting me for stating 5 times instead of 4, then I wud like to say that I told that just going with the flow of what others had written. But if u were telling about the reason behind remarrying 4 times, then thanx for the explanation. And I wud like all the boarders to ask any questions regarding Islam and Shariat… and I hope everyone including Kulch Bhai, Bhai mian, Shaad Bhai, Shahed Bhai, Hina Di, Shoaib Bhai, and everyone else wud love answering them? Kyon, karenge na aap log?

[Shaad-Aabaad]

Nyx I corrected Durga not you;she mentioned 5 wives in the begining. Secondly, I don\'t consider myself an authority on Islam. But I will try my best to solve any doubt our non-Muslim friends have regarding Islam or Muslims. People, I wanted to clear this one misconception that I knew something about and tell everyone that Islam does not promote terrorism and killing. I agree that what is going around the world does not help my case but I insist that Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood. And as an Indian Muslim, I want to help in whatever way is possible to bridge the divide and see that all of us live in peace and prosperity. I know that this is the way Nyx and all others think too...

[Active Board Member]

I kindly request all the participants of fullhyd.com board members not create any religious topic boards, because it will lead to mis-understandings, confusions, and hard feelings among various religions. So, I urge all the active members of fullhyd.com to please kindly try to have useful discussions.

[Indian]

The more you cover the more curious one becomes. The discipline is in the mind and thought, and cannot be had by just covering the face with a black veil. Just that act cannot make you conclude that the community will be 100pct rape free. I lived in Saudi Arabia for 15 years and have heard about a lot of rape crimes that the locals commit. These rules are imposed only for the immigrants, not for locals. Do you know how many housemaids are raped by the locals?? USA is open to confessing the rape victims, while Muslim countries supress the fact. One in 100 are given capital punishment while the rest who have money power, clout or are locals are in the large. Where has the shariat law gone now? Please do not justify and generalise this theory. On the whole it might suit your way of living, but as a society it is absurd... Look at it from a woman\'s point of view. Doesn\'t she like to dress in colors like you do? There are cases where even men are getting seduced by women, street walkers, so why don\'t you men also cover your faces with a black veil so you are all safe from getting seduced!!!

[Purush]

Well, it is sad to see what is happening in NW Pakistan. Under the newly elected authorities(Taliban supporters), the singing women professionals are forced to go back to prostitution. Why do the mullahs tolarate and create prostitutes when they have high esteem for women?

[RP]

In deference to advice from \'Active Board Member\', I refrain from expressing my deep emotional distruct with religious practices cited above. All religions have their darker sides. It is not islam alone. Being a Hindu, raised in a Catholic environment at school and having had a dozen moslem friends in India and a bunch of hindus+islamists+christians+jews around me in the US, I see that the degree of darkness is just that - a degree, a measure, a magnitude. It is time to move on into an open society - no matter which nation, religion, or community we belong to. So much for my discourse.

[Nyx!]

Yeah I agree with mr. active board member and mr. Indian both... v cant say anything about anyone\'s religion based on just bunch of fanatics... no layman wants to have divisions and categories ... this is just the foulplay of people in positions.. so be well... and be Indian .. not a hindu, muslim, christian, or a sikh

[D]

and..? if you need to pray? you go to an Indian what? temple/mosque/church/etc ? as long as you can discuss unbiased and yet be with emotion, so what? you are learning about something else.

[ananth]

I am told by my arab friends that \\\\

[Purushothama]

Only rabid fanatic followers pick up religious fights. Other normal, educated and progressive people use the info for thought and guidance. So let us discuss all types of issues without fear.

[Ali]

i think one of the major things people are forgetting is that hijab is SUGGESTED for women, not forced, you dont have to wear it unless you want to, sadly we forget that we human beings ourselves have made it mandatory, but its NOT, hijab can be as simple as wearing modest clothes like a shalwar kameez it does NOT have to be a BURQA because hijab is way of dressing~!

[bull]

Hi!! Appreciate your allowing a healthy dialogue! A few important points. <br><br>1. The question of hijaab or veil is something meant for muslim females only and should not be a big concern for others. <br>2. I know many American women who accepted Islam and now prefer to wear hijaab. <br>3. Readers can correct their views by reading a few very very interesting books such as Women In Islam / Rights Of Women
In Islam / books by Maryam Jameela///

[Ghazala]

Hijab means to dress up in a way that is not attractive, suggestive or revealing. We are allowed to reveal our faces and wear loose clothing and to cover our heads, no big deal for us! It doesn\'t hinder us from doing anything. Moreover, we do not want every tom, _ and harry to look at us when we are dressed up, that is the privilege of only our loved ones. We do not show our most precious jewels and diamonds to all and sundry, similarly we do not show our adorned selves to everyone. At the same time men HAVE TO guard their gaze, for hijab lies in your gaze for both men and women... Women have many rights in Islam such as a right to ownership of property, right to refuse a marriage proposition, right to a divorce, right to a second marriage after a divorce or death of her husband, right to keeping her earning - she is not obligated to spend on anyone, has a share of her father\'s property, can will her property and can be held as a witness in a hearing involving men. The Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) said that the person most deserving of your love and respect is \'your mother\', then \'your father\'. Love and respect for your mother(a woman) and your father BOTH is what will lead us to heaven. Sadly as with all religions many of us have decided to alter directives to our advantage and malign our religion... Rapists are not to go free as someone noted it happens in Saudi, unfortunately it does and is wrong!! Islam strictly condemns rape, such men are to be beheaded. Women are to be treated with utmost compassion as the Prophet (pbuh) said, a man is not allowed to hit or smack a woman... As for castrating women, it is absolutely cruel and is NO WAY part of Islam. Women and men are to enjoy intimacy with each other as husband and wife - castrating a women makes her devoid of many emotions. Many notions we see today are not part of Islam. Islam is a completely balanced and just religion. If SOME of the Mullah\'s (most of our new generation of learned men and women are questioning false notions) or even the common man says otherwise, it is stupid on our part not to pick up the Qur\'an and Ahadith (Prophet\'s sayings) and check it out. That\'s what makes us ignorant losers and also gives people from other religions the wrong idea about our perfect religion.

[Ghazala]

Also, Durga, before you go around bashing Islam with your comments of \"ur religion\", try to learn more about it if you want to comment. One can pick on any religion including \"yours\" by judging its people and not its commandments.

[Srinu]

hey!! i got a question. i am asking this since we have someone who knows abt islam and ready to pass some insight on the religion. i know i am sticking my neck out, but this issue has been troubling me for long. i know this kind of discussion leads to chaos, but i am encouraged by purushothams post. if hindus believe that ayodhya is the birth place of ram, and they have to have their temple there.. why cant the muslims give it to them? i know that muslims dont believe in idol worship. i am sure whatever is sacred to the muslim community from the masjid can be moved to some other place. b4 someone accuses me of being a secular, relegious fanatic, let me clarify that i am an atheist and i couldnt care less if a mandir, masjid or a church (or a budhuist shrine that has become the latest contention) come up there. but i think there is a whole lot of money, time and effort being wasted for this issue. not to mention the loss of good will among other nations. esp. in the middle east, gives our enemies a chance to use this as a propaganda tool. and finally.. i confess i know very little abt religion and apologize if with my limited knowledge i have some misconceptions of the underlying issues of the problem.

[h2amgeneral]

shureee it will... it just shows that the ppl in the burkas are ugly as hell and they need to keep it on. u guys say it like its a bad thing.

[Samar]

What\'s your point?Is that sarcasm or a statement?

[Ghazala]

My memory of the Ram Mandir or Babri Masjid incidents is very hazy - don\'t want to make any comment, it will be like opening Pandora\'s Box.

[Shaad Aabaad]

Dear Shrinu and all my other Indian bretheren,<br><br>
Things aren\'t as simple as they seem. And you don\'t need to be an authority on religion to understand the crux of the Ram Mandir - Babri Masjid issue. All you need to understand is the filthy mindset of our politicians. By dragging the birthplace of a noble soul like Ram into dirty politics, the likes of L K Advani had all one thing in mind -- POWER. How can literate, well educated persons think that these criminals/murderers/looters are genuine in their concern for the self-respect of Hindus? They have only the greed for power and to make money. Hindutva is the only way they got power and the only way they will hold onto it. And once they have it, they will unleash atrocities on Muslims like they did in Gujarat. If it was the question of one Babri Masjid to be given up to respect the sentiments of our Hindu brothers, there would have been no problem at all. The problem is that these people will use this as a trend and usurp all the places of worship in their bid to retain power. They are the lowest of the low and scum of the earth. It is in the best interest of India and Indians that we do not fall prey to them and instead work on improving and strengthening our relationships and making India a better, more harmonious place to live in for all.

[DuDe_iN_tOwN]

Here\'s an idea <br>
Why don\'t we all keep our religions to yourself ..that is no EVANGELISM and just take the best of the other religions and max life to a point beyond existence? ..I mean if a muslim girl wants to wear normal clothes, the society should be able to accomdate that ..and if hindu girl wants to veil herself, she should be able to do that too ..i mean ..it\'s about damn time we let go of primitive religious beliefs and just do what we feel is right. please lets not refer to religion in its barbaric form ..cuz look around ..times have changed ..and life has become more than eat-reproduce cycle. To handle all these complications ..i\'m sure every religion has its own way of dealing with things ...it wud be great if every person got to follow his/her religion ..or religions ..in his/her own private space ..without harming the interests of other people with other beliefs. Religion should not be forced upon .it\'s something voluntary. Please people .let us all be aware of the living situations as they are now ...i\'m sorry to say this, but every muslim friend who explains islam to me , refers to the times which ..quite honestly dont represent the current time ..past can be a part of us ..but its not the WHOLE us. I dont know if Islam or for that matter any other religion is \"adaptive\" to the new world..but surely, that is something i would like it to be. The context has to be TODAy not 1 bc or whatever ..cuz guess what ..we\'re centuries ahead ..and human life has evolved ..better believe it
Love,peace and Rock n roll <br>