You learn something new everyday.
I'm not sure exactly what "Desi Islam" means, but from what I gather, it mostly refers to the practice of combining tradition of a certain culture with the religious requirements of Islam. I came across an article by this name at "The Room of Requirements: Desi Islam", and learned something more about head covering too. Apparently some Muslim women confuse the wearing of a head covering for modesty and religious demand with the wearing of a head covering out of respect. Which is not required in Islam.
In our Western culture, the "flip-side" of the Christian woman's head covering for submission and respect and requirement, is that of the Christian man's doffing his head cover while indoors, out of respect, and in deference to religious requirement while praying. You can observe men taking off their hats and some Christian women throwing their prayer veils on when a prayer is said at some public function.
Somehow, this practice is also a part of what this author refers to as "Desi Islam", in that some Muslim women, when uncovered, will put on their veil when hearing prayer or the words of scripture being read. In her article, she describes how the religious requirement for Muslim women regarding covering has always been out of modesty toward men-people who are not close family - but not out of some outward show of respect for prayer or prophecy. That, you may remember, is the point made by the apostle in the New Testament - that Christian women should cover their heads when praying or prophesying. The article implies that maybe this practice of head covering for respect of holy words is a carry-over from old cultural traditions. And this author as well as the sources she quotes from think that wearing a covering out of respect is just not right.
And I wonder if the ancient practice of women covering their head out of respect for holiness comes from whatever was and is before the Hindu or Jewish traditions that predate the modern traditions of Muslims and Christians.
4 comments:
It often does seem that our traditions not only spring from the same root of either spirituality, modesty, feminism, etc... either way your blog is so all around supportive and positive I enjoy it immensely. I just hope I can remember it long enough to save it on my home bookmarks. I'm totally websurfing at work. AKA cyberslacking (a new word in the Oxford English Dictionary).
Peace,
aisha
Thank you for noticing my point about traditions and their same root. I hope you can visit and post your comments again. :)
Desi is simply a slang term originating from the word "desh" which means homeland... people use it to refer to the culture of the Indian subcontinent, and it's often used in a fun, shorthand way (ie, not derogatory).
So the writer is talking about growing up with a practice of religion that was strongly informed by Desi cultural traditions, some of which are Islamic or neutral in origin, and some of which were picked up from other religions. Not all of these things are wrong or bad, but some of them are strange and have nothing to do with Islam (like not sweeping the floors anytime from the afternoon to the next morning, which some people rigidly adhere to, believing it brings "bad spirits"). "Yo-yo" hijab is one of these things.
as a covering christian, but a young woman who has lived in the middle east, and studied Islam this sort of topic is always of interest. The main difference between christian coverign and hijba being the reasons for wearing. There is however a relgious aspect to Muslim hijab, as well as modesty with men (which is the main reason), and that is the fact that a woman over puberty cannot pray (the set prayers or Raka'a) without it. Therefore much like Christian women who take 1Corinthinians 11 as a sign that a coverign should be worn in prayer, and that the comman to "Pray with cease" necessatates constant covering (not my personal view) has some relation to Msulim women, to whom being MutaHajib (a woman who wera hijab)is also practical as you will never be 'caught out' - not beign able to pray because you have no cover with you. Unlike many covering women (such as myself) who believe your prayer is euqaly accepted/heard withotu covering a Muslim cannot and will not perform the obligatory 5 daily prayers without covering.
Just thought i'd mention that! :)
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