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An increasing problem in Indian society is the feud between the conservative class of Muslims and liberals. Liberals feel a sense of contemptuous pride when they use derogatory terms for the conservative class and the latter too do not hesitate to ridicule the liberal section of society.



It is indeed somewhat amusing to find that every fourth woman you meet is a staunch feminist. And all these feminists have an unwritten rule that you can never be a good feminist unless and until you victimize the abaya worn by Muslim women. Instead of focusing on such topics, it would be a great deal better if they started talking about more fundamental issues like female foeticide, domestic quarrels and ways to cure the diseased minds that commit heinous crimes. However, as it turns out their only motive is to target the abaya and declare it a symbol of universal oppression.



Feminism is about equal rights for women in everything and about being a completely independent woman. Feminists need to realize that calling a Muslim woman oppressed when she covers herself by her own free will is in implicit disagreement with their basic principle. A woman should be allowed to feel free and comfortable and not be victimized on the basis of her choice of clothes.



To listen only to the talk of liberals would certainly give one a biased picture of the whole scenario.



Conservatives have a very negative way of looking at things and of passing astute judgements. If a woman wears anything remotely glamorous in a Muslim society,  the next day there will be hundreds of fatwas against her and claims that she is not adhering to the rules and regulations of Islam. They even have the audacity to say that she is no longer a Muslim.



These so-called conservative leaders have a fallacy in that they think that  humiliating a person publicly is going to help them in some way or that it is going to raise their status spiritually. It only goes to show just how prevalent ignorance is. The famous scholar Mufti Ismail Menk ‘s words fit perfectly in this situation:



“When you see a female dressed in a manner that is unacceptable Islamically, do not for a moment think that she is lower than you spiritually. If you do that, you are lower than her. Believe me, that is the teaching of your religion. She might have a link with her Creator that you don’t know about. She might have a heart that is tons better than yours. She might have one weakness that is outward and you have 50 weaknesses that are hidden.”



These unreasonable and illogical conservative minds need to be enlightened with the fact that it was the humble character and humility of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that attracted the majority of the nonbelievers to Islam. He was the epitome of love and benevolence.



These arguments are seen erupting in many colleges and universities and the consequences turn out to be quite disturbing at times.



A young woman clad in an abaya is called narrow-minded and one clad in skin-tight jeans is given the status of an apostate.



Our societies need to change and develop their intellect. They need to grow mentally before these issues turn into matters of great concern.



Nevertheless, there still are people with an intact conscience who do not pry into other people’s lives, stay away from prejudiced opinions and are strictly against stereotypes.



It all comes down to the upbringing of a person and his way of perceiving things. It’s about the mindset and the weakness of minds that are still chained and can only find pleasure by degrading others.



People need to realize that the true worth and potential of a person is not measured by what he/she wears but that it is the character of an individual that matters and the faster we realize this the better it is for ourself and our society.



 

Fakeha Zinjani, Jeddah