Much is being made of the letter Fifi Haroon sent Conan O’Brien of The Tonight Show regarding his comment about Pakistan Fashion Week. O’Brien wondered whether us Pakistanis sent a wave of burqas down the catwalk, the audience laughed, and Haroon shot off an email to the show that sought to put its host right.
Of course no burqas were sent fluttering down the ramp. Far from it. The event was widely hailed as an in-your-face defiance of the Taliban. And it would have been exactly that if it had not been about 3.7 or so Pakistanis making a statement and the international media picking it up, while the rest of the country woke up the next day having totally missed the revolution.
Having lived in Karachi for over a decade now, I am actually wondering whether O’Brien had a point. The number of burqas one spots on the street has been possibly the only ‘fashion’ trend that’s been on the steady increase in the metropolis. In fact, the only way you could have missed the creeping sea of burqas is if you spend all your waking hours traversing Zamzama and the two malls that are ensconced between the sea and The Bridge and then step out at night to attend a wedding or a GT hosted by one of the lucky 3.7 who made it to fashion week too.
There are parts of this monster of a metropolis, on the wrong, but overwhelming side of The Bridge, where you’d be hard pressed to find a woman out and about. And there are parts where you could easily drive for several miles and see women only in abayas or burqas if you are lucky enough to see them venturing out at all. Entire localities, which would never register on the fashion set’s radar, are burqa-clad, which they weren’t a decade or so ago. But then entire localities wouldn’t believe that the 3.7 exist and are Pakistani.
Hang on, though, wearing a burqa is a choice, right? But is it always? In the case of Karachi, a lot of women from the lower-middle class have been using the garb only during commutes. There has been a steady increase in working women who use public transport to get to their workplaces in offices and homes, who upon reaching their workplaces whip off their burqas, roll up their sleeves, and work around men they are not related to. So for many, the burqa is increasingly used to convey an overt signal of respectability and a way to avoid harassment in mohallas where everyone else is doing the same. Particularly useful if you don’t own a car, or have relatives in high places, and feel vulnerable much like 90 per cent of Pakistan.
And then there is the burqa donned to pull the wool over people’s eyes. Walk into any fast-food outlet at lunchtime and spot the number of girl in burqas playing footsie and handsie with not-their-brothers.
The deceptive burqa-clads include those of a dangerous bent, as I discovered while walking around – sans burqa, the 3.7 will be glad to note – at Gulf Mall. While bargaining at a shop, I heard a small cry go up around me as a shopkeeper bounded my way and pulled a burqa-clad hand out of my handbag. A women covered till she had only slits left for her eyes to peep out had been fishing around for my wallet and cell phone! What surprised me was that this particular burqa-clad didn’t raise a hue and cry when a man touched her as he yanked her hand out of my handbag and then started to pull her by the shoulders to hand her over to the police. He later lost her as she slithered off into the crowd of women.
So in several parts of greater Karachi at least, and in large parts of the country that still discourage the presence of women in public places, the burqa is ubiquitous. No stereotype is 100 per cent true, but there is definitely a huge fire where all this smoke is coming from. And it’s not because they’re burning those black things just yet.
And fashion week? It was a smart way to garner business for our fashion industry and if the world media saw it as defiance of the Taliban or the burqa-brigade, well that’s a nice little by-product, now isn’t it? But we are not like this only. How it made a dent in the reality of the overwhelming majority (who would be overwhelmed if you told them how much some of that skimpy stuff displayed at PFW cost) in a country in the throes of several crises, including one of identity, is beyond me.
Now that I have made myself extremely unpopular with the 3.7s and am looking for a place to hide, I wonder… should I too don a burqa?
Shahrezad Samiuddin is a freelance writer who thinks not enough attention is paid to the frivolous, even though it is all around us.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Because we, the Pakistanis are largely uneducated in terms of Islamic knowledge, our practices only depict the same. People here are putting such a false claim that Burqa is just an Arab Culturalism. Well, Arab women, before the time of Prophet Muhummed (PBUH) used to wear exposed and transparent dresses: they were merely the object of lust. Arab female dancers still wear their “original” dress which is very “Western”. There are clear teachings and thousands of references (of Quran & Hadith) to what Huzoor ordered in his lifetime as to the type of dress women should wear. From Hazrat Khatija to Bibi Fatima and the following (RA mujmaeen), not a single one went in front of any Na-Mehram after Islamic injunctions were made clear, without fully covering themselves let alone going out. Prophet even declared men’s thighs as part of their place of shame’ and be hidden. These were parts of eternal wahi which will last till the day of Qayama. Arab women quit their ‘original Arab culture’ of wearing transparent and half-nude dresses and started observing Islamic Culture in practice. Muslim men left their ‘Original culture of wearing dresses that were very different and started observing Islamic culture of wearing a lower cloth just above feet as ordered by Prophet. From America to Malaysia, where ever true Islam is practiced as per Prophets teachings, it has the same dress code clearly explained in Quran & Hadith.
The writer of this article has reported some truth about our wrong practices but she has clearly maintained the western perception of looking at things. This is obviously because of her lack of Islamic knowledge. Typical practice of our hypocrite section of society is that it tries to hide its ignorance and malpractices behind the lable of Talibans and Mullahs. What they actually practice? Well, google and watch their fashion shows: they never ever criticize or talk bad of their worst exhibition of Arabs origianl Jahilia culture.
Being ashamed of our wrong deeds is one thing but being proud of our shameful acts and instead criticising the right thing is something else.
FINAL ANALYSIS:
Mulahism is actually a state of mind. Those who have zero acceptance for the woman’s choice to adopt or not to adopt a certain dress code for herself, in my opinion, have the state of mind of a Mullah.
No doubt, the role of the Mullah has been negative and coercive but the fact remains that there are still many ladies who wear the burqa solely because of there own convictions and without being influenced by Mullah.
@Mustafa
There is no doubt that the role of the Mullah in our country has been exceedingly negative and immensely coercive. But that does not mean that all ladies who wear the burqa, wear it due to the Mullah Factor. There are many ladies who wear the burqa exclusively by choice and with complete conviction. My contention is that their right of choice should be respected on all accounts. I personally am acquainted to numerous ladies, who one hand are thoroughly disgusted with Mullahism, and on the other wear the burqa by their own choice. Many of them are successful professionals too.
@ Malahat Pasha
Finally you agree that “Mullahs have generally inclined to impose their own preferences on women” but you have refused to accept that the attire of Burqa has also been imposed by Mullahs or men upon women.
My mother and all my female relatives wore Burqa because they lived in towns and villages where there were 95% of Mazdoor class illiterate people who would gaze at women as if they have never seen women in life. But when they lived in Karachi where the vast majority of people at least respect women, they gave up wearing Burqa. May be, if they would have gone to villages or tribal areas where Burqa is considered a must for Muslim women, they would have worn Burqa just to avoid offending the community.
Muslim women have every right to compete with men in all professions (professors, scientists, engineers, politicians, lawyers, physicians, journalists, police officers etc. etc.) and Burqa is a set back in achieving their career.
Conclusion: Men, whether mullas or of any other class, are generally inclined to impose their own preferences on women, in the name of religion, in the name of fashion, in the name of security, in the name of modernity and even in the name of women’s rights.
@ Mustafa
Yes, it took a few centuries. Try your luck with the mask. Who knows, in a few centuries it may get established as men’s wear. As for me I’m fine with the burqa.
@ Malahat
Attire did not drop from sky. When women started to wear Burqa, it became attire. If men start to wear masks, it will become attire too.
The Burqa, today should be optional and entirely the preference of the women who
who choose to wear it. At the same time it should also permit and allow other women who so wish not to wear it.
Everyone else concern should respect that this is a woman’s choice and society should not harass any woman whosoever decides to pursue her choice!
@ Mustafa
The “mask” does not fall into the category of ATTIRE, whereas the “burqa” does.
I am agreed with Saima Khan’s post. She has uttered some real but bitter facts about we people(MEN). I always think what if man becomes woman. How will he be feeling? Think it again before you say!!
@ Malahat Pasha
Would this be OK with you if your husband wears a mask on his face when going with you for shopping?
People are prepared to accept and endorse a certain dress code for women only as long as it conforms to their own thinking. In the name of women’s liberty, the liberty of the woman is being questioned. If a woman opts to be a burqa-wearer, her right to choose and her choice both should be respected.
Well Shahrezad Samiuddin you only higlighted its negative point which can hurt the feelings of those who wear burqa from religious point of view?
@ Khurram
Burqa is not fashion. It is continuation of Pre-Islamic culture in Saudi Arabia
Egypt’s highest Muslim authority has said he will issue a religious edict against the growing trend for full women’s veils, known as the niqab.
Sheikh Mohamed Tantawi, dean of al-Azhar University, called full-face veiling a custom that has nothing to do with the Islamic faith.
All the rules of this world have been made by men. By wearing a Hijab one does not make a political statement. All one states is that I agree to the rules of subjugation made by men.
If men get distressed by immodestly dressed women, then they should shut their eyes.
All rules for social dressing will change if men have to wear Burqas, Hijab and Niqab.
Burqa is not fashion but the use of burka is mostly a fashion.
In our country, there is emphasis on religion is present, but unfortunately in wrong direction. We know that Burqa is necessary in Islam. But we don’t know why?
We are not practical enough. We don’t have right to force our women to wear burqa but to tell them correct teachings of Islam. Because there are no jabar in Islam.
It’s the Muslims theme selves that have made the mockery of the Hijab and Burqa. I grew up in US and have seen alot of transformations in the Pakistani and other societies all around in the US, etc. The Lebanese Muslim women almost 90%, including young and old, wear Hijab, but young ones also are seen wearing very tight, jeans known as body huggers and shirt that are also tight. So my conclusion they wear as just for political statement, to show the Americans, we Arabs are not Scared of you and you taunts. Arabs particularly Lebanese are extremely nationalistic, even if they have been living in West for almost 100 years now in American, they still call themselves Lebanese.
Now coming to Pakistan, Burqa used to be the dress of the pious, but now it has been adopted for all the many reasons. Mostly to deceive others. I am also a victim of Burqa wearing deceiver whom I married, but she ran away with her new found boyfriend in America, as soon as she got the Green card thru me, I am a US citizen and I was used as a bridge by her and her family to ship her “out” of Pakistan.
@ AKKINENI
1: Nature is the work of God and Religion is the word of God. So there’s no conflict. But religion is a personal matter. It is not the business of the State or the Society.
2: Following your argument of “faith in your people’s self-control” how about doing away with the entire legal system and let people’s self-control do the magic.
3: I’ll respect your right to believe in the words of Marx. You respect my right to believe in the words of God.
@ ASHOK
How do you defend against someone hiding explosives beneath, let’s say, an overcoat?
@ MUSTAFA
1: Just as international travel is not a 365-days affair, a passport picture too is not a 365-day thing. These are all situational things. This is hardly an issue. So no problem.
2: Tight-jeans, tight-tops along with a hijab may appear to be a mockery to you. For a lady, wearing all this, this may be a simple choice. So essentially it boils down to your fatwa against her choice.
@ SYED
The burqa is merely a mode of clothing in line with modesty. Some ladies find this convenient. Others find the chaadar more convenient. Some are happy with a coat or even a dupatta. Some without any of these. It’s the choice of the individual that counts.
@ PRASAD
Thank you for saying “women are also human beings”. But somehow you do not endorse the right of these “human beings” to pick and choose the attire of their personal choice, without making a public issue out of it.
Burqa is I think, an unnecessary invention. A persons decision to cover themselves is their personal choice. It is not the job of a government to control what its citizens wear. Instead of wearing burqas we should ban the vulgar television programs that can be found on any television channel as it has a massive impact on how we think. Women should be appreciated for their intelligence, patience and their role in nation building, not just for their beauty.
Malahat Pasha,
Well said. Your arguments are lucid, rational and comprehensible. But trust me, these guys will never stop arguing against the woman’s right of choice, whether of burqa or anything else. Let me once again quote this famous and pertinent line of Alexander Pope:
And even though vanquished he could argue still.
@Mustafa
In foriegn country Burqa is not needed.
Its a part of Pakistani culture.
Prasad Jee,
Do you feel any temptation with Salu bhai’s muscular body. Its demand of your own folks that’s been manifested by again your own film Producers.
Ashok Jee,
Afraid of Explosives, Guru Jee the world has made tremendous inventions. So many electronic devices are now available to check or scan even tiny explosives like a thumb pin. Burqa even if dressed in 3 times one over another couldn’t steal any metallic substance. So be trouble free. stay happy
Syed Jee and Mustafa Jee
Quoting your personnel experiments could not implicate inferences to be applied on whole large world. Infact that’s not fair.
Women are also human beings and they too have hormones like men. As men are attracted to women, women are attracted to men. They too love to see Macho men with handsome muscle curves and men with masculine features like beard and mustache. Is it not haraam? Why can’t men wear burqas so as not to corrupt the minds of women? Why Muslims never object Salman khan who takes of his shirt and expose his muscles almost in every cinema? Why many Muslim men wear pant and shirt which are essentially western dress and expect women to cover themselves completely. Don’t say that these unjust rules are from God and degrade him.
I wish to share this story with readers.
A few years ago few women went to Karachi, Pakistan from America to join their relatives for Eid ul Fitr. These women made special clothing (Shalwaar, Qameez etc etc,) and wore them for travel to show their relatives in Pakistan that they have maintained Islamic culture. Upon arrival at the airport in Karachi they were shocked and surprised to see almost all young women wearing jeans greeting them at the airport.
Another shocking thing you see all the time in America. Young Muslim women wearing tight jeans and tight tops but they have Hijaab on their heads. This Hijaab is nothing but mockery.
The so-called freedom and Women rights words are also being misinterpreted nowadays.
A person, who sits beside me and whirls his hand, can exercise the freedom only to the limit where my face starts. He cannot go beyond that. In Islam it is not mandatory to clad yourself in Burqa. It’s a custom. However, the same Islam makes it mandatory to cover yourself up to certain limits which include the hands and hair. You can have ‘freedom’ in things that religion does not ban for you. How can one have ‘freedom’ in things that God bans for anyone?
Women Rights: Its there in Islam with our own connotations but nowadays it’s the favorite of the West to fool us around.
Recently there has been a case in Stockholm (Sweden) where a Muslim lady-Dentist was asked the question of hijab during her interview. They wanted her to wear the sleeveless shirt to ensure hygiene. She showed Sweden’s Heath Department version: ‘wearing disposable sleeve-arms achieve the same affect of hygiene what would otherwise be possible with wearing sleeveless shirt.’ They replied with a plumb no and did not offer her the job. This kind of discrimination is not tolerated in Sweden. The lady sued them and she lost the case. (She goes on appeals though) The point that I was making is that this term of ‘Women rights’ has mostly been imported from the West who do not care about it themselves. These are the same people who lay very tall claims about women rights and they fool us around with the same ‘women rights’ issues.
@ Malahat Pasha
You said “Before you talk about ‘identity’, you may like to consider the fact that attire is an integral part of human identity.”
Do you have a Passport? is there you picture in it? May be there is one covered under Burqa. Can you travel to a foreign country with a passport that has the picture of your Burqa as your identity and not your face?
Pasha it is not naive to suggest that every body will walk around in a Burqa then how would you defend against somebody who under the cover of Burqa blows up a school or a mall to kill hundreds of people?
I do not advocate banning wearing the burqa. I was suggesting the Burqas should be worn only in the religious functions or in the privacy of ones own house. I just don’t want anybody misuse this dress to hide one’s identity or carry explosives.
I also want to make one more point. In the perfect world their wouldn’t be need to comment if one wants to wear a particular kind of dress, it is the present time evil of terrorism compels people to raise this issue and moderate Muslims should understand it as it is not a religious issue and should be debated like that.
No amount of clothing or religious teaching can protect women from the wild imagination of men. No religion can supersede the laws of nature. Religions are at the most a few centuries old. Laws of nature are billions of billions old and no one else but God could have laid down these laws. We made certain laws and regulations to “protect” our society from the “evils” of our hormones and ascribe them to the God.
Moderation is all that is needed. If you have no faith in your people’s self-control, then make these horrendous laws and penal codes and tell they are the words of God.
I am not writing about any particular religion. Brand names are many, the ingredient is same. I hate communist ideology but I sincerely believe in what Karl Marks said about the religion.
@ KHULLAT
Thank you, you for endorsing my arguments. With reference to what you’ve said about judgementalism, may I add that this attitude stems from the same mindset as that of Mulahism.
I believe that as a matter of principle, women are rationally and morally entitled to choose and wear the clothing of their choice. I also believe that any symbol of modesty should always be welcome, even if not adopted.
Malahat Pasha,
Well said about these persons. I fully agree with you.
Thanks indeed to raise your voice against the evil teachings.
The last comment from Malahat Pasha, preceding this one from myself, has undoubtedly come as a decisive one. If someone chooses to continue arguing against the woman’s free choice to wear the burqa, even after this decisive rebuttal, he would most certainly qualify this famous line of Alexander Pope: “And even though
Vanquished he could argue still”
What I find most appalling is the fact that people can argue endlessly in favor of a FREE SOCIETY but as soon as the freedom of women’s choice comes in, they either go dumb or insist on seeing the woman clad in garments of their choice, instead of hers. This judgementalism is extremely detrimental to a free society.
@Mustafa
Although it is not mandatory to cover the face according to Islam, but if there is a society with a voracious lust and they do not even spare the heel of a woman to be scanned thoroughly, the equation gets imbalanced.
In a place like Pakistan, burqa is a must. This is why the good points of any culture were respectable in the eyes of the visionary Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
It would have been very nice to have Pakistanis living like developed nations. The qualities of developed nations are respecting each other, hard work, determination, goal achievement, academic approach of resolving conflicts, research, education and tolerance.
@PRASAD
1: Following your environmental logic, women in the west should adopt the burqa and women in our part of the world should go around scantily dressed. It appears, what bothers you is not the burqa, but sweat and body odor. The solution is not abandoning the burqa, its personal hygiene.
2: Goodness may not be directly proportional to the covered surface area of a woman’s body, but one’s modesty will indeed be manifested through one’s attire.
3: Religion is a personal matter and so is clothing.
@ROXANE
Well said indeed !
@A.K.SINGH
How would you rationalize the turbans of Sikhs? Following your logic, the turbans meant to secure the skulls of Sikh men from the avarice of Sikh women. In the name of Guru ji please be rational.
@MUSTAFA
Before you talk about ‘identity’, you may like to consider the fact that attire is an integral part of human identity.
@REEBA
Following your logic, if to cover a woman’s body brings dishonor to men, then the best way to honor men should be by going around nude, like animals. Your understanding of the term ‘honor’ perhaps needs to be revisited.
@ASHOK
It would be naive to imagine that the only way to conceal explosives is the burqa. Are you suggesting that the fanatics and terrorists all clad in burqas?
@LOHARAM
The burqa is as much an aggressive display of ‘difference’ as the tilak worn by Hindu women or the turban worn by Sikh men or Cross-pendants worn by Christians. Religious tolerance is what we must focus on.
@VIKRAM
The actions of Muslims cannot be attributed to the teachings of the Quran, just as the actions of Hindus cannot be attributed to Gita.
@M.QUDDUS
Your derogatory expression of “desert faiths” reveals more of your own defeatist mentality than of the burqa-wearer. It also reveals your ignorance of history and geography. Canaan, Jerusalem and Madina, respectively are the places where the holy founders of Judaism, Christianity and Islam spent a great deal of their lives, and none of these are exactly deserts.
Should men also wear Burqa’s as a way to preserve their modesty ?
Today we have a world wide discussion on hijab and burqa and most of the people including some Muslims criticize hijab. Well, First of all I would like to say that hijab cannot change somebody’s character. Even the women wearing hijab may be corrupt. Why this is liked in Islam is just to hide the sensitive parts of female body. As we know men are excited by the sense of sight, so if men see women in half clothes and stare their sensitive parts of body, men would be prone to commit wrongs. That is why we see most of the rape cases happen with the women who wear half clothes and excite men’s sensuousness. However, its woman’s independent choice. Islam does not call those women bad who do not wear burqa. So associating Burqa with Islam is the narrow mindedness of the people. Even Hinduism and other major religions of the world emphasize that a woman’s body should be covered but in this era of globalization and westernization we have taken burqa as a means of suppression for women. I think this issue should better be handled by women intellectuals and see what are the positive and negative points are of wearing ah hijab. As for as Islam is concerned we still need to understand it because there are many misinterpretations about Islam. Islam does not confine woman’s independence but for that we need a broader outlook.
A billion dollar industry is flourishing in the West devoted to women’s cosmetics despite the world wide recession. The cosmetic industry remains untouched because women are happy to be the fittest, the greatest and the best. In this contest of winners take all, an absolute sense of joy belongs to the victor. The defeated resort to evoke sensibilities derived from the desert faiths of Arabia be it Christianity, Judaism or Islam. In the real world, the meek only inherits endless therapy sessions and a first-aid kit. Nothing is more pathetic than the tears of the defeated. The Burka has much to hide.
I don’t think the author objected to a woman’s right to wear hijaab when she chooses to. She was however pointing out that many women do not really have a choice because their husbands/ in-laws may object to their going out without hijaab. It would be socially acceptable (even though Islam does not sanction it) for men to harass women not in hijaab and blame it on the woman’s lack of modesty.
In such cases, it appears that the author would argue that the woman should be allowed to choose her attire which allows her to fulfill her full potential. Yes, if it is a Muslim woman of faith, then she will choose modesty. But there are no doubt other dresses that can be modest e.g. Salwar Kameez Dupatta which are also modest.
Surely it can only be considered a right to choose hijaab, does she also has a right not to choose a hijaab. If she has just one option it can not really be considered a choice can it? And why impose this deprivation of choice in the name of Islam, when Islam only prescribes modesty – not hijaab (which is more of a cultural choice).
I don’t think burqa can control raging hormones in young people or thought processes. In a country like Saudi Arabia where all women are required to wear burqa, religious police is still needed to keep men and women separate. All this is still needed when Islam requires men to lower their gaze when they see a Muslim women. Same Saudi women from upper class families when they come USA, wear tight jeans and no burqa.
Many of the commentators to this blog seem to feel that wearing a burqa or a hijab is primarily a woman’s choice. Perhaps, but the vast majority of Muslim women in the past never exercised this option and nobody harassed them for lack of a burqa. One may wonder why suddenly there is such a desire to express that choice. Is she today driving home the statement that she is different and superior from the rest of us?
Your commentators also seem to forget the fact that societies are built on a set of laws, social conduct and concepts that cannot be broken regardless of what you may think in your hear. If looking at a pretty woman’s face raises your desire, lust in your heart as much as you want and then disappear. Otherwise, in a functioning society you will be considered an offender. The idea that a woman has to cover her whole body in hideous black in 110 degree weather for personal protection from the men-animals around her is so primitive that nothing can be argued in its favor. There are courts and law and order to protect our women from the barbarians among us that is certainly not the reason for the burqa and hijab resurgence.
I respect a Muslim woman’s right to dress as she wants. And she did that all these years by not wearing a burqa or a hizab. That did not make her a lesser Muslim. Why then all these are coming back in full force even among educated and enlightened Muslim women? Non-Muslim world perceives it as an aggressive display of her difference from the rest of her and I also have a nagging suspicion that it is not all that self-imposed.
Muslims today have to think about finding a way to return their past glory and not waste time with all these outward rituals. Strength comes from within. A Muslim woman does not have to hide behind a veil so that we continue to behave as normal human being. Can there be anything more ridiculous?
Yes there should be no objections if some women want to wear Burqa. But it is not about your rights to dress, it is about my right to live. You or any body wants to live naked like any other animal, nobody cares, but when you talk about walking around all wrapped up in a Burqa in the malls and schools then how can I or others protect their loved ones from a terrorist who might blow up hundreds of innocent people because this also gives same rights to him to walk around with explosives in a Burqa. Can any body Quote where in Quran is mentioned that Women have to hide their faces with a Burqa? I challenge all the Muslims to quote the page, the verse which says that women should always wear Hijab?
If some one wants to wear hijab to cover his or her hair and head as a fashion then it is quite different and nobody should object to it.
It is not women who have to protest against burqa, but it should be Muslim men! The reason is burqa is a symbol of how bad, dishonest and evil Muslim men are. A burqa is indirectly giving you the message that “you are evil, I cannot trust you and you are planning to harm me!” If a woman has to wear burqa to feel safe to go outside, that tells a lot about the men in that society. Are Muslim men really that evil and not trustworthy? I know a lot of Muslim men who are decent, honest and trustworthy. Burqa brings a bad name to all such men. Women of other religions all over the world feel safe without burqa and do not consider their men as not trustworthy. There could be some bad apples in every barrel. But you cannot let a few bad ones bring dishonor to the entire Muslim men in a community. So Muslim men please come forward and protest against this symbol that mocks you right in your face.
@ hassan
Please read my last post where I said:
“We may infer from Allah’s words, “Tell the believing men that they should lower their gazes”, that the faces of the women of the Prophet’s time were not veiled. Had the entire body including the face been covered, it would have made no sense to command them to lower their gaze, since there would have been nothing to be seen.”
So your argument that Burqa is a command in the Holy Quran is not true. It is a custom, nothing to do with Islam.
These days criminals and terrorists use masks as well as Burqas to hide their identity. Even in Pakistan some militants wearing Burqas slaughtered Muslims. State has a right to discourage or stop Burqa wearing if it is not a requirement of Islam and it is a threat to society.
I re-post this Hadith for your information:
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin: Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma’, when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands. (Narrated by Abu Dawood # 4092).
@ Malahat
I agree people are free to wear what they want
In your example A judge wearing a wig, a nun wearing her head gear, a Policeman wearing his cap, a baseball player wearing his baseball cap, a nurse wearing her head gear, none of them conceal their identity. So do not compare those gears with Burqa.
The insistence of burqa for Muslim women can be interpreted as an explicit acceptance by Muslim men that they are unable to control their desire. The argument may seem far fetched, but in a sexual molestation case involving a Muslim man it could be argued in court that it was the fault of woman who exposed herself without burqa as men have explicitly accepted their inability to control themselves.
When I was a child studying in W.Africa.We could watch on the television Native Nude dancers. If I passed any remarks on them or made fun of them in front of my African school friends they would say ”it is their body if they want to show it off it is none of your concern and there is nothing funny about it ”
Therefore to the critics on burqa I would say let ladies do as they please. It is none of your concern. If you find it disconcerting than look away at something else. There are more problems in life than a lady wearing burqa.
I read many Pakistani blog on different topics. I understand that you people always decide the worthiness of anything, any one or any issue by how far it conforms to your religion. Why this obsession with religion? Is it making you happier? Is it making you prosperous? Is it making the crime rate in your society low? Or at least is it sending more of your people to heaven?
There are thousands of problems and issues to solve in our poor countries. Let us concentrate on these issues rather than breaking our heads with religion. I thought religions are their to protect us. But in your case you spend all your life fighting to protect your religion and God. Leave God alone. He can take care of Himself.
Does any one think dressing in “religious fashion” will make anyone a better human being? The murderers of Taliban are now growing long beards. Does their dress endear them to Allah? Never. Jest wearing a burqa will not make a woman respectable and wearing western dress will not make her debased. Do not judge people by their dress. I have seen many good and bad women, but never their goodness or badness proportional to their surface area of body under cover!!
Environmental point of view western women need to cover more to protect themselves from cold weather but they are scantily clad. We in tropical climate wear burqas and saries to rot in sweat and smell. What an irony.
I worked in Middle East for many years. Burqas cover the bodies but they can’t cover the minds and thoughts. Mullahs better know this fact.
@ M.Quddus
Why bother about outsmarting Cindy Crawford and Jennifer Aniston on their turfs? Why not just do what is right? It is right to follow your convictions, as long as you do not infringe the rights of other citizens. Thus it is right to wear the attire of your choice, in public, as long as the accepted norms of social decency are not encroached upon. Therefore, it is the unquestionable right of the female citizen to wear the burqa and hijab.