French president Sarkozy who believes that the burqa or niqab is not a religious sign but rather a sign of subservience wishes to ban it from being worn in his country. Since his strong views were raised in parliament many Britons have been discussing and debating the idea of banning the burka in Britain and an incident which took place in Dunstable just a few days ago could have raised another but weird reason for the ban.The reality of the state of Britain and its democracy is unlike France or any other country. Britain has and will remain to be a very lenient and tolerant home for the British and for immigrants. It is one thing to deny someone a right and another to take-away a right that you have already given. But the real question is why the burka should be banned at all.
Three weeks ago on BBC's 'The Big Questions' show I witnessed what was considerably quite a disappointing display of defence by a Muslim woman wearing a burka. When asked by Nicky Campbell why she is obliged to wear the burka and a man is not, after a long pause of silence she gave a response which I found to be a complete letdown. The woman replied, 'Urm, you've got a point there.' What she said after that I cannot remember but for myself that comment was enough to determine a ridiculous portrayal of many Muslims and Islam.
There are too many Muslims who are practicing beliefs that they believe to be from the Quran and a lot of the time they are but at times they are extremist views or even cultural values. A lot of people do not question the reasons for the rulings that have been placed upon them by God. The reasons have been given to us. Islam has explanations for everything but far too many Muslims only speak of what they hear and less of what they have read themselves in the Quran.
I myself do not believe that the burka is fard (obligatory) on Muslim women but I would never devalue a woman who chooses to wear one. What got me about the woman on 'The Big Questions' show was that she had no idea herself why she was wearing the burka or why any woman should wear it. She was unable to defend herself and in not doing so she let down herself and other Muslims.
God has commanded all men and women to be modest in their dress and for both to lower their gaze but women are also obliged to 'draw their veils over their bosoms' and to save their adornment for their husbands and men that they are Islamically unable to marry. Reasons for such matters are very complex and detailed and I myself would not be able to explain with accuracy.
What I will say from my knowledge of Islam and understanding of the world, is that men and women have been created very different to one another. What is attractive in a woman, might not be attractive in a man and vice versa. Therefore at times different rulings have been placed upon men and women, but the equality lies in their rewards and punishments for their deeds in this life. What each Muslim understands is that God has created us, therefore God knows us best and it is according to what He knows, that He has placed such boundaries and given such rights to us.
Three weeks ago on BBC's 'The Big Questions' show I witnessed what was considerably quite a disappointing display of defence by a Muslim woman wearing a burka. When asked by Nicky Campbell why she is obliged to wear the burka and a man is not, after a long pause of silence she gave a response which I found to be a complete letdown. The woman replied, 'Urm, you've got a point there.' What she said after that I cannot remember but for myself that comment was enough to determine a ridiculous portrayal of many Muslims and Islam.
There are too many Muslims who are practicing beliefs that they believe to be from the Quran and a lot of the time they are but at times they are extremist views or even cultural values. A lot of people do not question the reasons for the rulings that have been placed upon them by God. The reasons have been given to us. Islam has explanations for everything but far too many Muslims only speak of what they hear and less of what they have read themselves in the Quran.
I myself do not believe that the burka is fard (obligatory) on Muslim women but I would never devalue a woman who chooses to wear one. What got me about the woman on 'The Big Questions' show was that she had no idea herself why she was wearing the burka or why any woman should wear it. She was unable to defend herself and in not doing so she let down herself and other Muslims.
God has commanded all men and women to be modest in their dress and for both to lower their gaze but women are also obliged to 'draw their veils over their bosoms' and to save their adornment for their husbands and men that they are Islamically unable to marry. Reasons for such matters are very complex and detailed and I myself would not be able to explain with accuracy.
What I will say from my knowledge of Islam and understanding of the world, is that men and women have been created very different to one another. What is attractive in a woman, might not be attractive in a man and vice versa. Therefore at times different rulings have been placed upon men and women, but the equality lies in their rewards and punishments for their deeds in this life. What each Muslim understands is that God has created us, therefore God knows us best and it is according to what He knows, that He has placed such boundaries and given such rights to us.
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