And that they are doing me a big favour for making me take it off. In France they are muslim women, who can not have an education now because they must take of their hijab if they want to go to school\nI like to wear the hijab and nobody tells me that I must.\nThe quran states that there is no compulsion in religion. It can only be your choice\nAnd A husband can't force is wife to wear the hijab.\n\nI have many friends who wear the hijab, and not one is forced\n(I even have some friends who wear hijab dispite their husband being against it)\nWhy do people think that the hijab shakles me when it gives me the freedom to work, go to school, and be judged on my abilities not my appearance???
124861
Here are some answers to help with your frustration about this:\n\n1. Extremists in the Muslim world punish women who do not cover themselves. This gets shown in the media and people apply that behavior/dynamic to ALL women wearing the hijab.\n\n2. If someone in France chooses to keep their daughters from getting an education because France does not allow hijab's in school, then people get the impression that covering a woman's hair is of more importance to the religion that educating its daughters - and so people perceive oppression and/or a religion that is dangerous (by keeping it's women ignorant and uneducated, or at least not educated in public schools with other students in the cultural norm).\n\n3. Women's looks play a HUGE role in reproduction. Women use their looks to attract mates and get married. Men use their money/power to do the same thing. When you allow men to not hide their money/power, but women are hiding their looks (an equivelent and naturally powerful force), this looks like a handicap for women, imposed by a male dominated religion (as almost all religions are). People worry that even if you like to wear your hijab - you might be unconsciously giving up important power and control.\n\nThese may not satisfy you, but they are present in many peoples' minds.\n\nThank goodness you live in America (?) and not France - where you can much more freely practice your religion and religious customs.\n\nIf this is the best answer, please vote it the best. Thanks!
256607
i think most of us feel like if we do wear it ppl will attack us.but i know many muslim women who have over come this fear and wear.and ppl always think its the husband that makes them wear it.but its the woman's decision to wear it no one else.but the niqab isnt obligatory.the ruling in islam is if u dont wear face veil then there is no sin on u.and if u do wear it then u will get blessings.
385454
Yes, they have every right to condemn such a law. What a person wants to wear is up to a person's personal choices, as long as it levels to decency. That country is violating rights to religious freedom. No one has any right to interfere into other people's faith's.
371424
yup !!! i think it  that way sister......veil is enough i think burka is not mandatory, the purpose should be fulfilled that a lady should'nt be exposed enough to strangers.Islam is very  easy to practise thats wht i believe.
606830
I don't know the specific punishment for that on the day of judgement but I do know the reason why we have to wear that which I think you already know.\n\nShake hand.. I guess it's gonna be quite tough. I take it you're a corporate women or someone like that? Anyway, whether or not you live in west, aren't you suppose to wear hijab or something to cover the hair? So, I think most people would already know your religion. Um, if they're not.. I guess you can always smile back and nod your head a little as the response to their gesture. I don't think you would have to launch into speech or something, smile to them is polite enough. Just go through the real business already. :)\n\n^_^ I hope my answer helps though I don't have any experience living in west.
338556
dear the hejab is something not to "play" with. so i don't think its appropriate for u to wear since yr a non-muslim (people mite take it the wrong way)-but really it depends where u are . i  know yr very upset i'm pretty sure there are other ways u can help.. its very thoughtful and pleasant to hear that someone out dere actually care.. anyway gd luck..\n\nyes i'm muslim
226935
Are you suggesting that western women are stupid .. or are you suggesting that a woman can willingly give up her freedom to be a slave .. or you are suggesting that modern countries have stupid women .. how smart your question is?!!!\n\nI'm a Muslim girl .. I'm not a slave .. i work as a Java Developer in a big Company .. i wear Veil(Hijab) willingly .. and there is no Muslim woman is enslaved because she is Muslim .. only you are a slave for your smart brain ..\n\ni understand that you hate Islam so much .. ok.. but what do you know about Islam other than what your media wants you to know about Islam for political reasons .. mostly to explain why it's going to envade another Muslim country .. to free its Muslims from their Slavery .. so what do you call this ??..\nhttp://nobravery.cf.huffingtonpost.com/\n\nand who said that those who converts to Islam are all women .. then what do you call this ?..\nhttp://www.55a.net/firas/english/index.php?page=show_det&id=99\n\ndidn't you wonder why would someone converts to Islam .. didn't you say may be they found something they were seeking for .. or found a proof that proves Islam is the true religion ..\n\nfollow these links .. may be u find something that may be interesting to you although i doubt anything would work with you:\nhttp://www.miraclesofthequran.com\nhttp://www.55a.net/firas/english/index.php\n\nget your facts right .. try to find the truth .. at least respect other religions ...\nI pet you never heard of a Muslim disrespecting other religions .. especially Cristianity and Judaism .. would you like to know why? .. because first of all the core of Islam depends on beleiving in all messengers of Allah(GOD in Arabic) including Jesus and Moses(which are considered messengers of Allah in Islam) and all Holy books of Allah including Bible and torah (which are considered corrupted now .. and not containing the original script)..\n\nSecond .. our prophet Muhammad peace be upon him .. ordered us to respect Cristians and Jewish .. and never harm them or force them into converting to Islam ..
514245
Assalamoalakum Sister,\n\nIf they think women in hijab are scary, they have a lot of issues. Women with hijab are the most trust-worthy women on the planet. If American women were to be friends with a woman wearing a hijab, they would never have to worry about their husbands looking at us. lol. I am an American woman who wears hijab, and to be honest, it doesn't bother me when I get stared at, or when people don't want to be friends with me. If they don't want to befriend me because I'm wearing a hijab, then they are bigotted and selfish. And look at the friends they are going to pick. They won't have the morals of Muslim women, that's for sure. And wearing the hijab is a great way to sort out who your real friends are. Your real friends, whether Muslim or not, will love you and accept you for who you are completely. The truth is that people in non-Muslim countries won't be satisfied with us until we become like western women, and since we never will become like western women, they will never be happy with us. The best thing to worry about is whether Allah is happy with us. That is the most important thing, sister. Assalamoalakum, Sis Safiyah
669175
Im muslim.I have lived in Jordan. People there are very good and polite :) What I didnt like there was that the girls even these who were with hijab were puting sooo much make up...plus i saw such combination: hijab, tight jeans, make up and high-heeled shoes. I didnt like this ...
295507
I am not surprised.\nRecently, women have been confident enough to venture into the public and voice out their feeling of discomfort of their religion's and their leaders' command; Muslim women to be precise.\n\nFor example, Muslim Wake-Up. Remember Amina Wadud, the one who lead the Friday prayer if I am not mistaken in a church in the USA. I think it was held in a church. The controversial act sparked furor among the Muslim scholars and the non-participating Muslims.\n\nThat act, is undeniably, wrong because woman can never lead a prayer with men. There are actually a lot more of those people, seeking to oppose the fundamental teachings of their religion.\n\nNow, speaking in term of the picture, I am not sure of its authenticity but I think it may be right. Yes, I have also never heard or seen that kind of picture before, only the picture of the French Muslim girl who was directed to take off her hijab when in school and other more similar cases.\n\nIt is not wrong to make the hijab compulsory as long as it is towards the women who have reached menstrual period. Let me cite one hadith, one day, Asma binti Abu Bakar went to meet the prophet Muhammad s.a.w. in a thin attire, then  the prophet said to her, "O Asma! A woman who has reached menstrual period cannot display her body except for this," he signalled the face and the palm. \nI cannot guarantee you the hadith to be in total perfection but I am sure the hadith sounds almost like that. I think the one who reported the hadith is Abu Hurairah, I think. \n\nNow, concerning the statement of the Quran saying that there is no compulsion in religion. Rationally speaking, I strongly believe that Islam is one rational religion and undeniably, the most rational. Islam is a firm and tolerant religion. Refer to Surah Al-Kafiruun, the Quran stated that Allah told Muhammad to not follow the religion of infidels (Quraish) and to the infidels, to not follow the religion of Muhammad. In the last verse, it stated "For you, your religion and for me, my religion."\nThe surah told Muhammad to be firm with his religion and to not follow the suggestion made by the Quraish is that to practise their religion for one day, the next day Muhammad's and later theirs and etc.\nReturning back to the first subject, the Quran stated that the religion (Islam) is a blessing for all the universe therefore when talking about a blessing, there should not be compulsion. Of course, compulsion is very needed referring to the situation in order to balance the world.\nSimply said, that is why Islam teaches mankind to practise these in their lives:\n- Coolness or Calmness\n- Rationality\n- Honesty\n- Justice\n- Tolerance\n- Consistence\n- Faithfulness\n\nJudging by today's situation, how much people are reallt practising those above fully in their lives? That is why the world is not in a state of serenity; many people are being on the wrong side of the balance. \n\nWhat do I think?\nIslam is in the dark age currently as had been prophecied. Pressure from inside and outside is stressing the Muslim world. The greatest threat is of course, the inside one as to what happened in the world history.\n\nIt is foolish for Muslims to rebel Islam, do they not know that millions are heading to them with open hearts while some other people are attacking the religion and its faithfuls?\n\nIf you observe meticulously, you will see that Islam is the strangest in term of its condition. Christianity, Judaism, Bahai', Hinduism, Buddhism, atheism, and others, they are all are nothing much to matter in contrast of that of Islam.\n\nLast but not least, we cannot blame wholly to the rebels of religions, there are much more factors; direct and indirect. We are all connected in this world and we are somehow responsible for the state of our Earth and its inhabitants.\n\n"For want of a nail\nthe shoe was lost,\nfor want of a shoe\nthe horse was lost,\nfor want of a horse\nthe knight was lost,\nfor w
65217
I think it's because people see you as "different". I assume you are an American, and I'm sure you know how Americans are to people to don't "conform" to the rest of the society at large.\nSome women are even jealous that you dare to dress differently yet adhere to your own values, like she thinks, "Who does this woman think she is? She thinks she's so precious?!" because she's conforming as she thinks its the only way, not strong enough to break out and actually follow what she might actually want to do (it could be even dressing as modestly as you do! You never know!).\n\nI'm a virgin. And when I'm asked by a few female aquaintances of mine once I just gave it to them straight and said I didn't have a boyfriend, never had one, and I have a fiance instead whom I've never dated but am engaged to!\nI saw this flash cross one of the girls' eyes and she went on this attack on me on how my fiance must be having sex behind my back and how I'm so stupid to not go out and 'have fun'.( have sex, meaning.)\nMy fiance is Muslim and I'm also reading up on the religion - not for his sake but for mine. I've always had been spiritual since young, searching for God, and I feel the time is near, to choose.\n\n\nI smiled at her when she said that because I knew she was jealous I didn't conform. I did what I wanted and believed in because I knew this was what I wanted, what I'm supposed to do. I believe my fiance is a virgin as well because he is a devout Muslim and he's never ever LOOKED at another girl with eyes of lust. In fact he's very shy around girls. \nI knew she was jealous that I felt my body and my virtue was precious. She was thinking, who does this girl think she is?! Does she think she is better than us?!\nNo, I don't think that. I think that I will go through great lengths to protect and follow what I believe in, even if it meant these people not being my friends again or leaving my fiance if he ever insisted or threatened me for sex before marriage. But thank God, he is a very patient, loving and respectful man.\nIf I ever converted to Islam (I know Muslims believe that everyone is Muslim by birth so if you convert it's actually termed as 'revert', but I'm not Muslim yet!) I'd be wearing what you wear as well, a Niqab.\nDon't be afraid or intimidated by other's jealousy or intimidation of you daring to be a non-conformist in your society to follow what you truly believe in! Because at the end it will be you who stands in the Day of Judgement and not them! If you do anything, let it be praying to God that they realise the virtue of modesty and religion and join you in your quest for religion!
66232
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم\nالسلام عليكم\n\nHello, actually there is no rule in the Quran or the Hadith about covering the head. And the rules about dressing modestly apply equally to men and women. Unfortunately the men of all cultures want to dominate women and in all cases have twisted whatever they could to enforce that domination. That included government (women in western countries could not own property until very recently and in the US they could not vote until the early 1900's) as well as economy (women in most of the world could not inherit property until very recently) and religion.\n\nBut the modest clothing is typical of the society. For instance the Burkha that westerners decry so much is actually a leftover from the Christians who inhabited the area. The Burkha was a perfect foil for men in both religions. The nuns in Catholicism wear the habit because they are honoring the way Mary, the mother of Jesus, dressed (peace on them both) and she was Jewish. This was the way women dressed to show modesty in those times.\n\nThe young man from "Persia" is totally wrong, if he were to actually look at Quran and Hadith, using his own intelligence he would know that. But the teachers of Islam in many countries teach what they were taught to teach and it is usually filled with cultural misconceptions.\n\nSalim
105554
Every respectable person dresses modestly.Ethically no religion can claim to have autonomy over any particular dress code.Maybe we need to make every Christian,Muslim, Buddhist,etc,know they can wear any dress code as long as it is modestly acceptable to the public.This is not only of women alone.I think that men too dress in a way that captures women's admiration,but that was not discussed by the religious books.I think that is not fair enough because this competition between the opposite sexes of arousing one another's feelings is what is actually creating the problems of immodest dressing.
141573
I do not mean to offend you or any one else, but I have read many parts of the Koran that are self-contradictory.Men have the right to beat wives who they do not find submissive (most of the men defining 'submissive' are the ones we want least defining it)and a woman's testimony is worth half a man's. Women inherit only half as much in societies where they may need it twice as much as their brothers, inasmuch some women are not allowed to work. Many of the misogynistic influences in the Middle East existed before Islam,but why are extremists hijacking this "Religion of Peace," and why are so few men standing up to proclaim, open Koran in hand, "I have found that women are equal to us, right here"? I know many brave souls are standing up to the fanatics, but...where are they?
19668
In most Asian countries a woman is still deemed as a man's property. She is taught that not covering up is a sign of shame, and of great taboos within the society (meaning not being a virgin, or commiting adultery, or being a loose woman) which would get tongues wagging and it would just all turn back against her.\nIt is a largely patriachal society where they are taught from young to be subserviant, submissive and under the mercy and law of a man's judgement and rule. \n\nThis is further emphasized in their religion where a man is the head of the family, makes all the decisions and his word is law, due to his supremacy under the eyes of their God. (Set in stone by the ruling that a man and a woman are equal, but men has a degree over them, that being the fact that they make the decisions.)\n\nAs a result, the whole society is based upon this ruling of divine law because it is a part of their religion, which is also one that governs their daily lives.\nThis has become such a norm that even if a woman wants to be independant, go out unveiled and is a feminist, she will be under the law of her husband or father, who is by law the head of the household and can demand her obedience legally.\n\nIn the more tribal or rural areas, her life depends on her ability to conform. If a woman doesn't wear a veil she is seen as a 'dishonour' to her family - women are the honour of the family and it is the man's duty to uphold it, supposedly - even the smallest spark of a rumour of her being seen with a man would have her killed.\nAn example is a report on the news a few days ago about a Pakistani man who slit the throats of his 3 daughters, one 16, the other 6 and 4. Reason was she was accused of adultery (with no proof or evidence) by her husband and the father felt "dishonoured", slit her throat, and those of her sisters because they "might follow the example of their elder sister in the future".\nThe irony is that she had wanted a divorce from her husband who was forcing her to work in a factory, when in their religion a woman is not obligated to work - she is encouraged to stay at home and assume a childbearing and childrearing role, as well as the duty of upkeeping the household and it's affairs.\n\nSuch cowardice is not unknown in these areas, where women live under a veil of subserviant fear and forced obedience, where their lives depend upon making sure no one can find any excuse to accuse her of something.\nIn the more educated areas, a woman does so because she is taught as such, ordered by her husband or father to veil herself, or she herself have chosen to do so.
251128
This absolutely not true! And I'm surprised the BBC broadcast this... I had a look on their website...and there was no trace of this story.. probably because it was baseless..\n\nSo let me tell you a little about the origins of this story..\n\nIt was first published in Canada Post on May 19th based on a story given by Anti-Iranian exiles, about a bill that has passed through the Iranian parliament about a new dress code. \nThis bill was first suggested in 2004..but then got stalled....The bill only calls for stricter regulations for the hijab..and mentions nothing about any distinctions for different religions\n\nThe Canadian post has now back tracked on it's claims..and they have been public statements from Iran (including Iranian Jewish MP's denying any truth to this rumour..\n\n\n\nOK I will add a little from personal experience. \nAs you know in Iran it is compulsory for all  women to wear a hijab. In recent years this as been very lax ..and you will see women on the street wearing tight fitting clothes, and head scarfs that show alot of law..and nobody bothers them...this bill is meant to combat it (also it mentions a men's hijab - no tee-shirts or long hair) But what is likely to happen is that there will be a periodical crack downs. Then everything goes back to normal because this law is really unpopular.\n\n It is bad because it denys women the hope that one day the hijab law will be abolished. But I really don't think the law will be sucessful in making everyone wear the same clothes. All women hate that too much!\n\nAs for freedom of religion..Iran respects that very much. There are many churches and synogogues. And every religous and national minority has a quota seats in parliament reserved for them. The Christian minority for example even has a special mixed sports club for them..and they can drink alcohol at home..and have parties with mixed dancing All these things are banned for muslims in Iran but not for religious minorities. And the police are much more tolerant of Christian girls floughting the dress code then muslim girls.
268183
I am Muslim woman, I wear the hair veil (Hijab) and read Quran regularly, I completed my university study and then got a work which needs to travel from time to time, so I do not feel that I am dominated by any body. Well I have to tell my parents where I am going to get them feel that I am good and not going to danger places. And when I will marry, I think there is no problem to share my husband about my plans and to consider his point of view when I make up a decision and he do the same thing.\nLife is sharing, this what Islam says, but some men act as dominant and tell their doughters and wives what to do and what to not do... This is their way of life but not what Allah says for them to do.\nFinally, YES I am happy and I feel so comfortable to be Muslim.