Why I Am Not A Muslim
I'm actually an atheist, but in reading this Ann Landers of the Muslim world I was reminded of the Bertrand Russell book, Why I Am Not a Christian. The reader's question:
I wear Hijab but do not wear Niqab, my husband says that if I do not start covering my face then he will divorce me. He says that whatever he asks me to do I should do. I do not want to disobey my husband but to wear niqab would cause me great hardship and sadden me deeply. I guess it is due to lack of eeman that I feel this way but feel that he is trying to force me to do something that I do not want to do. Can you please advise me on this matter.
The answer:
Praise be to Allaah.The evidence of the Qur'aan and Sunnah indicates that it is obligatory for women for cover their faces. This evidence includes the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way)"
[al-Ahzaab 33:59]The cloak (jilbaab) is a garment that the woman places over her head and lowers over her face.
So you have to fear Allaah in this matter and respond to two commands: the command of Allaah and the command of your husband. Undoubtedly this will be very good for you. This matter will make your husband happy and bring happiness to your home. Feelings of difficulty will pass if you are patient and get used to it. These feelings of difficulty will turn to joy when you see the effect that your way of dressing has on him, so you will be responding to Islamic commands and the command of your husband which is in accordance with the laws of Allaah. You will be closing the door to the shaytaans of those who may look at you, and will also be protecting the gaze of chaste and good people from looking at something which they are not permitted to see. And there are other benefits which you will see and appreciate when you respond to this command.
Sisters who wear niqaab often come to regret the years in which they used to uncover their faces, after Allaah honoured them with the niqaab. If one of them were to be given all the wealth in the world to uncover her face, she would not do it. We have even seen many chaste women who have left their husbands because they wanted them to take off the niqaab. So think about the great difference between your situation and theirs. Where now can we find a man who is keen to keep his family chaste and covered? There are very few of them. Should we disregard these few or should we appreciate their actions which spread good in society?
We remind you to fear Allaah, and we remind you of the actions of the believing women when they responded to the command of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):
"and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)"
[al-Noor 24:31]
al-Bukhaari (4481) narrated that 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: "When this verse was revealed, the muhaajir women took their waist wrappers and tore them at the edges, and covered their faces with them.
See also the answer to question no. 21134, which explains the obligation of women covering their faces.
Your husband should also read question no. 20343, which explains the husband's duty to offer sincere advice to his wife, and ways of doing that.
And Allaah knows best.
(I guess that's what they tell the ladies before they stone them to death.)
P.S. Here's a book headscarf lady should read: Why I Am Not a Muslim, by Ibn Warraq.
I get the same argument from Christians, that they and others should fear God™ (note ™ symbol, to denote anthropomorphic model used by organized religion).
Fear? Just what about your loving deity compels fear?
No, you sweaty, selfish savage, you want me to fear you, and your posse of pals with the big hard-on for telling other people what to do. Righteous murderers, not a ghost or a deity, bring suffering to us all.
Radwaste at October 27, 2008 8:00 AM
Some minor good news from Switzerland: school kids here are taught to swim. Fundamentalist muslims want their daughters exempted because, well, you know - someone might see them.
The supreme court has just told them to stuff it: integration in the local culture has priority over their religious beliefs. Hurrah!
bradley13 at October 27, 2008 8:22 AM
That'll last until one of them bombs the pool.
brian at October 27, 2008 8:23 AM
Ah, Brian - ever the optimist! o.O
Flynne at October 27, 2008 9:06 AM
Interesting. I've always wondered what we should do about Muslim women (and men) who want to leave the Islamic faith but cannot for various threatening reasons. It's easy to pass on this opportunity by saying, "they're muslims, fvck 'em", but honestly, I see an avenue to do some good in this area and help those who wish to defect to sanity and reality.
Thoughts Amy? Ali is doing lots of work in this area, but I don't think she has such a sage and reasoned voice as you do.
farker at October 27, 2008 11:19 AM
Radwaste, since you brought it up, yes, I noticed the trademark sign. Your wittiness is overwhelming. Whether or not you should fear the Almighty strikes me as being none of my business. But do you really think the average evangelist wants you to fear him or her? Annoying they might be, leaving tracts all over the place and what-not. But fearful?
Bradley13 says: "...integration in the local culture has priority over their religious beliefs. Hurrah!" Weren't the Australians taking a similar track with their immigrants?
old rpm daddy at October 27, 2008 11:58 AM
As a former Catholic that has given up faith, I often find my religious friends trying to convince me to rejoin the fold. I am sometimes insulted by their insinuations that I am hellbound, but I've never felt physically threatened by any of them. I wonder if I'd feel this secure if I were an ex-Muslim living in the middle east? I don't think present day Christianity compares to present day Islam.
Charles at October 27, 2008 12:49 PM
I've always wondered what we should do about Muslim women (and men) who want to leave the Islamic faith but cannot for various threatening reasons.
What do you mean? Offering them assistance to get out -- kind of witness protection/relocation program for former Muslims? (For anybody who doesn't know, Islam commands Muslims to murder apostates -- male apostates that is. Female apostates are sometimes murdered and sometimes imprisoned.)
P.S. Of course, there'd soon be a fatwah calling for the death of anybody who got behind this.
Amy Alkon at October 28, 2008 12:09 AM
Says Ms Alkon: "Of course, there'd soon be a fatwah calling for the death of anybody who got behind this."
Nothing like a fatwah to show who's got guts, I guess. I'm trying to imagine any of the mainstream American Christian churches getting into this sort of activity, but I can't. Homeless shelters, food banks, day care, battered women's shelters, yes. But those kind of things don't usually get you firebombed or your parishioners hurt.
old rpm daddy at October 28, 2008 5:01 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/10/27/why_i_am_not_a.html#comment-1600688">comment from old rpm daddyYep. And P.S. I don't understand how/why somebody else ended up with your name. I think somebody posted and it was in the software and they didn't change it. I'll try to correct it if I can find the IP. Just keep your name, old rpm daddy!
Or...wait...confused...are you not the old rpm daddy who's been posting here for quite some time?
Amy Alkon at October 28, 2008 5:14 AM
I think the RPMDAD handle I noticed was in something Andrew Garland was quoting in his comment in the "Your Money In Somebody Else's Pocket" post. So I really don't think there's anything to fix, but thanks anyway. I just hadn't seen a name that similar to the one I use before, but I guess it shouldn't be all that surprising.
old rpm daddy at October 28, 2008 5:24 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/10/27/why_i_am_not_a.html#comment-1600707">comment from old rpm daddyI just found that odd. It's not like you're "Joe" or "anon."
Amy Alkon at October 28, 2008 6:10 AM
A witness protection programme? That may be a bit too much, but I like where you're going with that.
thinks about it! we fly by cover of night into enemy soil, responding to pixelated calls for help over the intertubes, and taking the injured women to halfway houses in the western world.
Actually, in all seriousness, this could be something to look into.
Farker at October 28, 2008 11:26 AM
Farker said, "...responding to pixelated calls for help over the intertubes..."
May I assume I'm missing a literary reference?
old rpm daddy at October 28, 2008 12:22 PM
nah. I was trying to find a better way to illustrate what an e-mail is. meh. I fail on such attempts sometimes.
farker at October 28, 2008 1:26 PM
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