Why Rehana Fathima Deserves To Be Praised
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
7 June 2023
Tire Māthe Pe
Ye Āñchal Bahut Hī Ḳhuub Hai Lekin
Tū Is Āñchal Se
Ik Parcham Banā Letī To Achchhā Thā
तेरे माथे पे ये आँचल, बहुत ही खूब है लेकिन,
तू इस आँचल से एक परचम बना लेती तो अच्छा था।
"The covering on your head looks good.
But, it'd have looked even better had you turned it into a flag “(Asrarul Haq
Majaz).
Rehana Fathima, a Kerala-based activist.
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I congratulate Rehana Fathima (also known
as Surya Gayatri) on winning the nudity case in Kerala High Court. Here, I'm
not discussing nudity as some prudes may say that this forum is for Islam and
not for promoting Uriyaniyat (nudity in Arabic).This is the freedom of
an individual, esp. of a Muslim woman, always subjugated by religion.
Rehana's triumph will pave the way for the
women of all faiths and hues. One doesn't suggest nudity as a manifestation of
freedom. Her upper-half or full nakedness is not an issue. It's a metaphor and
a symbol of empowerment. When more and more Muslim women are opting for hijab
and covering their whole bodies with a hideous black tent, it's indeed
admirable for a woman to flaunt her body for a reason.
"Aurat Ki Ibtida-e-Aazadi Barhangi
Ke Khilaaf Aawaaz Buland Karne Se Shuroo Hoti Hai” (A woman's beginning of
freedom begins when she condemns nudity). Saadat Hasan Manto is spot-on here.
The patriarchal Islam has relegated women to commodities. They've no say in a
predominantly male set-up. Breaking that glass ceiling and showing one's upper
torso is a fearless move for which Rehana deserves full praise.
Art doesn't distinguish between a man and a
woman. If a Muslim Salman Khan takes off his shirt at the drop of a hat and
Amir Khan can go full Monty for the movie PK, why can't a woman emulate them?
Mind you, there's an aesthetic angle to Rehana's act of partial nudity. It
doesn't look crude or vulgar. In other words, it doesn't stoke male
masturbatory fantasies.
It's time for Muslim women to break all
shackles imposed by their men, Islam, Prophet, clerics and other male-dominated
agencies. Pakistan's famous YouTuber Arzoo Kazmi openly asks the primitive
clerics that if men will get 72 Houries (now a film is being made on
it!) and 28 Gulmas (Beresh Launde, tender pubescent boys) in
heaven for the obvious purpose, what will a woman get there? Rehana in India
detonates faux religious morality by aesthetically showing her assets. This is
an encouraging trend despite all religions asserting themselves in a vehement
and violent manner in recent times.
The moralists in all faiths may say that
since she's not a practising Muslim, her understanding of morality is warped.
But the court's decision underlines the fact that society at large needs to
re-evaluate and reassess its skewed definition of morality. We need more and
more women like her who can challenge the deep-rooted social and moral
stereotypes.
----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in
comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed
articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including
Persian.
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/rehana-fathima-praised/d/129938
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