'My Friend Wears A Hijab And I Judged Her For It'
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I haven't read the whole story, but anyway, it is not for anybody else to judge what people wear. That is within the personal scope of the person. Nobody has any say in that. If somebody dares wearing somethings shock other people, it is up to him or her to face it. But it is not anybody's choice to judge and least of all voice any inconvenience. If the persons are friends then of course they can speak between them about whatever they choose.
I would not tolerate anybody telling me how to dress or judging why I do it or do not do it.
One may not like how other person dresses but that is it. I personally do not like hijab. The mere sight of it makes me feel caged with those clothes covering ears and neck. But it is their ears and their neck and it is they who should be comfortable with their clothes not I.
On the other hand, when one starts talking with the persons, clothes tend to take a backward place and other things take over, like the conversation itself, may be mutual understanding of questions of interest...
Other than that, I am sick of talking about women's dress. The fact that so much is made out of it is the most wrong question of it all. It is of no consequence, not of more consequence than male dress, so why ram on it, and keep ramming it on.
Of course, that is what I am doing right know, so yes you are right I should not have written here.
But I guess it is just a reminding, that we should not spend so much time discussing clothes. It is part of one's image and as such something exclusive to the person him or herself.
Salaam
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It was a real sad story NOOB, it shows the extent of ignorance of the society regarding the Qur'an. Particularly, where one of the characters said "silk and gold are prohibited for men in the Quran". It is one of those discourses that tend to potray hijabis as confident devout Muslims and non-hijabis as insecure passive Muslims.
I think non-observant sunnis can relate with that article than a Quran only Muslim who see hijab as no than a medieval tradition with no basis in the Qur'an.
I agree with huruf, i think hijab is an overflogged subject. The discussion over it often get too noisy for my tolerance. It stereotype women and often nuture a feeling of insecurity or self righteousness.
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For in the same way you judge others, you will also be judged..
Religious people and those with strong background in religious society tends to judged others who are different than they are...
The Hijabers tends to judge others who are not wearing a hijab and the non-hijabers tends to judge others who are wearing hijab.
While in truth.. IT DOESN'T MATTER.. as God is not a fashionista...But I guess it is just a reminding, that we should not spend so much time discussing clothes. It is part of one's image and as such something exclusive to the person him or herself.
It's ok to discuss clothes..
As long as we don't judge people's morality based on their clothing (or non clothing) style..The remarks of..
"Oh the hijab is sooo last year"...
Is still OK...As long as it doesn't came to "She wear a hijab, she must be a terrorist" or "She don't wear a hijab, she must be a who*&e and doomed for eternity in hell, we must convert her ASAP.. If she refuses to repent.. she deserves a stoning".
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It was a real sad story NOOB, it shows the extent of ignorance of the society regarding the Qur'an. Particularly, where one of the characters said "silk and gold are prohibited for men in the Quran". It is one of those discourses that tend to potray hijabis as confident devout Muslims and non-hijabis as insecure passive Muslims.
I think non-observant sunnis can relate with that article than a Quran only Muslim who see hijab as no than a medieval tradition with no basis in the Qur'an.
I agree with huruf, i think hijab is an overflogged subject. The discussion over it often get too noisy for my tolerance. It stereotype women and often nuture a feeling of insecurity or self righteousness.
When I saw that line, my mind was like 'Did she read the Qu'ran?...no...She must have got this idea from a Muslim who cannot distinguish between Qur'an and hadith.'
oHer case is not exclusive. Many Muslim newbies in the community will often hear 'Why are you wearing gold brother?', 'Your hijab have a huge bump on your head!', 'You cannot draw living beings 'cos there's a hadith about artists will go to hell!', 'Sister, you should pray at home rather than mosque full of men because Prophet says so', and on and on by haram police. Some will ignore while many will follow because they think what Muslims do is based on Islam.
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It was a real sad story NOOB, it shows the extent of ignorance of the society regarding the Qur'an. Particularly, where one of the characters said "silk and gold are prohibited for men in the Quran". It is one of those discourses that tend to potray hijabis as confident devout Muslims and non-hijabis as insecure passive Muslims.
I think non-observant sunnis can relate with that article than a Quran only Muslim who see hijab as no than a medieval tradition with no basis in the Qur'an.
I agree with huruf, i think hijab is an overflogged subject. The discussion over it often get too noisy for my tolerance. It stereotype women and often nuture a feeling of insecurity or self righteousness.
Right neptin, and it
DIVIDES
Unfortunately, it does divide, and if cothes are not important nd knowing the game it is being played with us, we should strive to leave that question to a very backward unimportant concern in our lives, so much for the hijabis who do it sincerely and out of conviction or just because they like it -it is their good right to like hijab as it is my good right not to like it- as for others whio, like me, do not believe in it and even dislike it. Giving it importance destroyes many other ties and sympathis and solidarity that we may have and there is no justification nor reason for that.
So the more we keep to things that really matter and are common business nd do not go into personal questions, except with friends, so much the better. Those who believe what they believe sincerely and do not intrude into other people's life have a right to be respected and their choices respected. The lesser talk on this question the better. If you are sked then give our view as objectively and ispassionately as possible, which at times may be hard. But we should try.
Salaam
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It's just not elites. That's very common in Pakistan or may be it's just Karachi. My childhood teacher can't get a job because she wears hijab. For some reason, religion people there are looked down upon unless you're may be around conservative area. confused It's weird because one get judged there for wearing it despite being a Muslim country and in U.S one get judged for not wearing it if one is around Muslims.
Okay, what exactly is hijab? Scarf or wearing specific clothes and hiding face as well? I am kind of confused. I wear scarf. I think that counts as hijab, but then what are those black clothes called? Are they hijab too?
Some have started wearing black clothes hijab, so my family would love me to wear it as well. I am perceived as a bad Muslim for not wearing it. I would love wearing it though. It's cool, but i can't wear thinking I am forced for wearing it and not merely because I like it. Also, I can't wear it all the time. I already get bothered with scarf when I think may be I am forced into wearing it even though I love wearing it.
Don't understand the big deal about hijab, clothes, etc. People should wear whatever they feel comfortable with. They shouldn't be forced for it.
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lol, it looks like an article written by an ignorant about another ignorant.
Alana mentioned off-handedly that the Qur?an said men weren?t allowed to wear silk, or gold.
wowI won't comment on this, for Neptin already mentioned the issue.
It was the first time in my entire life that anyone had told me I didn?t have to follow every single rule imposed by Islam to be a Muslim. Previously, I had believed that if I couldn?t ascribe to every requirement, I couldn?t be a Muslim.
rotfl
'( At the end, I find this extremely sad. People decide what they want to practice by listening to others. None of them will ever open the Quran to read what exactly Islam is all about.
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The problem is that the society stereotypes people based on belief into two groups
Athiests/Agnostics/Irreligious people - liberal, supports rights for everyone, highly intellectual, open minded, progressive, etcReligious people- backward, bigoted, conservative, socially orthodox, close minded, following barbaric rituals, etc
We are dictacted that religious people cannot be liberal or open-minded and athiests cannot be ignorant or conservative because of the stereotypes.
In this article, the hijabi is breaking the norms because she is working in professional job and at the same time religious. Hijabis are often stereotyped as submissive, extremist, oppressed, incapable, etc. She contradict the expectations of her identity. -
It's just not elites. That's very common in Pakistan or may be it's just Karachi. My childhood teacher can't get a job because she wears hijab. For some reason, religion people there are looked down upon unless you're may be around conservative area. confused It's weird because one get judged there for wearing it despite being a Muslim country and in U.S one get judged for not wearing it if one is around Muslims.
Okay, what exactly is hijab? Scarf or wearing specific clothes and hiding face as well? I am kind of confused. I wear scarf. I think that counts as hijab, but then what are those black clothes called? Are they hijab too?
Some have started wearing black clothes hijab, so my family would love me to wear it as well. I am perceived as a bad Muslim for not wearing it. I would love wearing it though. It's cool, but i can't wear thinking I am forced for wearing it and not merely because I like it. Also, I can't wear it all the time. I already get bothered with scarf when I think may be I am forced into wearing it even though I love wearing it.
Don't understand the big deal about hijab, clothes, etc. People should wear whatever they feel comfortable with. They shouldn't be forced for it.
Hi FindingRightPath,
For black garment, it's called abaya. Covering the face with certain clothing is called niqaab. For simple covering hair and body regardless of type of clothing is called hijab. If you consider your clothing to be hijab, then it's hijab. Don't let other people including your family to define your hijab.
I agree with your statement about not being judged based on clothing. No one should force someone to wear or remove hijab(or other piece of clothing) for their own agenda or ignorance. -
In this article, the hijabi is breaking the norms because she is working in professional job and at the same time religious.
I find that line from you funny. Is it a norm that religious people seldom have professional job? Go to Saudi Arabia, Hijabis and Niqabis are practicing Medical Practioners.
We often think that zealous religiousity and professionalism are incompatible. No, i have met professionals; doctors, proffesors, lawyers who still retain much of religious dogmatism or extremism. Zakir Naik is a medical doctor, dressed often in suit and tie. It didn't stop him from defending the Saudi state and all their oppressive policies as 'Islam'.
NB I don't see wearing hijab as a symbol of religiousity because;
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Both orthodox and heterodox Muslim scholars like Gamal al Banna or Ahmed Mansour have proved it as not an Islamic requirement or prescription.
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A significant percentage of those wearing it wear it out of family, scholar or peer pressure. Not out of preferrence or even belief.
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I find that line from you funny. Is it a norm that religious people seldom have professional job? Go to Saudi Arabia, Hijabis and Niqabis are practicing Medical Practioners.
We often think that zealous religiousity and professionalism are incompatible. No, i have met professionals; doctors, proffesors, lawyers who still retain much of religious dogmatism or extremism. Zakir Naik is a medical doctor, dressed often in suit and tie. It didn't stop him from defending the Saudi state and all their oppressive policies as 'Islam'.
NB I don't see wearing hijab as a symbol of religiousity because;
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Both orthodox and heterodox Muslim scholars like Gamal al Banna or Ahmed Mansour have proved it as not an Islamic requirement or prescription.
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A significant percentage of those wearing it wear it out of family, scholar or peer pressure. Not out of preferrence or even belief.
I'm aware that orthodox religious people do get professional job. I'm referring in the context of PakistanI society. As FindingRightPath mentions, hijabis tend to have more hard time finding the job than non-hijabis because of the connotations with their garment. Of course in the society where hijab is socially enforced, hijabis regardless for their intentions for wearing it, do get professional jobs. I think that two types of stereotypes that I mentioned does not fit in the countries like conservative Middle Eastern countries. Even though the hijabi in this article is the convert, her lifestyle does not fit into the writer's view of religious people. Hence, that's why I said that she breaks the stereotype.
Other than that, you're right Neptin.Religiousity and professional jobs do exist together.Also, hijab is not necessarily a religious garment but cultural even though it is associated with Islam. I saw pictures of Iranians in 70s before the 'Islamic' Revolution. I noticed women's clothing were flexible, they wore short sleeved shirt and some of them wore knee length skirt.
Same for Egypt in 60s, women at that time wore fashionable vintage clothing that are considered immodest in today's Egypt. -
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Hi FindingRightPath,
For black garment, it's called abaya. Covering the face with certain clothing is called niqaab. For simple covering hair and body regardless of type of clothing is called hijab. If you consider your clothing to be hijab, then it's hijab. Don't let other people including your family to define your hijab.
I agree with your statement about not being judged based on clothing. No one should force someone to wear or remove hijab(or other piece of clothing) for their own agenda or ignorance.Peace Noob,
Thanks for clarifying this. I often used to get confused about abaya, niqaab. I thought they were all same hijab with different types until I searched Hijab on net, it was only showing women who cover their hair and wear modest clothes. I didn't see the black garments and covering of faces I had expected, so I was wondering what exactly was hijab. I had heard the word niqaab but didn't really remember it.
My family won't force me to wear the rest as long as at least I wear hijab even though they really want me to wear abaya and niqaab since many have started to wear them recently here. I remember wearing niqaab. I was stupid and child at that time thinking it was something cool. I was fascinated by it until I wore it for more than a week and so. It was so hard to breath and it was extremely hot. I used to live in Karachi at that time, and it is extremely hot there. Because of me, my sister and cousins had to wear too. After that, I couldn't take it off as someone told me it is islamic and I was kind of scared to take it off too. I regretted my decision for starting to wear it. I had wondered why Allah would want me to wear this when I can't breath and it is extremely hot, but I tried to be somehow fine with it because I thought God wanted it at that time. Thank God, those times passed.
Last year, again, I bought many abayas before knowing Quranic teachings/true islam and when I was still a sunni I guess. I sometimes wear them to relatives houses. I feel bad spending money on it and not wearing them now, and I like them as long as I am not forced to wear them when I don't want to. -
My family won't force me to wear the rest as long as at least I wear hijab even though they really want me to wear abaya and niqaab since many have started to wear them recently here.
I thought you said you just moved to US? It puzzle me beyond belief that a moderate sunni would begin to adopt ultra-conservative, hardcore sunni teachings on migrating to the West, not while in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE or Iran.
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I thought you said you just moved to US? It puzzle me beyond belief that a moderate sunni would begin to adopt ultra-conservative, hardcore sunni teachings on migrating to the West, not while in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE or Iran.
I moved to U.S a long time ago. It is not even Sunni teaching. It is wahabi's style for women that they need to wear abaya and do niqaab. As far as I know so far, sunni believe in Hijab at best, but of course, most sunni have been so influenced by Wahabi teachings that they can't even see they are not following their sect's teachings when it comes to modesty for women. They instead think wahabi's teaching of modesty is the real Sunni modesty for women.
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I moved to U.S a long time ago. It is not even Sunni teaching. It is wahabi's style for women that they need to wear abaya and do niqaab. As far as I know so far, sunni believe in Hijab at best, but of course, most sunni have been so influenced by Wahabi teachings that they can't even see they are not following their sect's teachings when it comes to modesty for women. They instead think wahabi's teaching of modesty is the real Sunni modesty for women.
I agree Sunni denominations are influenced by Wahhabism nowadays. I wonder how did your family adopt Wahhabism teachings in U.S. My family member who lives in the West used to be non practicing Muslim until she start practing mainstream Sunni Islam. I'm aware that conservative Muslim communities are common in the West but I thought Wahabbism followers are very rare. I have a question, how did your familt started following Wahabbism teachings in U.S.? Do they live in community with people who are similar to them? Just wondering.
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I agree Sunni denominations are influenced by Wahhabism nowadays. I wonder how did your family adopt Wahhabism teachings in U.S. My family member who lives in the West used to be non practicing Muslim until she start practing mainstream Sunni Islam. I'm aware that conservative Muslim communities are common in the West but I thought Wahabbism followers are very rare. I have a question, how did your familt started following Wahabbism teachings in U.S.? Do they live in community with people who are similar to them? Just wondering.
I am not so sure too, but one of our relative followed such believes from Pakistani madrasas. No one used to really take him seriously here or followed this strict covering even though many of us did believe abaya and niqaab were actually the true modest dressing for women from what we had heard from him and others. But then my another relative also started and followed his way there in Pakistan few years ago. Many of my relatives went to Pakistan last year for vocation and since then they have been taking such believes seriously here. It started one by one, and now that many are also joining Aalimi course, I am not sure what else they will be taught from these islamic schools. The Madrasas in U.S are also influenced by Wahabi because they also have books in Urdu. If the books are in Urdu, that means they are from Pakistan and influenced by Wahabi as the same books and teachings in Pakistan madrasas are funded by Saudi Wahabi ideologies from what I have researched into it. People need to learn Urdu in order to understand arabic and to understand the rest of Aalimi course here. It is just the majority of Muslims in U.S don't follow all of their teachings as they are ignorant of their sect teachings and they don't take the scholars very seriously. Many here don't even know they belong to Sunni, or a sect, or what is even Sunnism. So, I guess that's why it may seem Wahabism is rare here.