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Ali, Mary, et al. "Women's Liberation Through Islam." Diss. Institute of Islamic Information and Education, 1996.
Al-Tahlawi, Lubna W. "Privileges of Saudi Women." Arabnews. 29 Oct. 2002
Al-Tamimi, Ali. "Islam-Elevation of Women's Status". Chicago: Jannah, 1997. Online. Sisters. Internet. 20 April 2003. www.jannah.org
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Doi, Abdur-Rahman I. "Women in Shari'ah (Islamic Law)." Diss. International Islamic U of Malaysia, 1992.
Leila, Reem. "Their Mother's Country." Al-Ahram Weekly. 10-16 Jan. 2002. 568
Why the veil? Is it a religious requirement or a cultural influence? Those are questions frequently posed in most non-Muslim societies. Before all, let us examine what Islamic revelatory sources, and Muslim searchers say about the veil. The prophet of Islam once said:"It is not lawful for any woman who believes in Allah (Note: Allah is an Arabic translation of the English word God) and the Last Day that she should uncover her hand more than this, and then he placed his hand on his wrist," and he said also on another occasion: "When a woman reaches puberty no part of her body should remain uncovered except her face and the hand up to the wrist joint"(qtd. in Doi). It is clear then that the type of veil indicated in the previous prophetic narrations is a requirement by Islam, and neither traditional nor cultural influence. But again, why the veil? Abdul-Ati states that it is Islamic that women beautify themselves with the veil of honor, dignity, charity, purity, and integrity, and that women should refrain from all deeds and gestures that might stir the passions of people other than her legitimate husband or can cause evil assumptions about her morality. "The veil which she must put on is one that can save her soul from weakness, her mind from indulgence, her eyes from lustful looks, and her personality from demoralization"(qtd. in Abdul-Ati). As we can see, the description of the veil, as well as its purpose is far apart from violating women's rights. However, the complete veil (which is father or husband-imposed in most cases) worn by many women in various Muslim countries might rise an important questioning about the freedom given to Muslim women to choose to be veiled or unveiled. Have all the great numbers of veiled teenage girls and women in Muslim societies chosen the veil out of sense of faith, or because their fathers or husbands obliged them?
Certainly, both kinds of women exist. The fact that some Muslim men impose the veil on their daughters or wives doesn't prove that this is Islamic. The Qur'an states: "There is no compulsion in religion. Right has been made distinct from error" (Qur'an 2:256). Therefore, to oblige someone to do a religious task is not Islamic (Ali et al.). That might be the reason behind which Islam does not impose any sort of penalty upon unveiled women. It is extremely confusing, however, when we examine the obligatory and complete veil or (Niqab) that covers all the body, imposed by the state in cases like Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the different kind of veil stated in numerous prophetic narrations. Accordingly, the most interesting fact that we should know is that Islam obliges men to cover there bodies from the abdomen to the knee.
The previous example of the obligatory Niqab imposed by Muslim Governments leads us to many other examples of supposedly-Islamic-based laws in various Muslim countries, dealing with extremely sensitive issues directly related to women's rights. This strange situation has lead Rasha al-Disuqi, Phd in Islamic Studies, University of Wales, to state: "If we examine the rights that are supposed to be given as compared to the rights that are being given and practiced, we will find that we are far behind the 7th century!"(qtd. in Al-Disuqi). The example of the public elections for the Saudi Parliament is an interesting one. Islam has given the right to women to voice their opinion and participate in politics 1400 years ago.
The prophet of Islam was ordered in the Qur'an to ratify and accept the oath of various women who went to him and declared their Islam, as stated in the Qur'an (60:12). Hence, "This established the right of women to select their leader publicly and declare so" (qtd. in Ali etal.) Illogically, and added to the obligatory Niqab, we find that the Saudi Government deprive Saudi women from their right to vote in public elections. Moreover, while women were riding on horses and camels freely at the time of prophecy, and even participating in battles, "the Saudi Government doesn't allow Saudi women to get driving licenses" (qtd. in Al-Tahlawi). The only possible explanation of these facts, is that the Saudi Government tries, after veiling women's bodies, to veil their basic and essential freedoms, in order to control, by selective religion-based arguments, the half of the Saudi people.
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Writer Profile
Saladin
My name is Ayman el-Hakea, I am a Construction Engineering graduate from the American University in Cairo. My origins date to an interesting mixture of Yemeni, Moroccan, Albanian, and Egyptian ancestors. I always try to be a moderate Muslim, I like animation, geopolitics, comparative religion, and football. I like to be with "people"...and I hope my writing isn't boring for anyone.
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Comments
I Like ... Marwan Mohamed El Solaih Hamad Aly | Jul 8th, 2004
Your Islamic Soul ... really you have that golden mind about Islamic rights's .
Keep it up ... u r really more than perfect .
hope to be like u !
Ayman El Hakea | Mar 6th, 2005
I am just a humble guy, trying in vain to be a good Muslim...don't give me more than I deserve...
.. Marium Chowdhury | Apr 5th, 2006
Ayman..you knw ur a great guy masha Allah..so stop freaking out when people praise you..(lol)...no no..im serious..n ur writing is not boring at all..keep up the great work..and insha Allah you will be successful in all your ventures..take care...salam!.
Marium..:)
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