Nasrin’s remarks trigger another row

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Nasrin’s remarks trigger another row
Mohammed Wajihuddin | TNN
Mumbai: Fugitive Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin has created a fresh controversy with her remarks about purdah, Prophet Mohammed, his wives and his companions in her article for a newsmagazine. Nasrin’s call to Muslim women to disobey the Quranic injunctions and burn the burqa has outraged Muslim organisations that have demanded that the Kolkata-based writer be expelled from India.
Nasrin’s piece titled ‘Let’s Burn the Burqa’ has upset a section of Muslims, and some ulemas have planned a meeting on Monday after which the course of action will be decided.
“Total belief in Quran and Hadith (words of the Prophet) is part of our imaan. We just cannot keep quiet over these blasphemous statements about the holy Prophet and his wives,’’ said Sayeed Noorie of Raza Academy, an organisation of Sunni Muslims.
Nasrin quotes some instances from the Prophet’s life which the Muslims find out-of-context and objectionable. Nasrin writes: “Prophet Mohammed’s wife Ayesha was very beautiful. His friends were often found staring at her with fascination. This clearly upset the Prophet. So the Quran has an Ayat that says, ‘Oh friends of the prophet or holy men, never go to your friend’s house without an invitation. And if you do go, don’t go and ask anything of their wives’.’’ Nasrin further elaborates: “It’s to resist the greedy eyes of friends, disciples or male guests that the purdah system came into being.’’
Islamic scholar Asghar Ali Engineer rubbished Nasrin’s interpretation of the Quranic verse: “She gives a wrong interpretation. Quran never uses the word purdah. It only asks women to dress properly. It’s a blatant lie to suggest that the Prophet’s companions or disciples were fascinated with his wife Ayesha.’’
Engineer, who has written extensively on women’s status in Islam, also clarified that the question of whether women should cover their faces while in public is debatable.** Muslim theologians are divided over the purdah of face since the Quran doesn’t talk about it. Nasrin has no right to pass comments on something which she has not studied properly, says Engineer. **

According to the Times of India Taslima Nasreen has applied for a permanent resident status or Indian Citizenship. I hope the Indian government grants her request. Anyway note that no muslim women org has opposed taslima…only muslim men ’ so called islamic scholars’ , are crying foul.

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Re: Nasrin’s remarks trigger another row

I'm led to believe its them long beared, insecure men who somehow always find themselve at the forefront of women rights ONLY when it comes to the burka. Funny thing is, it's the religious stooges that impose any form of covering while the muslim lay man has a much broader understanding.

If you follow the Quran, and not the words of some self described alim, there is not one word that implies a burka or hijab. Instead, the quran only advocates modesty. The hijab,niqab, burka, are arabic just as much the keffiyah. It's about time the muslim world realizes it doesnt have to be an arab to be a muslim. Too bad progress for us comes through the words of a convict.

Burning the burqa is an affront to Arabic culture. Go right ahead, burn them all you want! Please.

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Re: Nasrin’s remarks trigger another row

hskhan dont u know that modest clothing is not as good in some parts as a fitting wala burqaa.

have u seen those things, I just laugh when I see them, whats next, transparent burqas.

I think there is t much hoopla about burqa, niqaab, hijaab. those whow ant to do it, let them do it and vice versa. dont make it a must either way.

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[QUOTE]
The hijab,niqab, burka, are arabic just as much the keffiyah. It's about time the muslim world realizes it doesnt have to be an arab to be a muslim. Too bad progress for us comes through the words of a convict.

Burning the burqa is an affront to Arabic culture. Go right ahead, burn them all you want! Please.
[/QUOTE]

I agree with you 100%
Besides, what exactly is the importance of burkha in logical sense...If you go to desert, you would be forced by natural circumstances to wear a long loose garment to prevent yourself from sand falling all over you during sand storms...thats the very reason you would cover your head and face too. Considering water is scarce in desert areas, so its best if ppl stayed covered so that they dont waste water taking bath every time a sand storm passes by. Next, why should the burkha be black? becoz in desert, black is the most visible colour even if sand were to cover the clothing. That was precisely why mohammad's flag was black in colour...
How is wearing arabian specific clothing in 50-60o centigrade and roosting one self to suffocation suppose to make woman look modest?... It makes no sense...and its weirder when a muslima wears an arabian sack and makes up her eyes with liners and glitters!! Infact in hyderabad number of sex workers are muslim women...and they too wear burkha when they stroll out!! So whats the big fuss about modesty!!

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Re: Nasrin’s remarks trigger another row

The message of tolerance should be applicable to everyone equally and not to a particular group only. If some don't find it's obligatory to observe hijab (head scarf, jilbaab, niqaab, etc.) then it doesn't mean they should go ridiculing others. Similarly, those who observe hijab should not go ridiculing those who don't observe it.

soulkurri, out of curiosity, are you a Muslim?

hskhan, by reading your comments about those with beards, it shows you also hold a myopic viewpoint. You're painting quite a lot of Muslims with the same brush.

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Re: Nasrin’s remarks trigger another row

Burka, hijab, niqab ... whatever its got nothing to do with Islam.

If for some weird reason helmets were born for the sake of modesty then I suppose these same people would be protesting against helmets. Weird they won't get up in the morning to pray but will spend countless days threatning to burn some woman who probably is frustrated, angry and trying to gain some attention. (Ann Coulter anyone?)

Islam just gives a guideline - practice modesty - beyond that its upto the individual and its nobody's business to question it. If you think going around topless is modest then so be it - I dont care.

Funny .. muslims are quick to jump upon some woman's modesty while they do not practice modesty in other areas of life. Buying a modest house, modest car, talking politely etc. dosent seem to them as modest yet they argue upon such a trivial issue even though it dosent concern them.

PS.
Yes I am a muslim.

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Re: Nasrin’s remarks trigger another row

u mean the burqaa is not a private and personal concern to all the bearded maulvi sahabs? j/k :slight_smile:

Do you support murdering apostates?
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Re: Nasrin’s remarks trigger another row

I agree many of us tend to point out shortcomings in other than looking at our ownselves.

For as long as I have been here on GS, I've noticed there has always been a dichotomy on the subject on hijaab. What I fail to understand is the persistency that many of us show in terms of either propogating it or negating it.

Why is it so hard for so many of us to accept each others' views without resorting to any insults or personal attacks? Ultimately guidance is in the Hands of Allah (SWT). I fail to see how putting down each other or attacking each others' beliefs endlessly could help solve the issue.

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Re: Nasrin’s remarks trigger another row

What the hell does she care? She turns her back on the faith, she has no right to address Muslims anymore...

Everyone knows Nasrin's only reference on Islam is Ali Dashti's work...her twisted views of Islam and history are his, not her own.

Needless to say, what nasrin is doing is tantamount to the slandering of historical figures...

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idiots like nasrin shud be totallly ignored....

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I think its pretty simple:

"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; 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 execpt to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons or their women, or the slaves whom the right hands possess or male servants free of physical needs or small children who have no sense of shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye believers! turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss."
--- Surat an-Nur, Ruku 4, Ayah 31 (24:31). Transaltion by A. Yusuf Ali.

Hadith provides takhsees (specification) on this matter and the law extracted from the sources of the Qur'an and Sunnah are:

'The male should cover from the navel to the knee, and the female all her body except her face, hands and feet.' Fiqh-us-Sunnah 5.73

'There is no such dispute over what constitutes a woman's 'aurah. it is stated that her entire body is 'aurah and must be covered, except her hands and face.' Fiqh-us-Sunnah 1.113

The abaya/jilbab are Arab interpretations of this criteria but is certainly not incorrect and other interpretations of this dresscode, as long as they comply with the criteria, are suitable. The covering of the face is not forbidden as it was usually necessary during journeys, but not necessary all the time. A woman is not allowed to cover her face or hands during Hajj, for example.

'Modesty' most certainly does not stop at the physical clothing. It's a mindset and a mannerism and much more. But, according to the sources, it is the physical clothing, too.

Anyone who reads this may deduce what they like and take the action that they like in terms of implementing it or not. If they like its literal meaning then accept it, and if they wish to draw other meanings then do so. Allah is the Greatest Judge, may he Guide and Forgive us all. :)

wAllahu A'lam

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Re: Nasrin’s remarks trigger another row

:biggthumb

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if u think being topless is modest, then sorry to shatter ur dreams, u left ur Islam way back somewhere…

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What a joke.

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Excellent post.

There are people out there who will deny the hijab because they're not wearing it and it's a stupid excuse. :(

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Wow. You know, if we keep up with our great job of wasting time on irrelevant issues that nobody cares about, like whether or not the hijaab is necessary, we're going to earn ourselves the high title of "world's biggest losers" even sooner than I think.

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^There are certainly lot of people who do care about hijab.

Nisreen is a pathetic mass of protoplasm and no one really cares what she says. Its the outrageous accusations about Prophet's household that makes the article objectionable.

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Iconoclast, it is pretty offensive. But honestly, aren't there better problems to focus one's energy on? When muslim ladies on the subcontinent get abused and raped, I don't see these maulvis calling a conference on the situation. This lady comes up with some theory, whether offensive or not, and it attracts so much attention. I understand respect for the PRophet is a big deal, but if our community doesn't have respect for anything else, I don't see how preserving respect for the Prophet (SAW) will do much.

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^If its offensive, y shudn't we take offence. And plz don't make it like Maulvi's r bad people, few r, but don't generalize...don't understand how to so called modern muslims always end up making maulvis the evil guys. And ur right lets not preserve the respect of our Prophet...rolleyes.

Agreed.

And MJ, half the stuff u said was wrong, if u r indeed muslim, study your religion a bit more.

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It is as wrong to burn the hijab as it is to force someone who doesn't care to to wear it.

Net net here is a core reason why the so called 'muslim' community is on self-destruct...by having conflicts where both sides are wrong!

what a race to the bottom