Muslim women speak out against the hijab as an element of political Islam

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Finally, an accessible article that spells out so well how the faux hijab tradition is being used to promote a repressive form of Islam.

Time to end this so-called traditional Islamic expression of faith and take a stand against the extremists promoting it.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/12/21/as-muslim-women-we-actually-ask-you-not-to-wear-the-hijab-in-the-name-of-interfaith-solidarity/?tid=pm_local_pop_b

Are you kidding me? ? Asra Nomani is a known quack in the Muslim world. Islamic scholars and even religious scholars would chuckle at her articles and amusingly but politely say, "Bless her heart." Why does Wapo keep publishing her? The vast majority of Muslims laugh at her.

A Muslim woman speaking her mind is not acceptable, is it?

Sure it is. The Muslim world just knows she hasn't got one.

The Muslim world? So it's OK for you to generalize about the Muslim world but not the reverse?

I am not generalizing. Go to any mosque, any religious islamic scholar and ask anyone who practices Islam what they think of Nomani. She spews utter nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a Muslim woman who doesn't wear hijab, I found her article refreshing. I think it's good to hear different persoectives and for outsiders to see that Muslims are not some monolothic group that think the same. There is a diversity of views in th Islamic world. I have no issue with women who CHOOSE the hijab. But to me, a hijab is not representative of the Islamic world. In fact, no one in my very large extended family or among my Muslim friends and aquaintances covers. This may no be representative of others but this is my experience.

My dear, do you know her qualifications? I do. I also know her. She can not understand Quranic arabic so how is she any authority on its interpretation? Her opinion is as valuable as my housekeeper's on anything to do with interpreting Quranic arabic and islamic principles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Asra has a degree in communications and journalism. She can opine all she wants on religious topics, but Muslims know she doesn't speak as an authority. There are plenty of religious scholars out there, Muslims and nonMuslims, who Muslims can rely on. Asra is no scholar on anything Islamic.

There NEVER seems to be any consensus on what is Islam. no matter what you read, there is always someone that will claim Islam represents the opposite. It is almost as if Islam is whatever someone wants to believe. There is no authority. It seems to be made up by each culture differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Muslim woman who doesn't wear hijab, I found her article refreshing. I think it's good to hear different persoectives and for outsiders to see that Muslims are not some monolothic group that think the same. There is a diversity of views in th Islamic world. I have no issue with women who CHOOSE the hijab. But to me, a hijab is not representative of the Islamic world. In fact, no one in my very large extended family or among my Muslim friends and aquaintances covers. This may no be representative of others but this is my experience.

My dear, do you know her qualifications? I do. I also know her. She can not understand Quranic arabic so how is she any authority on its interpretation? Her opinion is as valuable as my housekeeper's on anything to do with interpreting Quranic arabic and islamic principles.

Once again the preoccupation with credentials.

You forget Asra Nomani has a co-author, Hala Arafa, an Egyptian born journalist (in Arabic). She certainly would have learned Quranic Arabic in school. And, of course, as journalists they have easy access to any number of Islamic scholars.

Show me an Islamic theologian who thinks the question of whether a woman should wear hijab or not is an important question in Islam and I will show you a blithering idiot. This is an issue of no consequence to a true theologian. It has been totally made up by a certain strain of extremist Islamists with little real knowledge of Islam.

[Anonymous]

The most important point is why Asra Nomani's opinion as a common journalist matters on a matter that requires a deep scholarly understanding of the Quran. Her co-author is also simply a journalist, not a theologian or islamic scholar by any stretch of the imagination. Billions of Muslims read Quranic arabic but don't understand it so whether her co-author has read the Quran is not quite as relevant as whether she understands it and can interpret it accurately.

The hijab is not one of the five pillars of Islam. Not wearing hijab may not prevent a woman or man from admittance into Heaven, I just do not know the answer to this question.

However, you will be hard pressed to find scholars who say it's not required and not important.

See Hamza Yusuf's discussion on it. Here he states that it is required:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__kEmi43USM

Asra can't get over her view that the hijab is a symbol of oppression. She needs to read another scholar Leila Ahmed's book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__kEmi43USM
Rather than opining on topics she clearly lacks sophistication with, she should defer such interpretations to true scholars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The most important point is why Asra Nomani's opinion as a common journalist matters on a matter that requires a deep scholarly understanding of the Quran. Her co-author is also simply a journalist, not a theologian or islamic scholar by any stretch of the imagination. Billions of Muslims read Quranic arabic but don't understand it so whether her co-author has read the Quran is not quite as relevant as whether she understands it and can interpret it accurately.

The hijab is not one of the five pillars of Islam. Not wearing hijab may not prevent a woman or man from admittance into Heaven, I just do not know the answer to this question.

However, you will be hard pressed to find scholars who say it's not required and not important.

See Hamza Yusuf's discussion on it. Here he states that it is required:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__kEmi43USM

Asra can't get over her view that the hijab is a symbol of oppression. She needs to read another scholar Leila Ahmed's book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__kEmi43USM
Rather than opining on topics she clearly lacks sophistication with, she should defer such interpretations to true scholars.

There are not billions of Muslims. More like 1.5 billion.

Yes, many Muslims read the Quran--more like memorize it--without the slightest idea of what it means. But if you Arab and literate, as Ms. Arafa is, it is not so different from an English speaker reading Shakespeare because written Arabic has changed very slowly relative to written English. With a few aids, you certainly can understand it.

I gather you are not a native Arabic speaker as you seem so in awe of what you present as a document accessible only to those with special knowledge. This is a form of gnosticism, and is totally contrary to the spirit of the Quran.

Interpretation is a different matter altogether. There are many, many interpretations possible. I repeat that true Islamic theologians find the matter of women covering of no consequence as it is such a peripheral issue and so non-central to Islam.

History of fashion is an altogether different matter. The relevant historical fact here is that the hijab is very recent in origin and generations of women did not cover their hair without anyone suggesting they were in violation of Islamic dictates.

You prefer Mr. Yusuf's version. So much so that you linked him twice--no link to Leila Ahmed, who herself does not wear hijab, so--just guessing here--I am pretty sure she does not think it's necessary to enter heaven. (I can't believe you really said that. Really? No hijab, no heaven?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Muslim woman who doesn't wear hijab, I found her article refreshing. I think it's good to hear different persoectives and for outsiders to see that Muslims are not some monolothic group that think the same. There is a diversity of views in th Islamic world. I have no issue with women who CHOOSE the hijab. But to me, a hijab is not representative of the Islamic world. In fact, no one in my very large extended family or among my Muslim friends and aquaintances covers. This may no be representative of others but this is my experience.

My dear, do you know her qualifications? I do. I also know her. She can not understand Quranic arabic so how is she any authority on its interpretation? Her opinion is as valuable as my housekeeper's on anything to do with interpreting Quranic arabic and islamic principles.

How stupid can you be?

A journalist is trained in research. They SEEK OUT credible sources to support a news angle. While she may not be a hijab-wearing expert, she certainly knows folks who DO understand the views in the quran.

once stupid, always stupid

How do you people live through the day?

oh - and nice way to put down "the help"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Muslim woman who doesn't wear hijab, I found her article refreshing. I think it's good to hear different persoectives and for outsiders to see that Muslims are not some monolothic group that think the same. There is a diversity of views in th Islamic world. I have no issue with women who CHOOSE the hijab. But to me, a hijab is not representative of the Islamic world. In fact, no one in my very large extended family or among my Muslim friends and aquaintances covers. This may no be representative of others but this is my experience.

My dear, do you know her qualifications? I do. I also know her. She can not understand Quranic arabic so how is she any authority on its interpretation? Her opinion is as valuable as my housekeeper's on anything to do with interpreting Quranic arabic and islamic principles.

Once again the preoccupation with credentials.

You forget Asra Nomani has a co-author, Hala Arafa, an Egyptian born journalist (in Arabic). She certainly would have learned Quranic Arabic in school. And, of course, as journalists they have easy access to any number of Islamic scholars.

Show me an Islamic theologian who thinks the question of whether a woman should wear hijab or not is an important question in Islam and I will show you a blithering idiot. This is an issue of no consequence to a true theologian. It has been totally made up by a certain strain of extremist Islamists with little real knowledge of Islam.

usually Saudis that rely on housekeepers from Phillipines, Indonesia or India

you know the help that know nothing.

[Anonymous]

Why do Saudi Muslim men look down on women?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the people who say, "Why do you care?" I answer: Because of that student in a public school in Virginia who was FORCED to put on a hijab, over her protests, for a GEOGRAPHY class. The teacher (well-intentioned, I guess) had no clue that the hijab is for some people a sign of oppression. Just wear it! For fun! To show you're not prejudiced! We'll put your picture in a yearbook!
Tell women in Iran, in Saudi Arabia, in Kuwait and elsewhere that it's just for fun. THAT'S why I care. As a feminist, and as someone with a daughter in a public school.

At least, please do not judge the Muslim women in USA for wearing their headscarf. Life is already hard as it is, they don't need other people to butt in, especially from non muslim, no matter how understanding you are.

This is not feminist issue. If you have issue with one person, take it directly to her, don't stereotyping the rest of them.

Best if you ask the Muslim women with headscarf directly why they wear headscarf.

When men as well as women are required to cover their heads (and bodies and faces), then it's not a feminist issue. As long as it is only women who bear these burdens, you bet it's a feminist issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The hijab is not one of the five pillars of Islam. Not wearing hijab may not prevent a woman or man from admittance into Heaven, I just do not know the answer to this question.

However, you will be hard pressed to find scholars who say it's not required and not important.

I can help you out here.

No, not wearing a hijab does not prevent you from going to heaven. Sorry, anyone who says that or thinks that is an idiot.

If the hijab defenders say it's a choice but they really believe it's a choice between salvation and damnation, they are really do not believe it's a choice at all and are pretty much one with ISIS.

[Anonymous]

This is a very interesting discussion. I've always wondered why Muslim men didn't dress more outwardly religious. Why is it just women who have to cover their hair? In more conservative religious Christian denominations like Mormon or Amish both men and women are equally covered.

[Anonymous]

Muslim men are encouraged to have beard. Clothing wise, as long as it covered between the navel and knee, loose clothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Muslim men are encouraged to have beard. Clothing wise, as long as it covered between the navel and knee, loose clothing.

big difference btw this -


and this -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the people who say, "Why do you care?" I answer: Because of that student in a public school in Virginia who was FORCED to put on a hijab, over her protests, for a GEOGRAPHY class. The teacher (well-intentioned, I guess) had no clue that the hijab is for some people a sign of oppression. Just wear it! For fun! To show you're not prejudiced! We'll put your picture in a yearbook!
Tell women in Iran, in Saudi Arabia, in Kuwait and elsewhere that it's just for fun. THAT'S why I care. As a feminist, and as someone with a daughter in a public school.

At least, please do not judge the Muslim women in USA for wearing their headscarf. Life is already hard as it is, they don't need other people to butt in, especially from non muslim, no matter how understanding you are.

This is not feminist issue. If you have issue with one person, take it directly to her, don't stereotyping the rest of them.

Best if you ask the Muslim women with headscarf directly why they wear headscarf.

When men as well as women are required to cover their heads (and bodies and faces), then it's not a feminist issue. As long as it is only women who bear these burdens, you bet it's a feminist issue.

Maybe you should establish your own religion that fits every single philosophy you find important, instead of expecting Islam to conform to what you think is important.