Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
Why are some men so obsessed with what these women wear anyway??
Do we sit there saying 'why are you wearing shirt and trousers instead of shalwar khameez, are you ashamed of your roots + trying to be western?'
Seriously some people need to get a life..
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
If you hate for the fashion’s sake then it’s different.
It’s different when you say “i hate abayas coz arabs wear them” and “I hate bindis coz hindu or indians wear them”.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
the question was about women, but you can say the same applies to men as well. i personally don't care what anyone wears, as long as it is not then pushed as some must do to others.
the point still stands, wear whatever you want, as long as some attire is not seen as some sort of religious uniform.
its cultural, and its personal choice, that is all that it is, period.
and those against it should deal with it, and
those who present it as some sort of religious clothing should also deal with it.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
No one hates sari, if properly worn and blouse is not 2 inches wide. 
Bindis off course are symbol of Hinduism or Indianism. Not Pakistnism or Islam. Do not even try! 
But please make sure it makes sense. 
Me too. Kinda sorta.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
Again sorry for resurrecting this old thread, just i felt quite strongly about this issue as I have been bullied in the past about my choice of dress.
X2 i definately understand your point about not pushing a personal choice onto others. Never in my life have I said to anyone "you shouldn't be wearing that or this" or "my choice of dressing is the right and only way". However if someone came up to me first and asked me why i wear it religiously, first and foremost I would say its MY interpretation on what islamic dress is after my own research and present them with my findings and its what i deem to be correct. I see nothing wrong with seeing it as a religious requirement because i believe in islam there is a variety of opinions, just as some people say jilbab is not necessary others say it is an obligation things should be presented (as I did in this thread) and debated but never imposed, that's where freedom of choice comes in.
This can be applied to other things, for instance with creams containing alcohol in them, my friend could find it unlawful to use them because he has the opinion that anything containing alcohol whatever form is sinful to use whilst me on the other hand may think its ok to use as im not eating it. I'd merely express my opinion on it but the conversation ends there. I wouldn't scold him for being so extreme and judge him, he feels more comfortable abstaining from it and may think i have sinned, its his beliefs,as long as he doesnt judge me or treat me any differently i see no problem.
Again i didnt come into this thread to advocate my choice of dressing, just i wanted to explain to the OP why i wear it, not because i want to be an arab but i believe it to be an islamic requirement therefore feel more comfortable in wearing it. I see nothing in thinking a certain act is an obligation but I agree with you 100% in imposing your belief onto another person. Just like some people in this thread, fair enough you dont believe abaya is part of islam but really is there any need in ridiculing women who wear it. I would never ridicule anyone or look down on them just they dont practice the things i practice, I would see it as personal choice on a religious act developed through their own research.
I hope you understood my points well, sorry if i seem to be a bit incoherent at some points in my thread, thanks alot for your time reading :)
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
For instance if someone said "hijab is not part of islam, you people are just making up stuff and adding things to the religion"
rather than
"Personally I haven't found anything in the quran that specifically states you have to wear hijab, therefore i dont think its a requirement, however there are differing opinions and others may feel they are required to wear and have evidence to back up there claims, but i dont feel comfortable in accepting it Allah knows best whats in our hearts"
in both statements, the person is expressing what they think is required/not required in the religion however they are acknowledging it that its only their interpretation and having full respect for other opinions but still having a personal choice in the matter.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
Again sorry for resurrecting this old thread, just i felt quite strongly about this issue as I have been bullied in the past about my choice of dress.
X2 i definately understand your point about not pushing a personal choice onto others. Never in my life have I said to anyone "you shouldn't be wearing that or this" or "my choice of dressing is the right and only way". However if someone came up to me first and asked me why i wear it religiously, first and foremost I would say its MY interpretation on what islamic dress is after my own research and present them with my findings and its what i deem to be correct. I see nothing wrong with seeing it as a religious requirement because i believe in islam there is a variety of opinions, just as some people say jilbab is not necessary others say it is an obligation things should be presented (as I did in this thread) and debated but never imposed, that's where freedom of choice comes in.
This can be applied to other things, for instance with creams containing alcohol in them, my friend could find it unlawful to use them because he has the opinion that anything containing alcohol whatever form is sinful to use whilst me on the other hand may think its ok to use as im not eating it. I'd merely express my opinion on it but the conversation ends there. I wouldn't scold him for being so extreme and judge him, he feels more comfortable abstaining from it and may think i have sinned, its his beliefs,as long as he doesnt judge me or treat me any differently i see no problem.
Again i didnt come into this thread to advocate my choice of dressing, just i wanted to explain to the OP why i wear it, not because i want to be an arab but i believe it to be an islamic requirement therefore feel more comfortable in wearing it. I see nothing in thinking a certain act is an obligation but I agree with you 100% in imposing your belief onto another person. Just like some people in this thread, fair enough you dont believe abaya is part of islam but really is there any need in ridiculing women who wear it. I would never ridicule anyone or look down on them just they dont practice the things i practice, I would see it as personal choice on a religious act developed through their own research.
I hope you understood my points well, sorry if i seem to be a bit incoherent at some points in my thread, thanks alot for your time reading :)
I appreciate the thorough response.
The challenge though is when personal choice or societal choices become a proxy for religion because many people 'feel' that something is part of islam e.f. women not driving in KSA.
I am just as muslim and my clothing is just as much in line with islamic guidance on clothing in cargos and a tshirt as it is wearing a thaub or a krta shalwar.
so, just as one can interpret arabic clothing (note I am not talking about outerwear like abaya here but what someone even wears at home) as being islamic requirement, someone else can say nope, it is not a requirement and I reject that interpretation. As I do.
My own experience with this happened at a mosque in pakistan during a visit during ramadan as a kid. I was at the front of the masjid, and while I was praying I was grabbed and pulled back to the end of the rows. later the old gentleman who had moved me came to me and told me that my clothes were not proper, I was in Plain, clean, instant, loose fit jeans, and a plain white tshirt. He insisted I needed to wear kurta shalwar etc, and my maternal grandfather, a regular at the same masjid, saw the thing and told the guy off that with islam being a universal religion, any culture's clothing is fine as long as it meets the requirements for modesty. Had I been worn ripped skin tight jeans and a tshirt with a crude msg or pictures I can understand it, but not otherwise.
so these personal choices become the choices of a collective and then pass as more than just personal choices.
I respect your personal choices, and your personal interpretation, I do not agree with it. I insist that for women a kurt a shalwar, a long dress, a skirt and top, trousers and tunic, are all equivalent and not one of them is specifically required by religion. If they choose one or the other, its their personal choice and one choice is not better or worse than the other.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
You can always and easily tell those women who wear Hijab out of religious obligations and those confused chicks who simply wear it to make trendy statement and look different.
Not that I have problem with it but I can't stand inferiority complex ridden South Asian folks who think everything remotely Arabic = Quranically Islamic! I feel so sorry for them...they need to get a life and actually understand Islam...
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
Its because being Muslim is all about the looks now. Long beard, no mustache, shalwar up the ankle, turban= Epic Mega Muslim Man. Women also have seem to pick up on this and they're following the same "molvie" mentality of outward appearence to appease not God but their fellow Muslims. Islam is not about who can dress up a certain way and "look" a certain way. It is a universal religion, although the Prophet did said to dress differently other than the "Pagans of mecca" but that was only when Islam was in its infancy and Muslims needed to be distinguished from the Pagans. After the conquest of Mecca and subsequent islamification of arabia no dress code was ever forced upon the Muslims. I don't understand why people think dressing up a certain way is going to make them look "good" in the eyes of God? "Don't they know that Allah knows whats in the hearts of men."
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
"Don't they know that Allah knows whats in the hearts of men."
I don't want to argue what dress is correct but I would like to comment on what I quoted above. That alone is not enough, although Allah knows whats in our hearts we STILL have to do what Allah (SWT) has ordained upon on us. That means we still have to dress modestly (whatever dress accomplishes that), we still have to wear hijab, we still have to pray 5 times a day, we still have to fast, we still have to respect our parents. Whats in our hearts is also important because we shouldn't do it all for people but for Allah (SWT).
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
I don't want to argue what dress is correct but I would like to comment on what I quoted above. That alone is not enough, although Allah knows whats in our hearts we STILL have to do what Allah (SWT) has ordained upon on us. That means we still have to dress modestly (whatever dress accomplishes that), we still have to wear hijab, we still have to pray 5 times a day, we still have to fast, we still have to respect our parents. Whats in our hearts is also important because we shouldn't do it all for people but for Allah (SWT).
I agree 100% sareh, but the thing here is why must we have to attach to a certain dress code in order to be recognized as muslims? In the Quran it is no where said that "Thou shalt not wear Shalwar Kameez" or Thou shalt Always wear a choga type thing and keep thy beards Long" Allah warns the people in the Quran of the impending after life which we all must pay for. Quran and Islam emphasizes heavily the distractions men and women face in the "Material" world. However Quran does mentions that women should cover up their bodies, no where does it ever state that they should completely dab themselves in the burqa. I would now like to point out here that Abu-Jahl the greatest enemy of the Prophet wore the same clothes as our Prophet did, He also had the beard like the Prophet and long hair, yet his view-points were completely different. Same thing can be said about the terrorists who explode bombs all while adhering to the so called "Islamic" dress-code.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
HUH? In my social circles....the girls proudly wear a variety of desi clothes for functions. Maybe it's the group you hang around with. Can't generalize.
Even if a desi girl decided to wear a long dress to a desi function or mix-it-up.....doesn't bother me. Change makes things interesting.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
Its because being Muslim is all about the looks now. Long beard, no mustache, shalwar up the ankle, turban= Epic Mega Muslim Man. Women also have seem to pick up on this and they're following the same "molvie" mentality of outward appearence to appease not God but their fellow Muslims. Islam is not about who can dress up a certain way and "look" a certain way. It is a universal religion, although the Prophet did said to dress differently other than the "Pagans of mecca" but that was only when Islam was in its infancy and Muslims needed to be distinguished from the Pagans. After the conquest of Mecca and subsequent islamification of arabia no dress code was ever forced upon the Muslims. I don't understand why people think dressing up a certain way is going to make them look "good" in the eyes of God? "Don't they know that Allah knows whats in the hearts of men."
Agree with you but this kind of argument is actually used to make fun of and/or criticize people who feel comfortable with whatever they like to wear.
Why even ask the question which OP asked? Why can't those people be left alone?
(Why didn't OP ask "Why do Pakistani women wear see through or revealing clothings in America? :p )
I agree 100% sareh, but the thing here is why must we have to attach to a certain dress code in order to be recognized as muslims? In the Quran it is no where said that "Thou shalt not wear Shalwar Kameez" or Thou shalt Always wear a choga type thing and keep thy beards Long" Allah warns the people in the Quran of the impending after life which we all must pay for. Quran and Islam emphasizes heavily the distractions men and women face in the "Material" world. However Quran does mentions that women should cover up their bodies, no where does it ever state that they should completely dab themselves in the burqa. I would now like to point out here that Abu-Jahl the greatest enemy of the Prophet wore the same clothes as our Prophet did, He also had the beard like the Prophet and long hair, yet his view-points were completely different. Same thing can be said about the terrorists who explode bombs all while adhering to the so called "Islamic" dress-code.
But if they are thinking it will give them better cover of their bodies, then why criticize and give example:
"You can wear such and such clothings too!"
If they wanted to they would have before anyone points out to them. Right?
I do not understand one thing:
Why does freedom to do whatever have to be in one direction,.... and not towards those who want to wear arabic like clothings?
Why all hell breaks loose when these women wear arabic looking clothes and all arguments and sarcasm come flying against them?
P.S. I am merely discussing the attitude, absolutely don't care for arabic looking attire.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
Agree with you but this kind of argument is actually used to make fun of and/or criticize people who feel comfortable with whatever they like to wear.
Why even ask the question which OP asked? Why can't those people be left alone?
(Why didn't OP ask "Why do Pakistani women wear see through or revealing clothings in America? :p )
But if they are thinking it will give them better cover of their bodies, then why criticize and give example:
"You can wear such and such clothings too!"
If they wanted to they would have before anyone points out to them. Right?
I do not understand one thing:
Why does freedom to do whatever have to be in one direction,.... and not towards those who want to wear arabic like clothings?
Why all hell breaks loose when these women wear arabic looking clothes and all arguments and sarcasm come flying against them?
P.S. I am merely discussing the attitude, absolutely don't care for arabic looking attire.
Dude i agree with you and all the Muslims should have the freedom to wear whatever they please. The criticism doesn't stem from the freedom aspect much more from the hypocritical aspect. By that i mean the aspect in which deception is used. You must also understand that these "Pakistani women" who wear "Arabic garb" are trying to rub their religious piety and orthodoxy on other Pakistani women's faces who don't adhere to the "Arab Garb". But that doesn't mean that those women who wear Pakistani clothes are some how not decent and somehow less religious? You must understand that a woman who wears a burqa is as much pious as the same woman who wears shalwar kameez and covers her body well. The same could be said of the Molvie who adheres to the sunnah and the sufi who adheres to the philosophical thought of the dervaishes. Their religion is not different nor are their prayers. Therefore you must understand that wearing something shouldn't change wearing someone's religion or the fact that lifting up our pants to our ankles is gonna make us better than the same Muslim who prays 5 times with his pants covering his ankles. This is the mentality that gets criticized and not the freedom to lift your jeans up your ankles or wearing a turban. Muslims are pleased to do whatever they want yet when you wear and then display your attire in such a way to play down down another Muslim's religion is wrong and should be taken in to consideration. Because showing off in Islam even up to a point in which you Read the Quran really loudly as to give an impression of showing off is discouraged. Hope that answers the question.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
Dude i agree with you and all the Muslims should have the freedom to wear whatever they please. The criticism doesn't stem from the freedom aspect much more from the hypocritical aspect. By that i mean the aspect in which deception is used. You must also understand that these "Pakistani women" who wear "Arabic garb" are trying to rub their religious piety and orthodoxy on other Pakistani women's faces who don't adhere to the "Arab Garb". But that doesn't mean that those women who wear Pakistani clothes are some how not decent and somehow less religious? You must understand that a woman who wears a burqa is as much pious as the same woman who wears shalwar kameez and covers her body well. The same could be said of the Molvie who adheres to the sunnah and the sufi who adheres to the philosophical thought of the dervaishes. Their religion is not different nor are their prayers. Therefore you must understand that wearing something shouldn't change wearing someone's religion or the fact that lifting up our pants to our ankles is gonna make us better than the same Muslim who prays 5 times with his pants covering his ankles. This is the mentality that gets criticized and not the freedom to lift your jeans up your ankles or wearing a turban.** Muslims are pleased to do whatever they want yet when you wear and then display your attire in such a way to play down down another Muslim's religion is wrong and should be taken in to consideration. Because showing off in Islam even up to a point in which you Read the Quran really loudly as to give an impression of showing off is discouraged**. Hope that answers the question.
The bold part. How do you know that those who do cover themselves entirely do it to show off or to show that they are more muslim than those who dont.
From my experience, all the girls/women i know with the so called arabic attire are very nice and modest. They have never pointed fingers at others and i never heard them discussing other people's choice of clothing or lifestyle. They follow the live and let live principle.
Ironically their intention is questionned by girls who wear tight revealing cloths.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
I know a lot of hijabis who point fingers at non-hijabis, in fact, I used to be one of them. 
Oh we are completely forgetting the 3rd type…I saw this girl in Southall the other day, wearing skinny jeans with a small tight top and a huge camel hump scarf on her head, and then I see a lot of Arab hijabis smoking.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
The bold part. How do you know that those who do cover themselves entirely do it to show off or to show that they are more muslim than those who dont.
From my experience, all the girls/women i know with the so called arabic attire are very nice and modest. **They have never pointed fingers at others and i never heard them discussing other people's choice of clothing or lifestyle. They follow the live and let live principle.
**Ironically their intention is questionned by girls who wear tight revealing cloths.
It depends which type we each have come in contact with mostly. Unfortunately, it's the finger pointing type that likes to show off in the name of Islam.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
@ Hareem I know that such are there. But there also many are who dont do that. And from what i have seen the hijabis who point fingers to girls who dont practise hijab, are hijabis who just cover their hair and that pretty much is it.
Maybe i just met the 'right' girls, but those i know who do hijab the way it should be dont keep a constant eye on others.
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
I was wearing a long skirt and hijab and everything but still got kicked out (not literally) from abaya wearing muslim women’s group (mostly arabs and converts) so now I’ve got abaya phobia.
I realized there and then that I’m not their cup of tea. 
Re: Why do Pakistan women dress like Arabs in America?
[EMAIL="haha@hareem[/MENTION]"]haha[MENTION=38119]hareem. Got kicked out?? what do you mean???