Why when a nun covers its a sign of her dedication to God, but when a Muslim woman does she's oppressed?

Question

Why when a jewish man grows his beard is a sign of true religion, but when a Muslim man does it, he's an extremist?
Why when a Christian/Jew/other is tried for a crime he's on trial, but when a Muslim is tried the religion is on trial?

Answer 1

The Hijab (veil) was originally introduced to Muslim women for Prophet Muhammad's wives for their protection and to show their status as his wives. His wives were being harrassed by the Hypocrites living in Medina at the time, and so Allah said thus:

Believers, do not enter the houses of the Prophet
for a meal without waiting for the proper time,
unless you are given leave. But if you are invited, enter;
and when you have eaten disperse.
Do not engage in familiar talk, for this would annoy the Prophet and he would be ashamed to bid you go;
but of the truth, Allah is not ashamed.
If you ask his wives for anything,
Speak to them from behind a curtain (hijab).
This is more chaste for your hearts and their hearts.

The women of Medina wished to be seen as Muhammad's wives were seen and respected as they were respected, and so the hijab became a symbol of virtuous Muslim women.

Answer 2

Maybe it's because people don't understand. But, as a person who doesn't know a lot about the Muslim religion, I can say that I have NEVER accused a Muslim man of growing a beard because he is an extremist. I have NEVER accused a Muslim woman of covering herself because she is oppressed. I'm not sure about the trial thing, because I have never seen a Muslim man/woman on trial.
I do have questions about all religions.
Do you not find it interesting to know why certain religions have certain "rules"?
If I were visiting a Muslim country, would I be required to cover myself? If so, is it because the religion is part of the "law"?
I don't think there is a law in the United States that says you are REQUIRED to remain uncovered, or that the man is REQUIRED to stay clean shaved. I believe that is called "freedom of religion" and I TRULY believe in that. Those who jump to the conclusion that a covered woman is oppressed or a man with a beard is an extremist, are probably being generalists. Unfortunately, there are generalists on BOTH sides of the equation. There are also EXTREMISTS of some sort in EVERY country. Maybe we should try to understand each other better and not JUMP to conclusions on either side.

Answer 3

"Why when a nun covers its a sign of her dedication to God,"

Nuns choose to be nuns.

"but when a Muslim woman does she's oppressed?"

Most Muslim women are forced to be Muslim and many are forced to cover up.

"Why when a jewish man grows his beard is a sign of true religion, but when a Muslim man does it, he's an extremist?"

Wearing a beard does not mean the wearer is extremst.

Why when a Christian/Jew/other is tried for a crime he's on trial, but when a Muslim is tried the religion is on trial?

The religion is not on trial the Muslim criminal is.

Answer 4

Funny how all of that goes, isn't it? I always wonder why "Mary" is scarfed all ways.. the "Queen of Heaven"...

I wear the scarf because I like it. Also it makes for nicer hair. I also wear modest dress... this means western clothing that meets all the necessary requirements of modesty. Why do I do it? Because I LIKE it. I am single. No man tells me how to dress or what to do. I LIKE IT.

Plain and simple. There are times I have been out and I have removed my scarf, but very rarely and usually only due to work related activities.

Personally I don't care what people say. It is my right. I wear it. I just get tired of people all finagling and haggling over such petty stuff when there is a real world with real problems that need real attention. I have even seen sites where people come down on Catholic women for wearing the veil or hats in mass. Let people alone and mind your own business everyone. We all have a lot of unattended personal business.

Answer 5

Generalize much????

I have seen a lot of Muslim women who wear hijab say "I do it for God". Great...but wouldn't an omnicient God know what is in your heart? You can take a prostitute off the street and dress her up in a burka, a niquab, a habit or whatever...underneath she's still a whore. Modesty is not what you wear. It's who you are!

Hijab is a statement. Not to God. God already knows you. It's a statement to man. Just like a nun's habit is a statement to mankind.

Answer 6

Simply put, in this day and age at least, Christian women 'take the veil' out of choice. Gone are the days when a daughter was dedicated to the church from her birth, or forced into it because of some supposed shame.

Today, many Muslim women wear headscarves of one sort or another because they are comfortable with it; other prefer to abandon it. From what I understand, there is nothing in the Quran that says a woman has to veil herself. In spite of this, Muslim men created a tradition/law saying that a woman had to hide herself from the sight of men not of her family. In some Muslim areas, these restrictions are being relaxed. However, just five years ago in Afghanistan, a woman wearing a complete burka and gloves was getting onto a bus. The sleeve of her burka slipped back as she reached for the handle, and revealed one inch of skin on her arm. For this 'crime', Taliban followers beat her to death.

Also, most people realize that not all Muslim men with beards are extremists.

So, you see, there's no easy answer to your question. It all depends on context.

Answer 7

because there's an agenda against them at the moment.
And also because there is a particular extremist group that is chouting jihad and blowing up children. We don't get to see the good islamics we are shown and force fed the nut jobs and the abusers.
Someone get this woman a cookie I think she just made The Y!A Question of the Night!!

oh boo I dind't notice the last line. when pagans/new agers and amish types are on trial that's taken into consideration too.

Answer 8

A nun can go to the store without covering up and not get arrested. In a Muslim country, a woman (even a non-Muslim woman) cannot.

I've never heard of a Muslim man called an extremist because of his beard.

There are many cases since Bush's War on Terror began where Muslims have been arrested and detained for no reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Look how many have been released from Guantanamo because it was determined they did nothing wrong. It's safe to say that they were arrested because they happened to be living in Afghanistan or Iraq, and in 99.9% of the cases, are Muslim.

Answer 9

K maybe its just me but did anyone read AJ's post? its from the Koran...and unless I am not interpreting it correctly what I get out of it is that the woman are made to wear it and if they don't there will be consequences...that is oppression, just because its in the Koran you say you do it for religion...to get beaten for not wearing it is wrong in my eyes, I don't agree with a God that would allow woman to be beaten for not covering up, thats just my opinion though....not to mention that if I was to go to Iraq I would have to cover up as well or face the consequences...why should I have to I do not follow the Koran? whe you come to our country you choose to wear what you wear we do not enforce a dress code on you...if you choose to cover up in the USA so be it your choice unless it's because if you don't then you will have to face your husband's consequences than that's not a choice. I don't know read what AJ wrote there is your answer and if we are all misinterpreting it than please enlighten me....

Answer 10

A nun chooses to become solely dedicated to a life of chastity and essentially she is married to God (Jesus). She chooses to wear a habit (cover). This helps Christians to identify she is a woman of god. However, she doesn't have to wear a habit, and many "modern" nuns do not. She is directly a part of the running of the Catholic church.
Everyday Christian women do not have to wear coverings on their heads. However, it is interesting to note that in many old style european countries, a good Christian woman covers her hair with a kerchief. North American woman no longer do so - kerchiefs are usually utilized as a protector of the hair.

I do not have a problem with any woman wearing a head covering for religious purposes. I respect that choice. I even respect a woman's choice (operative theme being CHOICE) to wear a burka. Some days the way I look, I'd love to do so as well. If a Muslim woman chooses to wear a partial or complete head covering, as a way to show her respect, all the power to her. Her CHOICE.

But, I do have a problem when a society uses religious doctrine to suppress a woman's right to choose what she can or cannot wear. A woman should not have to worry about being thrown in jail, beaten, or killed because of something she does or doesn't wear.

I think any good Christian woman who believes in God, should, as a sign of respect to herself, her family, and God dress modestly. The problem being society has pushed what "modest" means in this day and age.

Furthermore, neither the Bible nor the Koran state a woman has to completely cover herself from top to bottom.

Here in Canada, when someone commits a crime, they are charged for that crime and have their day in court in front of a jury of their peers. That individual is being charged soley for the crime they committed. Not because of their religion. If a Christian blows up a bus, they will be charged for blowing up a bus, not because they are a Christian who blew up a bus. The same thing applies to a Muslim. The Muslim is not being put on trial for their religion, but, for the criminal action the individual , who happens to be a Muslim, committed.

I think it is important for some people to know that NUNS are a special Christian order of women dedicated to God and remain chaste for their whole lives. They are a totally different class of Christian women. They are required to follow a completely different set of rules according to set customs and requirements to become and remain nuns.

Other Christian women are free to practice their beliefs in God and Jesus without having to be chaste. They can marry and have children and participate in the church in other capacities. They are very much like Muslim women in this respect. So, don't confuse nuns with everyday Christian women. As well, they are free to leave the order. They are not told they will be destined to end up in eternal limbo. It's a calling, and if they aren't feeling the calling, it is recognized it is better to leave and find their true calling, whether is be as a career woman, mother, whatever.