Latest
incident of the obsession with hijab: Sania Mirza
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Before I begin, I want to apologize for being lax on the
entries lately. The spring semester has started and things are getting busy
again. I may not write as frequently but I promise to write when the time
allows.
My husband forwarded me an e-mail about Indian tennis star Sania Mirza which
critiqued recent comments made by Zakir Naik: "Everyone has different
levels of modesty. There were tennis players who wore long skirts and performed
just as well. But personally, I support Sania Mirza as she prays five times a
day, so the skirts she wears can be ignored." The e-mail basically said
that Naik was wrong for making these statements since the Qur'an commands
Muslim women to wear hijab. It also said that since Mirza is a celebrity, she
is by default, a role model for South Asian Muslim girls and thus, they may
think it's ok not to wear hijab. I googled her name and found that the e-mail
was just one of many critiques written, usually by men, of Mirza's attire. I
was actually surprised to see all articles on Mirza's attire considering that
there are Indian Muslimah celebrities, such as Bollywood stars, who don't wear
hijab and wear revealing clothing as well.
The point of this is post is not to debate whether hijab is mandated or not. My
personal decision is to wear hijab. The reason why I put emphasis
on personal decision is because at the end of the day, hijab, has to be a
personal decision. Muslim women need to be given their autonomy and this cannot
be done if we insist on policing their morality, clothing, and more. Mirza's
decision to not wear hijab is her decision and ultimately, we cannot force her
to do it. In addition, each Muslim woman must decide to wear or not wear hijab
of her own accord. When hijab becomes cultural and when women wear it simply to
appease their families and their societies, hijab, in reality it becomes quite
superficial and meaningless. Is this what we want from Muslim women? It should
be done out of conviction and the desire to please God.
Another issue I have with the campaign to pressure women into hijab is that it
places a woman's morality and faith on her clothes. I find it frustrating when
non-hijabis are considered to have a lesser faith than hijabis. Why is a
woman's iman reduced to this one piece of cloth? I know that some of you are
thinking that the same exists for Muslim men in regards to beards, etc. I won't
deny that some Muslims will think less of a man who doesn't have a beard.
However, I do not think that the stigma of a beardless man is not nearly as
strong as the stigma of a hijabless women among the ummah. This stigma isn't
just created by some men but by some women who view non-hijabis with disdain
and who have little respect for them. Is our concern with hijab based partly on
the fact that hijab is one of the most visible symbols of Islam? If a Muslim
woman does not wear hijab, does this threaten the visibility of Islam? I think
that for some Muslims, this is where the real concern with hijab lies. For most
societies, the "reputation" and honor of a society lies with women.
For some Muslims, women not wearing hijab is ultimately a stain on the honor of
the ummah.
I don't think this is true of all people who wear hijab or advocate wearing
hijab nor am I necessarily condemning people who may talk to non-hijabis about
hijab. What I am proposing is that we critically evaluate our attitude to women
who wear hijab and women who don't. Why are some of so concerned even obsessed
with whether or not a woman wears hijab? Is our concern for our sisters really
masking other issues and insecurities? Think about this the next time you want
to chastise a sister for not wearing hijab.
3 comments:
thinkingitover said...
salaam.
i am tired of the idea that a person can measure a woman's deen through the
idea of "hijab". I am so sick and tired of people really thinking
that my only purpose in this world and religion is to cover up! i don't wear
hijab, I took it off almost a year ago, and I don't believe that I will ever
wear it again. I have my beliefs and people have their own. Let's leave it like
that!
8:45
PM HYPERLINK
"http://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=16548249&postID=3424323102960040171"HYPERLINK
"http://www.blogger.com/profile/14183324454925682974"Zeynab
said...
Salaam! Great
post!
12:52
AM HYPERLINK
"http://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=16548249&postID=4052504460341001564"ummzee
said...
Alhamdulillah i
agree with every word you have stated. And actually what Dr Naik said was
similar too he also said individuals should not be singled out and critiqued
for one thing he also implied she is being singled out because she is a woman,
while the many male muslim Bollywood stars are hardly ever critiqued or held
accountable for the fact that they live very UnIslamic lifestyles...and the
fact remains hijab isn't that widespread in India anyway i was in Mumbai two
years ago i was only hijabi in my in laws family doesn't mean they aren't good
practicing Muslims though...they are much better Muslims than me!
Links to this post
"Is our
concern with hijab based partly on the fact that hijab is one of the most
visible symbols of Islam? If a Muslim woman does not wear hijab, does this
threaten the visibility of Islam? I think that for some Muslims, this is where
... Posted by About Me at 10:28 AM
http://modernmuslimwoman.com/2008/01/latest-incident-of-obsession-with-hijab.html
