Hijab: Between Confrontation, Contestation, As Subjugation, Resistance and Empowerment
By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New
Age Islam
22 June 2023
Muslims have been commanded to dress
modestly. They cannot display what has been termed as the Aurat (body parts
that deem to be covered). Quran in many places ordains Muslim men and women to
dress modestly, lower their eyes and adopt a dress of piety. Now what
constitutes modesty is a relative term for different people. Dress for Muslims
was always variegated based on the local weather, culture and social milieu.
The dress of Muslim women became field of contestation because due to gender
biased interpretation of Islam, colonialism, patriarchy, misogyny and gendered
construction of honour, the Muslim women were expected to follow a certain
pattern of dress.
With the advent of modernity and subsequent
colonialism, few Muslim minds who are termed as modernists, some in hand with
glove with the colonial masters and others who opposed them, again used women’s
dress as a political tool. They believed like Reza Shah Pahlavi, monarch of
Iran and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk of Turkey that Muslim women need to discard
their traditional dress in favour of the modern dress.
Hence, the covering of hair by women came
to be banned and state used all its resources to make women give away hijab.
So, this was the branding of modernity according to Pahlavi and Ataturk,
instead of focusing on technology, scientific temper and progressive
industrialization, these misplaced efforts of rescuing Muslim women from Hijab
had its repercussions. It is what the subaltern scholars believe that for the
“Orientalists the Eastern woman needs to be rescued and rehabilitated.” This
oppressive effort depicted the misplaced priorities of these rulers, destroyed
a lot of creative energy of these states as they were confronted and resisted
by the Ulema. The Ulema portrayed them as enemies of Islam, stooges of the West
and Pharaohs of our times, so ultimately it resulted in the triumph of
conservative sections of Ulema in society.
These Ulema and their followers in
political leadership used the dress of Muslim women particularly Hijab as a
form of resistance. Imam Ayatollah Khomeini through his own clout used Hijab as
a tool against Shah’s regime in Iran. So is true for Recep Tayyab Erdogan who
also used the tool of Hijab in public spaces and offices as an election issue.
Women in Hijab were not allowed to attend public institutions in Turkey and
once he came to power, he delivered on his promise of lifting ban on entry of
Hijabi women in public institutions. Now women with Hijab can attend any public
institution and office. Hence, Hijab as a tool was wielded as resistance
against aggressive modernity by the conservatives to gain political ends.
On the other hand, the deeply misogynist
and patriarchal Taliban regime in Afghanistan has used the same Hijab as a tool
of oppression against the Muslim women in Afghanistan. The interpretation of
Hijab for Taliban means a complete docility and suppression of women. It
translated into forcing women to remain confined to the four walls of their
homes. Girls and women are not allowed to even attend to schools and colleges
while debarring them from even attending or holding any public offices. For
Taliban, the women constitute Fitnah (mischievous and leading to spread of
strife on earth). The best way to contain the Fitnah is to debar and ban their
participation in any public activity. Any education for them is akin to opening
doors of Fitnah and misleading men towards committing adultery (Zina). If they
need to come out for any task in public, they should be covered in Jilbab’s (an
overall dress that covers a woman from head to toe). Even then the Taliban is
afraid from women’s body.
There are differences between Iran, Turkey
and Afghanistan regimes. Iran under Imam Khomeini revolutionized the women’s
rights and Hijab and its modified dress the Abaya that is different from Jilbab
became transnational. Now Abaya as a loose-fitting garment is being used by
most Muslim women in different countries. It has helped women become empowered
and participate actively in public life.
The controversy over hijab has attained new
public life in India because many states ruled by the right-wing BJP regime has
banned Hijab particularly in educational institutions. Many girls had to drop
out because of this ban. It is quite surprising that in the 21st century,
identity politics has assumed such an important place to be wielded for
electoral gains. Instead of focusing on education, welfare of citizens,
attending to their daily needs of people and rising inflation, the issues like
Hijab are raked up to deviate the hearts and minds of people from the real
issue. Hijab in India now is being constructed as an invasion and threat to the
Hindu majority. So now the politics is being weaved around Hijab that in
reality is a non-issue.
Recently in Kashmir valley in a prominent
Higher Secondary School, Vishwa Bharti School based in Rainawari locality of Srinagar,
the students hit the streets after a school dictate ordering them not to come
to school in Abayas and Hijabs. They protested against the lady Principal who
according to the allegations of students told them that they should join some Dar
ul Ulooms (Islamic seminaries) not mainstream schools if they insist on
adorning Hijab and Abayas. They also alleged that the Principal told them they
are indulging in malpractices and crimes so they insist on wearing
Hijabs/Abayas as they can continue their subversive activities freely without
hindrance. These protests went viral making the Muslim lady Principal tender an
apology and state that her words have been quoted out of context. Meanwhile,
some militant organization also issued a threat against the Principal.
Political leaders also jumped in the bandwagon of controversy and issued
statements.
However, the real issue drowned in the
cacophony of allegations and counter allegations. The real issue is about
uniform in schools. If the uniform is to be followed then the Abayas too can
form part of the uniform. So, a similar form of Abaya can become part of
uniform. Abaya offers the autonomy of wearing any dress inside as it drapes and
covers the whole body. According to the version of students the Principal wanted
the girls to remove their Abayas in school premises and roam in uniforms only.
But they contested her, observing that she has turned the school into a co-ed
institution and with boys around this action cannot be executed. So this issue
became controversial and the Principal had to budge down to the wishes of
students, as the community constructed it as an attack against the muslim
majority. It can be very well concluded that simple Hijab can be constructed
into an emotive issue and has the potential to destroy the peace and
tranquillity of a community.
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M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based
in Srinagar, Kashmir.
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/hijab-confrontation-resistance-empowerment/d/130047
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