symbols of politics?

In the Malaysian Insider, "Headscarves enter Indonesian polls"

JAKARTA, June 2 — The wearing of headscarves has emerged as a hot issue in Indonesia ahead of next month’s presidential election.

As parties gear up for the soft campaign which kicks off today, the campaign team for Vice-President Jusuf Kalla and his running mate, former general Wiranto, has published a booklet about the candidates’ wives being pious Muslims who don headscarves all the time.

This is in contrast to the wives of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his vice-presidential candidate Boediono, both of whom do not wear head coverings.

Copies of the eight-page booklet, entitled Isteri Yang Shaleha Pasangan Pemimpin Masa Depan, or The Devout Wives Of Future Leaders, were distributed over the weekend, carrying the profiles of Musfidah Jusuf Kalla and Rugayah Wiranto with quotations from the Hadith or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad on Muslim women and their dressing.

Both Kalla and Wiranto have been travelling across the country, with their wives in tow, to garner support from the Muslim ground.

. . .

continued article at the linked title above

Other articles I have found on this subject, and the book about the candidates' wives, seem to suggest favour of the people being linked to the pious behaviour/dress of the men's wives. While the behaviour of wives certainly is a reflection of the outlooks and personal disposition of their husbands, I would hope that folks are not simply leaning toward a political leader because of outward appearance. But we all know that it happens.

1st photo caption: "Incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla (L) of Golkar, who is running for president, his spouse Mufida Jusuf Kalla (2nd-L), his running mate Wiranto of Hanura and his spouse Rugaiya Usman Wiranto (R) wave after registering for the next presidential election in Jakarta on May 16, 2009." from daylife.com

2nd photo caption: "Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, left, and his wife Kristiani Yudhoyono, right, shows ink-stained finger after casting his ballot at a polling station Thursday, April 9, 2009, in Cibubur, south of Jakarta, Indonesia." AP photo from daylife.com

Islam: Combining Style with Modesty with Culture

Everyone is different. Every culture affects us. As Islam stretches across the globe, the interpretation of modesty and head covering shifts too. For those outside of Islam, this can be very confusing; why does my friend at work only wear a head scarf, but those ladies in the mall wear those long black robes? I can only imagine the stress it must be for a lady who trying to follow the Muslim teachings to interpret with honestly and humility: how must she really dress, in order to be modest? Ladies of all faiths, and of no faith, struggle with the same issues of course, because every culture is different, and yet modesty is always an issue, making the questions of "how large a head covering" and "should women wear pants" pertain to everyone.

The second two links in today's post deal with the specific Quranic scriptures dealing with modesty. The first link here is just an example of how modest ladies still want to be beautiful.

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"Malaysia: Islam combines style with modesty"
25-11-2008

The annual Islamic Fashion Festival is kicking off today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The festival is all about reaching out to Muslim women and telling them that they can wear beautiful clothes and still be modest. ‘A modest woman is more sublime than a woman that reveals all’ comments Aisha Alam a well-dressed guest at the event. ‘More and more women in the region are discarding the less comfortable western styles and returning to the flowing Islamic way of dressing’. The organisers of the event are capitalising on this phenomena.

Currently the event attracts over 40 top designers from the region and as far away as Pakistan. The proceeds of the event go to worthwhile charities, mainly to alleviate hunger and poverty in the region. Guests will be treated to catwalk style displays albeit with the modest norms of Islam taken into consideration. Traditional Asian emphasis on beautiful fabrics will dominate and guests can expect to see dazzling silks used in creating the traditional Islamic women’s head coverings.

First photos found at TheHijablog at wordpress

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"The Jilbab and What Garments Can Substitute It"

AUTHOR: Imaam Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee
SOURCE: Masaa'il Nisaa'iyyah Mukhtaarah (pg. 125-131)
Found at TurnToIslam.com forums

A short quote:

In brief, a khimaar covers less that a jilbaab while a jilbaab has a more ample range in terms of the parts that it covers. Also, a jilbaab is specific for only women. They were the ones who were ordered to wear it and not men. But as for the khimaar, then that is a garment that both men and women share in wearing. Even though a man is not obligated to wear it, regardless, it is a garment that both men and women partake in wearing, just like a shirt. In the same manner that a man wears a shirt to cover his ‘awrah – which is different from the ‘awrah of a woman – so does a woman. But her ‘awrah is ampler than the ‘awrah of a man.

This is a small part of a much longer article with further discussion and information.

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25.11.08, in "hegab-rehab" at blogspot, the author writes:
"My eyes are open"

i have been doing A LOT of reading lately (and less blogging) - mainly islamic issue related stuff - and everytime i come across sections from Quran and Hadith concerning Islamic Dress i get kinda "thinky" about my blog. Not about shutting it down - but about excluding some kind of things from my posts - like pants, etc.

Because the more proof i come across the more i think i should follow my heart and stick to Abaya-like clothing.

Read more of her thoughts on Quranic scripture and modest apparel, along with her other blog posts with pretty pictures, showing modest Muslim women various ways to wear hijab.

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I almost forgot - you might be interested in a blog entry by a simply modest blogger with photos of various women dressing modestly, from different backgrounds and cultures. "Plain Style."

Various Recent News and Notes

IN THE NEWS:

Malaysian city warns women over make-up, high heels, found in Yahoo news

Kota Bharu, capital of conservative northern Kelantan state. . . .

"Nowadays the way women dress attracts unwanted attention. It could lead to all sorts of vice," said Azman Mohd Daham, public relations director of the city council in Kota Bharu, capital of conservative northern Kelantan state.

"We do not advocate tight clothes, too much lipstick or thick make-up, and even the headscarf should not be too transparent," he told AFP. "Women should dress modestly, this is what Islam requires."

The guidelines were sent to local businesses and shops last month, he said, but denied reports that anyone flouting the code faced a fine.

"If they want to follow what we advocate in the campaign, it is entirely their choice but we hope they do because this is the best for them."

"We do not punish anyone for wearing thick make-up or high-heel shoes, there are no fines either," he said, but added that Muslim women did face a fine if they failed to cover their heads with a scarf.

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Covering Up: What to learn from the French debate over headscarves.
Reviewing the books: "Why The French Don't Like Headscarves, Islam, the State, and Public Space" by John R. Bowen, and "The Politics of the Veil," by Joan Scott

Click the link above to read the full book review and opinion by Rayyan Al-Shawaf in Christianity Today Book Reviews.

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To remove or not remove an Hasidic woman’s wig
short news blurb in "Blogging Religiously" in LoHudBlogs.com, in full here:

There have been several interesting court cases in recent years over whether Muslim women can wear the hijab (head covering) when having a picture taken for their driver’s license.

Now a police officer here in Ramapo is taking some heat for forcing an Hasidic Jewish woman to remove her wig for a head-shot after her arrest.

Many Hasidic women who are married wear a wig to cover their hair, which is to be seen only by their husbands.

Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence apologized for the officer’s conduct, saying that a female officer should have processed the woman. He said that police officers will be given a new round of sensitivity training.

Internal link provides full story.

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The Head Shaving Event for Breast Cancer Awareness
in the CourierPostOnline.com, South Jersey

Just a personal note - I realize that these types of events are done for "solidarity". But, I want you to know that if I ever lose my hair due to cancer treatments, or some other illness, I would rather you KEEP your beautiful hair! and just wear a cancer-cap with me if you want to try to appear sympathetic and raise money for research. I personally don't think that I would feel solidarity with you if you shaved your hair, but rather sadness for your not understanding. There may be some hair loss victims who applaud your sympathy in shaving your hair off. I personally do not understand them. - LisaM

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THE VEIL IN THE WEST: MUSLIM FEMALE STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON HIJÂB IN THE NETHERLANDS

This is a lengthy and more scholarly abstract posted by Mohamad Abdun Nasir concerning "Muslim headscarves in the West: Religion and modernity," in the blog "We Read: Read whatever you want and let's share our thoughts and experience for a better world."

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And finally, a blog entry called, "The Science Behind the Veil". Posted by Fatimah, one of four full time university students blogging at "The Deadliest Four". You knew there were more healthy reasons for wearing headcovering. (automatic radio turns on and plays at this address)