Right Burqa, Wrong Lips

Thanks for reading this after ages! I guess you'd want to read them all and comment.

By the way, this is my 2000th. interact! Vow!

:)

Tahir,

It is amazing the way you've analysed the Burqa and written about this weird outfit we see everyday either on the streets or in the news media.


Reading this article was like taking a roller coaster ride! Wish I had read it earlier back in 2001 when the content was better. Things have gone from bad to worse for Burqa-clad Afghani women.

Shame on Chowk for not publishing such quality material any more

Very interesting approach about the Burqa!
The islam never imposed a Burqa but a Hijab that is here to cover the hair and the body parts above the knees.

Coming to the idea of having a western student Kerstin Beck saved by Islamic fighters. The Burqa saved her life. No Burqa no freedom for her.

By the way she will edit a book but first in German. Will come out in March 2005. She is looking for a translator into DARI PASHTU and URDU.
I have red the manuscript and she has a very positive approach to the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan. In fact its the first book written by a western women were Islam is depicted in a very positive way.
Its a simple approach book (Biographic Roman) relating the funny but also very demanding escape from Eastern Germany through Afghanistan and Pakistan.
This book shall be red in the western world in order to understand that Islam helped people to survive and specially to escape communism.

Regards to Tahir Gul Hassan

the article is pretty hilarious and though written in jest i do not entirely agree with the author`s opinions. a muslim woman is required to cover herself up and there arent any two ways about. don`t want to sound like a prude but what`s right is right.

This is hilarious. Burqua is a repressive costume used by possisive and insecure men to heard their women as some objects under the guise of religion. Need to be banned as s scourge to humanity as it prevents us from seeing and admiring Gods most beautiful creation

Bijli

“Do you think a person of my intelligence (non white)would believe inteligence was = white colour???You disappoint me .”

….”inteligence?”….so that’s what you call it!….

ps intelligence….not inteligence…

Bijli #43 ``Do you think a person of my intelligence (non white)would believe inteligence was = white colour???You disappoint me .``

I was quoting what you wrote. Too late, now, my friend, to backtrack from what you wrote. The horse is gone, the cat is out of the bag, and the milk is spilt. No use writing posts now trying to close the stable door. No good trying to put the cat in the bag, the cat is on chowk now for all to see. And no use crying either, because the milk is spilt.

Ha! Ha! Ha!

And tell snow-white to use her eyes and her head when reading the Quran next time, rather than using her ears to listen to the garbage put out by the mullahs.

On this board, one can only say one thing:

``The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast.`` (O.W)

:)
!

bijli #40 ``Mary Ali is my Personal friend Whiter than any Paki girl,more beutiful face with blue eyes ..``

Being whiter than milk and with eyes bluer than the sky still doesnt make a person right. Susceptible to skin cancer due to exposure to the sun, perhaps, but not necessarily the fount of wisdom. And you have just indicated some serious problems my friend, that extend beyond your known condition of multiple personality disorder, but let us not get intothat.

Please tell snow-white to go re-read the phrases from the Quran she quotes, and see if her conclusions logically follow from the quotes.

Shame is forgetting your mother tongue & NOT being best at ENGLISH either

Few Pkistani women say ``ORNI,ORHNI,ORNI,ORHNI,ORHNI,ORHNI ....``,there is no such word in URDU.They think they speak urdu like creole think they speak English.

Illiteracy of few Pakistani muslims not only in wordly languages BUT NO IDEA WHAT KORAN is all about

Hijab

THE QUESTION OF HIJAB: SUPPRESSION OR LIBERATION?

``Why do Muslim women have to cover their heads?`` This question is one which is asked by Muslim and non-Muslim alike. For many women it is the truest test of being a Muslim.

The answer to the question is very simple - Muslim women observe HIJAB (covering the head and the body) because Allah has told them to do so.

``O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims) and not annoyed...`` (Qur`an 33:59)

Other secondary reasons include the requirement for modesty in both men and women. Both will then be evaluated for intelligence and skills instead of looks and sexuality. An Iranian school girl is quoted as saying, ``We want to stop men from treating us like sex objects, as they have always done. We want them to ignore our appearance and to be attentive to our personalities and mind. We want them to take us seriously and treat us as equals and not just chase us around for our bodies and physical looks.`` A Muslim woman who covers her head is making a statement about her identity. Anyone who sees her will know that she is a Muslim and has a good moral character. Many Muslim women who cover are filled with dignity and self esteem; they are pleased to be identified as a Muslim woman. As a chaste, modest, pure woman, she does not want her sexuality to enter into interactions with men in the smallest degree. A woman who covers herself is concealing her sexuality but allowing her femininity to be brought out.

The question of hijab for Muslim women has been a controversy for centuries and will probably continue for many more. Some learned people do not consider the subject open to discussion and consider that covering the face is required, while a majority are of the opinion that it is not required. A middle line position is taken by some who claim that the instructions are vague and open to individual discretion depending on the situation. The wives of the Prophet (S) were required to cover their faces so that men would not think of them in sexual terms since they were the ``Mothers of the Believers,`` but this requirement was not extended to other women.

The word ``hijab`` comes from the Arabic word ``hajaba`` meaning to hide from view or conceal. In the present time, the context of hijab is the modest covering of a Muslim woman. The question now is what is the extent of the covering? The Qur`an says:

``Say to the believing man 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. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands...`` (Qur`an 24:30-31)

These verses from the Qur`an contain two main injunctions:

A woman should not show her beauty or adornments except what appears by uncontrolled factors such as the wind blowing her clothes, and

the head covers should be drawn so as to cover the hair, the neck and the bosom.

Islam has no fixed standard as to the style of dress or type of clothing that Muslims must wear. However, some requirements must be met. The first of these requirements is the parts of the body which must be covered. Islam has two sources for guidance and rulings: first, the Qur`an, the revealed word of Allah and secondly, the Hadith or the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (S) who was chosen by Allah to be the role model for mankind. The following is a Tradition of the Prophet:

``Ayesha (R) reported that Asmaa the daughter of Abu Bakr (R) came to the Messenger of Allah (S) while wearing thin clothing. He approached her and said: `O Asmaa! When a girl reaches the menstrual age, it is not proper that anything should remain exposed except this and this. He pointed to the face and hands.`` (Abu Dawood)

The second requirement is looseness. The clothing must be loose enough so as not to describe the shape of the woman`s body. One desirable way to hide the shape of the body is to wear a cloak over other clothes. However, if the clothing is loose enough, an outer garment is not necessary. Thickness is the third requirement. The clothing must be thick enough so as not to show the color of the skin it covers or the shape of the body. The Prophet Muhammad (S) stated that in later generations of his ummah there would be ``women who would be dressed but naked and on top of their heads (what looks like) camel humps. Curse them for they are truly cursed.`` (Muslim) Another requirement is an over-all dignified appearance. The clothing should not attract men`s attention to the woman. It should not be shiny and flashy so that everyone notices the dress and the woman. In addition there are other requirements:

Women must not dress so as to appear as men.

``Ibn Abbas narrated: `The Prophet (S) cursed the men who appear like women and the women who appear like men.``` (Bukhari)

Women should not dress in a way similar to the unbelievers.

The clothing should be modest, not excessively fancy and also not excessively ragged to gain others admiration or sympathy.

Often forgotten is the fact that modern Western dress is a new invention. Looking at the clothing of women as recently as seventy years ago, we see clothing similar to hijab. These active and hard-working women of the West were not inhibited by their clothing which consisted of long, full dresses and various types of head covering. Muslim women who wear hijab do not find it impractical or interfering with their activities in all levels and walks of life. Hijab is not merely a covering dress but more importantly, it is behavior, manners, speech and appearance in public. Dress is only one facet of the total being. The basic requirement of the Muslim woman`s dress apply to the Muslim man`s clothing with the difference being mainly in degree. Modesty requires that the area between the navel and the knee be covered in front of all people except the wife. The clothing of men should not be like the dress of women, nor should it be tight or provocative. A Muslim should dress to show his identity as a Muslim. Men are not allowed to wear gold or silk. However, both are allowed for women.

For both men and women, clothing requirements are not meant to be a restriction but rather a way in which society will function in a proper, Islamic manner.

Mary C. Ali

Mary Ali is my Personal friend Whiter than any Paki girl,more beutiful face with blue eyes ..

Bhardwaj

How about women? They too could have *satanic * thoughts seeing sexy body like yours. Why dont you go around in burqa?

What freaks guys like you are.

Bhardwaj #35:

I see your point now. Yep, you do have the advantage.

Regards,

Kiran

Bhardwaj #35:

I see your point now. Yep, you do have the advantage.

Regards,

Kiran

eklavya, purpleangel

Thanks. I agree with you in saying that women should automatically have the right to decide what they want to wear, regardless. As we all know, different interpretations of the Quran have yielded completely different understandings of dress codes; witness the extremes of the shuttlecock burqa (which members of my family wore) to just dressing conservatively.A couple of thoughts; (and Hobbyty had attempted to begin this conversation)wasn`t the concept of chador incorporated from the Persian Sassanid period as an indicator of class? I recall reading that upper class women were secluded and chadored to maintain their status. This idea was absorbed into various Arab and South Asian communities. How would that resituate some of the more traditional interpretations; we couldn`t say that veiling was necessarily a religious idea, but a concept outside of Islam that was incorporated in to Islam after the fact.

Secondly, I know lots of non Muslim women who dress quite conservatively, and are not wearing burqas. How are the men in these communities able to keep shaitan at bay? Why are they able to keep shaitan at bay when it seems there are many Muslim men who seem to suffer from the ability to do so and must project their lack of superego and lustful feelings onto women by covering them?

Thirdly, to what extent does the burqa become a psychic manifestation of space and identity? I understand that there are women who feel protected in wearing burqas. However, can the patriarchal subtexts of the burqa be denied? If the ``male gaze`` becomes an instrument of power and objectification, is the burqa a reasonable response in resisting this gaze? Can we understand the implementation of the burqa in the West as a psychic symbol of male kinship/ ownership over the female wearer?

regards

Studebaker

In order to argue with anybody, let alone Bill Maher, you need to be able to form and express logical and coherent thought, consistantly. My 5 year old niece towers over you in these abilities. One only needs to look at your posts to know that there is no contest.

Kiran #29

``And no he didn`t say For the men; he said it`s protection from bad thoughts Of men. Phir sey parRhein.``



Kiranji,

You can read the same sentence TWO ways

PROTECTION FROM BAD THAUGHTS OF MEN``

Iam a MAN ,& i have an advantage in what goes through the MALE mind on visualization of female figure & forms.

I understand ,you are thinking that somehow burqa act as shield against bad INTENTIONS of man /male .He is saying ,hidden beuty prevents bad intentions from originating

Most of the males get ideas on seeing a woman,the more voluptuous or provocatively ,or tantalizingly it is the more the chance the satan works his wonder.

Of course where law & order is strictly implemented ,there is a deterent against assault ,but cities of Calcutta & mumai in the past were filled with razor blade slasher of exposed skin in sleevless & mini choli in trams & buses.

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Aslam Beg predicts

According to Khabrain ex-COAS General (Retd) Mirza Aslam Beg said that America will carpet-bomb Afghanistan after which the Taliban will become helpless. The Americans will destroy the Taliban and bring to power a broad-based coalition government in Kabul. After that the country will be split in small states which the Americans then will manipulate into fighting among themselves.

`Parpota` Sheikh Chilli

According to Ausaf, ex-president of Azad Kashmir and leader of Muslim Conference, Sardar Qayyum, said that America had always stood by Pakistan and that the Taliban should hand Osama bin Laden over to them. Those who accused America of being a fickle friend were nothing more than parpota of sheikh chilli (great grand children of a famous day-dreamer).

Imam Mehdi and Afghanistan

According to Khabrain, in the light of a hadith, the black-turbaned armies from Afghanistan will join the forces of Imam Mehdi. The armies of Rome will confront the armies of Madina and ask for men wanted by Rome, but Madina will refuse to give them up.

Don`t befriend Christians and Jews!

Famous cleric Dr Israr Ahmad wrote in daily Pakistan that Sura Maida in the Quran asked the Muslims not to befriend Christians and Jews because they were joined against Islam and that whoever befriended them would be one of them. Earlier the cleric had written that civil war in Pakistan would be useful in bringing Islam to the country.

Pakistan`s `halala` with America

Leader of JUI Balochistan Hafiz Hussain Ahmad told Khabrain that Pakistan was a divorcee of America but the Taliban had made it possible for America to do halala with it and take it back in wedlock. He said if Ahmad Shah Massoud had been alive he would have fought against America. He also said that Allama Tahirul Qadiri was a sarkari maulvi and calling him wise was contempt of court (because of stricture passed against him).

Filmstar turns out to be 34!

According to Khabrain famous filmstar Mira, who is 21 officially, had turned out to be 34 on the basis of the birth certificate made in Malir Karachi in 1967. She shifted as a two-year-old to Sheikhupura and her ID card was given the false year of birth as 1977. This discovery was supposed to affect her market value.

America`s real target!

Editor Ausaf Hamid Mir wrote in his column that after Zahir Shah had been brought to Kabul American troops will invade Afghanistan. Iran had become aware of this and was now issuing statements because once the American troops are stationed in Afghanistan they will not go away but use that platform to take their revenge on Iran. After that the Americans will realise that their real friend was not Pakistan but India because of its bigger market and they will ask Pakistan to end the jehad in Kashmir calling it terrorism.

America will use chemical weapons!

Quoted in Insaf, Pakistan`s nuclear scientist Sultan Bashiruddin stated that the United States will use chemical weapons during its invasion of Afghanistan, which will have sinister effect on Pakistani territory too. He said that America had already planned the bombing and is prepared to use lethal chemicals.

Don`t pay income tax!

According to Insaf 55 percent of the businesses in Pakistan were running without paying income tax. Most traders when contacted pretended not to know what income tax was and put forward their ignorance of taxation as an excuse not to pay taxes.

Mulla Umar married Osama`s daughter

According to Khabrain, the ruler of Afghanistan Mulla Umar married the daughter of Osama bin Laden in 1998 and there were rumours that Osama bin Laden also married the daughter of Mulla Umar. Mulla Umar is 40 years old and sits on his charpai while holding his cabinet meetings. He wrote important orders on bits of papers and called himself a servant of Islam.

Taliban don`t have good generals

Quoted in Insaf, ex-COAS General (Retd) Jehangir Karamat said that America will not land its own troops in Afghanistan but will use the Northern Alliance as its spearhead. He said Rashid Dostam could organise the Alliance and that there was no good generals like him with the Taliban. He said Taliban were in the interest of Islamabad and any other government in Kabul could increase Pakistan`s problems, and that the Frontier was safe because of the Taliban.

Juma Namangani bigger threat

According to Nawa-e-Waqt, Juma Namangani of Ferghana Valley in Tajikistan was a bigger threat to the world than Osama bin Laden because he had two thousand warriors with him and was operating in a region in the Pamirs that was not easily accessible. He threatened the life of the Uzbek president Karimov. He made money from drug smuggling and took handouts from Osama bin Laden and wanted to bring about a Taliban-style order in the Central Asian republics. (He went secretly to Tajikistan from Pakistan after shaving off his beard).

America will stay back

Famous poet columnist Zafar Iqbal wrote in daily Pakistan that even America was not able to conquer Afghanistan and the bases he got in Pakistan, Tajikistan and India, will make it possible for it to act against its old rival China. The Americans will stay back in the region, including Kashmir, which dispute they will resolve in their own favour. The great poet wrote that America will get bogged down in Afghanistan and will become so khwar (humbled) that its global thanedari will be exposed as impotence.

Jehad against America`s friends

Pakistan`s most powerful cleric Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai of Banuri mosque was quoted in Khabrain as saying in Islamabad`s Jamia Farooq Azam that his men will do jehad not only against America but also against its allies. He said Pakistan`s rulers who were allied with America will not be tolerated. OIC should do something but, if not, it should keep its resolutions with itself. He said `nobody`s father` would be able to change the syllabi of the madrasas in Pakistan.

Afghan ambassador`s funny name

Daily Pakistan reported that famous editor Altaf Hassan Qureshi asked Afghan ambassador Mulla Abdus Salam Zaeef why his name was zaeef which meant `weak`. On which the ambassador replied that the human being was a weak entity and it was proper to acknowledge this weakness. Famous editor Altaf hassan Qureshi then opined that perhaps the name was originally zaif which meant `guest`.

Just like us

Columnist Beg Raj wrote in daily Din that the Americans thought that since all those named in terrorist acts were Muslims America should get rid of its Muslims. He said this was just like Pakistani behaviour in 1993 when Babri mosque was destroyed in India. Pakistanis burnt all the mandirs. On little suspicion, Pakistanis were known to have burned entire Christian settlements in Pakistan, and when the rumour spread that the Jews had occupied the Kaaba mosque, Pakistanis had burnt the American embassy in Islamabad while the government stood aside as a spectator and President was riding a bike in Rawalpindi as a publicity stunt. He wrote that on the one side America was sending food for the starving Afghan people, and on the other the Taliban were kicking the UN charity organisations out of Afghanistan.

Myths about Afghan history

Columnist Mustansir Javed wrote in Jang that contrary to the assertion that the Afghans were never defeated by anyone, history actually showed that they were never free of the dominance of great powers. In 1840, the British blundered into Kabul after putting forward the claim of Shah Shuja to the throne of Ahmad Shah Durrani, arrested the pretender Dost Muhammad Khan and sent him to India. The sons of Dost especially Akbar Khan put the British army to the sword. After that the British ruled through remote control and money, but Sher Khan wanted more and turned to Russia. The British marched into Kabul in 1878 and after defeating Sher Ali put his son on the throne. Soon after that, the British took control of the Afghan foreign policy through a treaty. The Afghans kept killing each other while their princes visited India and were regaled lavishly by the British. Habibullah came to power in 1907 but was killed. His son Amanullah who went to war with the British but was defeated. After Bacha Saqao`s fundamentalist takeover, the British sent Nadir Khan to take care of him. He defeated the Bacha and hanged him.

JUI prepares 1.4 lakh new warriors

According to daily Pakistan, JUI had prepared 1.4 lakh new Taliban in its seminaries. The Afghan soil had produced Mehmood Ghaznavi and Ghori and destroyed the Russians. The main seminaries supplying the Taliban were run by Maulana Samiul Haq, Fazlur Rehman, Mufti Shamzai, Abdul Ghani, Nur Muhammad, and Muhammad Yusuf. In 1992 when Mulla Raketi started his mischief in Afghanistan the Afghan youth turned to Pakistani seminaries. When Mulla Raketi abducted DC Quetta, the Taliban from the seminaries took action against him. These were supplied by Fazlur Rehman and Muhammad Yusuf.

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