Dress and religion
The Daily Star has published at least two letters referring to modesty and dress code for women, which might reduce the incident of teasing (?). The dress code of any nation is inherited by cultural practice and is part of social norms and changing style. It is not necessary to challenge the freedom of choice of an individual as long as it conforms to civility and is publicly acceptable.
In my opinion if we want to follow religion, we will have to be religious in our act and deeds, not in dress or else one can define. I would rather look at Islam as it is, not by any dress code. Dress is a part of our changing culture. We need not put any kind of sticker to deface the same and maintain our freedom of choice if it is not considered a public nuisance .
Let Islam move on its own dynamic power. Fanaticism is creating destructive forces not liked by many today. In the process, Islam is victimized. Follow the Islamic way of life, if you can follow it truly. We might have noticed that the dress code prescribed in those letters is a matter of social behaviour which is often refined and developed through liberal education also. There is a co-relation between education and development including religious values and ever changing dress code.
By the way, people of my age might remember that we ( not generalized ) used to wear "Dhoti and short" in British India, irrespective of religious faith; and now we are gradually moving into western dress depending on social mobility of an individual. It might not be wrong to say that evolution of dress code is more linked to socio-cultural change and not based on religious belief. Finally, I support social freedom and freedom of choice for wearing dress as long as it is socially, culturally and publicly acceptable.
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