Muslim Women : Unveiled

Maria Sheikh *

Muslim Women during Haj pilgrimage to Mecca - See-off at Imphal Tulihal Airport :: 10 October 201
Pix - Bullu Raj

When we think of image of Muslim women in our mind it was a just woman wearing Hijab (Veil).

I don't understand why there is lot of hysteria in West over hijab, where they advocate lot over freedom ,that is freedom of expression ,freedom of dress etc so why there is so special about a women wearing hijab ,its her faith let her decide what to wear and what not to. Is that role of Muslim women is restricted only to wear hijab or not???

YOU LOOK AT ME AND CALL ME OPPRESSED,
SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY I'M DRESSED,
YOU KNOW ME NOT FOR WHAT'S INSIDE,
YOU JUDGE THE CLOTHING I WEAR WITH PRIDE,
MY BODY'S NOT FOR YOUR EYES TO HOLD,
YOU MUST SPEAK TO MY MIND, NOT MY FEMININE MOLD,

No, they had to play a wider role as to create circumstances that promote the true status of Muslim women in line with the Islamic values. They also have to expand their awareness on modern education and deepen their understanding of Islam and the notion of women from the vantage point of Islam. This burden of responsibility does not lie on Muslim women but Muslim men should come and share.

MAN DOESN'T TELL ME TO DRESS THIS WAY,
IT'S A LAW FROM GOD THAT I OBEY,
OPPRESSED IS SOMETHING I'M TRULY NOT,
FOR LIBERATION IS WHAT I'VE GOT,

IT WAS GIVEN TO ME MANY CENTURIES AGO,
WITH THE RIGHT TO PROSPER, THE RIGHT TO GROW,

Being Muslim women one should not confined her to only religious knowledge but to serve the society with advanced knowledge and technology. Muslim women should endeavor to unveil their true status in our contemporary world and ultimately establish their genuine role in society.

The new modern freedom-seeking movement enables women to claim back their true identity and open up routes for securing the rights of women from the point of view of Islamic thoughts. In Islam, men and women are both equal in humanity and servitude of Allah (swt) and both are equal in His Presence.

Allah (swt) in the Qur'an in chapter 3, verse 195 says: "So their Lord accepted of them (their supplication and answered them), Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, be the male or female. You are (members) one of another."

Allah (swt) in another verse, chapter 49, verse 13 says: "O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily the most honourable of you with Allah is the pious.

It is evident that the equal status of men and women does not imply their equality in everything. Due to the physiological and psychological differences and the special place that both men and women possess in the structure of society, each has a specific role in the composition of the society.

The rules specific to either gender cannot be inter-changed, nor can one perform them instead of the other. The responsibilities of Muslim women has two aspect one from her inner femininity as to stand beside her husband as a sympathetic partner and a soul-mate and to be pure and chaste, giving love and care to her children in order to bring them up with the correct Islamic education. The other aspect is from her outer femininity to form her presence in s society and performance of the social responsibility.

Thus the modern knowledge in light of Islam helps Muslim women to fight against social oppression and captivity of women under the false cover of women freedom.

I CAN CLIMB MOUNTAINS OR CROSS THE SEAS,
EXPAND MY MIND IN ALL DEGREES,

FOR GOD HIMSELF GAVE US LIB-ER-TY,