Rate this Article
10 TIPS FOR MUSLIM
ACTIVISTS TO DEAL WITH HIJAB
By Sound Vision Staff Writer
While Hijab is an obligation clearly ordained in the Quran and Sunnah,
it is only one of many Islamic obligations.
Yet, some Muslim organizations have heated debates about it, and sometimes
practice unacceptable behavior towards those Muslim women who do not wear
Hijab, to the point of excluding them or making them feel uncomfortable.
How can Muslim activists make their organizations and communities places
where the laws of Islam are upheld, but Muslims, men and women, are not
excluded? Where Hijab does not become a flash point? Below are some tips.
1. DO NOT JUDGE
This is key for activists. While some Muslims in a given setting may judge
non-Hijabis, activists and key figures in organizations and communities
must never fall into this kind of behavior.
Remember that we don't know a person's background: maybe the sister doesn't
know Hijab is an obligation; maybe she's from a culture where it is not
practiced; maybe she is from a family that has forced her to take it off;
or from a non-practicing family, or even a family that is hostile to Islam.
Harshness will lead non-Hijabi women to turn away from other Muslims,
and in many cases turn to non-Muslims.
“If they look around and they see Muslim activist women who are very
negative and exclusionary and overly critical then they are not going
to make them their friend,” says Sharifa Alkhateeb, vice-president
of the North American Council of Muslim Women. “If they [activist
Muslim women] want to influence the behavior of young women, they have
to, before anything else, become their friend.”
Which is the next tip.
2. IF YOU'RE A MUSLIM SISTER BE A FRIEND
“What young Muslim women need more than anything else is friendship,”
says Alkhateeb.
She explains that most of the time, they feel alienated and cannot befriend
their parents, who may reject their views or cannot relate to them. This
leads to young women searching for solace in friends outside the family.
This is why it is crucial that activist Muslim women extend a warm, friendly
hand to young Muslim women, whether in organizations or in the Muslim
community in general.
Alkhateeb also stresses that being a friend is not just speaking the words
of friendship.
“They think it's enough to say I love you, and I care about you,”
she says. But real friendship and caring “comes through living with
the person, being around the person.“
3. IF YOU'RE A BROTHER,
BE POLITE, TREAT HER WITH RESPECT
That essentially means practicing a brother's Islamic duty to lower his
gaze and guard his modesty. It also means not making the sister feel uncomfortable.
This includes not looking down at her, making rude gestures or comments
about her lack of Hijab.
4. ENCOURAGE HER TO
PARTICIPATE IN ISLAMIC ACTIVITIES
“It's only by mixing in the right company that someone who is contemplating
Hijab will have the strength and courage to make the final act,”
says Kathy Bullock, who began wearing Hijab two weeks after her conversion
to Islam.
This means that the open and welcoming attitude can't be reserved to just
a one-shot activity, like a dinner or an orientation session. It means
regular contact with other Muslims.
One method is a Halaqa. Most MSAs and Muslim communities offer a variety
of these, from mixed brother sister Halaqas, to gender-specific ones.
A sisters only Halaqa can allow for more comfortable and open discussion
and relations, and better bonding time, which can strengthen friendship
and sisterhood.
5. HAVE HER RESEARCH
THE QUESTION FOR A PRESENTATION
This was an approach Abdalla Idris Ali, Director of the Center for Islamic
Education in Kansas City, Misouri and a former Muslim high school principal,
used for a student who did not wear Hijab. He asked her to do a presentation
on the topic.
This method could be effective because it provides the basic information,
without any judgment or harshness. It is something the individual does
on her own.
This method can also be used for other topics, to encourage Muslims-i.e.
if a brother has missed Salat ul Juma a few times, a presentation on its
importance could serve as a reminder.
6. PROTECT HER FROM
THOSE WHO WILL CAUSE HER HARM
This is tricky but will be necessary. In many Islamic organizations and
Muslim communities, you will find those who wish to implement Islam using
what Alkhateeb describes as the “baseball bat” approach: with
harshness.
This must be resisted. If such a situation arises, fellow brothers and
sisters should stand by the non-Hijabi sister. It will not only serve
to be a “buffer” for the harsh comments, but it will indicate
her importance as part of the Muslim community/organization, and in the
long run, will be conducive to giving her advice.
7. GENTLY AND KINDLY EXPLAIN
TO OTHER MUSLIMS NOT TO JUDGE HER
Just as it is important for Muslims to remind each other of their obligations
to Allah, it is also important that activist Muslims gently explain to
others not to use the “baseball bat” approach. Talk to them
with proof from the Quran and Sunnah-that Islam calls for inviting people
to the good with wisdom; that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) was not harsh and intolerant in the face of others' weaknesses. Also
stress the gradual approach. Use many examples, as it seems the Muslims
who want to use the harsh approach often feel this is the Islamic way.
By providing solid examples from the Sunnah, they may become convinced
to change their way.
If this does not work, get a trusted scholar or knowledgeable Muslim or
Muslima to address them who both sides listen to and trust.
8. EMPHASIZE BUILDING IMAN (FAITH) FIRST
Islam was sent to the Prophet gradually, and Muslims today must also implement
Islam in this manner.
That means that before anyone speaks to a sister about Hijab, more important
aspects of the faith have to be emphasized: the basic beliefs, pillars,
the importance of praying five times a day, fasting in Ramadan, etc.
This gradual approach builds Iman and conviction, and in fact was the
method used by the Prophet.
“We fail to see any Ayah (verse of the Quran) pertaining to Hijab
in the entire Makkan revelation that was given to the Prophet, that's
almost 13 years. The injunctions about more detailed aspects relating
to the righteous Muslim community were revealed during the Medinan period.
Some in the middle, and later part of that period,” says Jamal Badawi,
a member of the North American Fiqh Council.
“This is a revealing lesson for us because it shows that Allah (s.w.t.)
knew in advance what injunctions He wanted to reveal,” he adds. “Yet
He delayed the revelation of those matters until many years or many, many
years of preparation on the level of Iman, submission to Allah, love of
Allah and the sincere desire to voluntarily obey Allah and His Messenger.
Once that base was established it wasn't difficult at all for the believing
women to willingly abide by the injunctions of Allah.
“This is similar to what happened also with the prohibition of intoxicants
where the same process of preparation took place to the point that when
the final prohibition of intoxicants was revealed it wasn't difficult
either for men to abide by that willingly and immediately.”
9. DON'T BE APOLOGETIC
What should not be forgotten though is that while the approach must be
gentle and kind, there must be no apologies for or hiding of Islamic teachings.
Once again, wisdom is necessary, but a sister must not be told that not
wearing Hijab is acceptable from an Islamic perspective.
“Muslim organizations have a duty to say what is right and to invite
in the best of manner women to cover and to support them when they do
so but that doesn't mean individuals should be judgmental when women are
not covering,” says Bullock.
10. WHEN SHE TAKES THE STEP, SUPPORT HER!
”There needs to be a lot more support for the women who decide to
cover,” says Bullock.
When a sister does adopt Hijab, she often needs all the help she can get,
in the face of angry parents, discriminatory employers and professors
or feminist friends or acquaintances.
This is where the friendship and openness come in. We must never think
our job is done once someone adopts any Islamic practice they were previously
not engaging in. This is a common mistake Muslims also make when dealing
with new Muslims.
We often spend a lot of time convincing an individual to accept Islam.
But once s/he does, we become cold and distant, with no desire to help
these brothers and sisters with the struggles being a new Muslim entail.
The hardest step is often AFTER the fact, not before it. Support, friendship,
and most importantly brother and sisterhood is crucial if, in many cases,
the practice is to be maintained.
More
on Hijab
Hijab Products
Your Comments
Zaynab, ottowa -
wrote on 3/13/2006 7:59:06 PM
Rating: 
Comment: i am amazed how if u wear a hijab and sometimes other people wear it to!!!!!!!!!!
And that u could find so much information about it to!
wusu abdulhakeem mauyon, lagos-Nigeria -
wrote on 10/11/2004 3:16:59 PM
Rating:
Comment: I am very much happy to see the write up.InshaAllah,I shall act according to those tips because Ihave many female students in the madrasah(Arabic & Islamic school) that I teach in who are not used to wearing Hijab.May Allah(SWT) continue to guide us right.Amin
nisa, singapore -
wrote on 8/26/2004 11:01:49 AM
Rating: 
Comment: i gez its a big issue now becoz of the discriminatory actions towards the veiled muslim girls. therefore these articles are present to give us veiled muslim women support and guidance.
i wore the hijab myself and ive participated in canoing, softball, hiking etc without taking off the hijab. it may be a lil uncomfortable at first, esp in the tropical conditions, but u will get used to it.frm my perspective, hijab shd not be a hindrance to wat u want to partake.
dayo, new jersey -
wrote on 8/25/2004 10:35:49 AM
Rating:
Comment: I am amazaed how caught up people get over Hijab or no hijab when there are mpre important issues affecting women like war,rape, physical abuse, murder,honor killings etc all issues perpetuated by so called muslim men.
Here's the thing - there are many obligatory laws in the holy koran. Why does this one occupy muslims more than others? Why are muslims not occupied with thou shall not lie, kill, fornicate, backbite, cheat, steal, rape etc. Why the cccupation with whether or not a woman puts a piece of cloth on her head or not?
The laws in the holy koran not a do or die issues. God laid down these laws to guide us through the school of life and at the same time God blessed us with independent judgement to decide and make choices. My choice is not to wear hijab and it makes me no less a muslim in God's eyes irrespective of what some misguided and prejudiced individuals might think. I am a 40 year old woman who has on 3 occasions ran the marathon, parachuted out of a plane, abseiled down the face of a mountain and indulged in a multitude of other high impact outdoor sport activities. It would be unrealistic, impractical not to even mention umcomfortable pursuing these outdoor activites in a long flowing gown and a piece of white cloth on my head. There might not be room for my safety helmet amongst other things. The same applies to all those muslim sisters who are practising doctors,surgeon, structural engineers, architects and the non muslim women who are astronauts to mention a few professions.
Could it possibly be that those misguided individuals who get into a twist over this issue would rather women remain relegated to the unknown, unseen and unheard as was the case in the past?
Post your comment
|
 |
 |
| Search |
|
| Search The Quran |
|
| Something to Ask... | | O Allah, I beg to You the good which Your Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) begged of You; and I seek refuge in You from the evil where from Your Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) sought refuge. You are the One from Whom help is sought and Your is the responsibility to communicate (the truth). There is no power or strength except with Allah the Exalted, the Great. |
|
 |
|
|
