Muslims

[palilover 1]

I'm fascinated by how often any conversation about Islam or being Muslim turns into a discussion about hijab for women, especially among converts. Most Muslim women don't cover, but on message boards, you would think it's what Islam is all about for Muslimas. Strange.

So I've been curious about what others think about this. Covering is on the rise in Jordan... it was lower than 25% of women just 50 years ago and now it's very high, like over 80% of women are covering. Do you suppose it's fashion? I noticed almost none of the old-style of covering and all the girls flocking to scarves and layers of scarves which they had arranged in intricate ways with lots of jewelry. I also informally noticed a lot of men saying they wished their wives to cover.. and there is talk about how girls don't cover to get a man, then cover after marriage. So it could also be a cultural and religious shift.

Seriously, I think a lot of epople think abotu covering as a major part of Islam. Not saying that's why it popped up here, but it something of a hot topic for both pros and cons. I just find it interesting that for some reason covering is associated exclusively with Islam in most of the west.

Covering is only one of the MANY parts of Islam. I'm speaking generally here but if people cared enough about what was in their hearts and how they treat others as much as they do about a scarf, the world would be a better place. (Please no one take offense to that as I realize I blurted that out in the middle of a hijab discussion. This is not meant towards anyone here. it is just general comment) from observations in real life.

[Alhamdulillah 0]

I'm fascinated by how often any conversation about Islam or being Muslim turns into a discussion about hijab for women, especially among converts. Most Muslim women don't cover, but on message boards, you would think it's what Islam is all about for Muslimas. Strange.

I didn't read any comments stating that you couldn't be muslim if you don't wear hijab but it is a fact of life that for many muslims (not just the reverts) that covering is a major part of the religion so one can only expect that it will be discussed from time to time

[April and Mohamed 0]

hehehe that's cute..i just love kids!

I have a question too.. To those who went from not covering...to covering:

I would LOVE to cover coz I really and truely believe it is a great way to find more of a sense of self rather than worrying about how my outward appearance is to others. I'm really worried though and even feel semi-embarrassed to start covering since the ppl I know have already seen me uncovered. Did anyone else feel an initial sense of embarassment or a feeling of it not seeming "right" when u started covering? I'm really having problems with this and could use some tips and stories from others on it. How did you all get thru the initial transition? How long did it take to feel comfortable?

Thanks

amal

I started my 4th year in college as a Muslim, had just converted but not wearing hijab yet, our first day of school was on a Thursday, then the next class was on Tuesday, and on Saturday Ramadan was starting so when I had converted 3 weeks before Ramadan I told myself I'd go 100% on Ramadan and until then I'd just sort of "practice" wearing the scarf to the store and restaurants and gas station to see how people would react. Sort of a letdown as they didn't seem to notice me at all lol. I was all prepared So then the second day of our classes I'm wearing a scarf and long sleeves in the desert of Sourthern CA in September so it was kind of hard to go unnoticed especially since everyone had known me for 3 years but since they were my classmates and friends they were just innocently curious about it, and then by that point the people who asked me the weird questions (are you bald?) didn't affect me at all. Also, I was in a sorority (I'm alum now) and I TOTALLY freaked out my whole sorority when I started to cover, but the majority of the girls just asked me why I was wearing it and when I told them they were like "oh cool, it's really cute!" and the worst reactions were just girls not talking to me at all anymore but I didn't really give a hoot about them to begin with so no love lost there! I was also the president of the governing council of sororities on our campus so I was pretty high profile at that time and kind of hard to fade into the background, and I've been having a blast ever since, never been insulted or attacked or yelled at etc. People were pretty mellow where I was living at the time. I wish you the same Amal.

[sara..... 371]

I'm fascinated by how often any conversation about Islam or being Muslim turns into a discussion about hijab for women, especially among converts. Most Muslim women don't cover, but on message boards, you would think it's what Islam is all about for Muslimas. Strange.

huh??

[palilover 1]

I'm fascinated by how often any conversation about Islam or being Muslim turns into a discussion about hijab for women, especially among converts. Most Muslim women don't cover, but on message boards, you would think it's what Islam is all about for Muslimas. Strange.

huh??

I don't think she was meaning offence, just an observation. Maybe it is because we are women that we discuss hijab, I dunno. "wonders what main topics brothers babble on about"

[sara..... 371]

I'm fascinated by how often any conversation about Islam or being Muslim turns into a discussion about hijab for women, especially among converts. Most Muslim women don't cover, but on message boards, you would think it's what Islam is all about for Muslimas. Strange.

huh??

I don't think she was meaning offence, just an observation. Maybe it is because we are women that we discuss hijab, I dunno. "wonders what main topics brothers babble on about"

lol i dont know but im confused i have been muslim all my life and everyone that i know uses hijab so that kind of shocked me......but i know when we are in pakistan u can always see the men that have women problems they set in the market drinking tea and all their friends trying to give them advise how to fix the problem lol it is very cute

[palilover 1]

I'm fascinated by how often any conversation about Islam or being Muslim turns into a discussion about hijab for women, especially among converts. Most Muslim women don't cover, but on message boards, you would think it's what Islam is all about for Muslimas. Strange.

huh??

I don't think she was meaning offence, just an observation. Maybe it is because we are women that we discuss hijab, I dunno. "wonders what main topics brothers babble on about"

lol i dont know but im confused i have been muslim all my life and everyone that i know uses hijab so that kind of shocked me......but i know when we are in pakistan u can always see the men that have women problems they set in the market drinking tea and all their friends trying to give them advise how to fix the problem lol it is very cute

awww hehe so men do same thing as women? Well, they'd never admit it though:) Interesting observation though. That did amaze me though when I was in Palestine. All the men would hang out with men and hardly talk to their wives. I kept asking my husband "Don't these guys have wives to go home to?" I thought that a bit weird. But to each his own I guess:)

[sara..... 371]

I'm fascinated by how often any conversation about Islam or being Muslim turns into a discussion about hijab for women, especially among converts. Most Muslim women don't cover, but on message boards, you would think it's what Islam is all about for Muslimas. Strange.

huh??

I don't think she was meaning offence, just an observation. Maybe it is because we are women that we discuss hijab, I dunno. "wonders what main topics brothers babble on about"

lol i dont know but im confused i have been muslim all my life and everyone that i know uses hijab so that kind of shocked me......but i know when we are in pakistan u can always see the men that have women problems they set in the market drinking tea and all their friends trying to give them advise how to fix the problem lol it is very cute

awww hehe so men do same thing as women? Well, they'd never admit it though:) Interesting observation though. That did amaze me though when I was in Palestine. All the men would hang out with men and hardly talk to their wives. I kept asking my husband "Don't these guys have wives to go home to?" I thought that a bit weird. But to each his own I guess:)

well in pakistan and most of the muslim community in india and from what i have seen in egypt the men do not want their friends looking at their wifes or mothers or sisters so they stay to themself with their friends lol.......is pretty normal

hahaha one time my elder brother was in a lot of trouble with my mom.....we went to market and sure enough there he was sitting holding his head and looking at his tea with all his friends standing around all talking at once lol i about died laughing lol........there if one women in the home is angry with any son or husband no women will give him anything not cook not wash nothing lol so it is a lot of problem for them if they get someone angry on the womens side lol

[palilover 1]

I'm fascinated by how often any conversation about Islam or being Muslim turns into a discussion about hijab for women, especially among converts. Most Muslim women don't cover, but on message boards, you would think it's what Islam is all about for Muslimas. Strange.

huh??

I don't think she was meaning offence, just an observation. Maybe it is because we are women that we discuss hijab, I dunno. "wonders what main topics brothers babble on about"

lol i dont know but im confused i have been muslim all my life and everyone that i know uses hijab so that kind of shocked me......but i know when we are in pakistan u can always see the men that have women problems they set in the market drinking tea and all their friends trying to give them advise how to fix the problem lol it is very cute

awww hehe so men do same thing as women? Well, they'd never admit it though:) Interesting observation though. That did amaze me though when I was in Palestine. All the men would hang out with men and hardly talk to their wives. I kept asking my husband "Don't these guys have wives to go home to?" I thought that a bit weird. But to each his own I guess:)

well in pakistan and most of the muslim community in india and from what i have seen in egypt the men do not want their friends looking at their wifes or mothers or sisters so they stay to themself with their friends lol.......is pretty normal

hahaha one time my elder brother was in a lot of trouble with my mom.....we went to market and sure enough there he was sitting holding his head and looking at his tea with all his friends standing around all talking at once lol i about died laughing lol........there if one women in the home is angry with any son or husband no women will give him anything not cook not wash nothing lol so it is a lot of problem for them if they get someone angry on the womens side lol

haha my husband must be very nice to the women in his family then:) they all wait on him hand and foot by cleaning his house all the time. the only thing they don't do for him is cook. He knows how to fry meat unless he eats at the family's house. And oh yeah, his mother does his laundry. So yes all the women love my husband:)

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Covering is only one of the MANY parts of Islam. I'm speaking generally here but if people cared enough about what was in their hearts and how they treat others as much as they do about a scarf, the world would be a better place. (Please no one take offense to that as I realize I blurted that out in the middle of a hijab discussion. This is not meant towards anyone here. it is just general comment) from observations in real life.

The scarf as a symbol of Islam has been allowed to obscure the reality of the faith as so much more than how women dress. The Quran never refers to it as clothing nor prescribes a manner of dress that requires concealing hair or eyes, but as a physical barrier to maintain haya, or as a spiritual barrier against the Word. One can cover and still maintain a spiritual barrier against the Word, which is why I find it so fascinating that the symbolic pre-Islamic tribal norm, has developed from a minor affectation into a major measure of faith for both men and women when it is just cloth. That it been elevated into something you do for God when Allah didn't demand it as a prescription of faith is curious to me.

I'm fascinated by how often any conversation about Islam or being Muslim turns into a discussion about hijab for women, especially among converts. Most Muslim women don't cover, but on message boards, you would think it's what Islam is all about for Muslimas. Strange.

So I've been curious about what others think about this. Covering is on the rise in Jordan... it was lower than 25% of women just 50 years ago and now it's very high, like over 80% of women are covering. Do you suppose it's fashion? I noticed almost none of the old-style of covering and all the girls flocking to scarves and layers of scarves which they had arranged in intricate ways with lots of jewelry. I also informally noticed a lot of men saying they wished their wives to cover.. and there is talk about how girls don't cover to get a man, then cover after marriage. So it could also be a cultural and religious shift.

Seriously, I think a lot of epople think abotu covering as a major part of Islam. Not saying that's why it popped up here, but it something of a hot topic for both pros and cons. I just find it interesting that for some reason covering is associated exclusively with Islam in most of the west.

Covering or not covering is easier to do and discuss than other more important aspects of Islam; covering often substitutes for faith, and its significance as a measure of faith comes and goes as politics and fashion dictates. Women has rebelled against political forces by donning the headscarf, and by taking it off; men have rebelled against political oppression by forcing women to wear it or not wear it. Right now, Muslims are taking political positions that require symbolism, and covering is a powerful image that is used to denegrate the faith by anti-Islamists, and as a badge of honor by some Muslims who need a shorthand way to distinquish themselves from western norms.

As a false measure of faith or as a politcal manipulation, it serves as a manipulation to cow women into covering before they are convinced of the need, and actually serves to divide Muslimas, increase recidivism among converts, and keeps Muslims from addressing more pressing issues in the ummah. It's also interesting that hijab as fashion is about being attractive rather than modest.

This is not to say that there are not those who wear what is called hijab with sincere devotion, there are. However, on the whole, the emphasis on dress has waxed and waned based on external and internal reactions to political and economic forces on and in the Muslim world.

[palilover 1]

Covering is only one of the MANY parts of Islam. I'm speaking generally here but if people cared enough about what was in their hearts and how they treat others as much as they do about a scarf, the world would be a better place. (Please no one take offense to that as I realize I blurted that out in the middle of a hijab discussion. This is not meant towards anyone here. it is just general comment) from observations in real life.

The scarf as a symbol of Islam has been allowed to obscure the reality of the faith as so much more than how women dress. The Quran never refers to it as clothing nor prescribes a manner of dress that requires concealing hair or eyes, but as a physical barrier to maintain haya, or as a spiritual barrier against the Word. One can cover and still maintain a spiritual barrier against the Word, which is why I find it so fascinating that the symbolic pre-Islamic tribal norm, has developed from a minor affectation into a major measure of faith for both men and women when it is just cloth. That it been elevated into something you do for God when Allah didn't demand it as a prescription of faith is curious to me.

I'm fascinated by how often any conversation about Islam or being Muslim turns into a discussion about hijab for women, especially among converts. Most Muslim women don't cover, but on message boards, you would think it's what Islam is all about for Muslimas. Strange.

So I've been curious about what others think about this. Covering is on the rise in Jordan... it was lower than 25% of women just 50 years ago and now it's very high, like over 80% of women are covering. Do you suppose it's fashion? I noticed almost none of the old-style of covering and all the girls flocking to scarves and layers of scarves which they had arranged in intricate ways with lots of jewelry. I also informally noticed a lot of men saying they wished their wives to cover.. and there is talk about how girls don't cover to get a man, then cover after marriage. So it could also be a cultural and religious shift.

Seriously, I think a lot of epople think abotu covering as a major part of Islam. Not saying that's why it popped up here, but it something of a hot topic for both pros and cons. I just find it interesting that for some reason covering is associated exclusively with Islam in most of the west.

Covering or not covering is easier to do and discuss than other more important aspects of Islam; covering often substitutes for faith, and its significance as a measure of faith comes and goes as politics and fashion dictates. Women has rebelled against political forces by donning the headscarf, and by taking it off; men have rebelled against political oppression by forcing women to wear it or not wear it. Right now, Muslims are taking political positions that require symbolism, and covering is a powerful image that is used to denegrate the faith by anti-Islamists, and as a badge of honor by some Muslims who need a shorthand way to distinquish themselves from western norms.

As a false measure of faith or as a politcal manipulation, it serves as a manipulation to cow women into covering before they are convinced of the need, and actually serves to divide Muslimas, increase recidivism among converts, and keeps Muslims from addressing more pressing issues in the ummah. It's also interesting that hijab as fashion is about being attractive rather than modest.

This is not to say that there are not those who wear what is called hijab with sincere devotion, there are. However, on the whole, the emphasis on dress has waxed and waned based on external and internal reactions to political and economic forces on and in the Muslim world.

[Alhamdulillah 0]

"wonders what main topics brothers babble on about"

How to have four wives

[sara..... 371]

"wonders what main topics brothers babble on about"

How to have four wives

:rofl: :rofl:

[palilover 1]

"wonders what main topics brothers babble on about"

How to have four wives

:rofl: :rofl:

LOL

or what things to do with 4 wives............and what days of the week they will do them on:)

[sara..... 371]

"wonders what main topics brothers babble on about"

How to have four wives

:rofl: :rofl:

LOL

or what things to do with 4 wives............and what days of the week they will do them on:)

ahaha lol i know one of my brothers used to always say before he got married that he would have two or three wifes ask him now and he will tell u if u can keep one wife happy ur a lucky man needless to say one wife is all he gets lol ahahaha