Did you know Islam does not force us to cover?

Question

http://submission.org/women/hijab.html

Nobody can force a muslim woman to cover her head. She can run around naked and they can't do a thing but try talking some sense into her.

I know what the Quran says. It says she should, it is suggested, but it also says that nobody can be forced. The muslim women you see in those countries are being culturally treated, not islamically. Again, learn to differentiate between culture and islam.

Answer 1

What many answerers here fail to realize is that ISLAM does not force women to cover, but some wacky fundamentalist regimes do. What wack fundamentalist regimes do often conflicts with actual Islamic teachings. Islam is not responsible for the oppression of women in any way, shape or form.

Answer 2

lol I dont know about running around naked but its true that wearing hijab is not forced. People seem to think that a muslim women has to wear a long black dress with a black head covering that only reveals the eyes. First of all, hijab does not have to be black. And you are not required to cover your face in islam. Even the head scarf is not mandatory. The only hadith that says heads should be covered is very weak and cannot be used as proof. Culture is a different matter. Yes it is required to wear hijab in certain muslim countries. And in others it is not. In turkey there is even a ban on hijab!! Muslim girls that wear hijab to class are kicked out everyday. And this is a muslim country! Many people hate that muslim women are forced to wear hijab in certain muslim countries but ignore it when their right to wear one is taken away. :-x

edit:
mckenzie 33:59 does not say that
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.
It never says that hijab should only leave out the eyes.

Answer 3

I do not know where you have been living. I lived in a place where they claim to be the seat of Islamic civilization called Saudi Arabia. Only female children are allowed to walk in the open place without cover. Women are strictly forced to wear it including the non-muslims (in fact they feel insulted if non-muslims will not wear cover. Police or any authority are not allowed to uncover their faces in public whether they have committed a crime or not which would only mean of its strict adherence to the law. What you may be saying is based on which Muslim country you grew up or you are in.
Talking some sense to the offender? I do not really think you have been outside your home long enough to see reality.

Answer 4

Sho nuff do ma'am. I just like wearing the scarf! I like the feminine feel of a long skirt swishing when I walk. I love the loose fit of "paki pants" for walking. My hair has never been healthier and longer than since I began to cover up a few years ago.

Oddly enough, I find gentlemen are more courteous and more doors are opened for me. Because I am Western I have just adapted by wearing modest Western clothing combined with other national dress. The shalmar kameez is my favourite of all.

However, I have Muslima friends who dress Arab style and wear layers of loose lovely clothing, some who wear the face covering. I also have lady friends who never wear a scarf unless they are at mosque or in prayer. I have Pakistani friends who wear the graceful scarf that slips off at times.
The manner of dress is cultural. It is so sad that people think we dress in a boring fashion.

Islam has certain standards of modesty it expects of all men and women to follow. However the cultures that have embraced Islam might have different traditional dress. So many people think all Muslims dress the same and speak the same language and eat the same foods. This is not the way it is.

http://www.al-ikhlas.com/items/salwar-kameez/list.htm
Beautiful stuff

http://www.ahad-ahad.com/store/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=5007
Most beautiful women's clothing around, exquisite

http://stores.ebay.com.au/HOLYCLOTHING-EXCLUSIVES-Sizes-Sm-5X
Beautiful modest gypsy clothing

http://www.zippyvideos.com/4681874654482536/el_velo01/*leylasp1
El Velo (Hiyab) I love this song. Lovely hijab video.

Sister, as for the naked statement, I don't think that would fly. You are being a bit naive. Muslim women in Saudi Arabia are not even allowed to wear lighter coloured bourqa in the hot sun while men wear white. They are limited to black or, if risque, very deep blue or brown. That is very strictly enforced.

The women are still forced to wear the bourqa because their husbands insist upon it.

http://www.rawa.org/christinalamb.htm
They'd rather die: brief lives of the Afghan slave wives

http://www.rawa.org/opium5.htm
Opium farmers sell daughters to cover debts to traffickers

Answer 5

If you actually think that Muslim women are able to do as you say in any Islamic country, you are ignorant of your own people. Male chauvinism is ingrained in typical Muslim society. You don't fool anybody . If you are a woman, I dare you walk around in jeans and a T-shirt in Taliban infested areas of Afghanistan. Naked? You would get shot down like a dog.

Answer 6

OK, whenever you decide to run around naked give me a shout and I will try talking some sense into you. I'll say things like "Put some clothes on you silly thing you, it is still chilly outside!"

Answer 7

Okay. Try telling that to Afghanistan Muslims.

Maybe the Koran doesn't require that women wear full-body clothing. I wouldn't know- I've never read it. But I'm just saying that most Muslim women I have seen are covered from head to toe, except for their faces and hands.

Answer 8

You are correct, sir. Compelling a woman to follow the Qur'an is akin to forcing a child to learn about half-baked creation myths as an alternative to science. Only a backwards, fundamentalist people would do that.

Answer 9

Your statement is simply not true. There are muslim women all over the world who are forcefully compelled to cover their hair.

If a Muslim woman 'streaked' down a Riyadh street, I would very much doubt that she would get off with only a 'talking to'.

Answer 10

Praise be to Allah.

Let's put everything in its right place, sister.
Why don't we generalize the idea?, in order not to make any misconception.

Normally, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT.
but in Islam, you CAN make sins but it is still called a sin, just because the one ALLOWS himself to make a sin DOESN'T mean that making sins is ALLOWED in Islam.

I hope you got what I mean, sister.