So you feel your prayers don't count or God doesn't hear your prayers unless you are veiled while you pray?

What convinces you that it's required to cover our hair for prayer? Is it in the Quran?

I have a question about hijab.

What if someone starts wearing but they feel very uncomfortable and get lots of questions as to why she wears it etc... would it be bad to stop wearing it? Do you think it's bad for a woman to wear it selectively? I hope that makes sense.

A good point that the article makes is that most sisters who don't wear it do believe it's obligatory but they just aren't ready yet and treating them like an insect in the masjid will not help them to prepare in anyway.

The "just aren't ready" argument that appears in many articles is a very condesending one. I see it often and note that when that is stated, there is usually an omission that there are women who simply do not believe hijab is required, not that they "just aren't ready". That gives the impression that most Muslimas do believe it's required, and aim to comply at some time. That may or may not be true, but it certainly is assumed. There is definitely a bent toward trying to convince people that it is mandatory.

szsz, you didn't answer my question earlier... do you cover your hair when you pray or go to the masjid?

Charles you can put the popcorn away... I'm not looking to debate anyone on anything here... I'm just curious about it is all.

It's not.


There, Charles. Now you can take your popcorn out again. LOL

We have to cover our hair in church here. Alot of chruches require it and even have a box of scarves before you walk in. We are also not allowed to wear lipstick when taking communion.

I think every church is different.

Just wanted to add my opinion on the dressing issue.

I don't think what you wear, whether it's a hijab or dress or jeans, can really show who you are inside and what your relationship with God is.

I remember at college walking behind a group of girls in hijab, and they had some of the filthiest mouths I'd ever heard. I was very shocked and it only proved that it does not mean that the person is extremely devouted or worried about not being pleasing to God. It was sad for me to hear that from them, because you do tend to assume that they would be more devouted/careful by wearing that. But I know we are all different and our hearts cannot be displayed by our clothing alone.

Many on VJ know that I am a very devout born again Christian. I have many times debated about my faith, and it's clear where I stand on religious issues, usually, as a Christian. But I wear jeans to church these days. I even sometimes lead songs with the guitar during worship time. There is no where in the bible that commands that you have to wear fancy clothes to church. It is just cultural, not spiritual IMO. What matters is the heart, not the clothes. I like dresses too, but I don't have to wear them to church all the time. Our church doesn't care whether people are in jeans or dresses. I just don't think it matters if someone dresses up fancy yet they don't care about God during the rest of the week. I wear jeans to church and really love God and want to please Jesus as much as I can. If I wore dresses I'd be the same way. It doesn't change who I am inside whether it's a dress or jeans.

Just a different perspective.

There are hundreds of articles by Muslims about how hijab is mandatory; very few in comparison that are not staunchly in favor of it, and those are mostly blogs, open forums, and personal opinion pieces. There has been a huge change in how hijab is promoted by Muslims as an Islamic icon, not only in the narrowing of viewpoints, but in emphasis, since about the mid-1970s, growing louder and stronger since the 1990s. No wonder the mainstream media is captivated by it, we've made it a huge deal ourselves.

Institutionally, it is treated as tho it is obligatory by most scholars, even tho the evidence for that is purely subjective and primarily grounded in tradition, not law. Strangely enough, classical fiqh is much less concerned about women's daily dress than it is about men's dress!

I'm not sure what you mean by why are "they" trying to disrobe Muslim women? To whom are your referring? If you mean secularists, they are latecomers to the debate that has been going on among ourselves. By making it such a priority, we've brought the attention of the world onto ourselves. The whole world thinks it has a say now.

I spent about 15 minutes googling "hijab", non-hijabi", "male hijab", and "hijab not mandatory", looking for what is the norm on well established Muslim internet sites, and these were some of the links that came up:

http://www.soundvision.com/Info/news/hijab/hjb.nonhijabi.asp

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satelli...d=1119503544114

http://www.islamicvoice.com/october.98/zakir.htm

http://www.islamonline.com/cgi-bin/news_se...?service_id=192

http://www.modernmuslima.com/hijabmen.htm

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satelli.../AskAboutIslamE

http://www.themuslimwoman.com/HerDress/WhatHijabIs.htm

http://islam.worldofislam.info/index.php?o...6&Itemid=44

http://www.islamfortoday.com/women.htm#Hijab

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/humanrelations...hatishijab.html

http://www.allaahuakbar.net/womens/virtues_of_hijab.htm

http://www.themodernreligion.com/women/hijab-fear.html

http://www.messageonline.org/2004febmarch/cover1_opt.pdf

http://www.mwlusa.org/publications/positionpapers/hijab.html

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satelli.../AskAboutIslamE

http://muttaqun.com/malehijab.html

I chose those representing themselves as moderate informational sites. I did not include blogs, secular news articles, open forums, apologist or alarmist sites, although it is in those arenas that there is much more varied opinion and debate regarding the subject. That reflects the struggle going on in the real world. On the informational sites, there was very little doubt that hijab is highly preferred if not obligatory.

What is it with you and cheeze doodles lately????

szsz, you didn't answer my question earlier... do you cover your hair when you pray or go to the masjid?

For all who are interested.... "THE" Veiled Princess sporting "THE" aforementioned HIP Hot Pink Full Hijab

Is that really you VP?

what ever happened to thos stylish black bags that everyone wore in Saudi Arabia....everyone looks the same....a black bag....how do you personlize a black bag??

VP- Great colour pink!
I have a genuine question-
If your husband takes you out to eat, can you uncover then?

Why is there so much effort to convince women to disrobe?

Good question.

VP isn't a full time niqabi that i know of.

VP- Great colour pink!
I have a genuine question-
If your husband takes you out to eat, can you uncover then?

I too have a genuine question or two...can you go to work/the bank like that? And if you pick your kids up from school, do they make you unveil before letting the kids go?

VP- Great colour pink!
I have a genuine question-
If your husband takes you out to eat, can you uncover then?

My kids school knows it's me when I come to pick my kids up whether I'm veiled or not.
I don't wear the face veil most times and not to work. I do, however, wear pretty traditional Arab-style abayas and headscarves to work and no one seems to mind. I actually get compliments on many of the things I got in Egypt because they're so beautiful.

I don't think she was asking you if your husband lets you unveil. I think she was asking that if you do wear it out, and you go to a restaurant do you just take it off to eat or what do you do?

I've seen many niqabis in restaurants both here and in Egypt. They simply put the food or drink (usually they drink with a straw) under the niqab. They don't uncover to eat. Last time I was in Egypt I was watching (from the balcony) a niqabi drink juice (with a straw) on the street. It was rather humorous. The juice seemed to magically disappear from the glass. I imagine it could get rather messy eating while wearing niqab.

If I was going to eat while wearing niqab I would simply lift the veil and eat but I know some sisters don't like that and I saw them in restaurants in Egypt eating under the veil. It looks a little awkward but I guess you can do anything if you just get used to it.

I would think they'd have to clean that veil daily 'cause of the food and such that would spill on it. Kind of like a guy with a mustache and beard I guess. Although later on in the day you'd have leftovers if ya got hungry. Actually wearing that thing you could hide tons of snacks!

One of the great things about that thing, especially in Egypt, is that it would keep the dirt that's freely floating around in the air, off your face. I wish I had one in Egypt but Yousuf doesn't really care for them so I didn't wear it.
It's also nice in the winter when your face is frozen.
It's also nice when you're in a situation where there are a lot of men around and you just don't want that added attention.

My husband doesn't tell me when or what to cover so he also doesn't tell me when/what to uncover

..... but Yousuf doesn't really care for them so I didn't wear it.......

It's also nice when you're in a situation where there are a lot of men around and you just don't want that added attention.

This is contradictory....

No it's not.
There is a difference between someone allowing you or telling you what to do and you respecting their opinion. He also doesn't care much for when I wear all black so, purely out of respect for his opinion, I choose to wear something colorful when I'm with him and I don't send him pics or videos in which I'm wearing all black.

I hope you don't wear things that your husband hates if you know he doesn't like it and I hope he would respect your opinion in that way as well

One of the great things about that thing, especially in Egypt, is that it would keep the dirt that's freely floating around in the air, off your face. I wish I had one in Egypt but Yousuf doesn't really care for them so I didn't wear it.
It's also nice in the winter when your face is frozen.
It's also nice when you're in a situation where there are a lot of men around and you just don't want that added attention.

Here is someone else that understands the importance in veiling to deflect "unwanted attention".
Came up with the same solution also......

I think Lisa asked " if you only veil every now and then, why veil at all?" I am interested. Really. It's fascinating and I would like a better understanding. I always thought it was a religious gesture to veil. Like a full time commitment.
Thanks

I'm asking like if you were veiled, how would they actually know it's you? What if you and I are the same height and I put a veil similar to yours on...could I go pick up your kids and the teachers would be none the wiser?

What VP chooses to wear, and when and where to wear it -- whether or not another finds it to his or her own liking -- is her choice, her right, and her business.

It's ok to be curious and ask questions, and VP has really been quite patient and gracious about answering them. But I have to say that some of the comments here are really crossing the line from "innocent questions" into ridicule and personal attacks.

I am saddened (yet not surprised) to see that some of the unkindest remarks are coming from other women -- women who would likely characterize themselves as "liberated," yet for some reason feel the need to publicly snipe at another woman's choice of attire.

Meow.

It's ok to be curious and ask questions, and VP has really been quite patient and gracious about answering them. But I have to say that some of the comments here are really crossing the line from "innocent questions" into ridicule and personal attacks.

I am saddened (yet not surprised) to see that some of the unkindest remarks are coming from other women -- women who would likely characterize themselves as "liberated," yet for some reason feel the need to publicly snipe at another woman's choice of attire.

Meow.

Right on target!

What VP chooses to wear, and when and where to wear it -- whether or not another finds it to his or her own liking -- is her choice, her right, and her business.

It's ok to be curious and ask questions, and VP has really been quite patient and gracious about answering them. But I have to say that some of the comments here are really crossing the line from "innocent questions" into ridicule and personal attacks.

I am saddened (yet not surprised) to see that some of the unkindest remarks are coming from other women -- women who would likely characterize themselves as "liberated," yet for some reason feel the need to publicly snipe at another woman's choice of attire.

Meow.

By the way, mybackpages is no bandwagonist, either -- and if you think so, you are quite mistaken.