With the behavior of Arab men in Egypt, Morocco, and Turkey- it is really no wonder women wear veils and jilbabs in the Arab world. It is for religious purposes, as stated in the Koran to protect from men.
From the Quran: "O Prophet, say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to tighten them on their mantle (Jilbab), they will be recognized faster and not molested.
The Qur'an: Allah says: {O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers, to bring upon them their veils (Jalabibihinna): they will be soon recognized and not molested. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful} (33:).
Living in Muslim countries for almost a year now, it is evident to me that there is deep meaning and purpose behind wearing the veil. It has beauty, power, and protection. It makes a woman beautiful in a traditional, honorable way having a strong sense of cultural identity in ones place and society. Most importantly the veil creates this social distance between the woman and man. Women will usually sit next to women on the bus and train, women have their own area in the mosque, women have their own space in the hamams, and women have their own place in society. The social distance between the man and the woman is important to confirm the religious meaning of Islam.
While the veil is common in the Muslim world, it has also been a custom for Judaism and Christianity. Before the 1960s, it was customary for Roman Catholic women to wear veils or caps in to church. Also, the Virgin Mary-the mother of Christ was veiled. The purpose of the veil was again to "guard from the sinful men."
In Turkey, Egypt, and Morocco- I have open and honest discussions with women about the meaning of the veil. The main statement, which keeps being repeated is that the veil "protects from strange men." After first hand experience with the men on the streets and just in my lives, it is evident why women wear these veils to protect from the men. The strange men with open eyes staring right at you making you feel uncomfortable and a bit guilty or shameful. It makes you feel like you are exposing something to them or they have taken a piece of your female dignity and pride.
Often, I have become accustomed to walking out on the streets veiled on days I want peace. On days, I want to hide from men and I want to get the least amount of attention as possible. It does give me a feeling of protection and sense of belonging while decreasing the amount of attention from the strange men. While both men and women wear jilbabs and the men wear caps similar to a veil, it feels like the veil holds much higher importance and value for the woman to protect her. Men will wear the cap and women wear the veil and both represent Islam and keeping covered, but the veil has something special about it....
Something about the veil makes one feel protected....
From the Quran: "O Prophet, say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to tighten them on their mantle (Jilbab), they will be recognized faster and not molested.
The Qur'an: Allah says: {O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers, to bring upon them their veils (Jalabibihinna): they will be soon recognized and not molested. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful} (33:).
Living in Muslim countries for almost a year now, it is evident to me that there is deep meaning and purpose behind wearing the veil. It has beauty, power, and protection. It makes a woman beautiful in a traditional, honorable way having a strong sense of cultural identity in ones place and society. Most importantly the veil creates this social distance between the woman and man. Women will usually sit next to women on the bus and train, women have their own area in the mosque, women have their own space in the hamams, and women have their own place in society. The social distance between the man and the woman is important to confirm the religious meaning of Islam.
While the veil is common in the Muslim world, it has also been a custom for Judaism and Christianity. Before the 1960s, it was customary for Roman Catholic women to wear veils or caps in to church. Also, the Virgin Mary-the mother of Christ was veiled. The purpose of the veil was again to "guard from the sinful men."
In Turkey, Egypt, and Morocco- I have open and honest discussions with women about the meaning of the veil. The main statement, which keeps being repeated is that the veil "protects from strange men." After first hand experience with the men on the streets and just in my lives, it is evident why women wear these veils to protect from the men. The strange men with open eyes staring right at you making you feel uncomfortable and a bit guilty or shameful. It makes you feel like you are exposing something to them or they have taken a piece of your female dignity and pride.
Often, I have become accustomed to walking out on the streets veiled on days I want peace. On days, I want to hide from men and I want to get the least amount of attention as possible. It does give me a feeling of protection and sense of belonging while decreasing the amount of attention from the strange men. While both men and women wear jilbabs and the men wear caps similar to a veil, it feels like the veil holds much higher importance and value for the woman to protect her. Men will wear the cap and women wear the veil and both represent Islam and keeping covered, but the veil has something special about it....
Something about the veil makes one feel protected....
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