Question for Muslim Women about the face covering?

Question

Ladies, to the women in America, the facial coverings worn by many Muslim women seem oppressive. I understand that in many Muslim societies, the facial covering is optional.

So, would you enlighten us as to why a Muslim woman would choose to wear the facial coverings?

(My goal with this question is that if more people understand this, they may realize why it is not oppressive).

Answer 1

I'll make it easy for you. Men tend to badger and take advantage of women who wear very tight clothing. The hijab protects us against these men. That's the whole point -----> PROTECTION! It is not oppressive!!! Do you see muslims woman complaining? NO!

Answer 2

Covering a face is totally a cultural thing and its not related to religion. Islam only asked woman to cover her body very well and completely so that men cant see their body curves. As women’s body curves ( breast and butts are also very attractive).
Now question is why they cover in a society where it look odd? The answer is their mental approach. Their mental approach is not according to the west. Their mind is not accepting the things, freedom when they come to west. They want to live some 200 yrs back and they don’t want to come to 2006 and face the modem needs and fresh approach.

As far as oppression is concern its vice versa. It’s only a difference of culture, mental approach; brought up in which society etc. a woman of east think that taking a nude bath on beach is a oppression. Living with a man with out a marriage is a oppression, having a boy friend is a oppression, birth control is a oppression, abortion is a oppression. And so on. It’s the matter of only a mental approach. How u think about that specific thing according to ur own culture.

Answer 3

Six criteria for Hijab.

According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing hijab:

i. Extent

The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male is to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the obligatory level of covering is to cover the whole body except the face and the hands upto the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body. Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands are part of the obligatory extent of ‘hijab’. All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.

ii. Should not reveal figure.

The second criterion is that the clothes they wear should be loose and should not reveal the figure.

iii. Should not be transparent.

The third criterion is that the clothes they wear should not be transparent such that one can see through them.
iv. Not attract opposite sex.

The clothes they wear should be not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.

v. Should not resemble the clothes of the opposite sex.

The fifth criterion is that the clothes they wear should not resemble that of the opposite sex.

vi. Should not resemble the clothes of the unbelievers.

The clothes they wear should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.

IV. Hijab includes conduct and behaviour among other things

Complete ‘hijab’, 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 ‘hijab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijab’ of the eyes, ‘hijab’ of the heart, ‘hijab’ of thought and ‘hijab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves etc.

Answer 4

Cover is not a priority even though it is mandated. The priority is faith, knowledge of Islam and observance of Salat (prayers). If the woman is assimilating the teaching of Islam properly then she will continue of what to do and what not to do

The whole point, modesty is prescribed to protect women from molestation or simply, modesty is protection. Thus, the only purpose of the veil in Islam is protection



A culture of modesty is badly needed, modesty in dress, in speech, and in manners of both men and women. Otherwise, the grim statistics will grow even worse day after day and, unfortunately, women alone will be paying the price. Actually, we all suffer but as K. Gibran has said, "...for the person who receives the blows is not like the one who counts them." 84 .

Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) says, when a girl reaches puberty, she cannot show any part of her body except her face and hands; . , Islamically, a woman can uncover her face and hands, but if she lives in a country where they cover them, she would be in compliance with that tradition in that country

Answer 5

I will give you an example. I have one sister in law which is very pretty, well all of ny husband's family look like royalty. Any who. She is pretty. She feels that by concealing her face she concentrates more on Allah, and men will not look at her with desire, there fore they will not sin and she will not sin by making them sin.

I am a business woman. I feel that if the QUran says these are the basics (wear hijab) then I would do those and if anything else is requested then I will do that. Because of the nature of my Business, being an engineer, it is a social necessity for me to wear professional clothing:

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-Gbugcj8kaKUOWLuNVYyPQnw-?cq=1&p=33#comments

and look like a muslim at the same time.

Now, this is not the case for her, she is a house wife and has more flexibility than I do to wear the full covering :)

I admire her for tha but is not something I would do.

Answer 6

It doesn't do the woman any harm, therefore it is not oppressive.

Women choose to wear it for more modesty because they feel it is the right thing to do. It is, however, not required. Many women are relieved that they don't have to show their beauty in public for men's eyes to gaze upon.

Answer 7

It is out of respect for their beliefs. . .simple as that. Some African women place a flat rock in their lips. . .this is actually DEFACING their face, yet we do not say a word about it.

This is a form of racism to question the behavior of Muslims, because you (or anyone) finds it oppressive. What if another some one found it to be "Evil" to wear a crucifix around ones neck and asked a Christian to "enlighten" them of their choice to wear it? I am sure the Christian would be offended that anyone would think it was an EVIL act and was asked to have it explained.

Maybe you placed that question in here in a bad way unintentionally, but the truth is, you stated that women in America seem to think it is oppressive, when we actually have women in America wearing it. . .Mormons wear garments. . .Jews wear Yamicahs. . .on and on. . .America is a very mixed society and when that term (American) is used to EXCLUDE a race or a religion, it is a form of separatism and unhealthy for our country.


Vote. . .Vote. . .Vote. . .Vote. . .Vote. . .Vote. . .Vote. . .Vote. . .Vote. . .

Answer 8

The fact that has been stated is that facial covering is not compulsory, it is by choice. A leading Muslim Actress in India , Ms. Shabana Azmi, stated that no where it is mentioned about the covering of face. It is just the religious leaders who have wanted the women to do so.

Just to prevent anyone from seeing her, and the other side is they can see through properly, without anybody knowing.

Answer 9

Modesty

Answer 10

THINK ABOUT IT:

Dress Code for Believers*

[24:30] Tell the believing men that they shall subdue their eyes (and not stare at the women), and to maintain their chastity. This is purer for them. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything they do.

[24:31] And tell the believing women to subdue their eyes, and maintain their chastity. They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies, except that which is necessary. They shall cover their chests, and shall not relax this code in the presence of other than their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, the sons of their husbands, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, other women, the male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been nullified, or the children who have not reached puberty. They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies. All of you shall repent to GOD, O you believers, that you may succeed.



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*24:30-31 Dressing modestly, therefore, is a trait of the believing men and women. The minimum requirements for a woman's dress is to lengthen her garment (33:59) and to cover her chest. Tyrannical Arab traditions have given a false impression that a woman must be covered from head to toe; such is not a Quranic or Islamic dress.
Encourage Marriage to Discourage Immorality

[24:32] You shall encourage those of you who are single to get married. They may marry the righteous among your male and female servants, if they are poor. GOD will enrich them from His grace. GOD is Bounteous, Knower.

[24:33] Those who cannot afford to get married shall maintain morality until GOD provides for them from His grace. Those among your servants who wish to be freed in order to marry, you shall grant them their wish, once you realize that they are honest. And give them from GOD's money that He has bestowed upon you. You shall not force your girls to commit prostitution, seeking the materials of this world, if they wish to be chaste. If anyone forces them, then GOD, seeing that they are forced, is Forgiver, Merciful.

[24:34] GOD have revealed to you clarifying revelations, and examples from the past generations, and an enlightenment for the righteous.