Years ago, when I first visited Saudi Arabia, was the first time, I saw the type of hijaab used by Saudi women. For those who don’t know, its kinda double layers. The first layer hides the whole face except the eyes by a non-transparent cloth. On top of that they put a semi-transparent cloth which even covers the eyes. So even if you peek thru the outer semi-transparent layer, all you can see is a shadow of eyes. And ofcourse they wear tha abaya or loose long coat-like garment on top of their regular clothes. Looks something like this:
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So, out of curiosity, I asked our hosts as to why the women in Saudi Arabia are required to wear a hijab which is so much stricter than elsewhere. And he replied, that among other things, the men in Saudi Arabia are such that if they so much as see the eyes of a woman “they will fall in love(?)” and will want to abduct or marry the girl. Thats why as a protection, the women keep every inch of their body, including the eyes, hidden from men.
Now, it may be kinda like a chicken vs egg argument, that do men behave in such a way because they don’t see women in normal attire, or is it that women should refrain from “exciting” the men by showing their eyes, hands or ankles?
Coming from Pakistan, which is fairly conservative itself (atleast was, 15 years ago), this kinda behavior was surprising. What will make a man so revenous to lust after any women, who dares not cover just her eyes.
Is this even true? Those who have lived in Saudi Arabia or have exposure to its culture, do you think the guy was just pulling stuff from thin air, or is it that the culture there is so lustful that they’d grab a girl and have their way with her, with the slightest of incentive?
*the men in Saudi Arabia are such that if they so much as see the eyes of a woman "they will fall in love(?)" and will want to abduct or marry the girl. *
Do the people of Saudi Arabia really believe that? I mean in all seriousness. Does every woman Saudi or non-Saudi have to walk around with the full covering? Coz presumably if that's true , a US diplomats wife would also need to cover up otherwise she'd be getting the whole Saudi male population going gaga at the glimpse of an eye.
I'd have to believe it to be exaggerated as well. It all depends on the peson. Some people may be lustful as pointed out in that example, and there are others who may not get affected by the sight of a woman's eyes. I'm sure the lust factor is true to a point, otherwise there wouldn't be so much harassment in Muslim countries (touching and harassment of females in public places).
its an exaggeration,to be honest.......!!!
there r so many muslim women who r there just to visit but i never heard if some saudi man tried to do anything like abduction n all
I have seen Jeddah, and its really quite a modern city. I am sure Riyadh is also like that. The situaion I posted above relates primarily to bedouin folks and is also prevailent in Mekkah and Medinah. Its obviously a generalized statement, but the overall culture seemed to endorse the fact. I have seen varying kinds of hijaab.. like in Oman women wear the metalic hijab, Yemeni women have their own style. Even in Pakistan/Afghanistan we have that shuttle-cock burqa. But the one in Saudi Arabia is truly like they are being really really extra-protective.
The explanation that its due to lustfulness of the males, if true, is quite remarkable.
I have lived in saudi arabia and the kingdom is not as clean as many think it is. there have been cases of abduction as well as molesting of the sort that goes on around tariq road shops in Karachi.
This complete covering business is cultural and not religious..the men are horny, as you can walk in any saudi mall and see the guys checking everyone out like anything. That as a justification is idiotic, maybe the men should be wearing chastity belts of some sort.
I have to say from personal experience, and I mean no offense to anyone, I have been to Saudi twice.
My WORST experiences were in Makkah, Medina.
I mean obviously not, during Umrah and what not.
But once outside of the musjid, it was horrible. I was wearing shalwar kameez with a long scarf thing that went to my hips. I have never been treated so disgustingly. College boys have not said the things to me some of these men did. I have never been assaulted like i was there.
Only if I was standing directly next to my dad, was I shielded. I was there with my family. never went anywhere alone. completely covered except my face, feet, and hands. Some men even said things to my at that time 11 yr old cousin.
I am NOT saying all saudi's are like this. Anywhere else i went it was fine. I am just saying that my worst experience with men was in that area. I didn't even have problem in Jeddah or anything like that. It was REALLY sad that this happens right in front of the harram and whatnot.
maybe this is gross generalzation.. but most men in some circumstances do think with their balls… if women dont want to be stared at, why NOT cover themselves up? I was born and raised in arabia and whilst in jeddah i rarely used to cover my head, Makkah was a whole lot diff where i was covered from head to foot (the way our religion teaches us to). The last time I was there I was pulled to a side and asked to wear a veil, the female shurta tellin me my face was too clean (whatever that meant). Maybe in Makkah you havta be extra careful with the whole “how much of the woman u can see and how horny u can get, so keep em covered so u dont sin” sorta thing. Maybe it sounds harsh to bundle the woman up just cuz some bloke cant keep his lust in check, but you gotta do what you gotta do. If the girls is covered up, she wont get abducted, raped yada yada yada… in a nutshell, the woman is being protected by the very thing that most ppl find to be harsh and unjust.
Everyone has their own style.. iranian women have a very unique one, they not only wear one abaya, but 2 and still the damn women aint covered.. hehe… one is worn like u wear a normal abaya.. and the other goes above their heads down to the ankles… and both are open from the front (now this i dont get, either iranian women are butt ugly that with so much body in sight, no one lusts after em, or iranian women can kick teh living daylights outta a guy so they dare not lust after em. Arabian women have their own way just like Faisal bhai stated. But ive noticed that not all the arabian women wear it so much stuff, usually its just the abaya, scarf and veil (some dont even wear this). I’ve also noticed that the richer u are, the more u wear, abayas and the whole covering up business becoming a fashion statement. Arabian women have fallen in love with abayas etc and its catchin on into our and other communities aswell. It’s so refined, sophisticated and just plain ol pretty. It’s all in the culture, not so much of religion
Have i gone :topic:
I have spent a fair amount of time in KSA, especially Riyadh. I think the new generation of kids are quite out of control. Not much gets reported, but the old days of leaving your door unlocked are long gone. I also know first hand of one 7 year old boy who was nearly abducted.
Mind you, the gals are no angels either, I've also met Pakistani Taxi drivers who have had to give Saudi gals free rides(if they refused the girl could threaten to say he tried to rape her) to meet up with their boyfriends in some secluded place and use the taxi for "a good time". And the amazing transformation the women do when on planes from KSA to the West lol, you don't even recognise them when they land!
It is quite disgusting, after all the abaya is not something the Holy Quran or hadith order women to wear.
What the hell do people expect? Attraction to the opposite sex is a natural thing. covering up for thesake of sanctity will breed deviancy as the laws are contradictory to the natural way of humans.
Funguy…too funny about the Saudi men pitching the tent.
and still the damn women aint covered.. hehe… one is worn like u wear a normal abaya.. and the other goes above their heads down to the ankles… and both are open from the front (now this i dont get, either iranian women are butt ugly that with so much body in sight, no one lusts after em, or iranian women can kick teh living daylights outta a guy so they dare not lust after em. Arabian women have their own way just like Faisal bhai stated. But ive noticed that not all the arabian women wear it so much stuff, usually its just the abaya, scarf and veil (some dont even wear this). I’ve also noticed that the richer u are, the more u wear, abayas and the whole covering up business becoming a fashion statement. Arabian women have fallen in love with abayas etc and its catchin on into our and other communities aswell. It’s so refined, sophisticated and just plain ol pretty. It’s all in the culture, not so much of religion
