Muslim women wear the nikab/veil out of respect and decency?

Question

OK. Can someone please explain to me what is "indecent" about showing your face?

I'm a white nominally christian woman and so I do not cover my head or face as neither rmy culture or my religion requires me to. I DON'T wear miniskirts or revealing clothes - I usually wear long skirts, blouses, jeans sweaters etc, so I am clothed from head to foot.

So why would that be insufficient for a muslim woman - am I "indecent" in showing my head and face?

I also am not arrogant enough to consider myself so beautiful that any male who sees me will be overcome with lust for me. Maybe if I wandered around in a bikini or somethign but in everyday clothes, Jeans, sweaer etc, I'm sure the average male can cope.

So why are muslim women insisting its necessary to cover your face for "decency" and "modesty"? Whats immodest about showing your face? Are you somehow suggesting us non-muslim women who don't are being "immodest"??

I think some of you have misread the question. I am NOT a muslim. I am a white British Christian (well . . . don't go to church other than weddings christenings and funerals but thats my basic religion).

I don't dress in the way that many Muslims accuse Western women of dressing (short skirts etc). I always cover up because thats the way I feel comfortable. But as a western christian my culture and religion don't require me to cover my head and face.

I don't quite get why muslim women feel its "immodest" to not have your head and face covered. I don't feel "immodest" in sweater jeans and boots or a long skirt for work. I just wanted to hear reasons why the extra cover is so necessary.

Yes its true that in history, western Christian women were expected to cover their heads with veils, shawls, caps, bonnets etc.

As recently as the 1950s, my mother (A Catholic) remembers women having to cover their heads in church, and some older Catholic women still do.

But its no longer really a part of our culture or religion. I guess things have just changed a lot in the West.

Answer 1

I don't see the problem. Because of their religion, they wear a veil. Doesn't mean you have to...

Answer 2

what is indecent is the reaction of the wider muslim community if they don't wear the veil - if they are in the UK they should follow our custom of not wearing them as has been said if you drove a car wearing a balaclava you would most likely get pulled over and possibly shot as a terrorist, I know I would contact the police if i spotted someone driving in a balaclava rather than take a chance and yes the comment about the fact no one should enter a school veiled as they could be anyone with any intention towards the children is a good one and if they are accusing children of lust it just goes to prove they are extremists and shouldn't be allowed near children muslim or otherwise for the safety of the children, the UK follows the Church of England not the qu'ran so teachers of any religion should comply with our state religion not a different one

Answer 3

I heard a discussion about this on the radio and the muslim woman (?historian) stated that the veil was originally worn as protection from sand. She also said that nowhere in the Koran was there direction for the face to be hidden as such and that wearing the veil was solely a personal choice. It would , therefore , appear to be one of those things that has become part of religion by 'accident' similarly to the fact that Jews do not eat pork, originally because it was infected with tape worms etc and was not a hygenic food.

Answer 4

Some do it for religion, some for culture, some for both. It is a common retort that in the countries where this happens even a little bit of skin showing will drive a man wild with desire. I guess that they don't have much self control( what do they do when they get here also some christian sects have clothing restrictions ie; the ahmish). Some consider it a form of control for women in those countries since the men are not required to wear the same types of things. Also not all muslim women wear them.

Answer 5

The hijab (scarf) is required-the face veil is strictly a custom of some areas . The hijab is required in the Qur'an, the veil is not. The hijab is no different than Orthodox Jewish women who cover their heads, or the Pentecostal woman never cutting her hair, and wearing it up in a beehive style. And, I could go on and on. Why won't people let this subject drop?

Answer 6

The muslims are a nice people and they do society a great favour by making the ugly women in their culture wear veils. Have you ever seen a nice looking muslim women wearing a veil? Point proved!

On a serious note though:

Muslims are taking Europe for a ride and the European governments are stupid enough to let them. I mean, surely its not difficult to say "if you want to wear your veil in public, then we will pay for your air fair to emigrate to any country in the world where that sort of custom is accepted".

Failing that, ask any muslim who wants to abide only by muslim customs (in Europe) to sign a petition to their home countries asking the government of that country to allow Europeans in their country to go out and binge drink on a Fri/Sat night, or maybe allow Europeans to wear bikinis on the beach or even sunbathe topless in the garden.

Muslims expect the world to respect their culture and religion, yet they do not have the "decency" to respect their host nation!

I can only assume that this question relates to the news of the muslim woman teacher wearing her veil in school. Well, muslim or not, as a parent I would want anyone having direct access to my kids to show their face for security reasons. Otherwise anyone could walk into school wearing a veil and do anything to the children without being recognised!


(A non-muslim Asian living in Britain)

Answer 7

I think that the Qu'ran says that women should dress modestly, and some people interpret that as wearing the full face veil, some just cover their hair and some Muslim women just make sure they don't wear very revealing clothes.
But I'm not certain if this is true

Answer 8

The problem with all religions is they divide people into groups. Spirituality on the other hand brings everyone together as it is non-denominational.

Very religious people have an awful habit of unconsciusly judging others who do not follow their beliefs. It is only a small step to extremism, where they become defenders (soldiers) of their faith. In my opinion, women who wear the veil are taking one step closer to becoming extremists.

Answer 9

While some muslim women no doubt do it out of some diproportionate regard for decency, the vast majority put up with the viel and bhurka for their own safety. Their very lives depend on their dress code.

The maltreatment of women at the hands of mulim males is unlike anything else in the world.

Check out the film "Submission".

Answer 10

My philosophy on this is "When In Rome"

If showing your face bothers you that much in the "United Kingdom" then piss off back to Asia.

When you enter another country, if you behave like they do then you are far more likely to be accepted.

The government and it's PC gone mad have introduced laws to protect ethnic minorities, but as usual, the ethnic minorities have abused and exploited it.

Anything they want or don't want, they relate it in some way to their religion and they get their way.

If I drove a car with a balaclava on, I guarantee I'd get pulled and probably fined and points on my licence.

But if I am a Muslim woman, I can wear my Balaclava, or whatever it's called whilst driving.

Same principle, different law. Fooking Shite.

Answer 11

You are not indecent in showing your head and face. People do not do religious things to be better than anyone else, or to in some way lower other people who are not doing those things. As a christian you should know that matters of faith are enacted upon from within.