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Alhamdulillah just finished a great session looking at why it has become so difficult for women to wear the hijab (khimar). Excellent questions and engagement.
Here is a summary of my thoughts today:
Here is a summary of my thoughts today:
There are a number of reasons why the hijab has become subject to challenge today. Chiefly, we live in hostile environments, east and west. This makes Muslim women an easy target. Our (underastandable) human desire to fit in makes us desire acceptance.
In this very challenging environment, the liberal state and media hail the 'Muslim feminist' like Samina Ali, that offer a 'reinterpretation' of text. Many young people view social media as their primary source of information and adopt without question, spurious arguments.
The problem is, like all aspects of modern life, we do not study the primary texts nor the secondary commentary. Experts are reduced to 'the patriarchy' or 'backwards'. I demonstrated how this is a superficial way to view Islamic evidence and scholarly expertise.
Let's study our deen. Let's familirise ourselves with the necessary daleel. We all have the capacity, yet liberal society reduces us to superficial, unthinking consumers. Islam raised the human being (women and men) to thinking beings.
If you want to 'fight the patriarchy' then fight the media moguls, brand influencers and intellectual elites that want to tell you how to think. This is a colonial project that has been pursued for over a century - to 'liberate' Muslim women was to undermine Muslim society.
However remember, 'fighting the patriarchy' really means that you should 'free' yourself of every responsible man in your life that looks out for you. This is, as Schumaker argues, you then become an autonomous consumer ready to be exploited.
Of course that does not mean that Muslim society doesn't have its problems. Many men have forgotten their Islamic obligations. To remedy this we have to assert our Islamic rights. Only then can we all move forward in a respectful way.
Hijab is an obligation from our Lord. Let's help each other to this good in the best way using the best manners. My message today was unless Muslim women reassert their Islamic obligations in the correct way, others will normalise a fashion that undermines this sacred duty.
Inshallah the presentation today will be available on http://www.thinkingmuslim.com soon.
