How can a Muslim woman consider it Honorable to wear the headscarf?

[Pegg]

It is a statement of intention. Even if you think that a hijab makes a women look more attractive, most men will not approach her given her hijab. It is a statement of not being interested sorry.

i dont really understand how this could be so

If young girls are wearing hijab, then how do those young girls grow into women who become married women... surely somewhere along the way she has to indicate to a man that she IS interested

 

[Falvlun]

Yeah most women wear silk hijabs on a day to day basis?

Besides you miss the point of an hijab.

It is a statement of intention. Even if you think that a hijab makes a women look more attractive, most men will not approach her given her hijab. It is a statement of not being interested sorry.

Sorry for being unclear: My point in posting that comment and picture was that women need not inherently be ashamed of wearing a hijab. It is not an inherently dishonorable thing for a woman to cover her head; it is something she can be proud of, too.

Now, as I write this, I realize that "pride" is definitely not the point of the hijab either. Just wanted to point out that, in addition to all the religious reasons, a woman can feel good about wearing one too.

By and by, what about single women? Maybe they are interested. How do you meet possible suitors if the hijab is saying "Stay away. Not interested."?

 

[Falvlun]

Woops. Missed your post, Pegg. You're asking the same thing.

 

[SLAMH]

If young girls are wearing hijab, then how do those young girls grow into women who become married women... surely somewhere along the way she has to indicate to a man that she IS interested

By and by, what about single women? Maybe they are interested. How do you meet possible suitors if the hijab is saying "Stay away. Not interested."?

Excellent, good point :clap

 

[Bismillah]

If young girls are wearing hijab, then how do those young girls grow into women who become married women... surely somewhere along the way she has to indicate to a man that she IS interested

Normally it is known around the community if someone is looking to be married.

 

[fatima_bintu_islam]

Excellent, good point :clap

Just a simple question brother: Are you against Hijab?

I hope I misundertood your posts Inshallah

 

[Sahar]

i dont really understand how this could be so

If young girls are wearing hijab, then how do those young girls grow into women who become married women... surely somewhere along the way she has to indicate to a man that she IS interested

I think the path of marriage is different from walking in the streets, malls and work sending a message to every man "look at me, I want to be a married woman".

 

[beenie]

I think the path of marriage is different from walking in the streets, malls and work sending a message to every man "look at me, I want to be a married woman".

that's not how most non-muslims get married either.
generalizations are what get us all into trouble.

 

[Rakhel]

that's not how most non-muslims get married either.
generalizations are what get us all into trouble.

Yeah, If you are like my uncle, you order your bride from a mail-order catalog.

 

[Pegg]

that's not how most non-muslims get married either.
generalizations are what get us all into trouble.

haha, i knew abibi had made a generalization which is why i asked about how young girls become married women. I think the wearing of the hijab is much more significant then this.


although im wondering if parents arrange marriages for most young girls? i know that is a custom in many cultures...perhaps girls dont need to find a marriage mate because a mate is found for them.

 

[Badran]

although im wondering if parents arrange marriages for most young girls? i know that is a custom in many cultures...perhaps girls dont need to find a marriage mate because a mate is found for them.

Hijab doesn't send a "i'm not interested in men" message, just that she is supposedly not interested in other kinds of relationships with men which isn't either a respectful, non-sexual relationship under certain limits, or marriage. Of course it doesn't always work that way, since not all women who wear hijab think like that.

Anyway in other words sticking to the aspect of modesty in your religion, and having signs that are supposed to show that, doesn't mean you're not interested in men. So, any man who sees such woman won't think that she is not interested in marriage.

 

[Sahar]

haha, i knew abibi had made a generalization which is why i asked about how young girls become married women. I think the wearing of the hijab is much more significant then this.


although im wondering if parents arrange marriages for most young girls? i know that is a custom in many cultures...perhaps girls dont need to find a marriage mate because a mate is found for them.

Girls across even the one culture can find mates in different ways. For example, knowing each other in their college, work, knowing each other through acquaintance...seeing the girl in a wedding or any other gathering...then asking her parents for her hand directly or through a third party, or talking to the girl first, etc. Different options and scenarios.

 

[Pegg]

Hijab doesn't send a "i'm not interested in men" message, just that she is supposedly not interested in other kinds of relationships with men which isn't either a respectful, non-sexual relationship under certain limits, or marriage. Of course it doesn't always work that way, since not all women who wear hijab think like that.

Anyway in other words sticking to the aspect of modesty in your religion, and having signs that are supposed to show that, doesn't mean you're not interested in men. So, any man who sees such woman won't think that she is not interested in marriage.

yeah i agree. The hajib is not to turn men off, its just a cultural sign of modesty


although, wearing something as a sign of modesty does not necessarily make one modest... the fact that women are still punished for adultery and fornication in muslim countries indicates that her hijab did not make her modest. Modesty is really a condition of the heart...its got to come from within for it to be true modesty.

 

[Sahar]

its just a cultural sign of modesty

Hijab is not a sign.

 

[Pegg]

Hijab is not a sign.

Badran called it a 'sign'... how do you view it

 

[Rakhel]

It is clothing?

 

[Badran]

its just a cultural sign of modesty.

I think you might have gotten a wrong impression of what i've meant. Its not a cultural sign, and sign is not what its all about. The fact that it is a sign that usually conveys something is the aspect we were discussing, so in case you thought i meant thats all what hijab is, thats not what i meant.

although, wearing something as a sign of modesty does not necessarily make one modest... the fact that women are still punished for adultery and fornication in muslim countries indicates that her hijab did not make her modest. Modesty is really a condition of the heart...its got to come from within for it to be true modesty.

Of course the mere fact that a woman wears modest clothes does not equate to her being modest, i agree. Since it depends on why she wears it.

 

[Pegg]

I think you might have gotten a wrong impression of what i've meant. Its not a cultural sign, and sign is not what its all about. The fact that it is a sign that usually conveys something is the aspect we were discussing, so in case you thought i meant thats all what hijab is, thats not what i meant.

Of course the mere fact that a woman wears modest clothes does not equate to her being modest, i agree. Since it depends on why she wears it.

yeah i did take you to mean that it was a sign of modesty. So the hijab is not really about being modest...its more a religious requirement?

Im sorry if it seems we are going around in circles, im just trying to pin point its purpose. Perhaps it has more then one purpose...both religious and modesty?

You see, from my perspective, a woman does not need to cover herself to be modest. She can be just as modest wearing a pair of jeans and a tshirt, as wearing a hijab.... so this is why westerners consider the hijab to be 'oppressive' (which i dont think it is if the woman wants to wear it btw)
I like the hijab, its a very attractive piece of clothing...just not on a hot day lol

 

[Badran]

yeah i did take you to mean that it was a sign of modesty. So the hijab is not really about being modest...its more a religious requirement?

Im sorry if it seems we are going around in circles, im just trying to pin point its purpose. Perhaps it has more then one purpose...both religious and modesty?

You see, from my perspective, a woman does not need to cover herself to be modest. She can be just as modest wearing a pair of jeans and a tshirt, as wearing a hijab.... so this is why westerners consider the hijab to be 'oppressive' (which i dont think it is if the woman wants to wear it btw)
I like the hijab, its a very attractive piece of clothing...just not on a hot day lol

I see where you're coming from. Let me put it this way. Hijab, which means wearing modest clothes (including a headscarf according to the majority of muslims), is a religious requirement. Now, it also is a sign that sends a message to people. To muslims who understand this, it means that this woman is supposedly not interested in any relations with men outside of either marriage, or a respectful non-sexual relationship like i said. So, i didn't mean it was only a sign, i was discussing the aspect of the message it sends to others as a supposed sign of modesty. And clarifying that it doesn't send a "i'm not interested in men" message.

 

[gnostic]

I can understand that wearing headscarves can be the sign of modesty and decency in some societies. I can understand that.

What I don't understand is why some religions, communities, and even government, need to enforce or pressure women into wearing them. The choice of wearing them should be the free choice for every individual women, not the government, not the community, not the religion and not the husband or male family member (eg father, brother, uncle, etc). Not even God should decide what a person wear. Any group or law (whether they be religious or secular) or husband (or father) shouldn't decide for the women.

And if some don't want to wear them, then they shouldn't be punished for not wearing them. That's what I don't understand.

The other thing I don't understand, is why some Muslims think that the headscarves, not protect the women's modesty, but protection from rapes. Headscarves don't protect anything, except from sun and dust storm, but it certainly is a poor protection from physically violations.