Why does Islam degrade women by keeping them behind the veil ?
Answer:
The status of women in Islam is often the cause of the world's media attacks. The 'hijab' or Islamic dress is seen by many as an example of 'submission' to women under Islamic law. Before we analyze the reasons for the religiously-accepted 'hijab', let us first study the status of women in society before the advent of Islam. the fact that the status of women in earlier societies was so low that they were deprived of their basic human dignity:
a. Babylonian Civilization: Women were degraded and denied all the rights under Babylonian law. If a man killed a woman, instead of being punished, his wife was killed.
b. Greek Civilization: Greek civilization is considered to be the most glorious of all ancient civilizations. Under this ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, the ‘imaginary woman’ called ‘Pandora’ is the main cause of human misfortune. The Greeks considered women to be inferior to men. Although feminism was highly esteemed, and women were highly regarded, the Greeks later succumbed to pride and sexual perversion. Fornication was rampant in all Greek society.
c. Roman Civilization: When the Roman Civilization was at its peak of ‘fame’, a man had the right to take his wife’s life. Fornication and nakedness were common in the Roman world.
d. Egyptian Civilization: The Egyptian viewed women as evil and as a symbol of the devil.
e. Pre-Islamic Arabia: Before the spread of Islam in Arabia, the Arabs looked down on women and often at the birth of a girl was buried alive.
2. Islam elevated women and gave them equality and expected them to maintain their status.
Islam elevated the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.
Hijab for men
People often only talk about the 'hijab' in the context of women. However, in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions the ‘hijab’ for men before the ‘hijab’ for women. The Qur'an speaks of Surah Noor:
"Say to the believing men that they should look down and guard their modesty: that will make them more pure: and Allah is acquainted with all that they do."
[Qur’an 24:30]
When a man looks at a woman and when a shy or timid thought comes to his mind, he should lower his eyes.
Hijab for women.
The next verse of Surah Noor, states:
“And say to the believing women to adorn their eyes and guard their submissiveness; so that they do not display their beauty and ornaments other than what (should be seen) in it; that they may draw veils upon their breasts and not show their beauty except for their husbands, fathers, fathers of their husbands, and their sons ...
”[Al-Qur’an 24:31]
. Six criteria for Hijab.
According to the Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six conditions for keeping the hijab:
1. Extent:
The first condition is the size of the body to be covered. This is different for men and women. The size of the mandatory cover for a man to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the standard coverage is to cover the entire body without the face and hands at the top of the wrist. If they like, they can even close these body parts. Some Islamic scholars insist that the face and hands are part of the obligatory standard of 'hijab'. All five remaining methods are the same for men and women
2. The clothes worn should be comfortable and should not reflect the figure.
3. The clothes you wear should not be seen in public in a way that you can see.
4. Clothing should not be so glamorous that it attracts people of the opposite sex.
5. The clothes worn should not be the same as those of the opposite sex.
6. The clothes worn should not be the same as those of unbelievers i.e. they should not wear clothes that are symbols or religious symbols of unbelievers.
4. Hijab embodies morals and conduct among other things
Complete the 'hijab', without the six conditions of dress, it includes good morals, conduct, attitude and purpose for each person. A person who only fulfills the ‘hijab’ conditions of clothing looks at the ‘hijab’ in a limited sense. The ‘Hijab’ of clothing should be accompanied by the ‘hijab’ of the eyes, the ‘hijab’ of the heart, the ‘hijab’ of thought and the ‘hijab’ of purpose. It includes the way a person walks, the way a person speaks, the way he behaves, etc
. 5. Hijab prohibits abuse
The reason why Hijab is restricted to women is stated in the Qur'an in the following verses of Surah Al-Ahzab:
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as much ) and not molested. And Allah is oft-forgiving ,most merciful."
[Al-Qur'an 33:59]
The Qur'an says that the Hijab is designed for women to be seen as humble women and this will prevent them from being abused.
6. Example of twin sisters
Suppose two twin sisters, equally beautiful, walk down the street. One of them is wearing a Muslim hijab which means the whole body is covered, except for the face and hands up to the wrists. One sister is wearing a western dress, a mini skirt or shorts. Just around the corner is a hooligan or ruffian waiting to catch up, teasing a girl. Who will you mock? A girl wearing an Islamic Hijab or a girl wearing a skirt or mini? Naturally you will tease a girl wearing a skirt or mini. Such outfits are an invitation for the opposite sex to be ridiculed and abused. The Qur'an says the hijab prevents women from being abused
7. Death penalty for rapists Under Islamic shariah,
a man convicted of raping a woman is sentenced to death. Many are shocked by this ‘hard’ sentence. Some even say that Islam is a cruel, pagan religion! I asked a simple question to hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose, for example, that God does not approve of someone raping your wife, your mother, or your sister. You are made a judge and the rapist is brought before you. What punishment could you give him? They all say they will kill him. Some go so far as to threaten her with death. To them I ask, if someone rapes your wife or your mother you want to kill her. But if the same crime is committed against another person's wife or daughter, the death penalty is cruel. Why should there be two standards?
8. Western society falsely claims that it has elevated women
to the West's claim that women's liberation is nothing more than a subtle form of exploitation, humiliation, and degrading treatment. Western society says it ‘elevates’ women. On the contrary, it has put them in a position of becoming concubines, wives and public butterflies that are simply tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex advertisers, hidden behind a colorful ‘art’ and ‘culture’ screen.
9. USA has high rape rate
The United States of America should be one of the most developed countries in the world. It also has the highest rate of rape in any country in the world. According to an FBI report, by the year 1990, every day on average 1756 rape cases were committed in the U.S.A. One report later stated that on average, some 1,900 rape cases were committed in the USA each day. The year was not mentioned. It could have been 1992 or 1993. Americans may be ‘brave’ in the years to come. Consider the situation where the Islamic hijab is practiced in America. Whenever a man looked at a woman and any thought or shame came to his mind, he lowered his eyes. Every woman wears a Muslim hijab, which is a full body covered with no face and hands that reach to the wrist. After this if any man rapes he is given a death sentence. I ask, in a situation like this, will the rate of American rape go up, stay the same, or go down?
10. The use of Islamic Shariah will reduce the rate of rape
Naturally as soon as the Islamic Shariah is implemented the positive effects will be inevitable. If Islamic Shariah is used in any part of the world, be it America or Europe, society will be able to breathe easily. Hijab does not degrade a woman but elevates a woman and protects her dignity and innocence.
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