Must Read: The Silent Lover - Season 1 - Episode 72

7 years ago

Must Read: The Silent Lover - Season 1 - Episode 72

“Not at all. We’re still in men’s world and era. Have you ever seen a man wearing a Saarh? Ofcourse not, but you’ll always see many women wearing jeans or pants, shirts and other masculine things, and they do it happily on their own will.”

“So you’re saying that a Muslim woman must not wear stuff like Jeans, trousers and pants, right?” Sania asked, biting her lip. “Oh my God, so much fanaticism and conservative thinking you’ve got.”

“I’d only present what I’ve read.” Hijaab replied softly, never losing her temper even for a second.

“Now what’s right and what’s wrong, it’s your job to decide. As far as I know, women must not dress so as to appear as men. In Sahih Bukhari, the most famous book of Muslims after Quran, the Prophet cursed the „men who appear like women and the ‘women’ who appear like men. In the same book, there is another saying of the prophet that;

“Muslim women should not dress in a way similar to the unbelievers.”

“And not a single person sitting here would like to argue upon the fact that, by ‘origin’, jeans and pants are the invention of ‘western men’. Infact, jeans is supposed to be a pure ‘male-oriented’ cloth and if you read U.S history in detail, you’d find out that, just a hundred years ago, only rough and tough cowboys used to wear it. How masculine and how unfeminine.” Hijaab smiled dejectedly.

Sania just stared at Hijaab, at a loss of words.

“But ‘Hijaab’ and all those long dresses can adversely affect the activities of working women.” A girl in her early twenties complained from the audience. “Only modern dresses like jeans and pants allow a working woman to work care-freely.”

“I respect your opinion dear sister.” Hijaab turned to face her. “However, I don’t agree with that.”

She then breathed a long sigh and then resumed her discussion.

“Often forgotten is the fact that modern Western dress is a new invention. Looking at the clothing of Western women as recently as seventy years ago, we see clothing similar to Hijaab. Their clothing, which consisted of long, full dresses and various types of head covering did not inhibit these active and hard-working women of the West. Similarly, Muslim women who wear Hijaab do not find it impractical or interfering with their activities in all levels of life.”

“So, all restrictions in Islam are for woman’s dress, right? Men are as free as they’ve always been.” Sania said harshly, but in reality, she was feeling like tongue-tied for the first time in her life.

“I’m sorry, that is also not true.” Hijaab commented. “Hijaab is for a man as well.

However, since his body has different shape and form, which is certainly not so attractive and beautiful like a woman’s body is, Quran sets a different criteria for his ‘Hijaab’.”

“And what’s that?” Sania questioned sarcastically.

“Men’s Hijaab is in their ‘eyes’, as Allah orders both men and women to lower their gaze.” Hijaab answered patiently. “Besides, there’s a dress criteria for Muslim men too.

The clothing of men should not be like the dress of women, nor should it be tight or provocative. A Muslim should dress to show his identity as a Muslim. Men are not allowed to wear gold or silk. However, both are allowed for women. For both men and women, clothing requirements are not meant to be a restriction but rather a way in which society will function in a proper, Islamic manner.”

Sania couldn’t argue with this, nor did she want to
“The ‘Hijaab’ team scores an extra point.” The anchorperson said wryly.

“An extra point? I didn’t know we were keeping the score.’’ Hijaab muttered.

“Most women like their beauty and all that fanciness.” Sania said sharply.

“Not this woman.” She corrected.

“You don’t represent the face of a twenty first century woman.” Sania said with pride. “We want equality with men and won’t ever compromise our freedom for anything.” Sania snapped emotionally, her voice louder than before.

“Precious sister, women are not going to achieve equality with the right to show their bodies and hair in public, as some people would like to have you believe.” In reply, Hijaab’s voice was still very soft and gentle. “That would only make us party to our own objectification. True equality will be had only when women don’t need to display themselves to get attention and won’t need to defend their decision to keep their bodies to themselves.”

“You make it sound like women should be ashamed of their beauty.” Sania fired back. “Don’t you think a woman is the most beautiful creature of the universe and she has every right to display herself?”
“Sorry, beg your pardon, couldn’t get you.”

Now, it was Hijaab’s turn to frown, with confused knitting of her brow.

“I mean, a woman should be proud of her beauty, not ashamed of it.” Sania explained. “If God has made her beautiful, she should be thankful for that instead of hiding it like it’s something bad.”

“Exactly.” Hijaab said quickly. “Her beauty is not something bad or cheap, and that’s why she should protect and cover it, like we keep every expensive and precious thing safe and hidden.” She made her point in a genuine way. “And mind you, a woman who covers herself is concealing her sexuality but allowing her femininity to be brought out. That’s what the word ‘woman’ means in Urdu and Persian…. ‘Hidden’.”

“Any message you want to give to the audience?” The anchorperson asked, glancing at her wristwatch for the third time.

There was something about this girl, Hijaab which was making her uncomfortable for some unknown reason and she wanted to finish this program soon now.

“I’d just like to say…a strong person and a waterfall always channel their own path.”

Hijaab addressed the audience, her eyes touching each and every person sitting there. “Be yourself, everyone else is taken!”

She said in a soft yet effective tone. “You’re Muslim women, be like one, and be proud of that. Don’t lose your identity and don’t lose culture. Adopt positive things of the West, instead of going blindly behind the fake, temporary ‘attractions’. Thank you.”
People clapped for her, admired her for her excellent command on speech, but their response was somewhat different than what they gave to Sania. They had liked Sania for her bold style and daring personality but their response for Hijaab was filled with respect and appreciation.

“I’ve a question for you,” A bareheaded girl wearing a short-sleeved shirt raised her hand from the audience.

“Welcome,” Hijaab replied.

“Have you ever realized what would other people think if every Muslim woman begins to wear Hijaab?” Hijaab stared at her for few seconds and then answered.

“What we really are matters more than what people think of us.”

“Your views and your opinions are those of a religious extremist, shall I say.” Sania muttered in frustration. “A person should be ‘moderate’ in everything.”

“What do you really mean by the term ‘moderate’?” Hijaab?s grin broadened, they could all tell that through her eyes.

“Umm… means, something in the middle.” Sania said huskily, feeling trapped in her own web.

“Middle of what?” She asked, amusement flickering in her big eyes.

“Well,” Sania chewed her lower lip for a time before she could go on. “You won’t get it. That was slip of the tongue.”

“It was a slip of the truth.” Hijaab gave her a smiley look through her eyes and then turned her face to address the audience.

That was when the anchorperson interrupted.

“Miss. Hijaab, you’re getting personal.

There’s no place for pouring such fanatic and aggressive views in this all-woman discussion.”

“Respected lady…” Hijaab’s eyes grinned as she faced the anchorperson. “How can I expect you to remain neutral in this discussion about ‘Hijaab’ when you’re not a wearing a ‘Hijaab’ yourself.”

Anchorperson bit her upper lip in frustration but said nothing.

Hijaab then turned toward the crowed again.

“Our dear Miss. Sania told us a very beautiful thing in her speech, and that was, accept people for what they really are and not for what they look like.”

“So?” Sania lifted an eyebrow and frowned, but Hijaab carried herself on.

“She has made my point unknowingly.”

Hijaab smiled through her eyes. Now it was her turn to blast her bomb.

“That’s the whole philosophy behind ‘Hijaab’, that… don’t go for looks, don’t show your appearance, don’t trust your looks, instead… impress people by your inner qualities and not by your external charms.”

Her last comment of personal knowledge caused Sania to fall silent.

There was a chorus of impressed ‘whoa’ from the audience.

“Miss. Hijaab, if some man stares at woman’s body and hair with bad intention, it would be ‘his’fault, not hers.” Sania declared aloud, unable to control her temper any longer.

Unaware of the interested gazes they were drawing, they sat eye to eye in the middle of the stage, glaring at each other and breathing hard, both too firm and stubborn to give an inch.

“I’m afraid I’d argue with that too” Hijaab said matter-of-factly, and then stopped to take a short breath, but only to continue once again.

“If a girl gets raped or sexually abused because of her attractive exposed body or some guy gets some bad habit in frustration after seeing a beautiful or so called ‘s*xy**’ girl, longing to get that vulnerable body anyway, whom will you blame? I’d say that both are responsible.”

“You’re over-suspicious.” Sania exclaimed with disinterest.

“Sorry?”
“I think only those women and men insist upon ‘Hijaab’ who are not sure of themselves and who don’t trust themselves.

Actually such people are ‘suspicious’.

“I see.” Hijaab nodded thoughtfully. “Sister Sania Rubab, do you pray?” Hijaab’s question was sudden and very unexpected.

“Listen.” Her chin quivered slightly.

“Please.” Hijaab insisted. “Just answer this question.”

“Yes, I do, sometimes.” She swallowed with difficulty.

“Can you offer prayers without covering your head, hair and body?”

“Ofcourse not.”
“Then, why did Allah made it obligatory for a woman that she should wear Hijaab while praying even if she is alone with no man around?” Hijaab asked and smiled at the irony of the situation.

“Tell me, why Allah… ALLAH the most closest to us wants us to be fully covered when we offer prayers?”

“I…I don’t know.” Sania stammered, unable to gather her nerves and words. “But don’t think I’m a pessimist about Hijaab.”

Sania muttered under her tongue. “But I do complain about the way you fanatics use it.”
“A pessimist is someone who complains about the noise when the optimist knocks.” Hijaab said to her.

Smiling, she then turned toward audience and said,