In Kashmir, there is no hard and fast rule for the strict observance of hijab and only a minority of the women here observe hijab and proclaim that they truly feel empowered and confident and are liberated from “Slavery to Physical Perfection”, by observing this commandment of Allah. Despite the numerous books, literature and lectures available on the subject of hijab, why is there reluctance in practising it in a Muslim majority state?
For answers, I conducted a survey of my own. Tabzeer Yaseen Bagdadi, a sophomore observes that, “while wearing the identity on our sleeve i.e hijab, internally in my conscience, there is always a fight going on regarding what is good or what is bad. After donning my hijab, if I resort to a sinful life, I will feel guilty that the purpose of hijab has been defeated”.
Aaliya Khan who completed her masters in Social Work from Kashmir University comments: “There is a common norm in Kashmir , it is difficult if not impossible to arrange a groom for the hijab clad girls as majority think that there is something wrong with the physical beauty of those girls who observe hijab”. She further adds: “Being without hijab is a norm in Kashmir and those who wear hijab are seen as deviants by the society”. Samiya Farooq says that she knows a girl who used to observe hijab and after marriage, her husband and in-laws were against her donning the hijab. When she refused to give up, she was divorced. “In majority of cases, parents are the culprits. I started observing hijab, but my parents would pressurise me to give up, and used to taunt me that on the day of Judgement, we are ready to bear the burden of your punishment on our shoulders, but we request you not to observe it. After the infamous sex scandal got exposed and it became known that the girls who were exploited in that scandal by businessmen, politicians and top police officials used to carry out these activities in the garb of hijab, my father tore up my Jilbab to pieces,” says a student from Shar-e-Khaas of Srinagar.
Shaila Ali, a student doing her bachelors comments that, “Peer pressure is one of the biggest factors for not donning hijab and parents are also a contributing factor”. Birjees Nehvi an engineering student who strictly observes hijab says her cousins who are of the same age do not observe hijab and whenever her aunt visits their home, she indirectly taunts her during conversation with her parents that in Islam, it is not sufficient to observe just purdah, but our hearts should also be pious, free of evil intentions, thus discouraging and suspecting her character. “I know of girls who wear hijab during winter to keep themselves warm and give it up during the summer months citing the hot weather as justification. Also some girls wear hijab because their boyfriends pressurise them to do so, to look modest so that other boys are not attracted to them and some girls give up hijab because boys do not get attracted to them,” comments Nausheen Hamdani. Saana Sofi who works in a government office observes: “These days, hijab is observed because it is a fashion trend and young girls observe it because they wish to be known as modest and youth are attracted more to these girls because they think that they are noble and pious. One of my friends opted for hijab only when she realised that by covering her head, she looked much more pretty than she was.”
Says Iesha Javed, a M.B.B.S student: “What prevents women from accepting hijab is that they are not sure whether hijab is just a social norm or is really prescribed in Islam as they are not provided proof. Another reason is that anti-Islamic and feminist ideas are drilled by the media into young minds which makes ideas like hijab appear weak, vague and uncivilised.” Iesha also has a solution towards implementation of hijab. She affirms: “The key lies in imparting knowledge of Islam to Muslim women and proving to them through hikmah how hijab liberates them from human servitude and bondage”.
Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi of the Shah-i-Hamdan Institute of Islamic Studies, Kashmir University, has something different to share: “As far as hijab is concerned, we have not done any work for its implementation on the basis of educational awareness of Islamic values. We make everything a political stint and lose the battle. It needs constant efforts on the part of parents, teachers and preachers to educate children about Islamic morality and hijab is the basis of female morality. We have to convince, not force new generations about Islamic values including hijab.”
Executive member of FASE (Forum Against Social Evils), Syeda Aasiya Andrabi says that she is a witness to the positive changes in the society regarding hijab.
(The writer can be reached at islamicmushtaq@yahoo.co.in)
