Wednesday, July 11, 2007

THE FREEDOM TO WEAR A VEIL

THE FREEDOM TO WEAR A VEIL
by four Danish women

That the veiled Muslim woman by all means should be regarded as oppressed
is a myth that ought to be killed. Many people are scandalized by the veil,
but only few seek an explanation from the Muslim woman herself; her voice
is often overheard in this matter. If she is asked, on the other hand, the
veil represents freedom and dignity.

O Prophet! say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the
believers that they let down upon them their over-garments; this will be
more proper, that they may be known, and thus they will not be given
trouble; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (Sura 33, 59)

Say to the believing men that they cast down their looks and guard their
private parts; that is purer for them; surely Allah is Aware of what they
do. And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and
guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons... (Sura 24, 30-31)


In the Koran, the term hijab is used of the attire of the Muslim woman as a
whole, but also includes the way she lives and acts. In everyday language
it often only refers to the veil or scarf itself which must cover the head
and chest.

This is, so to speak, the exterior sign of the way of life of the Muslim
woman, but you also speak of having hijab in ears, tongue and heart. Here
there is no reference to a specific veil, but to a suitable behaviour in
accordance with the precepts of Islam.

This prevents her from hearing, speaking or feeling negative things of
other people.

Hijab is derived from the Arabic word hajaba, which means to conceal or to
prevent from being seen. The garb must be loose and opaque and must be
worn, whenever the women either leaves the house, or whenever male visitors
not belonging to the family are received. Only the hands and face may,
according to the prophet Mohammed, be visible, but this point is rather
controversial. Some also choose to cover these parts of the body, but more
often than not this is the result of the personal choice of the individual
woman.


THE VEIL IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A BURDEN

We know the veil from the antique Hellas, for instance, where the
established women of society had the right to wear one, while the
prostitute and the female slave had to go about bare-headed and thus
unprotected against being accosted. Throughout History, noblewomen have
worn veils when walking about among the lower classes, or they have hidden
their faces behind fans.

The bridal veil and the nun's habit had a similar purpose. In the New
Testament, in his first letter to the Corinthians Paul states that during
prayer, women should cover their head (11, 5-6).

Nowadays, some people are astonished daily by seing women wearing veils.
Most have an idea that the veil is oppressive, and many protest loudly and
publicly on behalf of these women.

One thing that these officious persons have in common is usually that they
have never found it necessary to ask the women themselves, not to speak of
making themselves acquainted with the religious and cultural background of
the veil. Even so, they are busy imposing on others their personal opinions
as to what is oppressive.

If one asks the women behind the veils, the story is quite different.

The orthodox Muslim woman does not perceive the veil as inhibiting or
oppresive. Quite the contrary. The veil guarantees her the full respect of
the surroundings, and thus must be considered a privilege rather than a
burden.

The dignity of the wife or the daughters, or the dignity of any Muslim
woman, for that matter, must be respected and protected, writes Momina
Abdullah on the Internet.

Many Danes entertain the erroneous notion that the veil represents a
compulsion from the husband and the religion. But women wearing veils, on
the other hand, normally radiate devotion towards their religion. They have
chosen the veil as a clear demonstration of their Muslim identity.

Forcing anyone to do something against their own will is against Islam.
This point is stressed by all the women we have spoken to. There is no
demand of compulsion in the Koran. On the other hand, every human being
should see it as a religious duty to act out of a clean heart.

Of course there may be families where the woman is forced, for instance to
stay at home. But that does not imply that doing so is Islam, the sisters
Batool, of 21 years, and Ayisha, of 19, concord. There are oppressed women
in all cultures, Danish or Muslim. And as in all other situations it is
important to consider each particular case for itself instead of
generalizing. For a woman is not oppressed unless she feels it that way.


THE VEIL GIVES CONFIDENCE AND FREEDOM

The scarf contributes to creating equality between man and woman. He does
not see her only as a sex symbol, says Batool. When a man looks at a woman
wearing a scarf it is because he is interested in her personality and the
way she thinks instead of her appearance, her sister complements. A woman
who covers herself is hiding her sexual charm, and yet allows her
womanliness to remain visible, writes Mominah Abdullah.

Islam does not attempt, as some people erroneously think, to exclude
sexuality. It is canalized in its full strength into the marital
relationship, and is not »flaunted« in other contexts. Hijab therefore
guarantees the integrity of the Muslim woman.

The clothes must not be tight so that the forms show. In this way, we avoid
problems like sexual harassment and rape. When we wear these clothes, we
feel secure. We are more protected, Ayisha thinks.

And then a man does not stare at other women than his wife, emphasizes
Batool. She elaborates on the relationship between a man and a veiled
woman: When a woman covers her beauty, the man does not look at her as a
woman, but as a fellow human being. Instead, he concentrates upon her
intellect. Bergliot Emina, a Norwegian convert, also emphasizes: You cover
your head and chest, but not your brains.

For Ayisha, the notion of the oppressed Muslim housewife is a myth. In
Islam, the husband has a duty to maintain his family. It is therefore a
matter of course that he must work. But, of course, the woman may also
work. It is not so that she cannot go out and get an education or a job.
But she is allowed to sit at home, it is not her duty to maintain the
family.

Emina adds examples of professional women in Muslim countries: About 60%
are illiterate in Egypt, but I have met more female professors in Egypt and
Jordan than in Denmark.

Batool adds: Islam encourages everybody, both the man and the woman, to go
out and read and study. Bergliot Emina even characterizes it as a Muslim
duty to seek knowledge.

She continues: In many ways, Muslim women have more freedom than women in
the West. First of all, the veil has meant that I can walk around without
being judged by my appearance. Secondly, the women are equally respected
and appreciated whether they choose to be housewives or professional women.

For the Muslim woman, the veil therefore represents freedom. Only this
freedom has another character and expresses itself in another way than that
of the West. But must the women of the West be the only ones to define
freedom? Are they the only ones who know what the right to choose for
oneself and to decide over one's own body means? We wonder if not the many
millions of Muslim women would claim otherwise!

Of course, every woman must have the right to wear a veil as well as the
right not to wear one.

by:
Tania Brogaard
Gry Helene Herbener
Anne Kristine Jakobsen
Lene Wittrup Jensen
Uta Kreie Larsen


© 1996-1999 Faklen

http://www.faklen.dk/en/

The Torch (Danish: FAKLEN) is a Danish magazine devoted to cultural trends
and social comment. It focuses on certain tendencies in the European countries, and in Denmark in particular, that can only be described as reminiscent of fascism.

The Torch is not affiliated to political parties or organizations of any kind. The magazine is published by a group of students from the universities of Aarhus and Copenhagen representing practically all subjects, from philosophy, classical philology and psychology to physics, biology and mathematics.

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