Saudi Women Rise in Defense of the Veil

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Thank you for the warm welcome and acknowledgment, MK. That was very kind of you.

Salaam, veiledprincesslayla,

You asked:

I am interested, however, in your views. What are some Islamic rights that they are not allowed? What do you mean by 'liberate them"? Do you mean you would like them to stop observing hijab or are you talking about other ways?

Thank you for your question. Insha'allah, I can answer such a complex inquiry with some satisfaction, albeit it simplistic as a matter of time and space.

The rights given to women by the Almighty are the result of reforms that reflected the necessary, incremental social changes that were required to meet a minimum standard in approaching God's intent. These basics laid down a path to greater justice, and were not meant to serve as a wall that only some could climb, depending on gender or geography.

An examination of Muslim history shows that several revelations were the result of women explicitly asking for greater responsibility in their relationship with God. For example, when some of the Muslim women, lead by one of the Prophet's wives, came to ask why most of the revelations were addressed to men; what did God want of women, the answer was given in this beautiful ayah:

Surely the men who submit and the women who submit, and the believing men and the believing women, and the obeying men and the obeying women, and the truthful men and the truthful women, and the patient men and the patient women and the humble men and the humble women, and the almsgiving men and the almsgiving women, and the fasting men and the fasting women, and the men who guard their private parts and the women who guard, and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember-- Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a mighty reward. Quran 33:35

No gender distinctions there.

The rights (and responsibilities) of Muslim women in society originate with God, but only if you ask for them, not only for yourself, but for others who have no voice. The women in the article obviously have a voice; their status and freedoms are exemplary, but uncommon in the Kingdom. Their ability to accomplish what they have done is not facilitated through a grant from God, but with the permission of the men who have arbitrary authority over them. Patriarchy defines their expectations even more than Islam, how they marry and divorce, raise their children, travel, work, and go about their daily lives. As one wise woman said, “...the problems faced by Saudi women, are not because of Islam... a perfect religion that honors and values women. The fault lies in its improper implementation....” So, why does she turn to cultural tradition to shut the door on those who want to ask God for more, more rights, more responsibilities, to travel the road to Him and make a contribution? Culture may be familiar, but is it correct?

It matters little how many degrees they have, how many rights they have, they are still dependent upon men to allow them to obtain and utilize them. Shura is not an inherent part of their relationships. And that is the reality of those women in the article. They are among the privileged, and, in calling for tradition to triumph over the freedoms promised by Islam, they abdicate their duty to strive to bring the opportunities they enjoy to their sisters who don’t have the means or a benevolent manager to assist them. Without opportunity, it is difficult to fulfill the responsibilities that God has set upon all of us, because you are limited by what man allows or disallows. This is not Islam.

Islam calls on us all to strive to move forward and up, to reach the Islamic “nirvana” of Allah’s intent. These woman are content with what they have, and not only are they unsympathetic to those among their sisters who want to move, they are not portrayed, by calling for the return to the past, as interested in extending the same freedoms to their less fortunate brethren who have not been blessed with the same advantages. In fact, it is emphasized that they are to be praised for wanting to hold time back for women, despite the fact that they are advantaged by educations that represent the future. There is a contradiction in how they have allowed themselves to be influenced by the west long enough to be educated there, then returning home to diss it. The veil they wear is merely a prop, not the message.

The strangest thing about the article is that it felt a need to praise the piety of the muhajabah to Saudi culture and tradition, as if Saudi culture and tradition was synonymous with Islam, and as if Islam cannot exist uncorrupted in the west. Neither is true. I do not blame the women for my perception; I have no idea if they have been misrepresented or not or why they believe as they do. The Saudi propaganda machine is a relentless 24/7 beast. It enjoys great influence and is capable of spawning romantic images, in the novice mind, of Muslim women as placeholders in the march of time and against the assault on tradition, as I detected in your posts. From it, one will easily find articles and opinions praising the muhajabah as the singularly most effective example of Muslim purity, but mention nothing about how the choice to wear the veil or not is granted by the fact that each Muslim is personally and individually responsible to God for their acts and beliefs, and personally and individually rewarded for their devotion to Him. In this paradigm, not veiling will get you whipped, at the very least, so there is simply no need to cloud the discussion with the fact that not everyone believes as they do.

In my reply, I chose not to enumerate the rights of Muslim women, for the basic rights should be known to us all. That the women of Saudi cannot practice their God-given rights with impunity, and must be enticed to ask for more goes against the call of Islam to ask for what you deserve. That these particular women do not feel entitled to the rights, and do not want others to have them, possibly out of fear of the responsibilities, is their burden to be overcome in their time. Those of us in the west should feel free to proceed to seek and act to gain more of God’s blessings in the context of our own lives, but no other Muslimas should be expected to emulate or admire those who don’t follow the same path.

This is my humble view.

[AngelK96 0]

Excellent Post SZSZ!

Welcome to the ME/NA Forum

Angel

[MrsAmera 41]

I converted almost 1 year ago. My fiance did have some influence, but it wasn't that he "forced" me, he just asked me a lot of questions about Christianity that I found I did not have answers to. When I started reading and asking questions about Islam I decided it was the way for me, and especially since we have/are having a family together, I think it is important to have a common objective in raising children. They will always be free to learn about other religions but will be raised in a Muslim home. We live in a small area here and I find that that makes life a little more difficult but hopefully when we move to a bigger city I/we can embrace Islamic life more fully.

It was also a struggle with my family. At first they thought I was just joking and sluffed it off, but honestly now they are curious and are embracing it. And I think that's great. They even make sure to watch the food they buy when they know we're coming lol.

[Together4ever 1]

It's been 2 years for me. I was reading the quran and learning about Islam before I met Mohammed. He and I shared many long conversations about it as well and I found his rather open and innocent views to be so much like my own. When I returned to Egypt to him, one day he said to me that if I want to become Muslim he would take me to Cairo to the mosque, all I had to do was say the word. He did not ask me to, he did not tell me to, he just said he would take me where I needed to go if I decided that's what I wanted. I thought on it for one day and said "Yes, let's go." It was the most precious gift I ever gave myself, alhamdulellah.

[Meriem_DZ 37]

I had been studying about Islam for about 6 months before I met Hachemi. I reverted about 4 months after I met him, but before we knew we where in love. In July it will be one year that I reverted. As you know I live in a small southern town. I do not cover because I am afraid of the backlash it will cause my 13 year old son. Only one friend in our town is muslim. He is also from Algeria. There is only about 5 Mosques in the whole state and the closest one is near the University. (about a 45 min. drive) When I was in Algeria, I covered my hair everyday and I loved it. I do dress modestly though.

Meriem

Edited June 7, 2006 by Meriem_setif

[pax 0]

When you say that you "reverted" to Islam, do you mean that you were raised Muslim or had been Muslim at some point, left the faith, and then returned? Or do you mean that you converted?

[Jenn! 918]

When you say that you "reverted" to Islam, do you mean that you were raised Muslim or had been Muslim at some point, left the faith, and then returned? Or do you mean that you converted?

I was just going to ask the same thing.

I was thinking maybe for some reason you say "revert" for Islam, where you would usually say "convert" for other religions.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I am not Muslim but I believe according to Islam everyone is born Muslim. Their upbringing misleads them into various other faiths and then one day some may revert to Islam and some may not.

[Meriem_DZ 37]

I am not Muslim but I believe according to Islam everyone is born Muslim. Their upbringing misleads them into various other faiths and then one day some may revert to Islam and some may not.

[sarah and hicham 3]

hmmm interesting!

[iceyspots 0]

would you say that being engaged/married to a Muslim influences your religious beliefs?

for me, no... Said has never tried to influence me one way or the other in regards to Islam. It's something I've had an interest in for awhile and, for the better part of my adult life, have been interested in many paths of spirituality. I have been friends w/ many muslims over the years and have been particularly intrigued by the Sufi path.... I could go on, but I won't!

Noura

The vast majority of Sunni's and Shi'as do not accept Sufiism as Islam... but many western publishers who have put out world religions text believe that it is a part of islam.

Saudi Women Rise in Defense of the Veil

{RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- More than 500 women packed the Saudi capital's Maimouna Center on a recent evening to attend a lecture. The women, some still in their full black wraps, filled the rows of plum-colored plastic chairs, while late arrivals sat in small clusters on the carpet and against the wall....

Eissa, a fiery young Internet writer, and the lecturer, Afrah al-Humaydi, are among a group of conservative Saudi women trying to redress what they view as an erosion of traditional values in the kingdom and a dangerous shift in the status of women. "Saudi women are the luckiest in the world and Saudi Arabia is the closest thing to an ideal and pure Islamic nation," Eissa said. "We don't want imported Western values to destroy that."

Obaidi shows pride in her religion and resists foreign interference, she said, by maintaining her veil, or niqab . "Just because this is closed," she said, tugging at the black material that covered her face, "doesn't mean this is," pointing to her head...

Many Salafi women here, who follow the school of thought that calls for a return to Islam as practiced by the prophet Muhammad and the following two generations, shatter the stereotype of women in black niqab as meek and submissive. Often well educated, articulate and sometimes downright aggressive , they include award-winning scientists, writers and college professors.

Khadija Badahdah, a university administrator who holds a doctorate in chemistry from the University of London and wears a veil, said she recently started to grant television interviews because women calling for change were dominating coverage on the airwaves and in newspapers and giving the wrong impression of Saudi women. "They are a minority but they appear to speak for all of us," she said, sitting in her comfortable home in Jiddah on a recent weekend. "This is the beginning of a cultural erosion, and if we don't fight it now, it will continue."

...The problems faced by Saudi women, she said, are not because of Islam... a perfect religion that honors and values women. The fault lies in its improper implementation....

"We were given rights by Islam 1,400 years ago that women in the West only got at the beginning of the 20th century," said Humaydi, a middle-aged college professor. "Muslim women can work, and inherit, and be financially independent."

"I don't want to be the equal of a man," she added. "In many ways, I am better than him."}

Just wanted to share with the other muslimaat on here.

Unfortunately, this article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1874471.stm is still a reality in a rich and developped country.

Saudi Arabia's religious police stopped schoolgirls from leaving a blazing building because they were not wearing correct Islamic dress, according to Saudi newspapers.

In a rare criticism of the kingdom's powerful "mutaween" police, the Saudi media has accused them of hindering attempts to save 15 girls who died in the fire on Monday.

About 800 pupils were inside the school in the holy city of Mecca when the tragedy occurred.

15 girls died in the blaze and more than 50 others were injured

According to the al-Eqtisadiah daily, firemen confronted police after they tried to keep the girls inside because they were not wearing the headscarves and abayas (black robes) required by the kingdom's strict interpretation of Islam.

One witness said he saw three policemen "beating young girls to prevent them from leaving the school because they were not wearing the abaya".

The Saudi Gazette quoted witnesses as saying that the police - known as the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice - had stopped men who tried to help the girls and warned "it is a sinful to approach them".

The father of one of the dead girls said that the school watchman even refused to open the gates to let the girls out.

"Lives could have been saved had they not been stopped by members of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice," the newspaper concluded.

Relatives' anger

Families of the victims have been incensed over the deaths.

Most of the victims were crushed in a stampede as they tried to flee the blaze.

The school was locked at the time of the fire - a usual practice to ensure full segregation of the sexes.

The religious police are widely feared in Saudi Arabia. They roam the streets enforcing dress codes and sex segregation, and ensuring prayers are performed on time.

Those who refuse to obey their orders are often beaten and sometimes put in jail.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

The vast majority of Sunni's and Shi'as do not accept Sufiism as Islam... but many western publishers who have put out world religions text believe that it is a part of islam.

This is incorrect.

There are certainly some Sufi orders that are outside Islam -- for instance there are a lot of Sufis in India who are Hindu, or blurring the line between Hindu and Muslim.

However, the traditional Sufi orders all emphasize the role of Sufism within Islam, in accordance with the Sharia and Sunnah.

It is the non-traditional Sufi groups who operate outside Islam, who do not follow the Sharia and Sunnah, who are often considered "not Muslim."

My father-in-law is a very traditional and conservative Muslim, a sheikh in his community who follows the Sharia and Sunnah in every aspect of his life. He is also Sufi.

-MK

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

I think that this is an excellent topic...SZSZ, Welcome to VJ and must say that enjoyed reading your posts on this matter...I have been exploring Islam cautiously and with care as I have been away from my Catholic upbringing for a while...but feel the need for a meaningful connection with God...I love to read what some of you ladies have said about your experience with Islam and reversion...it is so educative...I will be reading and absorbing all ...

[sarah and hicham 3]

So how many of you ladies here were brought up Muslim and how many women here are Arab?

[UmmSqueakster 54]

The vast majority of Sunni's and Shi'as do not accept Sufiism as Islam... but many western publishers who have put out world religions text believe that it is a part of islam.

This is incorrect.

There are certainly some Sufi orders that are outside Islam -- for instance there are a lot of Sufis in India who are Hindu, or blurring the line between Hindu and Muslim.

However, the traditional Sufi orders all emphasize the role of Sufism within Islam, in accordance with the Sharia and Sunnah.

It is the non-traditional Sufi groups who operate outside Islam, who do not follow the Sharia and Sunnah, who are often considered "not Muslim."

My father-in-law is a very traditional and conservative Muslim, a sheikh in his community who follows the Sharia and Sunnah in every aspect of his life. He is also Sufi.

-MK

I concure. The perception of sufism in most people's eyes it seems, even among muslims, is of the "goofy sufi" who practices a new age religion that has no ties to Islam.

One of my favorite thoughts on this issue comes from Imam Malik (ra).

"Whoever studies Jurisprudence [tafaqaha] and didn't study Sufism [tasawwaf] will be corrupted; and whoever studied Sufism and didn't study Jurisprudence will become a heretic; and whoever combined both will reach the Truth."

['Ali al-Adawi , vol. 2, p 195.]

I've found that reading the works of sufi shaykhs and participating in dhikr balances out the traditional muslim life that is often heavily based on rules and regulations.

Btw WoM, the sufi group I'm loosely affiliated with has a Palestinian Shaykh. He's pretty cool.