Dress in Islam

Rather than give you a play by play of my time in Malaysia, I’d like to let you read experts from a pamphlet I picked up at the Malaysian National Mosque. I’m not posting this here to laugh at or make fun of what they have to say. I just think it’s really interesting to take a minute to think about things from the “other side.” It’s rare that one is able to see things through another’s eyes, so I’d thought I’d share this opportunity with you. Furthermore, though I clearly don’t agree with everything they write, some of their points are actually valid.

Dress in Islam

“The very same headscarf revered as a sign of ‘holiness’ when worn by Catholic Nuns, is reviled as a sign of ‘oppression’ when worn by Muslim women.”

Western politicians and media criticize Islam as anti-women. … Just about everything that feminists in the West strived for in the ‘70s was already available to Muslim women 1400 years ago. Woman enjoy more protection and respect within Islam compared to any other faith. … In the spiritual realm, women are equal to men as the only distinction amongst the Believers is the level of their piety. Western politicians and media portray Islam as anti-women’s rights by highlighting cultural and political practices in Muslim lands that have nothing to do with Islam. …Muslims regard the West’s attacks on Islam as nothing by hypocrisy as reflected in their backing of groups that suppress human rights in Muslim lands. The hegemonic control of the oil and natural gas reserves in Muslim lands is the primary goal of the Western powers. … Every aspect of Islam is now under a magnifying glass – to search for subjects to distort and misrepresent Islam as backward and violent. They do not spare even the hijab, the dress of the Muslim women. They highlight it as ‘proof’ of women’s servitude in Islam. … The Muslim woman seeks spiritual beauty. Her hijab is an external expression of her inner commitment to lead a way of life that pleases Allah The Most Merciful. Rather than make rules of dress styles, Islam teaches both men and women how to be modest and humble in their dressing. The dress of the Muslims must be loose enough to hide the shape of the body. … Islam does not require a person to dress totally in black, blue, or green. Only saffron, the color associated with polytheists, is prohibited as dress color for Muslims. … Most hijab wearing women do not cover their face and hands. A small though highly visible minority wear a face veil (niqab). They have been harassed and discriminated in the ‘liberal’ West. … Cultural practices and personal choices are constantly highlighted to portray Islam as a backward religion that needs modernization. .. Islam redirects humankind from the false worship of created things to the true worship of The Lord of all created things.