Muslim Women?

Question

If you are a Muslim woman, do you wear the head scarf? What does it mean for you? When do you/ did you start wearing it. What is it supposed to mean? Do you think that woman are treated as second class citizens in the Islamic religion, or is that just what everyone says and you don't see it that way?

Please don't answer unless you're Muslim because you will not be giving me real information, just what you've "gathered" from the news, or what your "great" opinion on the matter is.

Answer 1

yes i am an american muslim and i've worn the hijab(khimar) ense becoming muslim in 2001. not only do i wear khimar i also wear the niqab(face veil) i don't feel courageous when wearing it as it is a commandment from GOD(ALLAH) to do so out of modesty. i am not scared or afraid to wear it out in public,nor am i imtimidated by others when they make comments out of ignorance. as for women in islaam being treated as second class citizens. that is from culture not the religion itself. and of course those who are against islaam and only pay attention to the extremists,modernates,and secular people then of course you get this extorted view of islaam. the news just wants to spread fear,hatred , and intolerance for things they have no real knowledge a/b. wh do you thing so many women have accepted isaam as their religion,b/c they have learned the religion and educated themselves before become a muslimah. if it so bad why would we willing choose to be treated unfairly. women in islaam are actually treated with the upmost respect,unless you are married to someone who DOESN'T know his religion or fear GOD. that'swhy we are encouraged to learn this religion so we can spot the bad apples who spoil this beautiful religion for the rest of us. our husbands are the providers of our homes so we can raise and teach our children and enjoy our sisters company. i don't have to go out and work and worry a/b the things most women shoulder the responsiblities of the household.

now this is for my sisters whom say in the future they will do it or b/c they fear the people,what will you do if ALLAH (SWT) does not allow you to see another day day and you die in this state of not being covered properly and you are dressed as everyone else you may be raised up w/them as wellwe were commanded to be different than the christians and the jews what if this is your last day on earth. and we have to stop making negative comments a/b our brothers and sisters who are obviously misguided on these board b/c we have enough people making ignorant and untruths a/b islaamjust say that behavior is not from the religion it self but from the people.


and finally thanks for asking an intelligent question and making sure only those of us who are actually muslim to enlighten you a/b our religion. i hope that i've helped shed som light into my lifestyle. feel free to send me an email if you have anymore questions.

Answer 2

I am a Muslim women, and no, i do not currently wear the head scarf. But inshallah in the future, i will.

Even though i don't wear the hijab, doesn't mean i don't have an opinion about it. The Hijab to me means dignity and modesty. When you make the commitment to wear the hijab, you are not only making a promise to yourself, but making a promise to Allah (swt) that you will try your best to be a modest Muslim women. As for the dignity part of it, a women who wears the hijab shows that she has courage and strength. Wearing the hijab is no easy task, and the fact that she wears it is an act that is praise-worthy.

I agree with you. I think that there is a HUGE misconception about the treatment of women in Islamic Countries. Yes, there are some countries where the treatment of women, is honestly, very bad. But that is not the same with all of them. I think that in Islam, women are taught to be highly respected, and there are some countries out there who listen to the teachings of Islam.

I hope i helped to answer your question

P.S --> RAMADAN MUBARAK EVERYONE!!

Answer 3

Hi,

Yes I wear the headscarf, and I properly started to wear it at the age of 18. It was my own decision.

A hijab or headscarf is not a sign of oppression. Many might have discerned that from the media but it's simply not true.

When I'm around people, I want to be recognized and appreciated for the person I am, and NOT how I look. And wearing hijab allows me to filter out those shallow people in my life who care only for looks and beauty. I am recognized for my intelligence, witty humor, resourcefulness etc. first and foremost.

Because of my hijab, people respect me and think highly of me as opposed to some people who care only to dress minimally.

In, Islam woman should NOT be treated as a second-class citizens. In fact, there is equality between man and woman in Islam.

Answer 4

I wear the head scarf as a custom; I have done so all my life. Wearing the scarf is simply a form of submission but I often wonder why Muslim men wears nothing to show submission. Some Muslim men truly think that women are beneath them and yes...I have seen women in Mid Eastern countries treated as second class citizens.
I was once married to an Egyptian Muslim who tried to beat me with a pot spoon while on vacation in Arabia so I divorced him when I got back to the US.
Muslim, Christian or Jew; I think women should demand respect from their husbands...we are a very precious commodity.

Answer 5

Being a person qualified in Islamic studies, I would like to explain that Muslim women are exempted from religious duties during the menstruation. This rule actually relieves women from having to keep the five daily prayers, fasting and other duties while she is in the uncomfortable physical condition of menstruation. How can one imagine a woman being asked to fast in this situation? I must clarify, however, that some people generalize and prohibit all types of "prayers". The ritual prayer in Islam is called "salat" and it has to be done 5 times a day in a certain way. This "salat" is not required from women during their menstruation. The English word "prayer" is more general than the Islamic "salat", and can include other types of prayers like the supplication that one does any time of the day, and without having to do the rituals of the Islamic "salat". This type of prayers is not prohibited for women. In other words, menstruating women can keep praying to God, talking to Him, praising Him, asking for His love and forgiveness, but without doing it in a ritual "salat." The "submission" site is not an Islamic site. It belongs to a sect that was created by "Rashad Khalifa", a Christian Egyptian who claimed that he was Muslim, then made a big publicity about a false discovery called the "numerical miracle of the Quran". In the same book he claimed that he defined the exact date of the end of the world, which totally contradicts what the Quran and the Sunna preach. Later his truth was discovered. He also claimed that the Sunnah is not part of Islamic law and that we don't have to follow it, so that's why his sect is totally outside Islam. Hope this makes things clear. Salaam-peace.

Answer 6

i don't wear the headscarf. well not yet.i don't wear long sleeved blouses, too, or long skirts. but i do wear clothes which are modest. i am still conservative without the scarf.but often times people think that i am a christian.
i plan to wear the scarf maybe when i get married or when i'm half way through college.

the scarf of course would represent our being modest and pure. it serves as a "hindrance" from temptations too.it hides the features of a woman which may tempt men (correct me if im wrong).

we live in a christian community. and i feel equal with men. no discrimination. i don't know if i'll feel like a second class citizen when i will be with muslim men. but as how i see it with our conservative relatives, they seem to be all equal. men aren't lords over the women.

Answer 7

My sister is one, and she wears the head scarf. My mom was actually against it. But she wore it to keep the "guys" off. Otherwise she said they bothered her too much. She started wearing it in 8Th grade. And she says she does feel ostracized for it. Like when she's on the bus people try to avoid sitting next to her. But she doesn't care any more.

I think women who do wear the scarf are very bold. If I were a woman I doubt I would have the courage to wear it. I admire them a lot.

Answer 8

Yes I am an American woman who reverted to Islam October 1st 2006 at 19. I do wear the hijab. The hijab for me personally means that I am a human being who is to be respected; not lusted after like a wild dog lusts after a piece of meat. The hijab forces men to respect me for my mind and not my body. By wearing hijab I feel safer then when I didn't wear it. I first wore hijab on my wedding night to my husband 10 months ago. Before that I didn't wear it as there were no Muslims or Masjid in my town. I was the only Muslim and the masjid was in Newark, Ohio. The hijab is a direct commandment from ALLAH(SWT) to all the Prophet's(PBUH*) wives and the believing women and is not a choice. It is fard(obligatory upon every female Muslim). The hijab liberates women from having to conform to Western ideals and society. By covering herself the woman shows that she fears ALLAH(SWT) and the fires of Jahannam(HELL) and that she wants to preserve her modesty and not show her beauty to anyone except her husband, brothers, sons, father and certain other family members. It also helps protect the woman's chastity if she is covered. It keeps her from being raped or looked at by non mahram men. I love wearing hijab though I do get stared at and called a terrorist among other things but I know that I will be rewarded for my suffering Insha ALLAH on the Day of Resurrection. I don't think that women are treated like second class citizens in Islam. Muslim women and girls are treated like queens. In fact a woman is highly honored in Islam for her ability to give birth and go through 9 months of pregnancy and 12+ hours of labor. Mothers are especially honored. From the day a child is born they are taught to give 2/3 of their love to their mother while the father has to do with the remaining 1/3 of their love. The sons are taught to treat their mother with respect and to take care of her when she is old or if she is widowed. Women have the right to a divorce, right to pray in the Masjid, right to work, right to choose their own marriage partner, right to ask for protection on the street so they aren't raped, right to keep any money they earn, right to an education, right to a dowry, right to vote, right to testify in court, don't have to contribute to the household income, can't pray or fast on their periods, right to sexual satisfaction from their husbands, etc. I plan on wearing the Abaya and Niqab when I get the money to buy them which will I hope be in March. Muslim women are the best women in the world. They are highly devoted to their husband and children. Many Muslim women choose to stick to their tradtional role that God gave them and be stay at home moms and wives. Though there are those that choose to work and the children just stay with the grandparents while the mother is at work or if the family is rich then they have a servant take care of the children.

Answer 9

I'm not a woman, but I know many that wear head scarves. Its supposed to ward of men's eyes or attraction from others. However, in our holy book it is said that no one should ever wear clothing that would attract the opposite sex to you. That means its bad to wear short skirts, tight blouses, etc., kind of like the young girls of today. For men its not to wear too short shorts and its good to cover your chest at all times. I also believe girls shouldn't wear tight clothing like some of the girls in my school, so my sister wears regular clothing, including shorts. There is no mention of head scarves in our holy book, and it is not mandatory to wear it. I would be furious if my mom our sister wore one, because I believe if you wear it, you're giving in to something. Its worns to protect your self from young men, but women have the same feeling toward men, too. Shouldn't men wear them too, then? Head scarves were created for that reason, but sexism also exists in every community. Women and men are equal in Islam, but unfortunately sexism has spread to Islam too. For example, it is said that only men can do the azan (call for prayer) but women have the full right to do so. Islam recognizes women as their own individuals, but it depends on the way society views them.

Answer 10

We wear the headscarf, because it symbolizes a woman's purity. We're avoiding to give into temptation, and to not sell ourselves.

Women are just as equally treated in Islam, as men. In fact, a woman is venerated, second to Allah, because they give birth and life to the people. What you see in the news is nothing, they don't know Islam.

I hope this helped, or atleast just a little bit. :]