Afghanistan- Hijab and Women

Hijab is the Arabic word for “Curtain, or Cover”. It is taken from Hajb meaning to cover, to veil, to shelter.

Muslim women wear the Hijab for different reasons. Some wear the Hijab to delight their God- in reference to holy Quran. Some to please their families and some to obey the Islamic law.

Afghanistan is one of the Islamic countries where women wear Hijab by law, not by choice. The law which powerful Islamic groups created misuses the concept of Hijab in the Quran and forces women to cover and remain home.  Whereas, the holy Quran asks Muslim women to wear an outer garment when going out is to differentiate them from non-Muslims and recognize them as “believing” women in the society. The Holy Quran does not say that women should be veiled and kept at home away from mixed society. Conversely, it insisted on full participation of women in society and religious practices.

Women in Muslim countries like Afghanistan are compelled to behave in a certain way from the very beginning. When a girl is born, different treatment is arranged to the girl. They are told to avoid men room, talking among elders, walking without a veil and joking with boys. Girls are always shown and proven to be weak human beings while boys are seen as strong. It is so common among families, that when a boy cries, the parent says, “Are you a girl to cry?” or “A boy never cries”. Boys get the sense of being a strong human being. Whereas, if a girl cries the parent says “let her cry; girls are weak and cry”. Girls get the sense of being weak, dependent and followers of men.

This internal discrimination grows a feeling inside Muslim men that they no longer wish their wives and sisters to be independent and uncovered. However, they meet and make relations with non-Muslim women who are not veiled and treat them respectfully, but do not provide the same respectful treatment to Muslim women.

Motivation, support and equality is never delivered to the girls in the families. Rather, discrimination is growing till it spreads out into the society, where women find it hard to stand up and speak for their rights.
So, why such a discrimination from parents to their children? Why women should wear and behave against their wishes and not the same for men of the same family?

I think reconciliation of these incorrect concepts is necessary. Families should educate themselves and deliver equal treatments to their children. They need to understand that personality, Islam and religion is not an appearance. It is in you and the way you behave and treat others. People should increase their level of awareness and avoid religious practices like force marriages and limiting  women from society. They should instead sponsor a poor family, provide shelter, food, clothes and medication for those who are suffering.

So, let’s look at the Australian “60 Minute” program which investigated the use of the  Hijab and listen to what a Muslim man said about Hijab and women.

Click to Watch!