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More about the hijab - MuslimVillage Forums
Just an observation...
I have noticed a lot more girls in Sydney wearing the hijab, irrespective of whether they are wearing it the "right" or "wrong" way, there just seems to be more girls wearing it here.
And not in Lakemba or Bankstown or other suburbs where there are a lotta Muslim, but in the city...
I obviously havent surveyed anyone or seen anything about research about it, but I have thought about why more women/girls seem to be wearing the hijab and I really think it's a two-fold thing (maybe three):
1.
Backlash against all this anti-Muslim sentiment and accusations of all Muslims being terrorists
2.
Rejection of the so-called immoral West that just seems to be getting more and more promiscuous
3.
Probably a bit of parents making their girls wear it (probably because of reasons 1 mainly and 2 slightly)
I really think that 1 is the primary reason that more girls are starting to wear the hijab and while 2 is also a major reason, 1 is the dominant one.
And that 3 is a slighter one.
I'd be really interested to know what other members think?
Demeter
This post has been edited by demeter : Aug 22 2006, 02:43 PM
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I think that is a great observation!
If you ever see me in the city please dont be afraid to stop and have a chat
I have been wearing the hijab for half my life
Id also like to say that Muslim women wear the hijab for other reasons, in my opinion only a minority would wear the hijab for the reasons you stated above.
The hijab is worn to please our Creator, it is stated in the Quran and the Prophet Muhammed ( ) also spoke of its importance on the beautiful Muslim woman
This post has been edited by Aqua : Aug 22 2006, 03:07 PM
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I started wearing the Hijab 'full time' when I started high school (a stage where maturity kicks in) , before all of the reasons you stated above occurred.
Ma ki du'a
Jannat ki hawa
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All of the girls i know who have adopted the hijab have done it for the sake of Allah not for any of the reasons you stated or any other reasons.
MashAllah, good on them!
hope that helps
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Aqua - ur soooo funny!!!
I do understand that the wearing of the hijab is supposed to be a representation of a woman's faith in God, that it's supposed to protect her and make other people see her as a person, not as an object (I hope I got that right?), but what I am saying is that while that maybe true...
The recent events may have made some women's faith stronger and desire to show the world that they are not ashamed to be a Muslim, despite how the media has been portraying them....
I just honestly think that all the "terrorism" being laid squarely on Muslims must make a lotta Muslims upset to be (mis)represented in such a bad way in the media, that it is just strengthening their belief in God and maybe making the community stick together more and therefore giving more credence to the hijab as a way of showing the rest of the world that they are proud of who they are...
Now I do also know that a lot of women have been wearing the hijab for a long time, before any of this nonsense in the world started happened....
I am not talking about those women, I am referring to the ones who didnt wear it before but since the problems with "terrorism" happened, they have reconsidered their thoughts about it and started wearing it...
Do you get what I am saying?
I am not being so eloquent in my words, but I hope you understand...
I could be completely wrong in my thinking....
Demeter
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Btw FlyinGenie -- we use MashAllah in my language to mean the same thing too....
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Hi demeter,
I think the increase in women wearing hijab is simply due to both the increase in the number of Muslims in Sydney these days, as well as the general awareness of the obligation to Allah to wear the hijab, especially as more and more "name-only" muslims are finding their faith once again.
One other thing, I'm not sure how old you are, but 20 years ago a woman wearing hijab in the streets of Sydney had a good chance of being spat on.
I have spoken to friends' mothers and they have told me of incidents of this happening.
Alhamdulillah today this is not the case, although it is still sometimes a means of discrimination.
May Allah give our sisters in Islam tayseer.
wasalaam
sam
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Demeter, i see what you are saying...maybe you are right, perhaps the misrepresentation and attack on Islam has made many more Muslims conscious of their religion.
But i would still say that the majority would be doing it for the sake of Allah, regardless of how they came to be more conscious of their duty to Him.
the same language?
You mean arabic?
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Hi demeter
I decided to wear the hijab six years ago not long after I reverted to Islam.
My main motivation was to please God and perfect my Islamic practices.
It was a difficult step to take because of its implications at work and with family.
Now, I also wear it because I'm proud to be identified as a Muslim.
Kind regards
Safiyyah
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Salaams Demeter
I think you may be right - it could be a recognition thing or a representation thing - rather than a religious ideal.
There are just as many women who don't wear it than do, so they can't be considered any less religious than those that wear it.
Also if they are following the strict letter of the law, covering your head is not mentioned in the Quran, but drawing a cloak around you - to not show your body - is, so some of the fashion statements that are being made today sort of nullify the reasons for wearing hijab in the first place.
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FlyinGenie -- my language is Macedonian and because we have a lotta Turkish influence in our language and culture, there are sooo many Arabic words in our language and Mash'Allah is one of them Means the same thing too...
See, we're all here to learn about each other
And thanks for the feedback guys....
I totally agree with you all that for a lotta Mulsims, it represents your faith in God and your personal relationship with him and wanting to please God...
I just think that the attacks on Islam has probably been a factor in making Muslims more aware of themselves and their religion and to hold steadfast onto it and not waver in the face of these attacks....
Geez, to have someone spit on you for being whatever (insert religion/race/sex) is just awful....
That must have been hard on those women...
It is good that its not like that today...
There is more tolerance today (somewhat)...
Yeah the Koran does talk about covering yourself with your cloak and being modest, everyone seems to have their own interpretation of what "hijab" means...
Saffiyah, Kaluzzi, everyone else -- good on you for having the strength of your convictions...
Demeter
This post has been edited by demeter : Aug 22 2006, 06:41 PM
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Thanks demeter
Quote: Also if they are following the strict letter of the law, covering your head is not mentioned in the Quran, but drawing a cloak around you - to not show your body
That is partly true.
I believe the Qur'an asks us to cover everything except for the face, hands and feet.
So I think that in itself, includes the head =)
Ma ki du'a
Jannat ki hawa
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Quote: FlyinGenie -- my language is Macedonian and because we have a lotta Turkish influence in our language and culture, there are sooo many Arabic words in our language and Mash'Allah is one of them Means the same thing too...
[right][snapback]398548[/snapback][/right]
hey cool!
I love learning about linguistics and culture in terms of human geography.
I'll file that piece of info away for the moment
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Quote: Thanks demeter
That is partly true.
I believe the Qur'an asks us to cover everything except for the face, hands and feet.
So I think that in itself, includes the head =)
[right][snapback]398550[/snapback][/right]
Well I am not so sure - this may be just my opinion - but I believe that the interpretation is lost along the way.
If Allah wanted us to be so strict with our dress sense then surely He would have clarified it a lot better.
Maybe the male interpreters drew a harsher picture - some of the Wahhabi interpretations are absolutely ridiculous.
However there are many women today that do not wear a head covering - loosely called a hijab, because I believe that whole ideal of hijab can be accomplished without covering your head.
I believe that respect in dress and modesty is what Allah want's from us - not to be too wonton in our display of ourselves.
However I disagree with this notion that you have to look like an Arab to be considered Muslim - that is one of the big problems we have in this country - no-one has made any concession for the fact that we live in this country and we don't need to dress like we are in downtown Jeddah.
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Huh? since when does wearing hijab make you look arab??
It makes you like like a Muslim, period.
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Blikees -- thanks for your input
FlyinGenie -- I think that Bilkees means that people in the west associate the hijab with Arabs (not just Muslims)...
And I think thats a fairly valid point...
Because that is how I thought before I even knew of the religion, I just thought of women dressed like that as Arabs....
When I was young and knew nothing about Islam...
Personally, I need to research this a bit more and get myself a better version of the translation of the Qu'ran.
The one I have is a Penguin one and it is rather archaic and not a good translation (I have browsed others in the shops and they are much nicer)...
And maybe I could brush up on my Arabic while I'm at it, it's probably best read when you are reading the original text and not a translation...
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Demeter, if you re-read bilkees' post i don't think that is what she meant at all.
But i'll let her clarify and take it from there.
in terms of the Qur'an it would be best to not only get a good interpretation but also read the tafseer (explanation) and hadiths as well.
This link will help you, God willing:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/
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Quote: huh? since when does wearing hijab make you look arab??
It makes you like like a Muslim, period.
[right][snapback]399160[/snapback][/right]
I heard the same silly notion a week ago.
I wasnt wearing the hijab, and someone came up to me and told me I didnt look Muslim because I dont look Arab.
What the
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Quote: I heard the same silly notion a week ago.
I wasnt wearing the hijab, and someone came up to me and told me I didnt look Muslim because I dont look Arab.
What the
[right][snapback]399171[/snapback][/right]
Yeah, people often ask me if i'm Catholic.
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Quote: demeter, if you re-read bilkees' post i don't think that is what she meant at all.
But i'll let her clarify and take it from there.
in terms of the Qur'an it would be best to not only get a good interpretation but also read the tafseer (explanation) and hadiths as well.
This link will help you, God willing:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/
[right][snapback]399169[/snapback][/right]
jazak Allah kheir sis,
that's a great link!
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Quote: Yeah, people often ask me if i'm Catholic.
[right][snapback]399174[/snapback][/right]
a true Quote: :
Quote: So....
When did you convert to Lebanese?
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Thanks for the URL FlyinGenie....
I am like a sponge, I have to have information!!
Lol
And thats really cool that the Uni of Southern Cali has such a pro-Muslim part of their site!!
Surprising... but good...
As for bilkees comments -- thats just the way I took them...maybe you guys know each other better....
Anyway, bilkees -- what did u mean?
This post has been edited by demeter : Aug 24 2006, 12:53 AM
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I used to get asked at school, all the time if I was Muslim.
I wore full hijiab.
Who was I asked by?
Not the non-Muslims, but...
The Muslims!!
Apparently you aren't a "true" Muslim if you aren't Arab
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Quote: Apparently you aren't a "true" Muslim if you aren't Arab
[right][snapback]399346[/snapback][/right]
well in that case i dont have much hope
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Quote: I used to get asked at school, all the time if I was Muslim.
I wore full hijiab.
Who was I asked by?
Not the non-Muslims, but...
The Muslims!!
[right][snapback]399346[/snapback][/right]
I answered my front door to a man just last week - he is an acquaintance of my husband and a person I'd never met.
I'm standing at the door in full hijab and he asks me "are you Muslim?".
Of course, I said yes.
He excitedly responded "me too!".
Back on topic though, I have noticed that there are alot more hijabis around, but I put it down to the fact that I am a hijabi of only 2 years and am looking for like minded people.
It's a strange comparison, but you know when you're looking to buy something and you notice it in every catalogue?
I kinda put it in the same catergory.
This post has been edited by hijabikel : Aug 24 2006, 10:45 AM
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Quote: FlyinGenie -- my language is Macedonian and because we have a lotta Turkish influence in our language and culture, there are sooo many Arabic words in our language and Mash'Allah is one of them Means the same thing too...
[right][snapback]398548[/snapback][/right]
yeeeheee another european
have i velcomed u demeter>??
veLkum!!!
pS: i got nothing against n.o.n.e.u.r.o.p.e.a.n.s
Was Salaam
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Lol compLicated!!
No u forgot to welcome me....
Hehehe
But I'll take that as a very nice welcome
Where are you from?
Germany? Nederlands?
And by the way, this forum is a really nice one -- it really has got a good feel about it...
The moderator obviously wants it to be a positive place
This post has been edited by demeter : Aug 24 2006, 01:32 PM
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Thanks for the defence girls.
But I think some of you answered the question anyway - it seems that you need to be dressed like an Arab to be considered a Muslim.
My theory is this - not all Muslims are Arabs and not all Arabs are Muslims.
We have to understand the diversity of this religion and it pains me to see 3rd and 4th generation Australians walking around in Abayas and stuff - that is totally foreign to them - because they don't feel as though they are real Muslims unless they do....
As a 4th gen Australian living in a small country town - the only Muslim family - I had a fairly strict upbringing (no boyfriends etc.
Arranged marriage and such) - but I still enjoyed the company of my small town - sports on Saturdays, school dances, prom night etc.
It seems that as the Muslim population has grown over the last 20 years it has become more conservative than ever before, and I don't believe that is a good thing.
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Quote: Where are you from?
Germany? Nederlands?
[right][snapback]399516[/snapback][/right]
bosnia
glad you like the forum\those peeps of great help ha
Was Salaam
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Quote: bosnia
glad you like the forum\those peeps of great help ha
So what language(s) do ya speak?
I speak Macedonian quite well and not bad with Serbo-Croatian...
I thot u musta been from Germany/Nederlands, cos of the "Velkom"...
Lol
Demeter
This post has been edited by demeter : Aug 27 2006, 12:16 AM
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