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"Hijab": "Headscarf" or "Purdah" by Afroza Begum E-mail: [email protected] Begum Rokeya, in her article, "In The Maidan of Hajj", wrote, "During Hajj,
men and women have equitable rights. Both are wearing same unstitched two
pieces of dress. There is no lace of golden threads, no covered `Burkha' of
any new fashion, not even the hooded palanquin. The wives and the daughters of
the highborn aristocrats have to run between Safa and Marwa on foot;
circumambulate the Qu'aba Sharif. At those moments shoving and jostling with
the males are inevitable. Why not the Indian noble aristocrats introduce a
separate private day of Hajj for women "living in Purdah"? We could know how
heroic they are if they could impose a separate day of Hajj, as they do
reserve a separate day for functions or exhibitions etc. in Kolkata for the
aristocratic women "living behind the Purdah". In conclusion, I pray with all
my devotion, so that all Muslim women would be able to see the Maidan of Hajj
at least for once in their lifetime. " (Published in monthly `Mohammadi' in
Bangla Year 1339- Roman Year 1936). I shall extend my thanks to Mr. S. A. Hannan to post the commentary "The
Feminist Debate Over Hijab" authored by Ms. Anne Sofie Roald, Ph.D written on
the topic of Hijab, [Ref:
http://www.messageonline.org/2004febmarch/cover2_opt.pdf ], in his message of Dahuk Forum [Ref:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dahuk/message/3569]. It is always the trend of the orthodox Islamists to be critical about
Feminism be it either Muslim Feminism, when the Muslim Feminists have always
strived to point out the discriminating attitude of the patriarchy which
originates in the misleading interpretations of the tenets of Islam. Due to
their misleading propaganda, the Muslim Feminists always had been subject to
undue criticisms. The orthodox Islamists are, out and out patriarchal, as they
represent the vested interest and are looking at the World through their
distorted lens of patriarchy, where on the other hand Islam has clearly
pointed out to set the direction to end it. Also, at a date as early as in the
7th Century of the Roman calendar. In this respect indeed which the Muslim orthodoxy further failed to realize
that the steps which were necessary to emancipate and empower the women
relative to the times of the early Caliphate which were prescribed at those
times were not meant to be the end of it, but that only the beginning of it. Ms. Anne is a Muslim woman, educated, living in Sweden and by profession an
Associate professor at Malmo University in Sweden. May be she is not aware of
what Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain wrote back in the early twentieth century.
Modern Sweden is a country in Western Europe known as to be the freest country
as regards to sex, which Muslim Feminist will be critical about. But, it will
be difficult to be critical with regard to gender relations in Sweden.
Because, not only considering the dignity and respect which prevails in the
mutual gender relationships in that country but according to the available
statistics also they have been able to establish by far one of the foremost
society in which the women enjoy the most equitable opportunity and
participation in almost all of the public spheres of life and contributing
extensively for the equitable development of the society.
Ms. Anne wears a headscarf as she has informed in her writings and
obviously she preferred to practice that. But definitely she is not living the
life similar to a "Christian Nun", and if she did then also she may be
questioned on the practice of "Clergy System" which Islam does not encourage.
The dress of Christian Nun definitely is making a "religious" statement of its
Clergy System in which a Nun has a complete set of code of different life
style of living and livelihood from that of an ordinary Christian believing
woman. Therefore, her analogy made in this respect is definitely is a case of
failed substitution, misplaced as well as misjudged, hence may be termed by
some also as a misleading propaganda. I have no reason to defend or criticize
the dress of a Christian Nun because they are practicing that out of their own
faith of Clergy System, which is rather not present in the religious belief
system of Islam. Firstly, Ms. Anne has pointed out that, the argument of Muslim Feminists on
the question of "Hijab" suffers from "selectivity" in drawing reference from
the scriptures. Secondly, she further questions why the practice of
"Headscarf" is termed by the Muslim Feminists not applicable for the women in
general when; "Khimar" (24:30-31) and "Jilbab" (33:59) are ordained for all
women. Thirdly, she also questions: why the Muslim Feminists look at wearing a
"Headscarf" as if it was meant for socio-political or religious activism?
I believe Ms Anne is fully aware of the fact that the Muslim Feminists in
general are concerned about gender relations in the Muslim society,
particularly in those respects where the women are oppressed, discriminated or
segregated in the society. The objective of a Muslim Feminist is to make the
Muslim women aware and conscious about their problems with particular emphasis
to the social impediments persisting with respect to freedom for education,
marriage, child birth, family planning, mother and child health care, gender
violations, employment and any other impediments which put a curb to enjoy
their freedom of speech including other socio-political and economic rights
necessary to achieve and attain fair and equitable treatment in their private
and public life. The Muslim Feminists pursue to attain these objectives not as ends by
themselves but by far with all fair intentions so that women in general can
become able to attain a congenial social environment including at the
grassroots of the society to undertake all necessary and appropriate steps by
themselves to solve all these problems confronting them. Because only in doing
so they shall be able to ensure fair and equitable treatment for them in their
private and public life. The Muslim Feminists believe that, it is necessary to
create the social environment for the Muslim women which is congenial to
provide equal opportunity and justice for women, hence it becomes necessary to
emancipate the Muslim women from all kinds of male dominant postures and
positions existing in the Muslim societies. We also know that, modesty and modest dress are issues and the subjects
applicable for both men and women in a Muslim society. Hence the arguments
favouring the practice of "Headscarf" by Muslim women offering explanations of
complying with Quora'nic injunctions, or in the premises to gain
socio-economic advantage are both wrong as seen by the Muslim Feminists.
Because, neither it is complying with the Quor'anic injunctions nor it can
help to gain any socio-economic or political advantage except deteriorating
the situation in generating social tension through segregation in gender
relations. As long as the practice of "Headscarf" attributes to "Hijab" which
means "Purdah" and definitely "segregation", which is definitely an imposition
of patriarchy. We cannot build a coherent society and aspire to make it harmonious,
vibrant and strong, with bifurcations created in gender relations in private
and public life. Islam and The Holy Prophet of Islam never wished to see a
society as a whole with bifurcated and segregated gender relations. And, it is
not difficult for one dedicated believer to understand it, if he or she shall
try to interpret the Holy Quor'an and the Traditions of Holy Prophet without
making any distortion. But, unfortunately, often and historically the
distorted interpretations of the Holy scriptures have been made to serve the
ill-motive of the vested interest groups who wished to further the male
dominant patriarchal Muslim society merely to satisfy themselves by treating
women in subjugation with ultimate goal of reducing the sphere of women into
the private places of domestic house keeping and sexual objectification. The value and sense of moral standard are created in human minds through
educative learning and intellectual refinement with humane understanding of a
coherent and disciplined social life, but in which both men and women must
participate with equal access to education and knowledge for proper learning
of these standards. Above all, wisdom is the most important element of human
intellectual virtues, which men and women should be able to equally acquire.
Wisdom accumulates from the knowledge gathered through perpetual application
of physical and mental faculties into the spiritual as well as worldly
affairs. Then how women would be able to acquire the virtues of wisdom unless
they are allowed to become able to enter freely and exercise their independent
minds into their day to day problems which they are confronting in their
private and public lives in relation to the society, the nation and the
contemporary world in which she is born? Therefore, on the other hand, if one aspires to achieve these goals merely
concentrating all her/his mind and exhausting all energy in mere symbolic
practice of "Headscarf" for women, in that situation rather one is found to do
nothing but exactly that, ignorantly furthering "Hijab" or "Purdah" or
"Segregation' in the society. Which is indeed originating from ethos of
imagery "Feel Good" attitude of being participant in orthodox patriarchal
version of Islamic socio- political and religious activism. With improper perspective of learning of worldly affairs as ordained, if
the women find them living in the nightmare of this World where Islam gets
reduced to closed and captivated state of the mind and the brain, into a mere
"piece of cloth" then Muslim Feminists should oppose it by all means and shall
continue to do so for the furtherance of the righteous path of Islam. Because,
the women are definitely co-traveler of the men in this path at the end of
which men and women shall be treated equally for their deeds in the matter of
final justice with the equitable verdict of Allah, and because, Allah knows
the best! Afroza Begum Dhaka, June 10, 2004 --------------------------------- Verses From Quor'an referring `Hijab': 33:53 O ye who believe! Enter not the Prophet's houses, - until leave is
given you, - for a meal, not to wait for its preparation: but when ye are
invited, enter; and when ye have taken your meal, disperse, without seeking
familiar talk. Such (behaviour) annoys the Prophet: he is ashamed to dismiss
you, but Allah is not ashamed (to tell you) the truth. And when ye ask his
ladies anything, ask them from behind a HIJAAB: that makes for greater purity
for your hearts and for theirs. Nor is it right for you that ye should annoy
Allah's Messenger, or that ye should marry his widows after him at any time.
Truly such a thing is in Allah's sight an enormity. 7:46- between them is a HIJAAB (barrier). 17:45-And when you recite the Qur'an, We place between you and those who do
not believe in the hereafter a hidden HIJAAB. (Barrier) 38:32- and the sun was hidden behind a HIJAAB (barrier) 41:5- between you and us is a HIJAAB (barrier) 42:51- God does not speak to anyone except from behind a HIJAAB (barrier)
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