Ahmadiyya Times | Article | Religion
From Portland Islam Examiner | Orig. Pub.: September 3, 2009
Harris Zafar | Portland, OR
The Islamic veil has been the source of many debates over the years. And this debate was re-ignited this summer here in Oregon when Gov. Ted Kulongoski passed the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act (Senate Bill 786). Although the bill has value, the problem is that it upholds a public school teacher exception – that has been in existence since the 1920s – that forbids teachers from wearing "religious clothing". This means Muslim women legally cannot cover their heads if they want to teach in a public school in Oregon. This has re-invigorated the classic Muslim veil debate.
A virtual tug-of-war has ensued from extremists on opposite sides of this debate, and Muslim women are being used as the rope. Caught in the middle, they are told what to do, how to act and what to wear. Extremists from both sides claim to know what is best for them, while neither side really listens to what those women want.
On one side you have extremist Muslim men and governments who insist to cover women from head to toe at all cost. This is how the notion of oppression was born. On the other side you have European governments and other western groups who insist that Muslim women should not wear any covering and go to great lengths to remove their headscarves and veils, whether they like it or not. They forget that the Christian faith prescribes headscarves as well, which is why Michelle Obama had to cover her head when meeting the Pope.
Neither side has the right to tell these women what they can or cannot wear. Yet, both sides have inflicted atrocities against the only victims in this debate – Muslim women.
Religious extremists have victimized Muslim women. Some women in the Middle East have no choice but to cover themselves head-to-toe. There are many sad stories about women being abused and even murdered by husbands, fathers or so-called leaders because they were not covered enough. As a student of Islam and active Muslim, I know my faith says that such actions are completely wrong. This is oppression. This is un-Islamic. In Islam, the daily Salaat (prayer) is far more important than head covering. So why don’t these so-called Islamic governments attempt to punish those who do not pray 5 times a day? How did a woman’s dress become more important?
Secular extremists have also victimized Muslim women. In Germany, Muslim school teachers are prohibited from covering their heads in the Islamic manner because it is not in line with “western Christian” values. Roman Catholic nuns, however, are allowed to wear their head coverings in school. In 2004, France declared that any Muslim girl who covers her head (not face, mind you, only the head) will not be allowed into public schools. Similarly, for decades, women in Turkey have been denied admission into universities with their heads covered. President Obama correctly stated that "a woman who is denied an education is denied equality,” and for Germany, France and Turkey, their acts will remain as a stain on their so-called democracies. Sadly, even the virgin mother Mary – always portrayed with her head covered – would be denied education in these countries and would not be allowed to teach in an Oregon public school.
So what should Muslim women do? Should they keep these Muslim men and governments happy? Or should they keep these western groups and governments happy? The right answer is: neither!! Islam tells women that they should only be concerned with keeping God happy, and they do that by obeying His commandments.
In Chapter 24 of the Quran, God tells both men and women to restrain their eyes from ogling at members of the opposite sex and to guard their private parts. Specific to women in this chapter is verse 32 which tells them to “disclose not their beauty except that which is apparent thereof, and that they draw their head-coverings over their bosoms”.
Ultimately, it is each Muslim woman’s individual right and responsibility to follow God’s commandments. Others must remember that God says in Chapter 2 of the Quran “There should be no compulsion in religion.” So I say to my Muslim brothers that it is completely the woman’s choice how she dresses. You cannot force anything on her.
Western secularists also must learn that there is nothing wrong with a woman’s choice to cover herself. It does not represent oppression, nor is it a means to impose one's religion on another person.
Religious extremism and secular extremism are equally bad. Both sides need to be educated on the true nature and intention of Islam’s guidance of dress…moderation and protection. Nobody can force Muslim women to do anything. If their actions are wrong, they are answerable to Allah, and Allah alone.
Read more: Islamic veil: Both extremes are wrong
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