Islam & I: the headscarf.

A while ago I asked you what you would enjoy in Islam-related posts, and some of you gave it that you would enjoy what informational / general articles to read and also the removal of (possible) bias by a number of Muslim women raised.

Today I want to first point where everyone has an opinion about discuss namely the subject: the headscarf. I myself since I was nineteen a hijabi (hijab is the Arabic word for cover / veil) or a headscarf while bearing woman. So that means I already nearly three years wearing a headscarf. In recent years I have both on this website as a 'real life' a lot of questions about this piece of fabric had, so it seemed good as this one of the first issues. However, I like 'memory' advance to say that this piece from my own perspective and opinion is written, and examples based on my own experiences. Everyone will be here as his own opinions and ideas about, and I may. It's just not meant hateful discussions in the comments begin. If you do not have constructive criticism, rather than remain silent. I refer to the famous proverb: "Treat others as yourself want to be treated." Negative comments will be removed.

Why I wear a headscarf?
I wear a headscarf out of religious conviction. I am Muslim, and in my opinion, the wearing of a headscarf is an obligation for an adult Muslim. There is an eternal debate whether this is mandatory, and that the Quran actually says this (you can translate Arabic because in many ways) but for me it is so. I've thought about it long enough, and my opinion is mainly based on two verses from the Quran. The verse which was decisive for me the most was the following:

Surat an nour / Chapter The Light verse 31: "And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and their adornment / beauty does not show except what is visible. And they should draw their veils (veils) over their bosoms bear, and their beauty is not openly show except to their husbands or their fathers or the fathers of their husbands, their sons, or sons of their husbands or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or sons of their sisters or their wives or slaves in their possession, or male helpers who do not desire more, or the young children who are not on the 'awrah of a woman watching. And let them not stamp their feet, their ornaments which they hide to show. And returns you all repentant to Allah, O believers, hopefully you will succeed. "

This verse, I will gradually try to clarify before I go any further. First, here said that a Muslim hears her eyes so precipitation towards other men (no eye contact / flirting) and thus guard their chastity. Then there is talk about not showing their ornaments (to clarify I've only just put beauty back) which means that a Muslim as its beauties beautiful curves, long hair and everything else they are supposed to cover, except is visible as an extra note in my Quran (The Holy Quran) is hereby called to be the hands and face concerns. It may therefore still be seen. Then it is said: "They must wear their veils over their bosoms," and this is the round shape of their breasts covered. Then this verse refers to the men whom the beauty of a Muslim woman to allow. That I will even appoint pointwise:

1. Their spouse. Spouses may only see each other everything, and do not cover for each other.
2. Their fathers, fathers, brothers, etc. may not know everything about their daughter / daughter / sister etc. see. The opinion which I follow on is that this is the hair, forearms and lower legs. So still no short skirts, tank tops and revealing clothes.
3. Their wives, other women are thus produced (opinions differ whether this is only about Muslim or even "different religious" women, I use the latter opinion, so all women). Even among women hear a Muslim any embarrassment to themselves, and they still hear the part between the navel and the knees covered.
4. Young children who are not on the 'awrah of a woman watching. The 'awrah means the body of a man or woman who can not be displayed. What parts that are determined by who's watching. Small / young children of course have no idea of ​​beauty or sexuality, so it also applies to a woman in their presence does not fully cover.

At last there is still said that women should not stomp their feet, so they hide their jewelry to show yet. I see people already think, "huh? What has that got to do? "But here refers to the fact that in the time of this revelation regularly happened that women under their clothing (eg to their ankles) anklets with bells wore, and by hard with the feet stamping during the run, and thus women are still attracted attention. Even though they were covered, there was still looked at them.

Okay, that was quite a piece of informative text. Sorry about that! But this is (I think) or directly though much about what should be covered, and who or what is not allowed to view.

Do you wear a scarf indoors?
This question I regularly get asked and the first thing I often think is "why should I?" I live with my husband and my father, and as the above verse says, I do not for their covering. No I will not wear short skirts at home when I'm with my father, but I do not walk home with a scarf unless male visit. Even with my parents I do not wear headscarves, because my father I do not have to do. My husband does have two brothers, and I wear their headscarves do so, because when you first Quran verse well have read there are the brothers of my husband was not listed as being men who I do not have to cover.

If it's not difficult, but always wear a scarf, always remember if you go outside?
I can easily imagine that a Muslim does not cover the idea of ​​always calling for you go outside, or if male visit is not really a fun idea. What I've noticed is that you very quickly get used to. When I lived alone, I lived with a male roommate. Every time I therefore had to be a common area, I had to first cover the room before I could. Sure do you ever hear of "pff, here we go again" but for me personally considering doing something that my religion requires heavier than the 1 to 2 minutes 'effort' it takes a headscarf to do.

Do you wear a headscarf because that is your husband?
This is a question that you (especially if converted Dutch woman) often gets. Apparently many people still think that this is so. Probably the past it really been that way in the first generation migrants, that the man was wearing full pants in the house. Anyway, we are all now already at the third (and sometimes fourth) generation arrived, and those girls are just like us young Dutch women often have their own choices. I think I also know that no Muslim woman wearing a headscarf or because her husband wants, but the women wear this in my area all their own convictions. They will be fixed, but I do not know it. In my case, the fact that I have met my husband when I was wearing a headscarf, so he never had anything to do.

Do you think now is not strange that there are rules and regulations apply to women and men for nothing?
Who said there are no rules applied to men? Because that is something that is not true. Men also belong to avert their eyes and to protect their chastity. (So ​​they can not flirt and prolonged to women other than their own wife staring) For men, money that they adhere to certain dress codes are supposed to keep. Only their wives should "all" see, hear, and they also continue at all times (even in the presence of other men) between the navel and the knee covering. Look, men do not have breasts like women so a naked upper body awakens in us women are often less violent than the sight of a pair of breasts for a man. A few hairy legs makes us women warmer or colder, but a man holding a pair of beautiful legs under a skirt looks like that to my knowledge still fun. The rules relating to coverage for men are a little less extensive than the rules for women, but it does not mean that Muslim men do not take things to hear them (which in practice does not always happen is another story) .

Miss you not to enjoy your hair loose, and you do good to make you go out?
No, I do not miss. Why should I make for a nice bunch of people outside that I do not know? Who do not know me, and with whom I have no relationship? In my marriage is just completely opposite. I'm nice home for my husband and when I'm outside, little 'fun' to me to watch. I do not miss it that I do not get attention on the street (because you do not get as fast), because I have a lovely man, whom I love very much, so why still flirt? True enough women at home a nice sweater and sweatpants swill attract, I'm home just fine. If I am inside I pull something nice to put my hair well, put my makeup on sometimes (normally I'm always very natural) and do a nice smell, and my husband knows when he sees that I specially do for him, because I love him. He is the man with whom I share everything, so why not ensure that I uitzie extra special as we are together. My husband does it the other way for me (no, not quite dressed up of course, but just as an extra at best haha) and I think it should have more than me worrying about what "the rest of the world 'mine find, since They do not even know me ...

Is a headscarf now the only thing you are supposed to wear?
No, if you take the verse which I mentioned at the beginning of this post reads, it is the believing women said that they have to cover everything except what is supposed to be visible, because their hands and face. That means that I do not wear skinny jeans (which my legs completely silhouetted), short skirts with tights, t-shirts, headscarves only a knot around it (so that your breasts do not cover), challenging makeup (cover than you do, but do you still attractive), much perfume that everyone can smell it, and I could go on and enumerate with but I think it's obvious. Outdoors I wear only long skirts / dresses, long sleeved shirts and a scarf that comes up over my breasts. Of course you can eg loose trousers with a dress wear skirts but I think the best cover.

Last question for this post: because you wear a headscarf ga you certainly do not swim right? Baal you do not? And does your husband do?
No, I do not really swim. At least not in a public pool. I once during a special "women bathing afternoon 'swim, but I find nothing. I think it's too crowded (I do not like pressure) and really can not swim laps or something, and I will get to. I'm a little while ago have been in a private spa with my husband where we had a lovely pool, and I most enjoyed the swim. From Madelon girlfriend recently gave me a "burkini" from Egypt, but I have not tried. I think I would have them swim in a secluded lake, but not everyone gets up there with his nose haha, that's me too striking. My husband is also not swim in public pools. As I wrote it for him also not allowed to look at other women, so it seems to me not a good idea to go to a pool full of girls in bathing suits and bikinis to go. My husband swims occasionally during special 'men swim hours (yes, they exist) and otherwise be available only at places where it is not so busy and full.

I think this post is long enough to become so. Did you know all this already? And there are other things you might want to know about this topic?

Finally I wanted to mention that I, despite the fact that I am therefore of the opinion that a veil is an obligation, absolutely nothing against Muslim women do not wear headscarves. Also, they may just as well have their opinion. In the end I am solely responsible for my own actions, so see this post not as a "pointing" finger, but as a clarification of my choice.