10 TIPS FOR MUSLIM ACTIVISTS TO DEAL WITH
HIJAB
By Sound Vision Staff Writer
While Hijab is an obligation clearly
ordained in the Quran and Sunnah, it is only one of many Islamic
obligations.
Yet, some Muslim organizations have heated debates about it, and
sometimes practice unacceptable behavior towards those Muslim women who
do not wear Hijab, to the point of excluding them or making them feel
uncomfortable.
How can Muslim activists make their organizations and communities places
where the laws of Islam are upheld, but Muslims, men and women, are not
excluded? Where Hijab does not become a flash point? Below are some
tips.
1. DO NOT JUDGE
This is key for activists. While some Muslims in a given setting may
judge non-Hijabis, activists and key figures in organizations and
communities must never fall into this kind of behavior.
Remember that we don't know a person's background: maybe the sister
doesn't know Hijab is an obligation; maybe she's from a culture where it
is not practiced; maybe she is from a family that has forced her to take
it off; or from a non-practicing family, or even a family that is
hostile to Islam.
Harshness will lead non-Hijabi women to turn away from other Muslims,
and in many cases turn to non-Muslims.
“If they look around and they see Muslim activist women who are very
negative and exclusionary and overly critical then they are not going to
make them their friend,” says Sharifa Alkhateeb, vice-president of the
North American Council of Muslim Women. “If they [activist Muslim women]
want to influence the behavior of young women, they have to, before
anything else, become their friend.”
Which is the next tip.
2. IF YOU'RE A MUSLIM SISTER BE A FRIEND
“What young Muslim women need more than anything else is friendship,”
says Alkhateeb.
She explains that most of the time, they feel alienated and cannot
befriend their parents, who may reject their views or cannot relate to
them. This leads to young women searching for solace in friends outside
the family.
This is why it is crucial that activist Muslim women extend a warm,
friendly hand to young Muslim women, whether in organizations or in the
Muslim community in general.
Alkhateeb also stresses that being a friend is not just speaking the
words of friendship.
“They think it's enough to say I love you, and I care about you,” she
says. But real friendship and caring “comes through living with the
person, being around the person.“
3. IF YOU'RE A BROTHER,
BE POLITE, TREAT HER WITH RESPECT
That essentially means practicing a brother's Islamic duty to lower his
gaze and guard his modesty. It also means not making the sister feel
uncomfortable.
This includes not looking down at her, making rude gestures or comments
about her lack of Hijab.
4. ENCOURAGE HER TO
PARTICIPATE IN ISLAMIC ACTIVITIES
“It's only by mixing in the right company that someone who is
contemplating Hijab will have the strength and courage to make the final
act,” says Kathy Bullock, who began wearing Hijab two weeks after her
conversion to Islam.
This means that the open and welcoming attitude can't be reserved to
just a one-shot activity, like a dinner or an orientation session. It
means regular contact with other Muslims.
One method is a Halaqa. Most MSAs and Muslim communities offer a variety
of these, from mixed brother sister Halaqas, to gender-specific ones.
A sisters only Halaqa can allow for more comfortable and open discussion
and relations, and better bonding time, which can strengthen friendship
and sisterhood.
5. HAVE HER RESEARCH
THE QUESTION FOR A PRESENTATION
This was an approach Abdalla Idris Ali, Director of the Center for
Islamic Education in Kansas City, Misouri and a former Muslim high
school principal, used for a student who did not wear Hijab. He asked
her to do a presentation on the topic.
This method could be effective because it provides the basic
information, without any judgment or harshness. It is something the
individual does on her own.
This method can also be used for other topics, to encourage Muslims-i.e.
if a brother has missed Salat ul Juma a few times, a presentation on its
importance could serve as a reminder.
6. PROTECT HER FROM
THOSE WHO WILL CAUSE HER HARM
This is tricky but will be necessary. In many Islamic organizations and
Muslim communities, you will find those who wish to implement Islam
using what Alkhateeb describes as the “baseball bat” approach: with
harshness.
This must be resisted. If such a situation arises, fellow brothers and
sisters should stand by the non-Hijabi sister. It will not only serve to
be a “buffer” for the harsh comments, but it will indicate her
importance as part of the Muslim community/organization, and in the long
run, will be conducive to giving her advice.
7. GENTLY AND KINDLY EXPLAIN
TO OTHER MUSLIMS NOT TO JUDGE HER
Just as it is important for Muslims to remind each other of their
obligations to Allah, it is also important that activist Muslims gently
explain to others not to use the “baseball bat” approach. Talk to them
with proof from the Quran and Sunnah-that Islam calls for inviting
people to the good with wisdom; that the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) was not harsh and intolerant in the face of others'
weaknesses. Also stress the gradual approach. Use many examples, as it
seems the Muslims who want to use the harsh approach often feel this is
the Islamic way.
By providing solid examples from the Sunnah, they may become convinced
to change their way.
If this does not work, get a trusted scholar or knowledgeable Muslim or
Muslima to address them who both sides listen to and trust.
8. EMPHASIZE BUILDING IMAN (FAITH) FIRST
Islam was sent to the Prophet gradually, and Muslims today must also
implement Islam in this manner.
That means that before anyone speaks to a sister about Hijab, more
important aspects of the faith have to be emphasized: the basic beliefs,
pillars, the importance of praying five times a day, fasting in Ramadan,
etc.
This gradual approach builds Iman and conviction, and in fact was the
method used by the Prophet.
“We fail to see any Ayah (verse of the Quran) pertaining to Hijab in the
entire Makkan revelation that was given to the Prophet, that's almost 13
years. The injunctions about more detailed aspects relating to the
righteous Muslim community were revealed during the Medinan period. Some
in the middle, and later part of that period,” says Jamal Badawi, a
member of the North American Fiqh Council.
“This is a revealing lesson for us because it shows that Allah (s.w.t.)
knew in advance what injunctions He wanted to reveal,” he adds. “Yet He
delayed the revelation of those matters until many years or many, many
years of preparation on the level of Iman, submission to Allah, love of
Allah and the sincere desire to voluntarily obey Allah and His
Messenger. Once that base was established it wasn't difficult at all for
the believing women to willingly abide by the injunctions of Allah.
“This is similar to what happened also with the prohibition of
intoxicants where the same process of preparation took place to the
point that when the final prohibition of intoxicants was revealed it
wasn't difficult either for men to abide by that willingly and
immediately.”
9. DON'T BE APOLOGETIC
What should not be forgotten though is that while the approach must be
gentle and kind, there must be no apologies for or hiding of Islamic
teachings. Once again, wisdom is necessary, but a sister must not be
told that not wearing Hijab is acceptable from an Islamic perspective.
“Muslim organizations have a duty to say what is right and to invite in
the best of manner women to cover and to support them when they do so
but that doesn't mean individuals should be judgmental when women are
not covering,” says Bullock.
10. WHEN SHE TAKES THE STEP, SUPPORT HER!
”There needs to be a lot more support for the women who decide to
cover,” says Bullock.
When a sister does adopt Hijab, she often needs all the help she can
get, in the face of angry parents, discriminatory employers and
professors or feminist friends or acquaintances.
This is where the friendship and openness come in. We must never think
our job is done once someone adopts any Islamic practice they were
previously not engaging in. This is a common mistake Muslims also make
when dealing with new Muslims.
We often spend a lot of time convincing an individual to accept Islam.
But once s/he does, we become cold and distant, with no desire to help
these brothers and sisters with the struggles being a new Muslim entail.
The hardest step is often AFTER the fact, not before it. Support,
friendship, and most importantly brother and sisterhood is crucial if,
in many cases, the practice is to be maintained. |