Women in Islam

Common Misconceptions

Hijab - Unveiling the Mystery:

Unfortunately, society in the west today too often publicly exposes women's bodies shamelessly and portrays nudity to somehow symbolize the expression of a woman's freedom. Where the most lustful desires of men are fulfilled unchecked - it is little wonder such an introspection leads many Muslim women to the decision to wear Hijab-(cover for the body & head). However generalizations about Islam and Muslims are numerous in today's media and by extension, in the minds of many Americans who shape their image of the world through the media. Veiled Muslim women are typically unfairly stigmatized. They are regarded on the on hand as suppressed and oppressed, and on the other, as fanatics and fundamentalists. Both depictions are grossly wrong and imprecise. Such portrayals not only misrepresent these women's strong feelings towards Hijab, but also fail to acknowledge their courage and the resulting identity their Hijab lends to them.
Amongst such misconceptions is also the belief that any Muslim woman who wears Hijab is forced to do so. Nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed the final determination to wear Hijab is often not easily reached. Days of meditation, an inevitable fear of consequences and reactions, and ultimately, plenty of courage weigh heavily in reaching the decision. Wearing Hijab is a very personal and independent decision, coming from appreciation of the wisdom underlying God's command, and a sincere wish to please Him.

Women's Rights in Islam

• To life
• To her own legal identity
• To be educated
• To inherit from her family
• To keep & manage her own possessions & wealth (including her wages)
• To offer, or agree to, or refuse an offer of marriage
• To write & fulfill legal contracts
• To a vote equal to a man's
• To divorce
• To earn her own way into heaven
• To be provided for by her family until marriage, thereafter by her husband
• To the same punishment as a man

Dress Code in Islam

As part of submitting ones self to their creator (i.e. Islam), modesty and a sense of shyness is one of the necessary components of faith and paramount to achieving righteousness. Our body's adornments or physical features are a gift, which our creator has given us, and this gift is a trust that comes with certain responsibilities. For both Males and females, God has made their physical features extremely attractive to each other for the purpose of culmination in physical union, so that the species con propagate. These physical features, by themselves, are objects of pleasure and lust. Yet, it is when they are not manifest that the individual becomes a person. Every soul that God has made deserves the dignity and respect of a human being, irrespective of the nature of their physical features. In this purpose God has created all human beings on a natural state that has a since of shame, which elevates us above all other creatures; for there are no Animals that possess a sense of shame. For the human being, the consequence of exposing physical features can be very serious and far reaching, both in this world and in the hereafter. A look at the society in the west today will reveal some of the consequences. There is rampant adultery, uncountable rapes, millions of illegitimate pregnancies, millions of abortions, and millions of illegitimate children without responsible fathers to care for them. Many of them will end up a 'street children', joining the gangs and adding to the ever-increasing violence in the society, which has already reached epidemic proportions. To save humanity from destroying themselves it is evident that both men and women need to cover themselves more properly. The main purpose of covering the body is to cover the shame and other physical features so that they remain out of sight of others, to avoid drawing undue attraction, and to prevent the excitement of evil desires in others. It is this path of purity and modesty, which is essential in Islam towards achieving righteousness and God's pleasure. As the source of guidance on this path, the following verse in the Qur'an has been revealed:

THE HOLY QUR'AN (24:30-31)

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (refraining from lustful glances) things), And protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) that is purer for them. Surely, God All Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (refraining from lustful glances) and protect/guard their private parts and not to show off their adornments except that which is apparent (for example: face and hands); that they should draw their clothes over over their bosoms and not display their beauty"

Understanding the Islamic Dress Code for Women:

Human beings are conditioned by the society in which they live. When you see a woman scantily dressed and revealing her physical features, waiting at the road side in the early evening for someone to approach her for physical favors, what is the first impression that will come to your mind? Will it be that this lady is a very religious, pious, and God fearing woman, seeking the blessings of God?

Again, when you see a nun, modestly dressed in a long robe and covering her head, not revealing any of her physical features, what impression will come to your mind? Will it be that this lady is a sex symbol, waiting for someone to hire her, or to date her, or to invite her to a dinner and then take her home? Certainly not! This dress represents her modesty, and through it she commands the respect of society.

The Extent of Cover:

In medical science there is a saying that 'an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure'. God has made women more beautiful than men, and has further blessed them with more physical adornments. Almost every part of the female body is attractive to a male. Keeping this in mind, the nuns have taken the preventive measure of wearing a veil over their heads, and covering their whole body except the face and hands. Not only does God ordain this preventive shielding for Muslim women of today's time, but also obedient submissive women of previous nations were commanded to do the same in former scriptures. Below are some pictures of women from the People of the Scripures who cover themselves out of this same modesty and obedience to God which Islam promotes.

Protrayal of Mary: The Mother of Jesus:

Christians Women practicing their Faith:

Mother Teresa: A Famous Christian Women who Covers:

THE BIBLE (I Corinthians 11:6)

"For a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil."

Believeing (Muslim) Women who Cover Today:

In Islam it is also advised for women to cover their head and body except the face and the hands. God says in the Holy Qur'an:

THE HOLY QUR'AN (7:26)

"Oh Children of Adam! I have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame."

Reason for covering:

• Obedience (to please All-Mighty God)

Reason for having a dress code:

• Believers would be recognized (identified)
• That they would not be molested (physically or by someone's eyes)

Benefits for having a dress code:

• Protection
• Modesty
• Self-respect & Identity
• Self-esteem as a person not an object

THE HOLY QUR'AN (33:59)

"O prophet! Tell your wives & your daughters & the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies, that will be better that they should be known so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful"