Unveiling the Myth of the Muslim Woman

#82 vendetta
Your post reflects your anger. You are angray as muc as words can say.

Now, what are you talking about?
If, you go through all my responses(which you didn`t), you will clearly understand my point of view on hijab. Now, to refresh your memory again...............

I never object to those hijabii women, if, they have chosen hijab with their own freedom of choice(which I doubt in majority of cases, they are being brainwashed). Even, I won`t object, if, you start wearing hijab and if you start wrapping your body in a tent..............

Yes, I object to wear hijab, if, it is forced to................simple(now this is crystal clear.)

Let me tell you my personal secret, my parents advised me to cover my head, but, it was me who rejected their school of thought with respect. Because, I am an independent individual, who is matured enough and strong enough to make her own decisions and who has enough IQ to stand up for my rights with courage. Thanks

ZahraJ #89, {``You are indeed the answer to many prayers on Chowk :) I wonder why Bina was complaining that Muslims need to get acquainted with humor 101. I hope the birds are doing well in your neck of the woods. ``}

ZahraJ,
I am so happy to learn that you pray so much - and even happier to find out that I am the answer to many of your prayers. Don`t worry about Bina. She is always complaining about one thing or another - good thing that she does, otherwise we would all believe that we were living in Nirvana.

My dear friend, I ain`t touchin nothin that has feathers. Yesterday, I threatened to turn in my pet parrot if he didn`t watch his filthy mouth. :)

Just come back to chowk after several months.
I couldn`t go through all the responses to this article, so I don`t know if anyone has pointed out that Hindu women only began to veil themselves (before men, before God, before outsiders, whatever) after the Moslem invasions - before that there was nothing in India like covering your head etc. Some say Hindus thought this would save the Indian women (mainly Hindu at this stage) from the Moslem men, who (like all invading armies) engaged in rape , molestation, etc., while others believe that Hindu men realized that this was another great way to tie down women. Patriarchy does this to people - make men feel they need to protect their women from other men, and if you don`t do what they say you`re a fallen woman.
Having said that, I feel that the hijab, covering your head, wearing a burqa, whatever, is as right and as wrong as making women feel that looking good for men is their only goal in life - East or West. I don`t think wearing a hijab, or wearing a lot of cleavage, slit skirts etc, are really a matter of free choice, but dressing for the approval of a patriarchal society.

#88 [I try to look at both sides of an issue.]
You are indeed the answer to many prayers on Chowk :) I wonder why Bina was complaining that Muslims need to get acquainted with humor 101. I hope the birds are doing well in your neck of the woods.

#86 Isn`t it unfair to ignore the comedians/humorists on Chowk? You have to appreciate whatever is available. You don`t want to hurt the feelings of atif, kulharee and saleem.

I try to look at both sides of an issue. As much as I tried, I could not find the rationale for seemingly sane people wanting to cover up their daughters, wives, sisters, and mothers. I considered numerous reasons, ranging from piety to perversion, from security to seclusion, and from fear to freedom. Finally, it dawned on me. Yes, of course, the reason is SEX. Not really, it`s what happens after sex - yes, babies. Islam, unlike many other religions, is not against sex. On the contrary, it encourages sexual activity and even promotes promiscuous sex, at least for men, by allowing polygamy. Sex is allowed, even required - as long as it is performed within the boundaries of that great institution that we call the ``Abu Ghraib of Life,`` yes holy matrimony. So, as long as sex is restricted to an act between those licensed to copulate, then it`s OK. Well, God, despite what Christians may claim, is after all a confirmed bachelor. So why is He enforcing marriage as the price of blissful copulation? The reason is simple. Please read on.

For time immemorial, ``nanas`` or maternal grandfathers have had this fear of providing for someone else`s masterpiece. Yes, the fear of diapers, healthcare, and possible dowries have made old men get up in the middle of the night while breaking out in a cold sweat. How to stop your daughter from being a mother pre-qabool qabool? Simple - segregate the women from the men. Don`t allow the free mixing of males and females, unless they are allowed to copulate or can`t copulate - thus the term ``Mahram.`` Funny, how husbands fall into this category - but that is another discussion. :)

Now, if you segregate the sexes, there will still be a temptation to mingle in a clandestine manner. How do you avoid that? Well, what makes men and women want to get together is sex appeal. How do you eliminate sex appeal? Simple, by covering up the source of the sex appeal - the female. Yes, the more hideous the hijab and the more beastly the burka, the less the sex appeal, and therefore the urge to merge. Now, once the young and vulnerable woman is covered up, her chances of becoming a premature mom are diminished if not eliminated and the ``nana`` can get some sleep at night. This rationale does have some validity. In the West, especially in America, the percentage of babies born out of wedlock is around 30% and approaches majority for the African-American community. Even some Muslim girls have been caught in this net of motherhood sans ``7 phaireys.`` Consider the case of Ms. Nomani of the West Virginia mosque leadership fame.

So, now we understand the reason for the hijab. It avoids sex appeal that leads to sex without marriage that leads to babies without responsible fathers. So, one may ask ``why cover up married women?`` Simple again. Why reinvent the wheel? If it works for unmarried women, why not use it to protect married women? After all, just because one or both parties to an act of copulation possess a license to copulate does not necessarily guarantee that the legitimate licensed parties will engage in this fruitful exercise.

#84, 85, 86 - agree on all accounts. -V (Christians and jews are the same as muslims - extremists on all sides can`t seem to agree that in the end choices must be respected).

First of all Muslims need to have a sense of humor. I suggest a Chowk sponsored screening of ``Looking For Comedy in the Muslim World`` (which looks hilarious by all accounts).

I have never seen christians and jews making an issue out of the preferences of their own people. They do have views about issues, but they do not force their views upon others. Muslims are/have been very ummah-focused. As a result, they take it upon themselves to go out and enforce their religious or irreligious views on others. Some preachers may be more orthodox than others. What if other muslims or muslimas do not want to follow certain line of thought? Shouldn`t that be between God and his creation?

As far as men are concerned, I think it is all due to their existence that women have to go through layers of purdah. For all those who are fond of Maureen Dowd, you must read ``Are Men Necessary?`` It`s a collection of her old columns from the New York Times as well as some new revelations. She has a few anecdotes dedicated to the muslim women.

On a different note - I have known a few liberal aka control freak muslim guys who choose to marry hijabi women but ask their wives to fold their hijabs and place them under the last layer of an old trunk. The other scenario is where a liberal or outgoing woman is asked to wrap her skirt and get into a hijab. Women are pretty smart. Whenever they comply, they have their own conditions for the men. So, at the end, it is a win-win scenario.

There are situations where women are the victims due to their circumstances. Still, women are not completely innocent. They need to take control of their lives vs. letting others control their lives. In muslim societies, it is real hard for a woman to have complete control over her life and its choices. I truly abhor the concept of respect toward women in the eastern society. That society kills you by giving you respect based on your gender. You are never ever respected for being an individual. You are always respected for being the sinfae` nazuk. That is the key issue with the ummah-focused nations.

Vendetta sahib(a) - I am in full agreement with #82. Indeed, the choice should rest with women. Those who stand for freedom to choose, should not villify those who practice that freedom.

My post # 69 was merely intended to highlight the absurdity of the ``scientific`` question posted in # 68. It was meant to demonstrate that people who try to tie hijab with all societal ills need to chill out, and perhaps grow up.

Zeena sahiba, I think the women who wear clothes are oppressed and enslaved. I hope you have not been coerced / pressured / brainwashed into wearing clothes by your parents / husband / brothers.

Oh and Bina_Shah and Malik99 - your study proposition would not get past any IRB (institutional review board). And where would you do this study? The middle east, India, Pakistan, the US, England, France? Too many variables, just wouldn`t be a valid study unless you could control for everything. Seems to me that you can`t study the effects of hijab (or anything else) without putting it in the context it was intended for, just wouldn`t be very realistic. For example studying if a 25 mile per hour speed limit reduced automobile deaths on the Autobahn - of course it would, but why would you do that kind of study?

Uh... aka morningdew?! Look lady you`re making assumptions beyond yourself... don`t get angry or vindictive. This is supposed to be a place of civil discussion - but it seems you`re the one ``pushing your OPINION`` on others. Maybe you should do some more reading in the Quran and Sunnah and learn some sensibility. You rail against those who feel, in their opinion, that a woman should wear hijab. Sure, anything forced upon another is wrong - as it is said in Islam ``there is no compulsion in religion``. But what of the millions of women who wear hijab because they choose too? Are they wrong to do so because they choose to? You criticize them as thinking they are more ``pious`` than those women who choose not to wear hijab! You are just as bad as the ``mullahs`` you profess to hate. You criticize these women for making a personal choice, even though you profess to believe that it is a personal choice. Your arguments ring hollow, you provide a lose-lose proposition to any woman wearing hijab and not ascribing to your opinion. Pretty lame.

#80 morningdew
Dear angry sir
I also beg you to respect others beliefs as you respect your own. When, you post illogical lengthy post like this with no sense, this means you`re screaming and you`re really mad at something, that you don`t even practice. You are telling women to practice hijab or cover their heads. Why?
Why don`t you cover your head with scraves just set an example for all followers and for all muslims?

If, I am not following hijab, i am not pushing or forcing anyone NOT to. I said, it is absolutely your personal choice.

But, on the contrary, you`re pushing this hijab for all women folks? Why?
Do you practice the same hijab? No.

Hijab has totally different meanings than what you implement here. So, my advise for you is to chill out, relax, drink cold water and don`t get up set or angry on something that you do not even practice. Thankyou, peace out and eid mubarak.

I only have one id. Do you think its odd that someone else thinks you`re upset? Here`s a hint, when you use CAPS, that means you`re screaming. :)

The problem here is with little zeena and others who believe hijab has nothing to do with the religion. By the way zeena, how old are you? Your english and grammar are pretty bad. And what the hell is a ``mullhaish``? I have no idea what the prostitutes in pakistan are wearing, or in india for that matter. But if they do wear burqa (which are not islamic by the way), then THAT is a cultural thing, because perhaps most of the women there wear such attire. Use your head for heavens sake! When the gov`t of a country makes it law, like in Iran, or when every other women in the city wears it, like Pak. when they go outdoors, then I guess it would only be natural for those who are not religious to wear it as well.

You stated that ``daily life has nothing to do with`` Islam. This is utter nonsense. The Quran and Sunnah have made clear how to do everything, from prayer, to which foot to step out of the house with, to which hand to eat with, to finances, to how to treat your neighbours (no matter what faith they are, they are treated with the same kindness), to relations with your parents, to a husband or wife`s rights, to a child`s rights, even how long to nurse a baby, etc etc, and of course, how to dress, ie modesty for both men and women!!!

Then you claimed there is no reference to a hijab in the Quran. This is also absolutely false. Just because you don`t know how to interpret a word, doesn`t mean you can leave out a whole entire ayah, just to suit your needs!! You may as well re-write it yourself then, and practise your own religion. Which is fine by me, because I don`t care what you follow. My only problem is you telling people that the hijab has nothing to do with religion. Why do nuns wear it? Why do devout jewish women cover of shave off their hair? Don`t tell us crap like it has nothing to do with religion! Plus you never responded to the progressive muslim claim you made.

I think you and I come from two different worlds, where you see women being forced, or oppressed to wear it, or that they act like they are pious once they do. My observation in Canada and the US, is that this is not the case. Infact, most culturally-oriented desi parents, don`t want their daughters to, because of whatever reasons. So its actually the opposite here. Girls start wearing the hijab once they come to learn more about Islam, usually in university, and realize its benefits, and plus the fact that its compulsory for them to do so. And then there are the converts...they put it on right away, without hesitation!!!

We both agree that it should be a women`s choice, but you then turn around and make statements like but why would an educated woman do so, unless its for the wrong reasons.

You`re a runner right? I hope this won`t be your only contribution to humanity, but if you contribute nothing else, at the very least just try to refrain from making false claims about something you don`t even follow. Respect people and their beliefs, don`t try to belittle a women`s decision to wear something, just because you feel you could never do so, or don`t have the guts or self-esteem to.

peace out, and Eid Mubarak. :)

Vendetta aka morningdew
I can do the same cheap thrill to come up with multiple nicks. But, I won`t, that makes me feel dishonest with myself to deceive internet usage. I have my own principles , and , one of them is to have courage to come up with only one nick, thanks

Hmmm... Zeena seems angry to me.... Try yoga, it`ll help you relax... or cut out the caffeine that Salim seems to be imbibing. :)

So... what`s the problem with hijab again?