“Thinking out loud” by Nevine El Fangary

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“All opinions are that of the author and not necessarily those of the website that it is published under.”

When women’s rights activists call for “Freedom for veiled women” …

It is the freedom from following a higher command that they mean. Freedom from a holy book, and freedom from having guidelines which tell you how to dress. Does this mean that all veil-less women are winners of their freedom, which I am oppressed of? I am not here to challenge or undermine those who do not wear a veil, most of the closest people to me don’t, and I am in no position to judge others. But I am here to speak for myself and empower those who do.

Some women won their freedom, sadly. For they fight in the name of freedom, but instead become followers to new sets of laws. They still follow rules and guidelines, except stricter and unachievable ones. Ones that are imposed on them more fiercely than those in a holy book, ones they sacrifice things such as food and health for. On a daily basis we are exposed to images scattered on highways, on billboards, on the news, on the internet, on magazine covers (and every other page inside), in our social media, in articles and imprinted in our minds. If religions brainwash people using only their book and teachings, what kind of effect do these constant “doses” of hidden and direct messages do to our brains?

If these sacrifices, this obsession with conforming to a purely materialistic and idealistic image to identify one’s self with a culture is not a form of worship or religion, then what is it? I do not see it as much less demanding than any religion. This social image, these guidelines that change by the season are taken so seriously by both followers and designers that human models are used to demonstrate exactly how to dress and how to look. Beauty contests, miss perfect body competitions, best dressed, worst dressed. And reality shows, which revolve only around the daily lives of pretty women succeeding in gathering the largest amounts of followers. Shows on TV which consist of judges breaking down photos of women going through every article of clothing, every choice these people “freely” made, and then “educating” them by accepting or refusing these choices.

What freedom do they enjoy? Is it the freedom of accepting others depending on “who” they wear? Or is it the freedom brought upon them by a culture that honors inventors such as ‘Louis Reard’ the inventor of the bikini who declared that a two-piece suit wasn’t a genuine bikini “unless it could be pulled through a wedding ring” , to put it in his own words.Well, it was a bold invention and it isn’t shocking to learn that back in 1946, when Louis sought after models to wear his designs at his debut presentations they refused, and he hired a 19 year old nude dancer from a casino to model it.

This culture might be more appealing to other people, they enjoy these rituals, and they are free to follow the “religion” of their choice.

Now, if I told you I did all of the above; and told you about a special journey that made me realise I have much greater things to live for and seek after. I did not want to wait any longer. I wasn’t comfortable with my old self any longer, I needed to be brave for my own sake and good. And a major part of this for me was to wear the veil after being challenged with it once before. It was the missing piece in my puzzle. Would you feel this situation needed to be “saved” by women’s rights activists, who fight against it as a form of oppression in women? Does it sound in anyway like I was being forced to wear it? As far as anyone else is concerned I covered my head with a piece of cloth, but then life changed. I am aware I am labeled as “veiled” although it is a piece of cloth around my head that bothers the free world, not the longer top or looser pants, just the scarf gets to them.

It amazes me the amount of women fighting for the “freedom” of veiled women. It is ironic for the Quran, too, is fighting for our freedom. It is ironic for I have never complained, yet thousands of non veiled women are fighting on my behalf. Should I be walking in shame for dressing more conservatively?

A friend, who I met while living away from home, told me that this is because the world simply does not love muslims at this time, obviously because of the stereotype that the media has created about us and all that is happening. And I thought to myself if arab- muslims themselves in my own country are islamophobic because of the media, then the world is certainly entitled to this image of muslims.

These muslims, who are not ready to face discrimination. They hide their Islamic being wherever they go, they must never defend Islam in public, and choose to remain in silence rather than to become judged. They are the same ones who complain about ignorant or corrupt muslisms, who are all over the tv to misguide the public for whatever reasons, convey negative images to the world, and make us look bad. We have to accept the responsibility to educate our selves enough to speak louder than these people. But unfortubnately, to some Islam has become taboo.

African Americans were attacked and discriminated against decades ago much harsher than the ways that muslims are today. If they had a choice of somehow concealing their skin color to escape the discrimination many probably would have, but they never would have seen the day a black man became president. Because by now they would have been extinct.

We have two choices. We either accept anti-islamic acts of different levels, gradually detach our selves from any association with Islam, and raise our children to become as “un-muslim” as possible in order to fit within the global guidlines of” acceptable”. Or, we make it our skin color.

The act of following the religion of our choice, this is freedom. Discrimination against people who follow their religions or dress accordingly is far from freedom, let alone fighting for them in the name of it. They shall realize it is not a matter of freedom but merely a difference of opinion.

I pray Allah to give me the wisdom and courage to defend my religion and face those who fight it with strength and conviction, to purify my heart from all forms of corruption, and to always make me see the true reality of things rather than how they simply appear.

“All opinions are that of the author and not necessarily those of the website that it is published under.”

7 Commentaires

  1. it amazes me that people waste so much time and passion on this , when you buy a hijab ,niqab whatever you want to wear morality , goodness of heart , strength of character , closeness to god or a place in Allahs paradise is not on the bill ,we have to work for it .Clothes and nearness to GOD have nothing to do with each other ,if it works for some people fine live in your fantasy .When you complain of other side who see it as oppression what about people (this side is more active , virulent and dominant)who harass and oppress women to comply under the guise of islamic mandate.It enrages me that we reduce our great religion to these items of clothing and still use words like unislamic for muslims.

  2. As long as what you choose and decide to do is for the Sake and Love of Allah (SWT) first, the Prophet (PBUH) second and yourself third, what others think, say or do is of no consequence.

    Inshā’Allah your prayer is answered and kudos for your honest piece Nevine.

  3. Shagoofa, I would like to thank you for your comment. Our religion is truly great and miraculous far beyond clothing and I did not try to imply reducing it to that. I specifically tried to make this clear when I related the experience of veil to my personal spiritual journey. I also did not use the word un-islamic to describe Muslims. It was actually in a completely different context describing societies which try to ‘taboo’ the word of Islam, and the risks muslims take by raising generations in such societies while failing to speak up against this discrimination.

    • Dear Nevine appreciate u took time to read and understand my viewpoint, my comment reflects my general sadness and heartbreak at how muslim world treat women .Even after God and his prophet(SAW) treated all humanity at one level , we continue to degrade women worse in the name of God. Honor and morality seems to be a burden on women who already r laden with some many injustices and treated subhuman in most muslim households.I always say we brag how before islam girl child was buried alive but when i see women covered in all black and relegated to home i see no difference.

  4. I do see your point now about referring to Muslims who accept anti Islamic acts, and their choice to raise their children to become “unmuslim”. And I thank for this constructive criticism. I agree that it was a poor choice of word. Maybe “passive Muslims” would be more accurate.. Thanks!

  5. Thank you for your thought,
    It is a shame that you did exactly what you pretend to reject judgment. You wish to be respected, your choice to be respected but you deny the other the right to have the same wish. You criticise others people way of dress, you do not accept that some women see a bikini for example as a way of freedom like, I suppose, you consider your veil. It would be better to consider a little bit history and the reason why mini skirt was a revolution and symbol of freedom too.
    There is a paragraph where you criticise your brothers and sisters in Islam for not standing against discrimination, they probably use different tools let‘s not divide rather gather.
    You have to remember that Islam is not Muslim, to see a Muslims criticising or accepting critics against other Muslims or a fringe of them does not mean they are criticising Islam.
    “African Americans were attacked and discriminated against decades ago much harsher than the ways that muslims are today. If they had a choice of somehow concealing their skin color to escape the discrimination many probably would have”
    I do not think so; Black people in the world are fighting against discrimination, not because they cannot bear it but because they are human being like anyone else.
    Regards

    • I appreciate your comments and would like to add that by sharing a reality I am not criticizing and I did state that it is merely a difference of opinion at the end of the day. Everyone is welcome to make their own conclusions. My main concern is people who are actively fighting for a cause they have not even experienced as women and do not recognize the right for others to experience it. Also, I did not generalize that all African Americans fight because they cannot bear it. I said many would do that, which is my personal opinion. Because not all people are born natural fighters for their rights, naturally. It is my first attempt of writing and therefore your comments are all very important to me. Thank you

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