Why Abaya?
In recent years, a Tiny piece of Fabric has managed to Trigger Quite a stir. The scarf or hijab that Muslim women wear in their minds is making headlines across the world.
Hijab is banned in French public schools as well as other European Countries have adopted, or are drafting similar legislation.
Back in Australia, a radio presenter triggered both debate and Outrage when he predicted to your face veil (niqab) to be prohibited from banks and post offices. Even predominantly Muslim nations such as Turkey and Tunisia ban the hijab in certain government buildings.
When a little piece of cloth causes such controversy and Conflict, would not it be easier to remove it? Why then, under these conditions, do Muslim women wear scarves?
You will find a myriad of reasons why, but the simple, one Sentence answer is, because they believe God has made it an obligation for believing women. In the Quran God tells the believing people to reduce their gaze and to dress modestly. He (God) specifically addresses women when He asks them to not show off their adornment, except what is evident, and draw their veils over their bodies. (Quran 24:30-31)
These examples of Quran are known as the verses of hijab and It is the consensus of Islamic scholars that they make the wearing of hijab required. Some states, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar do enforce a dress code. Girls there are expected to cover their hair and wear some sort of loose fitting, full size garment over their garments.
But for the Vast Majority of Muslim women around the world, To cover, or to not pay, is a freely made choice. God requires Muslim women to dress modestly and to use the hijab in people and in the presence of men that are not close relatives.
Although the English word scarf and the Arabic word hijab have Become synonymous, it's well worth noting that hijab is much more than just a scarf. It is a term that covers many different clothing such as scarves, but also a variety of different dress styles from all over the world. Many have cultural connotations such as the Pakistani shalwar khamis or the Afghani burqa, but if a Muslim woman covers "her adornment", she is thought to be wearing hijab.
The literal meaning of hijab is to veil, to insure, or to screen. Islam is known as a faith concerned with neighborhood cohesion and moral boundaries, and for that reason hijab is a method of making certain that the moral boundaries between unrelated women and men are respected. In this sense, the term hijab encompasses more than a scarf and much more than the usual dress code. It's a term that denotes modest dressing and modest behavior. As an example, if a Muslim woman was wearing a scarf but at exactly the same time with bad language, she wouldn't be fulfilling the requirements of hijab.
The majority of Muslim women wear hijab, to obey God, and to Be known as respectable women. (Quran33:59) But in the last 30 years hijab has surfaced as a sign of Islamic understanding. Many women see wearing the hijab as indicative of the desire to be part of an Islamic revival, especially in countries where the practice of Islam is discouraged or even prohibited.
While those who seek to ban hijab refer to it as a sign of Sex based repression, the girls who decide to don a scarf, or to wear hijab, in the broadest sense of the word, do so by making private decisions and independent choices. They view it as a right rather than a burden. Nor do these girls regard hijab as a indication of oppression. Girls who wear hijab often describe themselves as being "set free" from society's poor style culture.
Hijab frees women from being considered as sexual objects of Want or from being appreciated for their looks, or body shape rather than their minds and wisdom. No longer slaves to consumerism, hijab liberates women from the need to conform to biased stereotypes and graphics dictated by the media.
Women wearing hijab have expressed that dressing modestly And covering their hair, reduces sexual harassment in the workplace. The aura of privacy made by hijab is indicative of the terrific value Islam places upon women.
It is true that in certain households and in some cultures women Are forced to wear hijab but this isn't the norm. The Quran clearly states that there's no compulsion in faith (2:256). Women who decide to wear hijab do not make the decision lightly. In fact many women testify that they faced great animosity from their Muslim or non-Muslim families when they chose to cover. Across the world there are various cases of girls having to defend their right to wear the hijab.
Hijab can be a symbol of piety and it can be a Indication of good Inner strength and fortitude. A woman wearing hijab becomes a very visible Indication of Islam.
While Muslim men can Blend easily into any society, Muslim girl are often put online, and Forced to defend not just their decision to cover, but also their religion. Yet, women who wear hijab insist that the benefits Far outweigh any disadvantage churns up by media prejudice or general ignorance.
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