De-Hijabization

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1237706119307&pagename=Zone-English-Family%2FFYELayout

The article is quite readable, and seemed to explain the phenomenon and its importance from a dis-engaged point of view... until I read this part and it was all downhill from there.  This statement came after explaining the role of certain preachers who made hijab tantamount to faith itself:

"Women who remove the headscarf because they choose to interpret the Islamic tradition in their own way without training; are just as problematic as these preachers"

This got me thinking.

Firstly, we all interpret the Islamic tradition in our own way, and none of us have been 'trained' to do so.  I challenge the assertion that a bloke with a degree in Shariah is in a better position to interpret Islam for me than I am.  I'm not saying I don't respect the knowledge that person has attained, nor am I saying that I wouldn't take that person's view into account whilst making my decision.  But, ultimately, it is my decision.  Scholars advise, and it's up to the 'lay people' to take that advise into consideration, but not follow it blindly.  I advise you to take this piece of advise into consideration, but not follow it blindly.

I'm not talking about training in Shariah, and I'm not challenging the assertion that hijab is 'fard', according to classical Sunni schools of thought.  The classification of 'fard' is a fiqh classification, based on the sources mentioned in the article.  However, we would be in a mild state of denial if we were to assume that the only reason one wears the hijab is because of this fiqh classification, just as we would be in denial to remove its importance from the equation.  But here's my challenge for you. Perhaps it's not a matter of what 'fiqh' says about the situation - perhaps its a matter of how much importance we attatch to which rules of fiqh.

Of course, I hear you think, we want to follow all the rules of fiqh, so we don't sin and can go to Heaven.  Well, I'm sorry to break it to you - one can follow all the rules of fiqh, and still be an immoral person, and if God wills, end up in Hell (authu billah min thalik).  Confused? If so, let me tell you a quick story.

An Arab bloke is married to a pious lady, and fancies his secretary.  He gets off with his secretary behind his wife's back, and does a nikkah with her to relieve his guilt, leaving the secretary with the impression he will leave his first wife. Did he break a rule of fiqh? No. Did he commit an immoral act and sin? Yes.  For those of you who believed that marrying a second wife without the first's permission was haram, I'm sorry to break the news to you.

Some women who choose wear hijab are happy because they are interpreting Islam in a way which falls in line with the rules of classical fiqh, and depending on their context may improve/remove their social status.  Women who choose not to wear hijab are happy because they are paying more importance to aspects of their faith that are not stamped on their forehead (which may improve/remove their social status).  Women who don't have a choice aren't happy, because a member of their family took that freedom away from them.

The irony of the article is that the lady who wrote it then goes on to explain (interpret) a verse of the Qur'an without any training (how dare she!) and then concludes that she will wear it due to her 'awareness' - an awareness that apparently the other Muslim women are lacking.