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[mbhimji]

Author's note: This is a small write up i had done while learning about the different reasons as to why women wear and perceive hijab differently. I hope it will be helpful IA.

Fitnah and Hijab.
Hijab, in modern day terminology, is defined more than just a physical piece of cloth. It is represented as a source of pride, acceptance as well as power for a woman “who does not need to feel obligated to make herself up in order to male viewer” (Ruby, 2015). Also, Muslim women who do not wear the Hijab reveal a new identification to themselves – either as a way of recognizing another Muslim, having unity within the other, as well as adding visibility towards society - as Hijab being a choice as most of non-Muslims and the media describe wearing the Hijab (“Muhajibah”) as a source of unwanted attention, thus they end up not wearing it. The context of Hijab, especially in Canada has been seen as a terrorist act and as a sign of oppression, imbedding fear to those around them (Ruby, 2015).

Older scholars such as Ibe-al-Jawzi believes that women are supposed to stay at their and must wear the hijab when leaving the home or else they will cause fitnah which is defined as, “an Arabic verb that means to "seduce, tempt, or lure" in order to separate the good from the bad.” (Huda, 2020). However, other scholars testify saying that fitnah actually originates from men lustful desires which they have associated with women sexualities (Khaled, 2015: 235), making men conceptualize the way how women are not allowed to leave home without hijab and must cover themselves completely in order to avoid lustfull attractions by uncivilized men. As mentioned in the beginning of the paragraph, Hijab is not just a piece of clothing used for covering oneself. According to Raheela (Ruby’s interviewees), she defined hijab as a way where women portray themselves, in terms of modesty in their clothing and not cause unwanted attraction by men. She believes that hijab is also having moral behaviour and kindness towards anyone around you. Thus, she has illustrated the purpose of hijab (being a source of modesty) as her definition of it despite not wearing one herself. In real life, many Muhajibah find it a burden to wear the hijab and feel it as a societal pressure while other wear it for respect and dignity; others finding it as protection towards sexualized men (Ruby, 2015). For non – Hijab wearers such as Bilqis, express themselves as being modest and dress appropriately towards their religious standards but are not given the credit of being called Muslim due to society pressuring them to wear the Hijab and lacking acceptance. She views Hijab as a personal choice to Muslim women, it is up to them whether they want to wear it or not, it should not make them any less of a Muslim (Ruby, 2015). In Western society, the hijab is seen as an act inferiority and identification where Muslim women have a charge over their own body and do not bow down towards men as how they were abused centuries ago.

Muhajibahs do not see themselves as oppressors, rather they see Hijab as a sign as liberation towards the sexist society where the media dislike an increasing outburst of anything, be it hijab or not, where it captures much of an audience and thus will make it seem as an act of oppression and is denoted as a terrorist (Ruby, 2015). In conclusion, Muslim women should not be obliged to wear hijab for the sake of modesty, rather society should begin to educate men to lower their gaze and desexualize themselves so as to avoid approaching women in a wrong way. Hijab is a liber stand towards Muslim women towards the oppressors.

[abuali]

Author's note: This is a small write up i had done while learning about the different reasons as to why women wear and perceive hijab differently. I hope it will be helpful IA.

Fitnah and Hijab.
Hijab, in modern day terminology, is defined more than just a physical piece of cloth. It is represented as a source of pride, acceptance as well as power for a woman “who does not need to feel obligated to make herself up in order to male viewer” (Ruby, 2015). Also, Muslim women who do not wear the Hijab reveal a new identification to themselves – either as a way of recognizing another Muslim, having unity within the other, as well as adding visibility towards society - as Hijab being a choice as most of non-Muslims and the media describe wearing the Hijab (“Muhajibah”) as a source of unwanted attention, thus they end up not wearing it. The context of Hijab, especially in Canada has been seen as a terrorist act and as a sign of oppression, imbedding fear to those around them (Ruby, 2015).

Older scholars such as Ibe-al-Jawzi believes that women are supposed to stay at their and must wear the hijab when leaving the home or else they will cause fitnah which is defined as, “an Arabic verb that means to "seduce, tempt, or lure" in order to separate the good from the bad.” (Huda, 2020). However, other scholars testify saying that fitnah actually originates from men lustful desires which they have associated with women sexualities (Khaled, 2015: 235), making men conceptualize the way how women are not allowed to leave home without hijab and must cover themselves completely in order to avoid lustfull attractions by uncivilized men. As mentioned in the beginning of the paragraph, Hijab is not just a piece of clothing used for covering oneself. According to Raheela (Ruby’s interviewees), she defined hijab as a way where women portray themselves, in terms of modesty in their clothing and not cause unwanted attraction by men. She believes that hijab is also having moral behaviour and kindness towards anyone around you. Thus, she has illustrated the purpose of hijab (being a source of modesty) as her definition of it despite not wearing one herself. In real life, many Muhajibah find it a burden to wear the hijab and feel it as a societal pressure while other wear it for respect and dignity; others finding it as protection towards sexualized men (Ruby, 2015). For non – Hijab wearers such as Bilqis, express themselves as being modest and dress appropriately towards their religious standards but are not given the credit of being called Muslim due to society pressuring them to wear the Hijab and lacking acceptance. She views Hijab as a personal choice to Muslim women, it is up to them whether they want to wear it or not, it should not make them any less of a Muslim (Ruby, 2015). In Western society, the hijab is seen as an act inferiority and identification where Muslim women have a charge over their own body and do not bow down towards men as how they were abused centuries ago.

Muhajibahs do not see themselves as oppressors, rather they see Hijab as a sign as liberation towards the sexist society where the media dislike an increasing outburst of anything, be it hijab or not, where it captures much of an audience and thus will make it seem as an act of oppression and is denoted as a terrorist (Ruby, 2015). In conclusion, Muslim women should not be obliged to wear hijab for the sake of modesty, rather society should begin to educate men to lower their gaze and desexualize themselves so as to avoid approaching women in a wrong way. Hijab is a liber stand towards Muslim women towards the oppressors.

Are you the author of this article?

If not, do you agree to the conclusion reached by the author?

[mbhimji]

Yes, I am the author. From a secular perspective I would agree with what was concluded that Muslim women shouldn't be wearing hijab for societal purposes. However, from a religious perspective Muslim women should wear hijab as a symbol of the religion rather than a force by society. whatever the case, the hijab is a must for Muslim women, shown in the Quran and is wajib for Muslim women to wear.