I have a question about use of niqab and corona face mask.

[Spirit of Light]

The other day I was a trip in to the city, and when I was waiting for the bus I wore sunglasses and face mask. Next to me there was a family where the woman wore a niqab.
When we stood there a Norwegian man come up to the woman, starting to bully her for covering up her face.

I stepped for ward and asked the angry man, why he bullied her, but not since I to was covering my face totally and could not be identified, he was unsure what to answer so he run away.

So why is it ok for me to cover up fully, and not her? Is it because she is a Muslim who " don't do it on her free will" ?

 

[Gargovic Malkav]

There is a lot of fear and hatred towards Islamic culture in the West. Such people fear that jihadists will try to "conquer" us and destroy our culture. I think what you saw is a manifestation of that fear and hatred.

 

[Spirit of Light]

There is a lot of fear and hatred towards Islamic culture in the West. Such people fear that jihadists will try to "conquer" us and destroy our culture. I think what you saw is a manifestation of that fear and hatred.

Yes I agree, and yes there are those who want to hurt the western world, that is no doubt about it. But I think we are to afraid of change around us.

Even when wearing face mask I been attacked my self. So I understand how the female Muslims who chose to wear niqab must feel when they are attacked or mistreated by western people.

 

[ChristineM]

The other day I was a trip in to the city, and when I was waiting for the bus I wore sunglasses and face mask. Next to me there was a family where the woman wore a niqab.
When we stood there a Norwegian man come up to the woman, starting to bully her for covering up her face.

I stepped for ward and asked the angry man, why he bullied her, but not since I to was covering my face totally and could not be identified, he was unsure what to answer so he run away.

So why is it ok for me to cover up fully, and not her? Is it because she is a Muslim who " don't do it on her free will" ?

I consider it a form of xenophobia, tainted by terrorism and negative press coverage that leaves many people around the world in fear of muslims.

As a matter of interest, it possibly is her free will to cover her face (or her husband's). It is not a religious requirement, there is no edict in the Qur'an remanding that muslim women should cover their face,but they should dress modestly.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Well of course I don't agree with any such interactions, and I would never do so, but we can't put it simply down to fear of another culture.

Often it is about the erosion of an existing culture/ways of life and such, and one can see examples of this in many cities (especially in the UK and no doubt in many parts of Europe), where the population has shifted over a few decades - sometimes to become more diverse (and usually all the better for such) but often to see an existing culture replaced by, to others, a foreign one - and the niqab/burqa is often seen as a symbol of such. That is, the newcomers not integrating but just taking over. Why wouldn't the original inhabitants feel a little aggrieved about losing what they might have grown up with?

 

[Spirit of Light]

I consider it a form of xenophobia, tainted by terrorism and negative press coverage that leaves many people around the world in fear of muslims.

As a matter of interest, it possibly is her free will to cover her face (or her husband's). It is not a religious requirement, there is no edict in the Qur'an remanding that muslim women should cover their face,but they should dress modestly.

In my understanding, a Muslim woman who is practicing Islam would normally cover her hair "hijab/headscarf" and some form of long sleeves dress down to her feet.
If someone are born in to a Muslim family by heritage but do not practicing Islam, she would normally not wear headscarf.
But as you say, Ido not think it say in the Quran that female have to cover their face half or fully.

I believe the covering of hair come later, not even sure Muhammad did teach this to his followers? But I could be wrong.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Well of course I don't agree with any such interactions, and I would never do so, but we can't put it simply down to fear of another culture.

Often it is about the erosion of an existing culture/ways of life and such, and one can see examples of this in many cities (especially in the UK and no doubt in many parts of Europe), where the population has shifted over a few decades - sometimes to become more diverse (and usually all the better for such) but often to see an existing culture replaced by, to others, a foreign one - and the niqab/burqa is often seen as a symbol of such. That is, the newcomers not integrating but just taking over. Why wouldn't the original inhabitants feel a little aggrieved about losing what they might have grown up with?

Maybe they fear the unknown?

 

[ChristineM]

In my understanding, a Muslim woman who is practicing Islam would normally cover her hair "hijab/headscarf" and some form of long sleeves dress down to her feet.
If someone are born in to a Muslim family by heritage but do not practicing Islam, she would normally not wear headscarf.
But as you say, Ido not think it say in the Quran that female have to cover their face half or fully.

I believe the covering of hair come later, not even sure Muhammad did teach this to his followers? But I could be wrong.

I am not sure when face covering came into the equation but i believe that the muslim view of dressing modestly would include covering the hair

 

[Spirit of Light]

I am not sure when face covering came into the equation but i believe that the muslim view of dressing modestly would include covering the hair

Yes that is also what my friend say

 

[Altfish]

Since we have had to wear masks I have come to realise the down side of face coverings.
On numerous occasions I have pleasure with strangers actions by saying thank you and smiling; but the smile is now wasted. I may start snarling as I say thank you. Facial expressions are so important to Westerners.

 

[ChristineM]

Since we have had to wear masks I have come to realise the down side of face coverings.
On numerous occasions I have pleasure with strangers actions by saying thank you and smiling; but the smile is now wasted. I may start snarling as I say thank you. Facial expressions are so important to Westerners.

Look for the smile in the eyes, if its not there then its a forced smiles and a snarl is called for in reply ;-)

 

[BSM1]

I consider it a form of xenophobia, tainted by terrorism and negative press coverage that leaves many people around the world in fear of muslims.

As a matter of interest, it possibly is her free will to cover her face (or her husband's). It is not a religious requirement, there is no edict in the Qur'an remanding that muslim women should cover their face,but they should dress modestly.

Now you can understand the backlash about removing rebel flag symbols.

 

[Altfish]

Look for the smile in the eyes, if its not there then its a forced smiles and a snarl is called for in reply ;-)

Yes, that may work - but you do not appreciate my ineptitude wearing masks - combined with glasses which are inevitably sun glasses at this time of year

 

[BSM1]

Since we have had to wear masks I have come to realise the down side of face coverings.
On numerous occasions I have pleasure with strangers actions by saying thank you and smiling; but the smile is now wasted. I may start snarling as I say thank you. Facial expressions are so important to Westerners.

But on the up side, I am surprised that I would recognize many of my friends in a bank hold-up.

 

[Gargovic Malkav]

In my understanding, a Muslim woman who is practicing Islam would normally cover her hair "hijab/headscarf" and some form of long sleeves dress down to her feet.
If someone are born in to a Muslim family by heritage but do not practicing Islam, she would normally not wear headscarf.
But as you say, Ido not think it say in the Quran that female have to cover their face half or fully.

I believe the covering of hair come later, not even sure Muhammad did teach this to his followers? But I could be wrong.

I think it depends on the interpretation of this verse: 33:59
"O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful."

 

[Piculet]

Maybe it's because it's religious and some people, rather than being just atheists, are anti-religion. Some people are also against order and "traditions" (anything that wasn't made up during the last 100 years). If it was about her being forced to wear it, why would he be bothering her?

 

[ChristineM]

Now you can understand the backlash about removing rebel flag symbols.

No, i don't see any connection. One is an entire culture that is trying to be irradiated by western powers, the other is a piece of cloth that represents slavery

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

The other day I was a trip in to the city, and when I was waiting for the bus I wore sunglasses and face mask. Next to me there was a family where the woman wore a niqab.
When we stood there a Norwegian man come up to the woman, starting to bully her for covering up her face.

I stepped for ward and asked the angry man, why he bullied her, but not since I to was covering my face totally and could not be identified, he was unsure what to answer so he run away.

So why is it ok for me to cover up fully, and not her? Is it because she is a Muslim who " don't do it on her free will" ?

First of all.... let me start by saying that the dude was in the wrong there. He had no business doing that.


However................
Comparing yourself with that woman is not appropriate either.

Before / after the corona crisis, you won't sit there covered up. She will.
When you are asked to remove your mask for identification purposes, you will. She'll likely refuse.
When you have to have your picture taken for your passport, you'll remove the mask. She'll likely refuse or at least protest.


Something that I'ld worry about more though, in this particular instance... is if she was wearing a proper face-mask underneath her niqaab? Because proper face-mask are made of specific material meant specifically for protection against biological agents. Fabric used for clothing does NOT provide that protection. If she was infected and not wearing a proper mask underneath, then she was spreading her germs all over the bus and thus being a biohazard to everybody there.

 

[Piculet]

Something that I'ld worry about more though, in this particular instance... is if she was wearing a proper face-mask underneath her niqaab? Because proper face-mask are made of specific material meant specifically for protection against biological agents. Fabric used for clothing does NOT provide that protection. If she was infected and not wearing a proper mask underneath, then she was spreading her germs all over the bus and thus being a biohazard to everybody there.

I'd explain something here, but I noticed it isn't allowed to talk about the masks here anymore with any logic. Suffice to say, the niqab might actually do about the same job the average mask would.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

I am not sure when face covering came into the equation but i believe that the muslim view of dressing modestly would include covering the hair

Jewish and christian women use to do the same. Although not in a niqaab, but definatly a scarf type thing covering the hear. Some still do. Like in Greece. Many older women still wear something similar.

I didn't even need to look hard. I just googled "old greek woman".