The "Religious"

[Captain_Obvious]

Re: The “Religious”

@PyariCgudia

Is it just me or is showing religion on your sleeve becoming more and more prevalent?

I don’t recall that Pakistanis were much into these types of clothing before. In my grandmother’s generation, the Burqa was still worn by south asian women, but it was the black type of South Asian burqa you see still in some parts of India.

But the current style of hijab, the concept of an isolated head covering on top of regional clothing, abayas, etc are all new for desis. Like I said, previous generations have donned the black burqa traditionally; the abaya is a new introduction from the hijabi movement.

Where do you think the hijabi movement started? Was it the American muslim desi descendents who were inspiring their relatives back home to start wearing the hijab?

And can we call these people “Religious” necessarily? Is that an accurate description? If people put on religious clothing, now all of a sudden we elevate their spirituality? Isn’t this yet another fraud? A bunch of people fooling the public into thinking that they are closer to their faith now? When in reality, the truly faithful and spiritual are 1) praying 2) giving charity 3) spending a lot of time being GOOD PEOPLE rather than tinkering around with their clothing.

Shouldn’t we use the word “religious” for people who are actually practicing the pillars of Islam, the fundamentals of the Quran of being a good person? Rather than people who just put on a veil? Isn’t that a shallow interpretation of “religious”?

I can’t say anything about what they wore before and what they are wearing more recently. However, when it comes to calling someone religious, I’ve found that to be a very relative term–to be a bit more specific, I’ve heard it used by people to describe anyone who is more practicing of religious injunctions than them. Much like the term mullah.

Also, if a person is seen to be outwardly religious by wearing the clothing associated with that image, then the assumption of those looking at them would be that they are doing the things you would expect from the faithful and spiritual. Now if a person were known to just wear religious clothing and not pray and not observe religious obligations, then nobody would think that they’re religious. If they are frauds, it is not our problem, that is between them and Allah.