Hijab And Modern Challenges, Freedom Of Choice And

[mahdi servant.01]

dear brothers and sisters

Salam Alaykum.

this is a long essay on the topic of Hijab I tried to cover new challenges in this article, your note are greatly appreciated.

through your complementary note added to this essay we could support the aim of Islam.

 

Hijab And Modern Challenges, Freedom of Choice And Gender Equality

“And tell the believing women to reduce some of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which necessarily appears and to draw their head covers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their sons...”(Quran 24:31)

At first glance, this Qur’anic verse seems like an unfair statement aimed to restrict women’s freedom. This verse in a sense contradicts what society and media as well expect women that her worth lies in her appearance and she should keep herself pretty to look desirable to men. In fact, they look down to such thoughts regarding modesty and decency. Nowadays, however, we see this spreading idea, that a women is free to dress up as she likes, is being triggered even among Muslim societies. For instance you might face many teenagers in Muslim communities who are not pleased to be labelled indecent dressers by parents, elders, and teachers but they are. Here is where freedom, religion, modesty, and modernity challenge one other. Covering skin flaws with a heavy make-up, wearing short clothes which cling to your body, expose your beauty, and attracting others to your physical appearance are what modern society expects you to apply. In contrary to what modernity says, none of us would argue this fact that all Abrahamic religions demands woman to dress decently, cover up her privet parts and try her best to look modest as much as she can.

“Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments.” (1 Timothy 2:9)

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.”(1 Peter 3:3)

Taking a new look at human, religion says that men and women are valuable because of their righteous deeds they do, the moral values they have, and the way they behave to others;[1] Not the way they dress and go out to society. Actually the way religion thinks of human is perceived by the modern world to be imposing oppression on women. All feminist activists see roots of diminishing women’s right and violence against her in religious teachings. To them, religion restricts human freedom of choice and looks down to woman as a second citizen. Such objection is that evident that if you start delivering speech with respect to the issue of Hijab saying that religion requires men and women to observe modesty and decency in their social life you will be facing this challenge that “our body our choice”. “No one has right to tell us what to wear what not to wear”. Adherents of modernity maintaining the idea of gender equality  say, human being has right to choose his lifestyle and dressing as he likes regardless what impression his clothes would have on others. No one, with no excuse could diminish others’ freedom.

This essay is aimed to study the topic of “Hijab” considering the concept of gender equality, liberty, and freedom of choice as a modern issues.

Gender equality

What is initially meant by this controversial topic was to indicate that men and women should receive equal treatments in social and political situations such as participating in politic, having access to education, and whatsoever. But nowadays we see what aimed to benefit women turn out to exploit her. One of the reasons, feminist movements through which started encouraging women to dismiss what they used to regard based on their traditional costume was the newborn issue of sex equality. They maintain that to make distinction between men and women results in women oppression and would cause them to be confined to house works and child upbringing. Thus, women should admit that they have the same right as well as men in every aspect of social life and the time women used to be housekeepers, dress in their traditional clothes, and not to go out to the society to take part in social situations has passed. Meanwhile, media played an influential role in this ground. Portrayal women in mass media in one hand was inspiring the spirit of women being equal to men, doing the same jobs as men in factories and in the other hand was lightening the spirit of modesty and decency among women. In addition to this, one cannot help but notice that what some so-called religious scholars did also led women to welcome such freedoms that modernity claim he has brought for them.

The advent of modernity, waning religion considerably in the world, and spreading such movements across the globe consequently caused increasing gender equality tendencies among the youth and now, as a fruit of it one could easily see that morality in the modern communities is on the decline. Many of youth following the sex equality empowerment throughout the world tend to dress unisex clothes, shoes, jewelry, and hairstyle and keep themselves fashionable at every expense. No matter what impression it conveys, the way that they dress.

But Islam unlike the ongoing thoughts toward woman holds a different view upon this issue. Islam in one hand maintains that man and woman are equal in status, worth, and value before God.[2] And both of them are capable of reaching highest levels of spiritual growth. This notion is that obvious through Quranic verses that God presents a devoted woman in the Quran as a role model for all believers both male and female. [3] And in the other hand Islam affirms that men and women were created different physically and emotionally and equipped with special tools to fulfill complementary roles and functions in society. Thus, there should be inherent distinctive characters leading them to different conducts and expectations. However woman, whose way of creation differs from men should be treated and expected in her social life not the same as man.

What is our concern pertaining to this issue, men and women differences, is to discover accuracy of the old thought that women should cover their body in front of non-relative men and not to expose their beauty except for their husbands.

No one would argue that physical attractiveness plays a significant role in arousing sexual tendencies in society. And men and women are involved in this issue, nevertheless gender stereotypes suggest that male place more importance on the physical appearance and attractiveness than what females do. And very interestingly studies say that female are more likely to emphasize their beauty and apparent attractiveness rather than men. These two different yet complementary traits that men and women carry are the key roles in constructing family life that through which the cycle of human life continues on the earth. For these physical characters along with moral attitudes could bring a couple together under the contract of marriage in order to create a family and take care of children in all aspects, financially and spirituality. Actually this blessing difference in addition to other different attitudes result in warmth, honesty and faithfulness of wife and husband toward one another.

Given what is mentioned regarding the physical attractiveness the nature of men that rates it more than everything and the role of physical appearance in happy relationship, one is justified to say that freedom of choice should not lead to sexually distracting dress or the society will regress to promiscuity which effects the family, the principle base of society.

Freedom of choice

Now, it is time to deal with this question that we will be asked even if we admit all arguments above that why women should go through this unfair limitations concerning such simple matter of dressing? When do we want to respect freedom of choice for women and stop depriving them of their liberty? Who would guarantee that it will not reinitiate confinement of women to her home and diminish her rights?

As a matter of fact freedom of choice has become a good excuse for all those who are not disposed to submit to the concept of Hijab, regardless they are politicians who see their interest in it, pseudo- enlightenment movements who could through which increase their popularity in society or ignorant women who have found it good excuse and justification to remove their Hijab. But to be honest, it should be said that wearing hijab or modest clothing actually meant to respect laws of freedom of choice. All of us believe that freedom of choice should not lead to harming others in society. One is free to do whatever he wishes as long as he is not annoying others. So there must be kind of restrictions within freedom otherwise it would not sound reasonable. And now the question is that why none of us object such limitations to our freedom? Rather we have accepted it? And found it compatible with human rights? The answer is so simple. We are living in a community and this is the commonly accepted way by which we could communicate and respects people. Nobody has right to harm others physically and emotionally out of his freedom. But now this question arises that why every one of us easily accept to go through limitations in order to respect other’s health, properties, rights and so on in society but when it comes to the concept of Hijab all would complain? Campaigns will be launched to support human rights as if a massacre occurs. Why nobody seeks to break down this issue a little further to see if what religion says comes true or not?

All religion says is to treat human as a human, value him out of his morality, spiritualty, and the status he has before god [4], not because of his wealth or physical attractiveness. Indeed religion affirms the role of modesty in peace of mind and inner peace. Hijab is not a hindrance to our freedom rather is to respect our freedom. How the one who is shouting out in streets and public areas would be treated as a transgressing of the law, why he cannot say “my mouth, my choice”? The same goes with the Hijab. Let’s describe a modern western street. Women are free to come out dressing transparent clothes, miniskirts, exposing their breasts and cleavage and nothing wrong with them even if they wear skimpy clothes. And men are allowed to wear baggy trousers pulling it down in a way that their underwear exposed and put on a clingy T-shirts the way that shows their muscles. Well, nobody can go against his inherent nature. As a male and female we grow up with natural tendency upon the opposite sex and marriage aimed to direct lustful desires to avoid promiscuity in society.  We can’t walk in street closing our eyes, nor can we object any of such indecent instances in society because we will be told “our body, our choice”! Now, how even a believer, the one who has no will to betray his wife could go home not imagining of all those unwillingly pictures he has faced during the day? Is it an appropriate answer to say close your eyes? Suppress your nature? Isn’t it the same as to say “close your ears”! Try not to be disturbed by shouting?

Conclusion

Religion, a group of laws pertaining to human life physically and spiritually which is revealed by his creator, tries to present an appropriate model for life that through which human could find his role in creation. As long as human is thinking of diversity for his animal instincts he is a modern animal nothing more. What religion holds is that one should not dedicate all his life to fulfill his animal urges nor should he dismiss it. Talking of chastity and modesty, religion suggests that house and family life should be the only option that men and women are allowed to enjoy their sexual life.

 

[1] - Quran 49:13: Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most righteous of you.

 

 

[2] - Quran 16:97: Whoever does good whether male or female and he is a believer, We will most certainly make him live a happy life And We will most certainly give them their reward for the best of what they did.

[3] - Quran 66:11: And Allah sets forth an example to those who believe, the wife of Firon when she said, My Lord! build for me a house with you in paradise and save me from Firon and his doing, and deliver me from the unjust people.

[4] - Quran 49:13: Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most righteous of you.

Edited August 13, 2015 by Haydar Husayn

[Haydar Husayn]

I hope you don't mind, but I've formatted your post to make it a little easier to read, so people are more likely to read it and contribute insha'Allah.

[Bakir]

I guess it depends on the society you live in. This topic is so relative that nothing but personal opinions is what I can give you.

I persomally believe hijaab is up to the freedom of choice of any women, and no one should impose it. Because the way I see it is that it is purely a religious issue. It is counterproductive to force a religious choice, as this type of choices should come from the individual.

Now, you can discuss it from another approach, which is the social one. In that case, I can only say it is relative. In my life experience and in the society I live in, as well as my understanding and beliefs, I can't see this issue not up to individual freedom. I believe men can control themselves and blaming the women for showing themselves in public is a behaviour that I inherently link to sexual abusers' justifications. But that's me. As I said, I have noticed this topic is completely relative to each view.

As a side note, the fact a woman (or any person, regardless of the gender) is free to dress as she likes is up to the laws of the country she lives in, it is not a "spreading idea", it is a fact. And if you believe it is not, I'm all ears to get convinced by a debate. I don't see it harmful for all. If it was, we would have a common ground so you could convince me with the justification you gave in your original post (that no wearing hijaab is harmful for other men and thus it is opressing their freedom). It seems to be an issue that affects certain men, but not all. However, imposing hijaab does affect all women. We can't do rules for each community or group. There may be a lot of people who find men attractive and arousing, even if they don't wear the way you described. So it ends up being relative, socially speaking.

I also believe that factually religion limits freedom of choice in countries where religious laws are applied. The negative connotation that limiting others' freedom has is debatable and up to each one's view (limit others freedom is positive in many cases, isn't it?) As I said, in my opinion, I think this is a personal issue, and no law should be imposing what should be a personal choice. Others may argue it harms other people, and thus it requires to be imposed.

Edited August 14, 2015 by Bakir

[mahdi servant.01]

I hope you don't mind, but I've formatted your post to make it a little easier to read, so people are more likely to read it and contribute insha'Allah.

thank u brother. i always have this problem with shiachat , when ever i copy what wrote in the forum I come across such different formatting in the text.

[mahdi servant.01]

I guess it depends on the society you live in. This topic is so relative that nothing but personal opinions is what I can give you.

I persomally believe hijaab is up to the freedom of choice of any women, and no one should impose it. Because the way I see it is that it is purely a religious issue. It is counterproductive to force a religious choice, as this type of choices should come from the individual.

Now, you can discuss it from another approach, which is the social one. In that case, I can only say it is relative. In my life experience and in the society I live in, as well as my understanding and beliefs, I can't see this issue not up to individual freedom. I believe men can control themselves and blaming the women for showing themselves in public is a behaviour that I inherently link to sexual abusers' justifications. But that's me. As I said, I have noticed this topic is completely relative to each view.

As a side note, the fact a woman (or any person, regardless of the gender) is free to dress as she likes is up to the laws of the country she lives in, it is not a "spreading idea", it is a fact. And if you believe it is not, I'm all ears to get convinced by a debate. I don't see it harmful for all. If it was, we would have a common ground so you could convince me with the justification you gave in your original post (that no wearing hijaab is harmful for other men and thus it is opressing their freedom). It seems to be an issue that affects certain men, but not all. However, imposing hijaab does affect all women. We can't do rules for each community or group. There may be a lot of people who find men attractive and arousing, even if they don't wear the way you described. So it ends up being relative, socially speaking.

I also believe that factually religion limits freedom of choice in countries where religious laws are applied. The negative connotation that limiting others' freedom has is debatable and up to each one's view (limit others freedom is positive in many cases, isn't it?) As I said, in my opinion, I think this is a personal issue, and no law should be imposing what should be a personal choice. Others may argue it harms other people, and thus it requires to be imposed.

salam

 

thank you for your contribution, actually as you said the way people view the issue of Hijab differs from the country they live  to other.

but we could find some commonly accepted points with respect to the Hijab that could be applied everywhere regardless the community we live.

one misleading point that ( I think ) usually happens when it comes to approach the issue of Hijab is that people think this matter should be treated as worshiping acts and worshiping and obedience to Allah mainly has noting to do with force and imposing, rather it should be all out of our choice or it is worth nothing more than a hypocrite action.

but this point should be said that as you referred in your post Hijab has two functions, personal and social.

once we wear it out of our  sincere heart to Allah and to express our obedience to Him. the highest level of such submission could be seen in the life of Lady Fatima A.S when she worn her Hijab even before a blind needy man.

but once again we should be observing it even if we do not believe in it because of the harmful consequences it might bring for the society. now wearing Hijab is a social law, it has noting to do with obedience, provided that we affirmed its benefits and harms to the society in advance and it has become a social law.  

and it is not too difficult to count its benefits and harms to the society. just to take an easy look to the rulings we should respect when we dress as student in schools or university.

I believe what you said that there would be always some mentally ill men in society that even if we apply the concept of Hijab they would cause some problems and so on but this is the same as those crazy drivers who are careless to driving rulings. but it should not lead us to say there is no function for the rulings.

[Bakir]

But then it becomes partly a matter of faith.

Anyway, socially speaking, I'm not against the concept of imposing a dressing law to protect society. I just find it way too extreme (in the sense that I wouldn't do it nor expect it from anyone) to impose a dressing law such as the one Islam asks for. If I was born in the 7th century, it would appear normal to me, almost anywhere in the world. But in today's world, it is extremely different. The concept of hijaab in the islamic sense seems to become rather a matter of faith than a social one. We agree on the religious sense, but the social approach inevitably has to take into consideration the society we live in. The argument that Islam doesn't change over time is correct, but not to be applied over a social issue, but a religious one (eg Hijaab is the same, doesn't change over the years).

Thus, from a social perspective, I would be extremely shocked if a man told me he gets aroused by women's hair and he can't control it. I can understand more extreme cases such as those crazy super mini shorts (that are even uncomfortable for the person who wears them), but showing the hair, nowadays...

Hijaab taken to that point can be asked for in religion, but not in a social sense. That's my point.

[mesbah]

Bakir

What if you had a family, young children, girls or boys, and you want, let's say, go to the beach all together, now:

Is not it your right to go to the beach?

Is not it your right to feel safe about what your wife and children experience in the society?

For Family based societies, Islam has the perfect plan; for individual based societies ..., well such societies are ill, with all due respect.

[mahdi servant.01]

But then it becomes partly a matter of faith.

Anyway, socially speaking, I'm not against the concept of imposing a dressing law to protect society. I just find it way too extreme (in the sense that I wouldn't do it nor expect it from anyone) to impose a dressing law such as the one Islam asks for. If I was born in the 7th century, it would appear normal to me, almost anywhere in the world. But in today's world, it is extremely different. The concept of hijaab in the islamic sense seems to become rather a matter of faith than a social one. We agree on the religious sense, but the social approach inevitably has to take into consideration the society we live in. The argument that Islam doesn't change over time is correct, but not to be applied over a social issue, but a religious one (eg Hijaab is the same, doesn't change over the years).

Thus, from a social perspective, I would be extremely shocked if a man told me he gets aroused by women's hair and he can't control it. I can understand more extreme cases such as those crazy super mini shorts (that are even uncomfortable for the person who wears them), but showing the hair, nowadays...

Hijaab taken to that point can be asked for in religion, but not in a social sense. That's my point.

i hope you will not get me wrong I am just trying to see whether the argument I put forth concerning the issue of Hijab is convincing or not

so

you said ..

 

We agree on the religious sense, but the social approach inevitably has to take into consideration the society we live in. The argument that Islam doesn't change over time is correct, but not to be applied over a social issue, but a religious one (eg Hijaab is the same, doesn't change over the years).

human being is human being over the time and across the globe. the sexual tendency toward the opposite sex is implanted in every mature one. as I mentioned in the essay men place more importance on the physical attractiveness and women desire to emphasize their outward beauty. this is the our attitude by nature. the one who have no feeling upon the opposite sex is mentally ill. what makes us not to answer our desires is either religion or social laws. but this social law or religion should present a plan through which human could fulfill his desires.

 

Thus, from a social perspective, I would be extremely shocked if a man told me he gets aroused by women's hair and he can't control it. I can understand more extreme cases such as those crazy super mini shorts (that are even uncomfortable for the person who wears them), but showing the hair, nowadays...

this explanations is not addressing you dear friend but let's take it into consideration.

let's imagine for a month every sexual intercourse are banned in a western country. now youth wouldn't get aroused by women or even through hearing her voice they would get aroused. in the country that youth in average 16-17 lose their virginity and every weekend they enjoy their sexual relationships. in addition to this they did not impose any limitation on themselves out of being devotedly religious not surprisingly you shroud be shocked that why they got aroused!!

we are not to discuss about premarital sex and addiction to porn movies or websites, as I know both of us agree the harmful consequences would be followed by them in society.

any way, this is the way I look at the issue you might correct it.

[Bakir]

However, Islam doesn't ban sexual intercourse. No society in the world does as far as I am concerned, even for a month.

Besides, banning sex in an oversexualized society such as the Western one will obviously have terrible results. You may get aroused by the sligthest and most random thing. You can't ban sex as it will lead people to deviation, in one way or another.

In the other hand, although I considerably lack experience on this field, I understand both men and women have physical desires towards each other. That is natural, but we repress those urges for a variety of reasons. We could even take into consideration Freud's and Jung's theories on this issue. We are now supposed to find a balance, or draw the line between the repression of these urges and the social prohibition of arousing images in the public sphere.

What I'm defending here is that that balance or relation between repression and prohibition is linked to the society we live in. Thus, in the past, a woman's hair, or feet, or whatever, could be arousing. Nowadays, it is hard to get aroused only for that to the point you have to repress your urges. Attraction is natural, but a huge part of it is also a social construct linked to the time and place we live in.

Religiously speaking, the laws are the same, hijaab is the same and will be the same forever. However, from a social perspective, the required hijaab (to avoid hurting the opposite sex) doesn't seem to be as concealing as the islamic hijaab on women, for example.

Again, I may probably be missing some vital experience to address this topic correctly though.

@mesbah, if you want to go to a beach, you can always control your sight. If you can't, then it's better not to go. I see people everyday, but I can go to the beach only once in a year. Won't lose my time watching what I could see in my everyday life. It is up to the individual, the way I see it.

[mesbah]

^ well, I was talking about the Family, a safe and nice beach vacation with your, lets say, 13 years old daughter. It is your right to have that kind of vacation, and you should defend your rights.

It seems you haven't been a parent yet, nvm.

And one last thing, those who can control themselves for real are saints, society must be safe (in terms of sexual behavior) for normal people.