Moody's upgrades Saudi Arabia's credit rating to Aa3 with stable outlook    Riyadh Metro to begin partial operations next Wednesday: Report    Al Okhdood halts Al Shabab's winning streak with a 1-1 draw in Saudi Pro League    Mahrez leads Al Ahli to victory over Al Fayha in Saudi Pro League    Al Qadsiah hands Al Nassr their first defeat in the Saudi Pro League    Saudi musical marvels takes center stage in Tokyo's iconic opera hall    Downing Street indicates Netanyahu faces arrest if he enters UK    London's Gatwick airport reopens terminal after bomb scare evacuation    Civil Defense warns of thunderstorms across Saudi Arabia until Tuesday    Saudi Arabia, Japan strengthen cultural collaboration with new MoU    Slovak president meets Saudi delegation to bolster trade and investment ties    Saudi defense minister meets with Swedish state secretary    Navigating healthcare's future: Solutions for a sustainable system    Al Khaleej qualifies for Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship final    Sixth foreign tourist dies of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos    Katy Perry v Katie Perry: Singer wins right to use name in Australia    Trump picks Pam Bondi as attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws    Al-Jasser: Saudi Arabia to expand rail network to over 8,000 km    Sitting too much linked to heart disease –– even if you work out    Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig wins Miss Universe 2024    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Misconceptions about Hijab: The hijab is an inequality
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 01 - 05 - 2015


Bibi Zainab Dowlut

It would appear to the naked eye that women in Islam have no rights. Shrouded in the hijab, and often covering their faces, many believe that Muslim women are masked in this uniform all day long, while Muslim men can dress as they please.

“See the inequality,” they say.

First things first; Muslim women do not wear their Islamic garb 24/7. Rather the Muslim woman's attire that appears to be an ‘oversized bed sheet' is merely an over garment which the Muslim woman dons when she leaves her home, or in the presence of strange unrelated men. That means, in her home she dresses as she pleases, and can uncover her hair too.

Moreover, men have a dress code too. The minimum requirement for a male to cover is from his naval to his knees. That's minimum. To you it may seem unequal, but I'm sure you would agree that men and women's bodies are different! Therefore, a woman's body necessitates that she covers more, as a woman is more attractive than a man, because Allah has given her that natural beauty.

Women's covering also acts as a means of protection. Imagine your favourite sweet, perhaps gummy bears, or cola bottles, or a lollipop. Now, imagine placing that sweet in the middle of the garden or even in the middle of your dining table with wrappers removed, and served on a plate. Now, if the flies didn't get to it first, I'm sure someone else would.

Do you see my point? No? Ok, here's another example. Imagine you owned a block of solid gold, encrusted with diamonds, and rubies. If you left that hanging out of your pocket, as you walk down the street, or left it by the window for the world to see. I'm sure you would return home without it that evening.

Apply those above scenarios to women. An unclothed, semi-naked woman, will be feasted upon by hungry eyes, and even approached in an undesirable manner. In comparison, the Muslim woman who covers herself, as per the requirements set by the Creator of mankind, will find herself free to walk as she pleases. In Islam, the Muslim woman is more precious than gold and diamonds, she is sweeter that the most delightful sweet. She is worth more, her value is priceless, and thus she is to protect herself.

{O Prophet, tell your wives and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves their outer garments. That is more suitable, that they will be known and not abused. And ever is Allah forgiving and Merciful.} (Chapter 33, verse 59 of the Holy Qur'an)

The hijab, jilbab, or niqab does not limit a Muslim woman in any way. Rather, it gives her freedom. She is known by it to be an upright, moral individual who possess good character. She is judged for her intellectual ability instead of her physical assets.

In society today, women have become the instrument of advertisement. If their bodies don't cut it, they are more than often denied their due. In the west, where women have supposedly reached the peak of civilisation in their dressing and so-called ‘freedoms' women are still not treated equally to men. According to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in 2007, approximately 12,000 women were harassed in the workplace.

Sexual abuse to women is a common occurrence. Though the man is responsible and should be charged, many do not realise that the woman's provocative dressing is also a factor. Allah, the Creator of you and me, knew this would happen, that's why He put laws in place to help and protect us.

Allah designated that women should cover themselves. Hijab is a stand against female exploitation, and a means of female liberation. Beneath it, a woman is free to do as she pleases and dress as she pleases. Women are not the trophy of men, but rather individuals with their own goals and attainments. The Hijab preserves our beauty, our character, and it protects us from prying eyes. Hijab allows women to be judged for their worth and not their appearance. It is a measure for the security of women and to safeguard the Muslim woman.


Clic here to read the story from its source.