Category: philosophy/religion topics
I've studied and worn the covering for a couple years now. I've always liked the idea of hijab though. I'm not Amish or mennonite so bonnets don't quite suit. If there are hijabis here how do you feel while wearing it? Does it help you pursue God with a humble heart? Do you think it would be wrong for a non-muslim to wear hijab? Is the stigma too great for a white girl to take on the practice? I keep to simple kerchiefs these days but I always feel like something's missing. I look forward to your thoughts. Peace and blessings. Tiffany
It's clear that you're not doing it in any way to mock or to insult Muslims and that you feel a true calling to wear it. So I think you should follow your heart on this one. Of course, I'm not a Muslim, so can't speak from their point of view. Hopefully, we'll get to hear their opinions and that could help you make your decision.
There are different points of view on whether head covering is or isn't required by Islamic law. Some say the actual Arabic word, 'khimar', refers to a cloak to cover the chest area & head covering is a human innovation, but I'm not an Arabic speaker so I don't know.
I think it's one thing to wear it in a Muslim majority society where the majority do, and I can understand an all in one prayer cloak while praying, but in a western society IMO it doesn't work. It's totally pointless, for example, if a woman draws attention to her face with garish makeup, or her other clothing is tight or form fitting, or if her disposition is thoroughly unpleasant, aggressive, or boorish. In some occupations I think it's practical, for example if the woman is serving food or working directly with patients, in others it's not. I accepted Islam some years ago, but I disrespect the community where I live (a lot of folks who accept American welfare benefits but maintain loyalty to the old country), so I don't wear it.
What's wrong with accepting benefits if you have no choice? You may be loyal to the old country but not be able to make it here, yet can't leave due to circumstances. That, or you may like it here but still feel patriotic to your former country. It doesn't mean that you'd harm anyone here, it just means that your loyalties lie elsewhere.
These folks have a choice otherwise how are they able to afford to spend months at a time in the old country? Look at a history of the original welfare program...ADC, or Aid to Dependent Children. This was a program formed during periods when the country was in the Dust Bowl & Great Depression years & families literally lived in squalor, sometimes not even able to afford shoes or nutritious meals for kids or even able to send 'em to school because of a lack of appropriate clothing. In spite of the fact that many were living in deplorable conditions, less people claimed assistance than they do now.
Now my heart goes out, say, to migrant farm workers or night shift clean up people, largely Latino, who need some assistance, but I've been dealing with these folks for nine years, enough to know how they live already. One got reported by some neighbor & removed from that subsidized housing complex. One gets daycare assistance...for an afterschool program, which is the cheapest of any age group...with two incomes and supposedly his wife is a nurse. This is fraud & I've seen folks photographed, fingerprinted, & their stories told to the local paper for it. I finally had had enough when "religious" Muslim women were asking ME why I didn't participate. Oh, try quite a bit of money over the limit, and with a retired federal employee for a relative, I know government is usually VERY inflexible about income limits, and the Qu'ran itself is strict about not taking food, money, property from those truly in need. I can't visually or personally associate with folks engaged in these behaviors.