Hijab/headscarf for Muslims

[Anonymous]

When I see a woman in hijab I smile politely like I do with everyone, but internally I am sad.

I am sad because I feel like the hijab is a religiously sanctioned objectification of women.

I am sad because my parents came from a country where at one point no women were wearing hijab. Were those women somehow "lesser" as Muslims or less pious? I doubt it. In fact, at that time sexual harassment of women was much less. Then as the society changed, a majority of women started wearing headscarves.

Then some women started wearing even more conservative abayas.

Then some women started covering their faces.

In my mind this is the natural progression when a society or group sees covering a woman's body as a measure of piety or religious devotion. It logically follows that the more you cover up, the more devoted you are!

So you went from a society where women dressed in a way that gave them complete freedom of movement to one in which women who do NOT cover their hair feel pressured and where women are sexually harassed on the street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miss censored PP, OP is here telling you she wil not entertain a debate with you about her religious views or dissect Quranic verses so you could be satisfied. I started the thread and I asked a very simple and direct question. OP doesn't wish to deviate from the topic. in fact, OP is not here begging for your kind acceptance of Hijab. I proudly wear it, and I'm not asking for your permission or help to save me from my beliefs. So please, PP don't insult my intelligence, and move on with your life.

Dear OP, you're the only one insulting your intelligence. Many people of faith believe that their faith shouldn't be accepted or followed blindly, but rather should be constantly examined. Examination leads to sincere faith. For whatever reason, you maintain this is too difficult for you.

What's above is my opinion, take it or leave it. You did explicitly ask for our opinions in your very first post. Now you say you don't want our opinions--so why did you start a thread at all?

No, she maintains that she is uninterested in taking up this examination WITH YOU HERE. For all you know, she's done with her examinations and comfortable with results. Who are you to pass judgment on how she believes? Is this any of your business?

She asked what you think when you see a woman in a headscarf. That was it.

No, she asked are we afraid of Muslims. She complained that she was being treated differently linking it with the fact that her religion was being hijacked. These were her words. She brought religion into from the beginning. She linked the hijab to her religion. She asked if we were scared of people of her religion.

She brought her religion into this discussion. She did not simply ask " hey DCUM, what do you think of women in headscarves?" That could go in the beauty forum, not the religion forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miss censored PP, OP is here telling you she wil not entertain a debate with you about her religious views or dissect Quranic verses so you could be satisfied. I started the thread and I asked a very simple and direct question. OP doesn't wish to deviate from the topic. in fact, OP is not here begging for your kind acceptance of Hijab. I proudly wear it, and I'm not asking for your permission or help to save me from my beliefs. So please, PP don't insult my intelligence, and move on with your life.

Dear OP, you're the only one insulting your intelligence. Many people of faith believe that their faith shouldn't be accepted or followed blindly, but rather should be constantly examined. Examination leads to sincere faith. For whatever reason, you maintain this is too difficult for you.

What's above is my opinion, take it or leave it. You did explicitly ask for our opinions in your very first post. Now you say you don't want our opinions--so why did you start a thread at all?

No, she maintains that she is uninterested in taking up this examination WITH YOU HERE. For all you know, she's done with her examinations and comfortable with results. Who are you to pass judgment on how she believes? Is this any of your business?

She asked what you think when you see a woman in a headscarf. That was it.

No, she asked are we afraid of Muslims. She complained that she was being treated differently linking it with the fact that her religion was being hijacked. These were her words. She brought religion into from the beginning. She linked the hijab to her religion. She asked if we were scared of people of her religion.

She brought her religion into this discussion. She did not simply ask " hey DCUM, what do you think of women in headscarves?" That could go in the beauty forum, not the religion forum.

+1. Also, when I see a woman in hijab I sometimes really do wonder why she's wearing it, given that I know hijab isn't in the Quran because I had to read the entire Quran in college. Is it that she sincerely believes what her Imam says, that her hair is sexual and immodest, and she takes his word on faith? Is it a political statement, a sort of solidarity? Is it pressure from fathers or husbands who think their honor is bound up with hers? I tend to think its predominantly the first two, especially here in the West where there's less societal pressure. Then, because I'll never know and the metro ride or whatever is over, I give up wondering.

But apparently this isn't the answer OP wants to have mooted here. I join the others here who are baffled about what OP wants, given that she said in her first post that she knows many dislike hijab.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miss censored PP, OP is here telling you she wil not entertain a debate with you about her religious views or dissect Quranic verses so you could be satisfied. I started the thread and I asked a very simple and direct question. OP doesn't wish to deviate from the topic. in fact, OP is not here begging for your kind acceptance of Hijab. I proudly wear it, and I'm not asking for your permission or help to save me from my beliefs. So please, PP don't insult my intelligence, and move on with your life.

Dear OP, you're the only one insulting your intelligence. Many people of faith believe that their faith shouldn't be accepted or followed blindly, but rather should be constantly examined. Examination leads to sincere faith. For whatever reason, you maintain this is too difficult for you.

What's above is my opinion, take it or leave it. You did explicitly ask for our opinions in your very first post. Now you say you don't want our opinions--so why did you start a thread at all?

No, she maintains that she is uninterested in taking up this examination WITH YOU HERE. For all you know, she's done with her examinations and comfortable with results. Who are you to pass judgment on how she believes? Is this any of your business?

She asked what you think when you see a woman in a headscarf. That was it.

No, she asked are we afraid of Muslims. She complained that she was being treated differently linking it with the fact that her religion was being hijacked. These were her words. She brought religion into from the beginning. She linked the hijab to her religion. She asked if we were scared of people of her religion.

She brought her religion into this discussion. She did not simply ask " hey DCUM, what do you think of women in headscarves?" That could go in the beauty forum, not the religion forum.

I thought I was talking to an adult. Of course she meant a religious headscarf, not headscarf as an accessory. That is understood.

She didn't ask you, hey, DCUM, do you think that as a Muslim, I have to cover my head? Presumably that question is settled in her mind. It's kind of presumptuous of you to even go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
+1. Also, when I see a woman in hijab I sometimes really do wonder why she's wearing it, given that I know hijab isn't in the Quran because I had to read the entire Quran in college. Is it that she sincerely believes what her Imam says, that her hair is sexual and immodest, and she takes his word on faith? Is it a political statement, a sort of solidarity? Is it pressure from fathers or husbands who think their honor is bound up with hers? I tend to think its predominantly the first two, especially here in the West where there's less societal pressure. Then, because I'll never know and the metro ride or whatever is over, I give up wondering.

But apparently this isn't the answer OP wants to have mooted here. I join the others here who are baffled about what OP wants, given that she said in her first post that she knows many dislike hijab.

Well, I guess you'll have to go through the trouble of considering that there's more to the religious scripture than a pair of a college girl eyes can see. Hey, I got a great idea for you! Go to the Mass Avenue mosque, wait till prayer time, walk in and say, "hey guys, why do you bow your head and make these strange movements? It's not in the Quran! You don't have to pray that way! I know, 'cause I had to read the entire wide world of Quran in college!"

Yet somehow a billion plus Muslims have figured out a uniform way to pray without, I dunno, the Quranic how-to.

Hey, also, you've missed a really obvious reason why a woman would want to wear hijab: She wants to be known as a Muslim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miss censored PP, OP is here telling you she wil not entertain a debate with you about her religious views or dissect Quranic verses so you could be satisfied. I started the thread and I asked a very simple and direct question. OP doesn't wish to deviate from the topic. in fact, OP is not here begging for your kind acceptance of Hijab. I proudly wear it, and I'm not asking for your permission or help to save me from my beliefs. So please, PP don't insult my intelligence, and move on with your life.

Dear OP, you're the only one insulting your intelligence. Many people of faith believe that their faith shouldn't be accepted or followed blindly, but rather should be constantly examined. Examination leads to sincere faith. For whatever reason, you maintain this is too difficult for you.

What's above is my opinion, take it or leave it. You did explicitly ask for our opinions in your very first post. Now you say you don't want our opinions--so why did you start a thread at all?

No, she maintains that she is uninterested in taking up this examination WITH YOU HERE. For all you know, she's done with her examinations and comfortable with results. Who are you to pass judgment on how she believes? Is this any of your business?

She asked what you think when you see a woman in a headscarf. That was it.

No, she asked are we afraid of Muslims. She complained that she was being treated differently linking it with the fact that her religion was being hijacked. These were her words. She brought religion into from the beginning. She linked the hijab to her religion. She asked if we were scared of people of her religion.

She brought her religion into this discussion. She did not simply ask " hey DCUM, what do you think of women in headscarves?" That could go in the beauty forum, not the religion forum.

I thought I was talking to an adult. Of course she meant a religious headscarf, not headscarf as an accessory. That is understood.

She didn't ask you, hey, DCUM, do you think that as a Muslim, I have to cover my head? Presumably that question is settled in her mind. It's kind of presumptuous of you to even go there.

No.

She asked what people think.

If you don't want to hear what people think then you don't invite them to speak their mind.

[Anonymous]

Syrian woman ripping off her black robe after escaping from ISIS

[Anonymous]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3112942/Incredible-moment-elated-Syrian-women-rip-strict-Islamic-robes-headscarves-escaping-religious-persecution-ISIS.html

In two video clips released exclusively to MailOnline, men, women and children are seen celebrating their arrival in Rojava in the north of the country.
Two women pull off their robes to reveal colourful dresses while another removes her headscarf and lets it fly away in the wind after escaping religious persecution under ISIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3112942/Incredible-moment-elated-Syrian-women-rip-strict-Islamic-robes-headscarves-escaping-religious-persecution-ISIS.html

In two video clips released exclusively to MailOnline, men, women and children are seen celebrating their arrival in Rojava in the north of the country.
Two women pull off their robes to reveal colourful dresses while another removes her headscarf and lets it fly away in the wind after escaping religious persecution under ISIS.

It's a beautiful thing when a woman disrobes voluntarily - as opposed to getting her clothes torn away by someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1. Also, when I see a woman in hijab I sometimes really do wonder why she's wearing it, given that I know hijab isn't in the Quran because I had to read the entire Quran in college. Is it that she sincerely believes what her Imam says, that her hair is sexual and immodest, and she takes his word on faith? Is it a political statement, a sort of solidarity? Is it pressure from fathers or husbands who think their honor is bound up with hers? I tend to think its predominantly the first two, especially here in the West where there's less societal pressure. Then, because I'll never know and the metro ride or whatever is over, I give up wondering.

But apparently this isn't the answer OP wants to have mooted here. I join the others here who are baffled about what OP wants, given that she said in her first post that she knows many dislike hijab.

Well, I guess you'll have to go through the trouble of considering that there's more to the religious scripture than a pair of a college girl eyes can see. Hey, I got a great idea for you! Go to the Mass Avenue mosque, wait till prayer time, walk in and say, "hey guys, why do you bow your head and make these strange movements? It's not in the Quran! You don't have to pray that way! I know, 'cause I had to read the entire wide world of Quran in college!"

Yet somehow a billion plus Muslims have figured out a uniform way to pray without, I dunno, the Quranic how-to.

Hey, also, you've missed a really obvious reason why a woman would want to wear hijab: She wants to be known as a Muslim.

Nobody annointed you opinion cop, and your poor thinking skills and obvious inmaturity are no recommendation for the job anyway.

The fact that millions of women wear hijab is no answer to the question about whether it's a patriarchal custom instead of something mandated by religious scripture. The Quran is not actually about making a woman's purity the basis for the honor of the men in her family. You're an idiot if you think your snark settles this question.

What an ignorant jerk you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1. Also, when I see a woman in hijab I sometimes really do wonder why she's wearing it, given that I know hijab isn't in the Quran because I had to read the entire Quran in college. Is it that she sincerely believes what her Imam says, that her hair is sexual and immodest, and she takes his word on faith? Is it a political statement, a sort of solidarity? Is it pressure from fathers or husbands who think their honor is bound up with hers? I tend to think its predominantly the first two, especially here in the West where there's less societal pressure. Then, because I'll never know and the metro ride or whatever is over, I give up wondering.

But apparently this isn't the answer OP wants to have mooted here. I join the others here who are baffled about what OP wants, given that she said in her first post that she knows many dislike hijab.

Well, I guess you'll have to go through the trouble of considering that there's more to the religious scripture than a pair of a college girl eyes can see. Hey, I got a great idea for you! Go to the Mass Avenue mosque, wait till prayer time, walk in and say, "hey guys, why do you bow your head and make these strange movements? It's not in the Quran! You don't have to pray that way! I know, 'cause I had to read the entire wide world of Quran in college!"

Yet somehow a billion plus Muslims have figured out a uniform way to pray without, I dunno, the Quranic how-to.

Hey, also, you've missed a really obvious reason why a woman would want to wear hijab: She wants to be known as a Muslim.

Why is it so hard for you to understand that the question "I want your opinions" means that people will, you know, offer their opinions. And that you can't control what their opinions will be.

Muslima, is that you? Same childishness, same inability to follow a line of thought, same abusiveness.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you all for your responses. Some understood my questions, others preferred to twist it and start throwing rocks instead. I, certainly, was naive thinking people will know that I'm referring to my Islamic Hijab and not some sort of accessory because I made it clear in my original post that I'm Muslim. I have read different opinions, and that was enough for me. Good or bad, they are all welcomed. Whether you see me pretty with a colorful hijab or oppressed by holy book, I still welcome your opinion. And I'm sorry for not giving in to entertaining those who wanted to discuss my belief in greater details. I made myself clear, I'm not interested to explain my decision or my religion. I'm not here to debate whether to wear the hijab or not. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1. Also, when I see a woman in hijab I sometimes really do wonder why she's wearing it, given that I know hijab isn't in the Quran because I had to read the entire Quran in college. Is it that she sincerely believes what her Imam says, that her hair is sexual and immodest, and she takes his word on faith? Is it a political statement, a sort of solidarity? Is it pressure from fathers or husbands who think their honor is bound up with hers? I tend to think its predominantly the first two, especially here in the West where there's less societal pressure. Then, because I'll never know and the metro ride or whatever is over, I give up wondering.

But apparently this isn't the answer OP wants to have mooted here. I join the others here who are baffled about what OP wants, given that she said in her first post that she knows many dislike hijab.

Well, I guess you'll have to go through the trouble of considering that there's more to the religious scripture than a pair of a college girl eyes can see. Hey, I got a great idea for you! Go to the Mass Avenue mosque, wait till prayer time, walk in and say, "hey guys, why do you bow your head and make these strange movements? It's not in the Quran! You don't have to pray that way! I know, 'cause I had to read the entire wide world of Quran in college!"

Yet somehow a billion plus Muslims have figured out a uniform way to pray without, I dunno, the Quranic how-to.

Hey, also, you've missed a really obvious reason why a woman would want to wear hijab: She wants to be known as a Muslim.

Nobody annointed you opinion cop, and your poor thinking skills and obvious inmaturity are no recommendation for the job anyway.

The fact that millions of women wear hijab is no answer to the question about whether it's a patriarchal custom instead of something mandated by religious scripture. The Quran is not actually about making a woman's purity the basis for the honor of the men in her family. You're an idiot if you think your snark settles this question.

What an ignorant jerk you are.

My dear, something can be "not in the Quran" and yet accepted by the followers of the faith. The fact that "you read the entire Quran in college" isn't quite the intellectual powerhouse you think it is.

PS: Did you really go to college? How come your spelling sucks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1. Also, when I see a woman in hijab I sometimes really do wonder why she's wearing it, given that I know hijab isn't in the Quran because I had to read the entire Quran in college. Is it that she sincerely believes what her Imam says, that her hair is sexual and immodest, and she takes his word on faith? Is it a political statement, a sort of solidarity? Is it pressure from fathers or husbands who think their honor is bound up with hers? I tend to think its predominantly the first two, especially here in the West where there's less societal pressure. Then, because I'll never know and the metro ride or whatever is over, I give up wondering.

But apparently this isn't the answer OP wants to have mooted here. I join the others here who are baffled about what OP wants, given that she said in her first post that she knows many dislike hijab.

Well, I guess you'll have to go through the trouble of considering that there's more to the religious scripture than a pair of a college girl eyes can see. Hey, I got a great idea for you! Go to the Mass Avenue mosque, wait till prayer time, walk in and say, "hey guys, why do you bow your head and make these strange movements? It's not in the Quran! You don't have to pray that way! I know, 'cause I had to read the entire wide world of Quran in college!"

Yet somehow a billion plus Muslims have figured out a uniform way to pray without, I dunno, the Quranic how-to.

Hey, also, you've missed a really obvious reason why a woman would want to wear hijab: She wants to be known as a Muslim.

Why is it so hard for you to understand that the question "I want your opinions" means that people will, you know, offer their opinions. And that you can't control what their opinions will be.

Muslima, is that you? Same childishness, same inability to follow a line of thought, same abusiveness.

People offer opinions, and other people offer opinions on opinions. None of this offers immunity from snark, you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1. Also, when I see a woman in hijab I sometimes really do wonder why she's wearing it, given that I know hijab isn't in the Quran because I had to read the entire Quran in college. Is it that she sincerely believes what her Imam says, that her hair is sexual and immodest, and she takes his word on faith? Is it a political statement, a sort of solidarity? Is it pressure from fathers or husbands who think their honor is bound up with hers? I tend to think its predominantly the first two, especially here in the West where there's less societal pressure. Then, because I'll never know and the metro ride or whatever is over, I give up wondering.

But apparently this isn't the answer OP wants to have mooted here. I join the others here who are baffled about what OP wants, given that she said in her first post that she knows many dislike hijab.

Well, I guess you'll have to go through the trouble of considering that there's more to the religious scripture than a pair of a college girl eyes can see. Hey, I got a great idea for you! Go to the Mass Avenue mosque, wait till prayer time, walk in and say, "hey guys, why do you bow your head and make these strange movements? It's not in the Quran! You don't have to pray that way! I know, 'cause I had to read the entire wide world of Quran in college!"

Yet somehow a billion plus Muslims have figured out a uniform way to pray without, I dunno, the Quranic how-to.

Hey, also, you've missed a really obvious reason why a woman would want to wear hijab: She wants to be known as a Muslim.

Why is it so hard for you to understand that the question "I want your opinions" means that people will, you know, offer their opinions. And that you can't control what their opinions will be.

Muslima, is that you? Same childishness, same inability to follow a line of thought, same abusiveness.

People offer opinions, and other people offer opinions on opinions. None of this offers immunity from snark, you know.

Go away. You must be the poster who is proud to be insulting people and adding nothing constructive or useful.