The veil issue
Your 18 July issue holds special interest for me. Firstly for the bold and enlightened article by Engr A.B.M. Nurul Islam and secondly the letter from Md. Nazrul Islam , both have similar topics on veil, Niqab/Burka in Islamic Society.
There is no dispute about Hijab for the women in Islamic Society. But we consider Niqab or face covering Burka for women as an unnecessary social burden imposed by over jealous mullahs . Molestation and harassment of women depend largely on social order and discipline and not on forcing them to cover their faces.
It is true that our Holy Prophet (Pbuh) prescribed veil and face covering Burka in 4th Hijri for his wives whom we very respectfully refer to as "Ummahatul Momenin"' but it was not for all women of Madina. Here I refer the great Classic "The Spirit of Islam" by late Syed Amir Ali where he stated that Burka did not exist during the time of our Prophet (Pbuh) rather it came into Muslim society two hundred years after his death. Burka or veil was used by women in Byzentine and fire worshipping Persian courts.
During the early Abbaside Khilafat when the life in Baghdad was overshadowed by sinful practices imported from the Greeks, decent Muslim women started to wear veils to assert their pious upbringing.
So Niqab/ Burka still remains a controversial social practice but to the Christian World it, unfortunately, symbolizes Islam! Burka clad woman are considered as security hazard in some European countries . During the recent "'Peace Jirga"' in Kabul three Talibans clad in Burka sneaked into a abandoned building and fired rockets on the Jirga.
Muslims settling down in Europe and North America should be conscious about the sentiment and ethos of the host population.
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