Women in Islam - Coursework Example

Women in Islam Name Institution Course Date Women in Islam Introduction In the Islamic society, women have been wearing veils or hijab since the ancient times. Even though this tradition has firmly remained in place with less resistance from Muslim women, it has resulted in a controversy that revolves around this practice. This is sourced mainly from the Western societies. For Muslim women, veil wearing has been a voluntary practice that brings forth honour to the woman’s family and her personality. Regrettably, the majority of Western societies have created incorrect and biased assumptions with regard to the hijab (the practice of veil amongst Muslims) wearing because of lack of education and information as well as the dissemination of wrong information by means of the media. As a result, prejudices have been directed towards the Muslim faith leading to challenges for Muslim women desiring to wear their veil untroubled, because of problems like banning of the hijab in the public sphere countries as proven in Turkey and France. In the West, the veil is considered as a symbol of the way Muslim women are subordinated by the Islam. This piece seeks to discuss this perception and to demonstrate that Muslim women choose to wear the veil as a liberating experience, exhibit their individuality and improve their sense of worth. Discussion Hijab Treated As Symbol of Subordination Many Westerners consider hijab as a symbol of subordination amongst the Muslim women. Basically, most Westerners value diversity since it is a proxy for other esteemed valued such as freedom. As pointed out by Tarico (2014), different clothing styles, family configurations, and skin colours symbolically remind the Westerners that they are free to pursue their interests and quirks so that they can become the best they could be. Scores of former Muslims and secular Muslims, as cited by Tarico (2014), believe that hijab does not symbolise freedom. Instead, it symbolises that Muslim women are second class citizens. According to them, this status has been encoded in both tradition and sacred text, enforced by law as well as culture. Secular Muslims, according to Tarico (2014), believe that the practice of veil is a reminder that women have literally been men’s property. For millions of women across the globe, the practice of veil is not a matter of choosing. For instance, the Purdah practice, where women are held captive in enclosed compounds has been a cultural practise since 16th century during the Mughal Empire. In some countries like Afghanistan, Iran, as well as Saudi Arabia women face the worse such as beatings and fines for showing their hair. Even though the majority of women in Islam wear the hijab voluntarily, Tarico (2014) argue that the practice of veil simply conceal the presumptuous power of men and internalised ideology. The majority of Muslim women in Western countries are compelled to wear hijab because of the social pressure. Some women, especially International students from Muslim countries have been rejected or beaten up by their families for snubbing to wear the veil. Tarico’s (2014) friend was disowned by her father for removing the hijab by her Iraqi father. According to Sands (2014), scores of veiled women and those supporting the practice of veil refer to a few verses from the Qur’an, which require women to wear the hijab. Some have also cited the common hadiths with the goal of supporting their claim. Hijab can be defined as a cover or shield; therefore, it does not refer solely to practice of women covering their hair. The way the term ‘hijab’ is used in Qur’an 33:53 as screen demonstrate the significance of modesty and protecting both the women and men from ungodly desires. Given that Prophet Muhammad’s house had many visitors, it becomes imperative for his wives to be protected. During Prophet, It lifetime, hijab was only worn by the Prophet’s wives. Therefore, Sands (2014) argues that Muslim women started wearing hijab as a way of emulating the wives of the Prophet, commonly referred to as “the Mothers of the Ummah.” Still, secular Muslims such as Sahar Amer argue Qur’an 33:53 does not indicate how women should dress since it is not associated with how woman are supposed to dress (Sands, 2014). As pointed out by Tariq-Munir (2014), despite having their own reasons for wearing the veil, the majority of Muslim women living in America have been facing questions why they are covering themselves in this modern age, considering that they are in western countries where they are not pressurised by anyone. Still, it has become challenging for Muslim women to resist this kind of western pressure because of the fact that multiculturalism has recently turned out to be the rage and diversity is deemed crucial. Therefore, immigrants are no longer feeling compelled to blend in; therefore, they feel at liberty to publicly exhibit their identities. Although women have the right to dress as they desire in Western countries, they need boldness and courage to willingly dress differently as compared to the common dress code. In Muslim countries, all women are expected to dress modestly; thus, confirming the fact that women from the Islam religion are not ‘passive victims’ but ‘intrepid and bold’ to wear the veil in Western countries today. Tariq-Munir (2014) holds that Muslim women normally wear hijab to display their own personality, which is different from what the western world and their dominant society could want them to be. Scores of Muslim women have defied the common perception of them being uneducated, oppressed and backward by embracing the hijab. As a result, they have constructed an identity of the liberated religious woman. Some of the Muslim women in the Western countries are wearing Islamic dress to negate the popular image of being perceived as incapable Wearing the Hijab as a Liberating Experience Khurram (2015) holds that not every Muslim considers the practice of veil as obligatory. The majority of them consider that dressing conservatively is sufficient, but others wear shorts and skirts. The practice of veil can be done in different styles; for instance, a Muslim woman can wear a simple headscarf with regular clothes or niqab that covers the face partially. The practice of the veil is not only practised by Muslims but also Christians and followers of Judaism. Nuns are not considered oppressed or subordinated despite the fact that they cover their heads with veils in a similar way as Muslim women. Although most Muslim women in the Western countries wear headscarf out of their own free will, majority of them in the Muslim world are coerced to cover up to certain levels. For instance, Muslim women in countries like Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, they are required to wear hijab. In countries like Pakistan, which are less rigid countries, women have no freedom to wear what they desire in the public places. Such practices have made the Westerners consider the practice of hijab as oppressive. The subordination aspect of the hijab is attributed to the coercion nature, where women are forced to wear a certain style of clothing. However, this is not so in the Western countries since women have the right to wear what they want. So wearing hijab is a right and no Muslim woman should be discriminated for choosing to cover her head. No woman should be treated roughly because of wearing the hijab. In most Western universities, Muslim girls who continually been bullied and attacked for wearing the hijab, considering that most of these girls wear the veil because their religious families have made them believe that modesty is woman’s most valuable asset, both based on conduct and appearance. Khurram (2015) argues that hijab is rooted in the belief that the body of a woman is inherently sexual and sinful, and her worth depends modesty. Women are expected by the society to keep themselves chaste and pure not for their future husbands and God. The hijab has liberated many women, but some consider themselves as constricted, objectified and sexualised when they wear them. The Westerners consider the practice of veil as oppression because Islamic culture is poorly covered in the Western education systems. This has consequently led to the assumption that Muslim women are victimised, subordinated, and oppressed by being forced to cover their bodies with veils. Such assumptions have been advanced by scores of media outlets in the Western Countries which utilise all forms of reasons to back up their oppression claims like tremendous gender inequalities amongst the Muslim societies and exceedingly hot weather conditions in most of the Islamic countries. Still, most Muslim women in Western countries wear hijab for self-respect and consider hijab as a practice reserved for people who have respect and bring honour to their families. Even though the hijab is not needed by Sharia, Islamic law, the law states that women should cover themselves in order to keep their sexuality out of sight when dealing with people, especially men who are not part of their family. According to Bermudez (2013), the Qur’an akin to Sharia does necessitate women to wear hijab but has instead prescribed it as a way through which woman can protect themselves. The Islamic direction with regard to hijab is for the best interests of the women and is not a depiction of men controlling or oppressing women. According to Takolia (2012), the value of women in the society appears concentrated on their sexual charms while others wear to depict an alternative way of empowering women. Politics, not religion, is the motivator here. I am one of these women. For some of the Muslim women in the university students, hijab connotes a multitude of things; for instance, it could come from Islamic faith or as a means of empowering themselves. Wearing veil has been practised for many years to represent modesty; for instance, in many traditional wedding, women wear veils. It is also very difficult for a nun to be recognisable without her veil. In the Christian world, the majority of recognised women such as Mother Teresa and Mother of Jesus are respected by the Westerners for covering their heads in a modest way. In the past, the veil was not considered as degrading or oppressive to women. Hitherto, covering the heat is considered to limit the freedom ideals in the Western countries; thus, resulting in greater misconstructions. All through the ages, the veil was utilised to ensure women’s modesty. The Extent That the Patriarchal Attitudes Exists In Some Muslim Societies and Traditional Islamic Expectations of Women The women status in Islam could only be judged based on the authentic sources rather than observing what the Muslim society does. As pointed out by Naik (1994), the moral and spiritual duties of women and men are for all intents and purposes the same. Actually, women have been given some concessions. Allah’s punishment or reward is absolutely not associated with the gender. Islam offered women some economical rights 13 centuries before the same was thought out by the western countries. Additionally, the Islamic law offers women more financial security as compared to men. A Muslim woman even if she is earning is allowed not to spend her earnings with her husband or family, she should spend it at her free will. Besides that, Sharia protects the safety and life of both men and women. Although Muslim women are equal to men, they are not identical in all aspects. Therefore, in a number of aspects men have some advantage. In modern-day society, as observed by Anonymous (1994), most parents who go to pick their children at the schools, hardly practice Muslims. The mothers of the majority of the veiled girls have never worn hijab themselves; however, they are identifiably and strongly Muslim. These women originated from countries such as Lebanon, Turkey, and Egypt, where the veil was not worn because the governments had been secularised. The practice of veil was attributed to Shia as well as religious interest revival steered by the Shia dominating Islamic affairs (Anonymous, 1994). According to Klingorová and Havlíček (2014), gender inequality exists across the globe and has different effects in diverse regions. Such differences are mainly attributed to geographic location, historical development, cultural legacies as well as the religious norms that are prevalent in the society. Without a doubt, religion plays a crucial role on the cultural life of various spaces and it is rooted profoundly in familiarities of people. It has an effect on societies’ political and socioeconomic direction. Religion is not a crucial variable as compared to ethnicity and race. Women social status is an outcome of religious texts interpretation as well as religious communities’ institutional and cultural set-up. The role played by religion in the modern society is complex and is different across space and time. Given that the relationship between culture and religion is mutual, religious systems have been sealed in a sphere of reciprocated influence with social patterns and norms of social organisation. In Islam, Klingorová and Havlíček (2014) posits that there is a negative social shift towards a reduced status of women after the emerging of advanced religions. Islam reflects patriarchal values, where men have taken the role of leadership while women are valued primarily as a mother and men’s helper. The majority of Muslim men believe that the place of women is in the household. Without a doubt, women’s real status in Islam has been more complicated considering that women in some countries women hold significant posts. Still, women voice is hardly heard in Muslim society, because of the patriarchal societies’ dispositions where Islam emerged and that ultimately stifled a number of changes in the women status. Islam emphasises on the admiration for women as well as their important role they play in the family life, particularly considering women as wives as well as mothers. Even though Islam advocates liberation in terms of equality with men, the majority of Muslim men consider women as lesser individuals. The roles of men and women are differentiated in Islam and are unbalanced. The women influence in forming religious traditions and norms is small, although, in a number of doctrines, women have succeeded in having their normative views acknowledged. Ways Can Women's Roles Be Changed or Modified To Meet Contemporary Needs and Expectations Masoud, Jamal, and Nugent (2016) argue that Islamic discourse could be utilised to change the expression of conservative views that are religiously inflected. Even though Islam has been considered to be adversative to the empowerment of women, a new generation of Muslim intellectuals and activists believe that patriarchal practices, as well as values, could be mitigated by persuading other Muslims that equality between the sexes has been mandated by Islam. Basically, Islamic texts are open to change and reinterpretation in a manner that could remedy the subjugation and persecution of Muslim women. Qur’an, as pointed out by Masoud, Jamal, and Nugent (2016), is the only Scripture that has addressed women as women since it has repetitively utilised the feminine pronoun to indicate an early Islamic commitment to equality before Allah. Many people have oft-cited Qur’an verse which supposedly makes men more superior than women and gives men permission to beat their wives. These progressive Islamic scripture reinterpretations have awarded gender activists with the much-needed resources crucial for combating Islam’s patriarchal interpretations. In Iran, activists successfully utilised precepts that are friendly to female drawn from the Qur’an to influence the state policy on divorce and family law. Islam offers women and men the same rights; therefore, any man that tries to oppress them is inclined to face resistance from women. For instance, Kuwaiti activists have asked the Islamic teachings to resist laws that negatively affect the women. In the UK, Masoud, Jamal, and Nugent (2016) explain that a number of British Muslim women hold that reinterpretation of Islamic texts for the promotion of female empowerment is the most effective strategy for initiating changes legitimately in belief and behaviour in Muslim communities with marginal resistance. Islamic feminists argue that people holding the traditional attitudes that have been shaped by religious teachings are inclined to update such attitudes after a progressive and alternative position that have the same religious validity has been demonstrated. A policy arena where religion is deemed as regressive force allows progressive attitudes to be adopted and be expressed through a religious discourse. Besides that, women’s social aspects in the Muslim world are progressively becoming more extraverted. Bearing in mind that women were in the past exiled to their house and hardly interacted with other people. Women have increasingly become tired of the conditions where men expect them to live; therefore, they have started protesting to have social events that help them improve social skills and socialise with other people. Although in the Muslim world women are required to wear hijab when around people, some of them have started acting against this tradition, especially in the Western countries. Wearing against the tradition in Muslim countries is considered as a crime and can lead to hurtful and horrific outcomes. For the fear of being disowned by their own families, most of the Muslim women ensure that they do not veer outside their realm. According to Quran, women should be dressed in a way that exemplifies modest as possible. In the modern-day world, the rights of Muslim women have expanded since the majority of women have joined the feminist movement in the Middle East. Conclusion In conclusion, this piece has demonstrated that Muslim women choose to wear the veil as a liberating experience, exhibit their individuality and improve their sense of worth. Although scores of Westerners perceive the practice of veil as an oppression or subordination, most Muslim women consider the practice as a depiction of modesty and self-worth. Still, a number of Muslims in the Western countries are being forced to wear the veil. This has made secular Muslim women feel that the practice of veil to be subordination and does not offer liberating experience. This argument is far beyond the truth considering that a number of Christians such as Nuns wear the veil. In addition, women status in society is extremely diverse across the globe. Muslim women wear hijab for self-respect and consider hijab as a ten reserved for people who have respect and bring honour to their families. References Anonymous. (1994). Muslims in Australia. Australia Today, 69. Bermudez, J. (2013, April 10). Western Misconceptions of Veil-Wearing in Islamic Societies . Retrieved from University of South Florida St. Petersburg: https://www.usfsp.edu/scl/files/2016/04/WesternMisconceptionsofVeilWearingbyJenniferBermudez.docx Khurram, S. (2015, June 19). The hijab: oppressive or liberating? Unveiling Islam. Retrieved from The Daily Californian: http://www.dailycal.org/2015/06/19/the-hijab-oppressive-or-liberating/ Klingorová, K., & Havlíček, T. (2014). Religion and gender inequality: The status of women in the societies of world religions. Moravian Geographical Reports, 23(2), 2-11. Masoud, T., Jamal, A., & Nugent, E. (2016). Using the Qur’ān to Empower Arab Women? Theory and Experimental Evidence From Egypt. Comparative Political Studies, 1-44. Naik, A. K. (1994). Women's rights in Islam, modernising or outdated. Australian Muslim News, 1(6), 2. Sands, J. (2014). Unveiling the Veil: Debunking the Stereotypes of Muslim Women. Thesis, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. Takolia, N. (2012, May 28). The hijab has liberated me from society's expectations of women. Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/may/28/hijab-society-women-religious-political Tarico, V. (2014 , February 18). Is the Hijab a Symbol of Diversity or a Symbol of Oppression? Retrieved from HuffPost : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-tarico/is-the-hijab-a-symbol-of-_b_4796907.html Tariq-Munir, E. (2014). The Dynamics of Wearing hijab for Muslim American Women in the United States. Thesis, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Read More

In some countries like Afghanistan, Iran, as well as Saudi Arabia women face the worse such as beatings and fines for showing their hair. Even though the majority of women in Islam wear the hijab voluntarily, Tarico (2014) argues that the practice of veil simply conceals the presumptuous power of men and internalized ideology. The majority of Muslim women in Western countries are compelled to wear hijab because of social pressure. Some women, especially International students from Muslim countries have been rejected or beaten up by their families for snubbing to wear the veil. Tarico’s (2014) friend was disowned by her father for removing the hijab by her Iraqi father.

According to Sands (2014), scores of veiled women and those supporting the practice of veil refer to a few verses from the Qur’an, which require women to wear the hijab. Some have also cited the common hadiths to support their claim. Hijab can be defined as a cover or shield; therefore, it does not refer solely to the practice of women covering their hair. The way the term ‘hijab’ is used in Qur’an 33:53 as a screen demonstrates the significance of modesty and protecting both the women and men from ungodly desires. Given that Prophet Muhammad’s house had many visitors, it becomes imperative for his wives to be protected. During Prophet, It lifetime, the hijab was only worn by the Prophet’s wives. Therefore, Sands (2014) argues that Muslim women started wearing hijab as a way of emulating the wives of the Prophet, commonly referred to as “the Mothers of the Ummah.” Still, secular Muslims such as Sahar Amer argue Qur’an 33:53 does not indicate how women should dress since it is not associated with how women are supposed to dress (Sands, 2014). As pointed out by Tariq-Munir (2014), despite having their own reasons for wearing the veil, the majority of Muslim women living in America have been facing questions about why they are covering themselves in this modern age, considering that they are in western countries where they are not pressurized by anyone. Still, it has become challenging for Muslim women to resist this kind of western pressure because multiculturalism has recently turned out to be the rage, and diversity is deemed crucial.

Therefore, immigrants are no longer feeling compelled to blend in; therefore, they feel at liberty to publicly exhibit their identities. Although women have the right to dress as they desire in Western countries, they need boldness and courage to willingly dress differently as compared to the common dress code. In Muslim countries, all women are expected to dress modestly; thus, confirming the fact that women from the Islam religion are not ‘passive victims’ but ‘intrepid and bold’  to wear the veil in Western countries today. Tariq-Munir (2014) holds that Muslim women normally wear hijab to display their own personality, which is different from what the western world and their dominant society could want them to be. Scores of Muslim women have defied the common perception of them being uneducated, oppressed, and backward by embracing

the hijab. As a result, they have constructed the identity of the liberated religious woman.  Some of the Muslim women in Western countries are wearing Islamic dress to negate the popular image of being perceived as incapable.

Khurram (2015) holds that not every Muslim considers the practice of veil as obligatory. The majority of them consider that dressing conservatively is sufficient, but others wear shorts and skirts. The practice of veil can be done in different styles; for instance, a Muslim woman can wear a simple headscarf with regular clothes or a niqab that covers the face partially. The practice of the veil is not only practiced by Muslims but also Christians and followers of Judaism. Nuns are not considered oppressed or subordinated even though they cover their heads with veils similarly to Muslim women. Although most Muslim women in the Western.

Countries wear headscarves out of their own free will, the majority of them in the Muslim world are coerced to cover up to certain levels. For instance, Muslim women in countries like Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, are required to wear hijab. In countries like Pakistan, which are less rigid countries, women have no freedom to wear what they desire in public places. 

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