Written by  Sis. Khadija Watson

Second class citizen, illiterate, abused, poor and dowdy: These are some of the connotations used to describe a Muslim woman. Wrong in all accounts! But unfortunately this is what most people wrongly think about Muslim women and this is what the media wrongly projects. 

The Muslim woman seems to be shrouded in mystery because she is covered. This is the first objection from outsiders who do not understand our religion. The unkind remarks projected on the Muslim woman because she is modestly covered, range from rags and tents, to towels and worst. 

Perhaps a few  words of explanation on why a Muslim woman covers herself are in order.

The first misunderstanding is that it is wrongly thought that men are the ones forcing the women to dress like this, when in fact the first reason that any Muslim woman covers herself is because it is a command from Allah, not from men. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an for the woman to lower her gaze and to cover herself, it is then defined who she does not have to cover in front of and is free to dress in a modest way, namely any male relative who she would not be able to marry. She is further told in another chapter to cover herself when going outside of her house. Both of these references can be found in chapters 24:31 called Surah (meaning chapter) An-Nur and in chapter 33:59, Surah Al-Ahzab.

The commandment

The degree in which she is to cover is stated both in the Holy Qur’an and in the ahadiths [the saying, explanations, traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)]. All the parts of the body that are sexually attractive to men are to be covered. The hands and face may be exposed and this is why you see many Muslim women without face covering, or if she likes she may cover her face. She is not required to wear black, and for this reason we see many Muslim women from different parts of the world dressed in various colors and styles while still conforming to the command of Allah.

Respect & Protection

What is astonishing is that it is not the Muslim women themselves who are complaining about their covering. Many of our new sisters to Islam in the United States and Europe  have stated time and again how protected and modest they feel when going outside and have notice that those men in which they need to interact with, even though they are not Muslims, usually treat them with respect and dignity. The Muslim woman’s covering also affords her protection from men and by men.

Muslim women are just as interested in make up and fashion as our secular sisters, but this is preserved for her husband and special gatherings with the added dignity of modesty.

Many Muslim women look upon the modern sexy, tight fitting and short clothing of the non-Muslim woman as being vulgar and sleazy. She finds it hard to understand why a woman would have such low self esteem as to want to appeal to any mans eyes other than her husband. Or to have many sex partners when virginity and modesty are the highest thing that any woman, (Muslim or not), can bestow upon her husband. She can’t understand why the men in the family (fathers, husbands or brothers) would allow and even approve of the women in his family whom he should be protecting, to go outside the house, to say nothing of going to school or work with such little clothes to cover their body. And then to be shocked or surprised when the woman or girl is raped!

While much emphasis has been put on the woman’s dress, it needs to be known that Allah has also commanded a dress code for men!

Social Interaction & Achievements 

Except for countries where illiteracy is high among the populist, Muslim women are as educated as any other women in the world. Actually in the United States and England, women who are embracing Islam have more degrees than the men who are embracing Islam!

As far as profession is concern, Muslim women can be found in every sector of society. Muslim women are encouraged to stay at home, not in order to keep her subservient but because this is in the  best interest of  her children and society.  The modern working women are subjected to the horrors of society, to say nothing of the sexual harassment encountered in most work places. Those places that provide for a safe working environment and are productive for the community are the best places for Muslim women to work. Being a Muslim woman, while at the same time not compromising on her Islamic dress or religious practices, has not deterred the Muslim woman from working in well respected professions such as medicine and teaching as well as a variety of other professions. Many Muslim women prefer to work from their home doing telephone sales, sewing, cantering, or computer work, along with a variety of other jobs offered over the internet. In this way, she doesn’t encounter difficulty over her dress or unwanted advances or harassment from men. She is free to be herself and can chose the hours to work that are best for her without interfering with her duties and responsibilities as a mother and wife.

Along with her being able to work outside of her home, the Muslim woman is not required to pay the bills or support a husband who does not work. The money she earns belongs to her unless she otherwise agrees to give up this right. Allah states in the Holy Qur’an. Surah An-Nisa 4:34, “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women….”

Misconceptions

The Muslim woman is not forced into marriage contrary to popular opinion. It is her right to say no if she does not wish to marry a certain man. It is also her right to seek a divorce. The woman has had this right in Islam for the last 1224 years, where as the Western and European countries have emancipated women in this area only in the last 150 years!!!

Collaboration

The Muslim woman prides herself in her feminine qualities and does not feel that she must or is in need of to compete with men. Allah has created men and women in a unique and different way. Men and women are to complement each other not compete with each other. In societies where women are insecure and where men are failing in their duty and responsibilities to care and protect women, women are forced to go against their God-Given nature as a nurturer and must protect and fend for themselves. Islam provides for men, women and children to fulfill their roles in a specific and defined way for the betterment of the family, community and society as a whole. Each member is responsible before Allah for that area, at that time of their life the man is the overseer of his family. The wife is the overseer of the children and her house. The children are responsible to be accountable and respectful to the parents, all working in harmony together.

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