Saturday, May 19, 2007

Hijab

What is hijab? What is your definition of hijab? In general opinion, hijab means covering your body with a kind of cloths. In Islam this kind of cloths is especially for women. Some people believe that hijab is an essential thing for their lives. Some others think that it is an obligatory thing which we have to obey because we are Muslims.
Hijab is not only for Muslims or only for women. The cloths that we use for covering our body, whether in Muslim countries or the other ones, are a kind of hijab. Since, it is the nature of contemporary human beings to cover some parts of their body. But the thing which is becoming a problem about hijab is the covering of the hair or the covering of some parts of body in Muslim countries especially in Iran .
Hijab has some advantages and disadvantages. I don’t agree with hijab completely, but as a girl who has hijab I think one of the advantages of hijab is that you have a sense of security in the society and you obey Islam's rules. There are also some disadvantages about having hijab. For example it can limit your actions in every day life especially your mobility and don’t let you to do whatever you want. There is a kind of cover which is called Chador in Persian (it is a long cloth that covers your head till your ankle which is usually black) which is known as the complete hijab by the government. Chador is very difficult to use. You must know that after wearing it you can’t run as fast as before, you go to mount climbing with lots of problems like falling down.
Nowadays Iran 's government has a new plan for hijab. They arrest women who wear short and tight uniforms, short trousers, and little scarves. By doing this plan they are forcing people to wear what the government wants and they are reaching their goal. But most of the people don’t agree with this plan and they want to be free in their society.
I think that hijab to some extent is a necessary thing. Somehow I agree with it but not with very strict hijab that limits the mobility of women in the society.

2 comments:

Nina Liakos said...

Hello, Leili,
I enjoyed reading your comments about hijab. I think it must be very inconvenient and uncomfortable sometimes, especially when it's very hot. Participating in any kind of sport, like mountain-climbing as you mentioned, would seem to be impossible.
I do appreciate the desire to dress modestly, but I think that should apply to both men and women, and I don't think we have to cover our heads and entire bodies in order to dress modestly. I think it is quite possible for men to treat women respectfully when they can see their hair, their necks, their arms, and even parts of their legs--it happens here (USA) all the time. I don't think low-cut blouses, very short shorts or skirts, or very tight clothes are modest.

Anonymous said...

dear leili
i have read your essay about Hijab already . it was beautifull. but i want to say that i am a girl who wear that kind of hijab called chador and i do very thing easily with it and every friday i am going climing,too. hijab is not difficulty . it is a protection. how you can say it is not possible or difficult when you never try it!!
hijab is nessesry but not by forces. you should know the philosophy of it first .
good wishes!!!
love...