Muslims: Why do women need to cover themselves because men have no self control?

Just a question from a curious Christian: Why are women forced to cover their heads and hair for ';modesty'; (in some extreme forms of your religion, their entire bodies and heads, making them into some inhuman lump of cloth rather than a PERSON)?





It is so men are not ';tempted'; since apparently they cannot control themselves?





So then why aren't men held to task, learn responsibility for themselves, and control themselves and respect women on their own?





Why do women have to be oppressed because men aren't able to respect women as people and they might be ';urged'; to do something like have a sexual urge if a woman shows an ankle?





Seems like just an excuse to let men off scott free and oppress women instead of holding men to account and ensuring they are controlling THEMSELVES and having responsibility for THEMSELVES instead of blaming women for ';encouraging'; their sexual urges.Muslims: Why do women need to cover themselves because men have no self control?
Have you ever considered that may be it makes them feel free? Just because it does not make you feel free, it doesn't mean that it doesn't make them feel free.





Edit: I've been told by some Muslim women that it makes them feel free and I'll take their word for it.Muslims: Why do women need to cover themselves because men have no self control?
our women are not public property like western women


animals have sex without marriage
i think this is muslim law
NOP! It's not because men can't control themselves. It's merely to look modest. Even men are to dress modestly. We men can't wear shorts which go above our knees. We are ordered to lower our gazes and not peep around.





Why Hijab? Listen to Muslim women themselves.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZVYJNvau…





Read this. This is very good.





Why I Shed Bikini for Niqab: The New Symbol of Women's Liberation





By Sara Bokker





Sara Bokker is a former actress/model/fitness instructor and activist. Currently, Sara is Director of Communications at ';The March For Justice,'; a co-founder of ';The Global Sisters Network,'; and producer of the infamous ';Shock %26amp; Awe Gallery.'; She converted to Islam.


http://www.darulkautsar.com/keindahanisl…





And I quote here:





I bought a beautiful long gown and head cover resembling the Muslim woman's dress code and I walked down the same streets and neighborhoods where only days earlier I had walked in my shorts, bikini, or ';elegant'; western business attire. Although the people, the faces, and the shops were all the same, one thing was remarkably distinct--I was not--nor was the peace at being a woman I experienced for the very first time. I felt as if the chains had been broken and I was finally free. I was delighted with the new looks of wonder on people's faces in place of the looks of a hunter watching his prey I had once sought. Suddenly a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I no longer spent all my time consumed with shopping, makeup, getting my hair done, and working out. Finally, I was free.








Also:


The Elegance of the Modest Woman


by R. Stevenson (North York), The Toronto Star, January 23, 2002





I quote:





We observed the two Muslim women as they were engaged in close conversation over coffee. Their graceful features complimented their dark headscarves and warm eyes. Their natural gestures were flirty without even trying - revealing natural beauty. And their clothes, while conservative, brought forth the hidden potential of something wonderful and truly feminine.





The idea of dressing modestly terrifies some western women - but why? Perhaps it would trample their ';right'; to show off. Would their self-esteem fall along with their hemlines?





After some debates, we identified the cost of the western ';right'; to flaunt. The Muslim women were free from the fashion trap - free to ';just be'; without posing, comparing, dieting and spending for the approval of men and each other. And they looked more desirable to us than the exhibitionists who were in the restaurant and parading on the sidewalk.





The sexual displays in our culture are so mainstream and competitive that modesty is seen as regressive. Yet, long term, when a man looks past the tight pants and heels, he will ultimately detect not confidence, but a certain unattractive desperation. Modest women don't have that desperation - they don't compete in the arena of vanity. They have themselves - and that's the kind of attraction with legs to last the long run.





Remember that the next time you feel sorry for a Muslim woman





Also:


Women in Islam Versus Women in the Judaeo-Christian Tradition


The Myth and The Reality


http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/w_islam…
1.An act of obedience.





The hijab is an act of obedience to Allah and to his prophet (pbuh), Allah says in the Qur'an: `It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed strayed in a plain error.' (S33:36).





Allah also said: 'And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc) and not to show off their adornment except what must (ordinarily) appear thereof, that they should draw their veils over their Juyubihinna.'(S24:31).





Juyubihinna: The respected scholars from As-Salaf As-Saleh (righteous predecessors) differed whether the veil cover of the body must include the hands and face or not. Today, respected scholars say that the hands and face must be covered. Other respected scholars say it is preferable for women to cover their whole bodies.





2.The Hijab is IFFAH (Modesty).





Allah (subhana wa'atala) made the adherence to the hijab a manifestation for chastity and modesty. Allah says: 'O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies (when outdoors). That is most convenient that they should be known and not molested.' (S33:59). In the above Ayaah there is an evidence that the recognition of the apparent beauty of the woman is harmful to her. When the cause of attraction ends, the restriction is removed. This is illustrated in the case of elderly women who may have lost every aspect of attraction. Allah (swt) made it permissible for them to lay aside their outer garments and expose their faces and hands reminding, however, that is still better for them to keep their modesty.





3.The hijab is Tahara (Purity)





Allah (swt) had shown us the hikma (wisdom) behind the legislation of the hijab: `And when you ask them (the Prophet's wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and their hearts.' (S33:53).





The hijab makes for greater purity for the hearts of believing men and women because it screens against the desire of the heart. Without the hijab, the heart may or may not desire. That is why the heart is more pure when the sight is blocked (by hijab) and thus the prevention of fitna (evil actions is very much manifested. The hijab cuts off the ill thoughts and the greed of the sick hearts:





`Be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.' (S33:32)





4.The hijab is a Shield





The prophet (pbuh) said: ';Allah, Most High, is Heaven, is Ha'yeii (Bashful), Sit'teer (Shielder). He loves Haya' (Bashfulness) and Sitr (Shielding; Covering).'; The Prophet (pbuh) also said: ';Any woman who takes off her clothes in other than her husband's house (to show off for unlawful purposes), has broken Allah's shield upon her. ';The hadith demonstrates that depending upon the kind of action committed there will be either reward (if good) or punishment (if bad).





5. The hijab is Taqwah (Righteousness)





Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an: `O children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc) and as an adornment. But the raiment of righteousness, that is better.'(S7:26). The widespread forms of dresses in the world today are mostly for show off and hardly taken as a cover and shield of the woman's body. To the believing women, however the purpose is to safeguard their bodies and cover their private parts as a manifestation of the order of Allah. It is an act of Taqwah (righteousness).





6.The hijab is Eemaan (Belief or Faith)





Allah (swt) did not address His words about the hijab except to the believing women, Al-Mo'minat. In many cases in the Qur'an Allah refers to the ';the believing women';. Aisha (RA), the wife of the prophet (pbuh), addressed some women from the tribe of Banu Tameem who came to visit her and had light clothes on them, they were improperly dressed: ';If indeed you are believing women, then truly this is not the dress of the believing women, and if you are not believing women, then enjoy it.';





7. The hijab is Haya' (Bashfulness)





There are two authentic hadith which state: ';Each religion has a morality and the morality of Islam is haya''; AND ';Bashfulness is from belief, and belief is in Al-Jannah (paradise)';. The hijab fits the natural bashfulness which is a part of the nature of women.





8.The hijab is Gheerah





The hijab fits the natural feeling of Gheerah, which is intrinsic in the straight man who does not like people to look at his wife or daughters. Gheerah is a driving emotion that drives the straight man to safeguard women who are related to him from strangers. The straight MUSLIM man has Gheerah for ALL MUSLIM women In response to lust and desire, men look (with desire) at other women while they do not mind that other men do the same to their wives or daughters. The mixing of sexes and absence of hijab destroys the Gheera in men. Islam considers Gheerah an integral part of faith. The dignity of the wife or daughter or any other Muslim woman must be highly respected and defended.
It wasn't that long ago that Christian women were supposed to cover their heads.
I've often wondered the same thing! Great question!
Yah, really, if Muslim men are so holy- they shouldn't even BE tempted, now, would they?





Guess they would have to admit they are just as piggish as all the rest of the big hairless Apes, wouldn't they?
may Peace Mercy and blessings of Allah(swt) be on all of you.





Next time read your Bible before pointing fingre at Islam.





Bible says in 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 Verse 5-6





';every women who prays with her head uncovered dishonours her head her head should be shaved off.if a women is not covered let her also be shorn.but if it is shameful for a women to be shorn to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.''





Bible says in 1 timothy Chapter 2 Verse 9





''In like manner also that the women adorn her self in modest apparel, with properiety and moderation.not with braided hair of gold or pearl or costly clothing.''





So your bible clearly says that if women doesnt cover her head her head shud be shaved off right?





Also Accordin to your bible women are nto allowed to wear gold and other jewellery and they should dress up modestly by covering themselves right ?





I dont know why you are making so much fus with Islamic Hijab .may be you have not seen the statute of Mother Marry in a Catholic Church. she is totally dressed up like ';'Muslimah'' by the Grace of God(full body covered accept hands and feet) .





now comming to your question why women need to cover themselves in islam?





They need to because its best for them ,its modest ,its decent and it Prevents them from molesation ,uplifts them by making them being recognised as respectable women who are not interested in any immodest act with the opposite sex.





Lets analise Islamic Hijab in the light of logic history and factual examples.








Islam uplifted women and gave them equality and expects them to maintain their status.





Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.





Hijaab for men





People usually only discuss ‘hijaab’ in the context of women. However, in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijaab’ for men before ‘hijaab’ for the women. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Noor:





';Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.';


[Al-Qur’an 24:30]





The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.





Hijaab for women.





The next verse of Surah Noor, says:





'; And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons...';


[Al-Qur’an 24:31]








3.


Six criteria for Hijaab.


According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing hijaab:





Extent:





The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male is to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the extent of covering obligatory is to cover the complete body except the face and the hands upto the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body. Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands are part of the obligatory extent of ‘hijaab’.





All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.





The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.





The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see through them.





The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.





The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.





The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.








4.


Hijaab includes conduct and behaviour among other things





Complete ‘hijaab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijaab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijaab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijaab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijaab’ of the eyes, ‘hijaab’ of the heart, ‘hijaab’ of thought and ‘hijaab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.





5.


Hijaab prevents molestation


The reason why Hijaab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Qur’an in the following verses of Surah Al-Ahzab:





';O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.';


[Al-Qur’an 33:59]





The Qur’an says that Hijaab has been prescribed for the women so that they are recognized as modest women and this will also prevent them from being molested.








6.


Example of twin sisters





Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down the street. One of them is attired in the Islamic hijaab i.e. the complete body is covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, a mini skirt or shorts. Just around the corner there is a hooligan or ruffian who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? The girl wearing the Islamic Hijaab or the girl wearing the skirt or the mini? Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt or the mini. Such dresses are an indirect invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. The Qur’an rightly says that hijaab prevents women from being molested.





7.


Capital punishment for the rapists





Under the Islamic shariah, a man convicted of having raped a woman, is given capital punishment. Many are astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence. Some even say that Islam is a ruthless, barbaric religion! I have asked a simple question to hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose, God forbid, someone rapes your wife, your mother or your sister. You are made the judge and the rapist is brought in front of you. What punishment would you give him? All of them said they would put him to death. Some went to the extent of saying they would torture him to death. To them I ask, if someone rapes your wife or your mother you want to put him to death. But if the same crime is committed on somebody else’s wife or daughter you say capital punishment is barbaric. Why should there be double standards?





8.


Western society falsely claims to have uplifted women





Western talk of women’s liberalization is nothing but a disguised form of exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honour. Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’ women. On the contrary it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers, hidden behind the colourful screen of ‘art’ and ‘culture’.





9.


USA has one of the highest rates of rape





United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any country in the world. According to a FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average 1756 cases of rape were committed in U.S.A alone. Later another report said that on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes are committed in USA. The year was not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans got ‘bolder’ in the following years.





Consider a scenario where the Islamic hijaab is followed in America. Whenever a man looks at a woman and any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic hijaab, that is the complete body is covered except the face and the hands upto the wrist. After this if any man commits rape he is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such a scenario, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?








10.


Implementation of Islamic Shariah will reduce the rate of rapes


Naturally as soon as Islamic Shariah is implemented positive results will be inevitable. If Islamic Shariah is implemented in any part of the world, whether it is America or Europe, society will breathe easier. Hijaab does not degrade a woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity .





hope this answers ur question in detail.





May Peace Mercy and Blessings of Allah(swt) be on all of you.
I kind of wonder why western women feel the need to expose everything they have?





I worked in Southbeach Miami for awhile and I saw a family of Muslims walking the women covered head to toe in scarfs and dresses and the men in suits. They were walking along observing the sights...one of the sights was a rollerblading women in a thong and nothing at all else.


I wondered what the men must have thought about that!
Yeah you are right... THE BIBLE GOD WANTS YOU TO BARE IT ALL!!!





A LOT OF PROPHETS OF GOD WERE PREACHING AROUND NAKED FOR YOU!


1 Samuel 19 24 He* (*King Saul) STRIPPED OFF HIS ROBES and also prophesied in Samuel's presence. HE LAY THAT WAY ALL THAT DAY AND NIGHT. This is why people say, ';Is Saul also among the prophets?';* (*at that time, all the prophets of God were going around naked! That’s how King Saul was recognized as another prophet of God! This is the “naked truth” in the Bible!)





KING DAVID DANCED BEFORE THE LORD WITH HIS GENITALS EXPOSED.


2 Samuel 6:14, 20-23 * David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might... [20] When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, ';HOW THE KING OF ISRAEL HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF TODAY, DISROBING IN THE SIGHT OF THE SLAVE GIRLS OF HIS SERVANTS AS ANY VULGAR FELLOW WOULD!'; David said to Michal, ';IT WAS BEFORE THE LORD… I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by THESE SLAVE GIRLS YOU SPOKE OF, I WILL BE HELD IN HONOR.'; And Michal daughter of Saul* (* the king who prophesied naked before the LORD) had no children to the day of her death.





(Read the whole story in full context by yourself! The lesson in the Bible is that no wife can complain about any husband dancing naked exposing his genitals before some girls and the LORD! Or the husband is authorized to stop having sex with his wife until she dies!)





HOW ABOUT GOING NAKED FOR THREE (3) YEARS AS A SIGN AND A WONDER UPON SOME ODDBALL FOREIGN COUNTRIES? You don’t have to say anything… just go about your daily chores totally NAKED – Hey, Christians got themselves a God that excels in refinements! This prophet prophesied the “virgin birth”.


Isaiah 20:2-3 (KJV) At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking NAKED and barefoot. And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked NAKED AND BAREFOOT THREE YEARS for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;





THE YOUNG PROPHET MICAH WOULD GET INTO A GODLY MOOD OF GOING NAKED AND DOING A STRANGE NUMBER ON HIMSELF!


Micah 1:8 Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and NAKED. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.
I suppose I'd better leap to hijabs defense,


often hijab is tyed with being 'liberated from the beauty contest', alot of normal christian woman are likely to spend a while buying and applying make-up, clothes .etc, and also be embarrased wearing the wrong/no make-up or clothes.


It also means you cannot judge someone by their appearence, you may deny it but we all are suspicious of someones personality and are forced to assume what they are like before we know them which could hinder the latter.


You may judge a blonde with bright pink lipstick and bright blue eyeliner as many things but probably wouldn't realise she could be head of a chess club, you see?


It's not neceassairly sexual based.
It is a woman's choose to wear hijab ( the headscaff ) and it is to do with dressing modestly and to show she is a faithful Muslim and that she does not want to be viewed in a sexual manner
it represents their lack of faith in an all powerful God
I totally agree, however the hijab is a symbol of the believing Muslim woman above anything else. It's not even mentioned in the Qu'ran, aside from the emphasis on modest clothing. It was adopted by the wives and daughters of the prophet and his companions as a way of differentiating between Muslims and non. Pre-Islamic Arabia regarded women as property and so the ';nomadic'; women who were seen out in public were immediately branded as the fallen woman (prostitute), therefore to a certain extent within Arabia the hijab was a form of protection.
AWESOME QUESTION! I too would like to know that since God created woman to complete a man and be his helper I would assume the only reason would be another example of a dictatorship oppression.





Muslim women are people too. NOT objects!





Okay that is a bunch of CR*P! I know women that used to be muslim and came to their senses and they do not describe having a choice in any way shape or form!





And if it is to show devotion to their men and the men respect this, then why are so many Muslim women raped and tortured? Eeeeh, wrong answer guys, try again!
What. Would you blame men for being human? No way. Lay the blame where it belongs, with the evil women.