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The Muslim woman is free to wear clothes of her choice

May 19, 2010 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
A certain writer has made a few remarks to the public with respect to the veiling of Muslim women, particularly, in Guyana. He has also made some mention about the Qur’aan (which it is rightly pronounced) as being outdated.
However, regarding the niqaab, it is a facial veil that conceals all of a woman’s face except her eyes. In some traditions it extends over the eyes as well. On the other hand, the hijab is a complete body cover that conceals the body shape. The face is left exposed with just the hijab.
For the niqaab to be worn the hijab must be in check. A woman must be in hijab when in the presence or view of unrelated men, which narrows the ’not allowed to view list” to a very small population. All her immediate relatives and other women are allowed.
The Holy Qur’aan made clear mention of how a woman must be attired. This is the hijab. The niqaab is an addition that is not compulsory. It means, islamically, that a woman does not have to cover her face. That as well has much discussion, which cannot be covered completely in this letter or for the average reader of the Kaieteur News.
The hijab secures the modesty of a woman. It does not dehumanise her. Rather, it frees her from the stereotype of a ‘sex object’ that is usually portrayed in the media. The hijab distinguishes a woman from a man. Then, how does a man wear it? Islam is very strict on the cross dressing of males and females.
The niqaab, being extra, has an extra responsibility. It does not take rocket science to understand that a woman’s physical beauty lies mostly in her face. The women who wear the niqaab already go through her share of insults on the road. It is rather an uneducated protest that criminals can use the niqaab as a means of disguise.
With the amount of fake hair and cover up cosmetics accessible, there is not much of an argument on disguises.
Maybe those things should be banned instead. While the purpose of the fake hair and cosmetics is to alter a woman’s appearance, the hijab and niqaab conceal it. There is nowhere in the Qur’aan or in the laws of Islam that states that a woman must hide her identity. If she goes to the bank, airport, security check, etc., she simply requests a woman to view her identity.
In the masjid, the separation is between men and women: families; power from the weak; good from the bad; or clean from impure; but it does just as the hijab does, which is to preserve the modesty of the woman and of the man, from violators.
Why should a man who is not related to me view my body or face, if I so choose? Is it not my right as a woman to secure my modesty? Should I not be recognised for my personality, intellect and achievement rather than by my curves and corners? Why am I being attacked for displaying my conviction to God? Why does the writer refer to the Muslim woman so sympathetically, momentarily, then contradicts himself asking for a ban on her freedom? I am a Muslim woman, free and just. I am well educated and wear the hijab and niqaab. I choose to wear them, no man made me. I work to earn my living and am also furthering my studies. On an average day I do enough for this great land to be proud. I am not offended by the remarks made. I am concerned about the perception that this writer has about the hijab and niqaab and his affect on the readers of the Kaieteur News. Maybe his motives are not as honourable.
It is rather a pity that this writer ran out of comments to be made against the government and decides to attack the purity of Islam. Many have tried and failed.
Resting my case, I add, it is against Islam for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man.
In doing this, she has denounced Islam. I suggest strongly, if this writer is so persistent on the security of our nation, that he focuses his arguments on the real risks and dangers to our society, instead of stirring up hate and suspicion on Muslims that have been working hard and well and making tremendous contributions to our nation.
S. Fazal

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