Women in Islam

What is the Hijab? The word Hijab comes from the Arabic root word ‘Hajaba’, which means to conceal or cover. In an Islamic context, Hijab refers to the dress code required for Muslim females who have reached puberty. Hijab is the requirement of covering or veiling the entire body with the exception of the face … Read more

Women in Islam are thought to be subjugated, degraded, oppressed – but are they really? Are millions of Muslims simply that oppressive or are these misconceptions fabricated by a biased media? “And for women are rights over men, similar to those of men over women.”Qur’an 2:228 Over fourteen hundred years ago, Islam gave women rights … Read more

The burqa and niqab have become a topic of much controversy and heated debate. A number of countries have banned the wearing of these religious garments, while others have considered banning or limiting their use. Many arguments have been made against the wearing of the burqa and niqab, claiming they are anti-social, backward, oppressive, and … Read more

(part 1 of 2): Hijab in Christian Denominations The literal meaning of hijab is to veil, to cover or to screen. It encompasses more than just a dress code; it is concerned with moral boundaries and respect for woman. It is part of community cohesion and modest behaviour. However, the term hijab has become interchangeable … Read more

(part 1 of 3) The Islamic veil or hijab refers to the loose-fitting, plain and opaque outer garments which cover a Muslim woman’s body. While basically identical to the clothing depicted in traditional Christian representations of Mary (peace be upon her and her son), and every nun who has sought to emulate her since, the … Read more

(part 1 of 2): The Various Rights Islam Gives to Women Today people think that women are liberated in the West and that the Women’s liberation movement began in the 20th century. Actually, the women’s liberation movement was not begun by women, but was revealed by God to a man in the seventh century by … Read more

Western Attitude towards Women Modern western attitude towards the female gender is a reaction to a long history of subjugation, rooted mainly in Judeo-Christian traditions. Perhaps, more accurately, one can assert that modern attitudes arose in post-reformation philosophies – ideas that appeared during the ‘era of enlightenment’. In contrast to this is the Islamic world … Read more

(part 1 of 2): The History of Female Genital Cutting (FGC) and its Types A common phenomenon which has been regretfully associated almost exclusively with Islam is the various forms of female genital cutting, or FGC[1]. Although many of those who are involved in this act attribute to the religion of Islam, the majority of … Read more

Probablemente no encajo dentro de la noción preconcebida de una “rebelde”. No tengo tatuajes visibles ni un piercing y no poseo una chaqueta de cuero. De hecho, cuando la mayoría de la gente me mira, su primer pensamiento está usualmente relacionado con la idea de “mujer oprimida”. Los valientes individuos que se han armado de … Read more

On my wall, I have a picture of a Muslim woman shrouded in a burka[1]. Beside it is a picture of an American beauty contestant, wearing nothing but a bikini. One woman is totally hidden from the public; the other is totally exposed. These two extremes say a great deal about the clash of so-called … Read more