Misinterpretations about Islam - clarification thread

[Stella]

Many of us in the western culture, do not know enough about Islam, we get our informations mainly from the media, and the western media is often biased regarding this religion. There is a tendency to generalize, often based on the bad experiences, and the good sides are left unnoticed.
Some countries like KSA or Iran are even adding just more fuel to the fire, when we see reports about how human rights, but womens rights in particular are violated, and these states offer no protection for the victims.
These all contribute to the bad image of Islam.

So to have a more clearer image about Islam as a religion, and not about how countries or certain people have implemented it, I opened this thread, and I invite you to give us examples either from the Quran or any other official opinions.
I am also interested to see your own opinions about these issues.

Once I was told that Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance, I would be glad if we can present arguments which support this idea.

I do believe that religion is easily abused by the people, it depends on the people only what kind of society and culture they build.

Some argue that Islam is not compatible with progress and modernization, in your opinion can Islam advance, and adapt to the new challenges, or people see it as something static?

And a more specific question as a start, there are many contradictions about the Hijab, can you clarify what is its role and when it is needed to wear in Islam?

[Xena]

my views on hijab!

i believe that the idea behind the hijab in the first place was to protect women... at the time most women were considered as a mere sexual instrument... when a woman used to wear hijab it was a mark of identity, a muslim woman which was the equivalent of a free woman! she was very highly respected!! a revolutionary women specially after the prophet has given her so many rights that never dreamed of getting!
so i believe hijab was supposed to help men start to accept women and treat them highly.

Now, with the evolution of societies, we no longer have the same values or the same perspectives, and we should start reforming our religion adap it to our new values, our new way of life!

Because now, i can't see what would be the meaning of a hijab?
why would i wear it? for what reasons?
i am decent, respected, and don't believe that hiding my hair would make people respect me more!

those were my first thoughts on the matter,,,more is comming later :)

ps: i know that not everyone agrees with me, so yalla let's make a good debate out of it,,, because i'm curious to know what would drive a woman to wear a hijab
thank you!

[Osiris]

I totally agree with Xena about the Hijab. To elaborate more, let me give the exact verse of this issue:

يا أيها النبي قل لأزواجك وبناتك ونساء المؤمنين يدنين عليهن من جلابيبهن ذلك أدنى أن يعرفن فلا يؤذين وكان الله غفورا رحيما الأحزاب : 59

Well, due of the complexity of the Arabic language used in the Quran, I think this verse can be interpreted in more than one way (Well, like most of the verses of the Quran). To translate this verse, one would come out with:

"O Prophet! tell your wives and daughters and the wives of the believers to draw a part of their cloaks over them..."


There are people who say that women should cover everything including the face (Nikab), other claim that only Hijab is obligatory (no need to cover the face), whereas others say it is not really necessary, its optional .. Moreover, I heard somewhere that the woman should cover herself except one eye with which she sees! :S

Which one is the right interpretation?

For me, there is no need for the Hijab, what matters is the inside.. covering the face or the hair will not make a better woman. Not at all..

[Omeros]

Originally Posted by Stella

Many of us in the western culture, do not know enough about Islam, we get our informations mainly from the media, and the western media is often biased regarding this religion. There is a tendency to generalize, often based on the bad experiences, and the good sides are left unnoticed.
Some countries like KSA or Iran are even adding just more fuel to the fire, when we see reports about how human rights, but womens rights in particular are violated, and these states offer no protection for the victims.
These all contribute to the bad image of Islam.

So to have a more clearer image about Islam as a religion, and not about how countries or certain people have implemented it, I opened this thread, and I invite you to give us examples either from the Quran or any other official opinions.
I am also interested to see your own opinions about these issues.

Once I was told that Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance, I would be glad if we can present arguments which support this idea.

I do believe that religion is easily abused by the people, it depends on the people only what kind of society and culture they build.

Some argue that Islam is not compatible with progress and modernization, in your opinion can Islam advance, and adapt to the new challenges, or people see it as something static?

And a more specific question as a start, there are many contradictions about the Hijab, can you clarify what is its role and when it is needed to wear in Islam?

من ناحية الحجاب لا اعرف تحديدا ولكن حسب معرفتي المتواضعة لحد ما هناك تاويلات خاطئة للقران وهناك عدم فهم للالفاط الاسلامية ومن هنا ينشى خطا الفهم للقران احيانا يكون ذلك مقصودا فمثلا معاوية بن ابي سفيان الخليفة الذي اتى (بالحيلة ) بعد الامام علي اعطى الحكم بعده بالوراثة غير ان الاية الكريمة "الامر شورى بيتك" اي ليس بالوراثة غير ان معاوية ورثه ابنه يزيد بن معاوية وابنه خلفه ايضا. هذا مثل على التاويلات الخااطئة وهناك الاف من هذا المثل

[Omeros]

Originally Posted by Xena

my views on hijab!

i believe that the idea behind the hijab in the first place was to protect women... at the time most women were considered as a mere sexual instrument... when a woman used to wear hijab it was a mark of identity, a muslim woman which was the equivalent of a free woman! she was very highly respected!! a revolutionary women specially after the prophet has given her so many rights that never dreamed of getting!
so i believe hijab was supposed to help men start to accept women and treat them highly.

اولا الحجاب كانت النساء ترتديه قبل ظهور الاسلام يا سيدة والدليل على كلامي ذا قصائد لشعراء الجاهلية يتكلمون فيها عن حجاب بعض النساء انصحك بالتالي التعمق اكثر بهذه الفكرة اي ان الاسلام لم يوجد الحجاب هو موجود اصلا وهو دليل حشمة وبورجوزية وان اردت التعمق اكثر : لماذا يا ترى تصور مريم العذراء مع حجاب هل كانت مسلمة ؟ ماذا اذا ؟
الحجاب لم يكن واجب ديني فابنة احد الخلفاء لم تكن محجبة وكان لديها "غرّة" وكانت تفتخر بشعرها الاسود.
والحجاب لم يكن من اجل الرجال ابد ولم يكن ليساوي بين المراة والرجل مخطئة القران اصلا لا يساوي بين المراة والرجل, فالحجاب كيف سيساوي بينهما لم افهم ذا المنطق؟
ان كان القران بمجمله لا يساوي بين الجنسين كيف الحجاب سيقوم بهذا الدور؟ هذا دليل انك مخطئة

Now, with the evolution of societies, we no longer have the same values or the same perspectives, and we should start reforming our religion adap it to our new values, our new way of life!

اعتقد انه من يجب ان يصحح ليس الدين بل التاويلات لان المشكل يكمن في التاويلات وليس في الدين ز كما هناك شرائع بطلت اصلا مع الوقت مثل الرق فالقران لم يرفض الرق حتى لم يذكره او مثلا الجزية زالت وهي تفرض على اهل
الكتاب اي المسيحيون واليهود اما اليوم مع الانفتاح لم يعد هناك من جزية وغيره من العرف الديني

Because now, i can't see what would be the meaning of a hijab?
why would i wear it? for what reasons?
i am decent, respected, and don't believe that hiding my hair would make people respect me more!

اعتقد انه من الافضل لعالمنا العربي ان يتثقف جنسيا بدل ان يفرض الحجاب فمن كانت غرائزه تسير امامه هو المخطئ وليس المراة لانها ولدت مراة

[Omeros]

Originally Posted by Osiris

Well, due of the complexity of the Arabic language used in the Quran, I think this verse can be interpreted in more than one way (Well, like most of the verses of the Quran). To translate this verse, one would come out with:

ابدا اللغة القرانية ليست صعبة ربما اسلوب القران يشبه اسلوب الاقدمين لذا تراه صعب الا انه فعليا ليس كذلك خصوصا بوجود المعاجم الالكترونية وفهارس بمعجم القران ايضا الكترونية وهي موجودة في السعودية لا بل السعودية هي من تصنعهم , ربما انت لا تستوعب اللغة ولا تتحلى بارادة البحث الا ان ذا لا يعني ان اللغة صعبة هي بعيدة المنال نعم لكن ليست صعبة

There are people who say that women should cover everything including the face (Nikab), other claim that only Hijab is obligatory (no need to cover the face), whereas others say it is not really necessary, its optional .. Moreover, I heard somewhere that the woman should cover herself except one eye with which she sees! :S

Which one is the right interpretation?

For me, there is no need for the Hijab, what matters is the inside.. covering the face or the hair will not make a better woman. Not at all..

الحجاب اختياري ومن يقول لك العكس اجبه اذا ما كان اجباري لم لم تتحجب خديجة اول مسلمة ولم ابنة الامام علي لم تكن محجبة ؟
لتعرف كيف تحدد اي راي الاصح عليك ان تعود للسيرة النبوية ( الخالية من الاسرائيليات ) وتقارن الاية بالتاريخ وبعض تصرفات ابرز الخلفى مثلا الامام على او امير المؤمنين او عثمان بن عفان او ابو بكر وحتى بعض بنات الخلفاء , لكن من لا يجب ان تستعين به كمصدر هو يزيد بن معاوية لانه كان خليعا لا مبدا له

[Stella]

Originally Posted by Xena

my views on hijab!

i believe that the idea behind the hijab in the first place was to protect women... at the time most women were considered as a mere sexual instrument... when a woman used to wear hijab it was a mark of identity, a muslim woman which was the equivalent of a free woman! she was very highly respected!! a revolutionary women specially after the prophet has given her so many rights that never dreamed of getting!
so i believe hijab was supposed to help men start to accept women and treat them highly.

Now, with the evolution of societies, we no longer have the same values or the same perspectives, and we should start reforming our religion adap it to our new values, our new way of life!

Because now, i can't see what would be the meaning of a hijab?
why would i wear it? for what reasons?
i am decent, respected, and don't believe that hiding my hair would make people respect me more!

those were my first thoughts on the matter,,,more is comming later :)

ps: i know that not everyone agrees with me, so yalla let's make a good debate out of it,,, because i'm curious to know what would drive a woman to wear a hijab
thank you!

Thanks Xena, you answered both of my questions and I totally agree with you!
Times and societies are changing, I think it is crucial for the Islamic community as well to adapt to the new circumstances!

Omeros!!!! You wrote in arabic!!:(( I dont speak arabic, so how can I know more about Islam if you are writing me in arabic?

Pls translate your post to me, thanks!

[basma88]

Originally Posted by Xena

my views on hijab!
Because now, i can't see what would be the meaning of a hijab?
why would i wear it? for what reasons?
i am decent, respected, and don't believe that hiding my hair would make people respect me more!!

xena; just one note here....When a muslim girl wear a scarf; she wear it not because of the people or because the opinion of the others...This don't have nothing to do with respect...
They wear it; because they are religious...And god wrote in the kuraan a clear sentence saying that the women should cover up themselves....
And this is not about the evolution of the societies; because God knew very well that the society will change ; w ma3 heik he said that all the muslim women should cover up....alll of them..Not just the women in the past or in the days of the prophets....

NOte:I agree with you...But this is our opinion; but our religion is totally different from our opinion...

In the islam religion; it's a sin not to wear a scarf; it's a sin to marry with a non-muslim...There are no doubt from that...the kuraan was very clear in explaining this to us...

And about KSA or IRAN or any other country who oblige the women to wear scarf; this is not islam...Because there are a clear aya saying: (la ikraha fel deen)...Unfortunately; these countries don't want to look to this important sentence...

[Evolution]

Originally Posted by basma88

They wear it; because they are religious...And god wrote in the kuraan a clear sentence saying that the women should cover up themselves....

I agree with you that they wear it for religious reasons.....

However, I'm not sure if Quran says that woman should wear hijap....

it's a sin to marry with a non-muslim..

It a sin for a Muslim woman to marry non-Muslim

But it is not sin if a Muslim man marry to non-Muslim

nd about KSA or IRAN or any other country who oblige the women to wear scarf; this is not islam...Because there are a clear aya saying: (la ikraha fel deen)...Unfortunately; these countries don't want to look to this important sentence...

I think we don't need any Islamic or religious system in these days...

We can make secular system that have better laws that fits any society....religious laws are outdated and I think there is no reason to apply mystical religious laws on society.....


...........


By the way, the Quran can be interpreted by different ways. Some Muslims may use a sentence in quran to justify violence and superiority on women


Like this one

الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاء بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنفَقُواْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللّهُ وَاللاَّتِي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلاَ تَبْغُواْ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلاً إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرًا

In English

The Qur'an, chapter 4 (An-Nisa), verse 34:
“ Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great"

[Osiris]

Originally Posted by Omeros

ابدا اللغة القرانية ليست صعبة ربما اسلوب القران يشبه اسلوب الاقدمين لذا تراه صعب الا انه فعليا ليس كذلك خصوصا بوجود المعاجم الالكترونية وفهارس بمعجم القران ايضا الكترونية وهي موجودة في السعودية لا بل السعودية هي من تصنعهم , ربما انت لا تستوعب اللغة ولا تتحلى بارادة البحث الا ان ذا لا يعني ان اللغة صعبة هي بعيدة المنال نعم لكن ليست صعبة

The Quran can be interpreted in different ways due to the complexity of the Arabic language at that time. The proof of that is that there exist too many interpretations and many of them are contradicting.

Bottom line, one can claim that the Quran contains things that science recently proved, like the movement of our solar system (I dont remember the exact verse), but the simple explanation of this is its complexity: I can come up with anything and claim anything due to that.