{"id":11724,"date":"2017-05-13T10:43:57","date_gmt":"2017-05-13T04:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dorjegurung.com\/blog\/?p=11724"},"modified":"2026-03-13T22:15:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T22:15:01","slug":"men-observe-hijab-yes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/men-observe-hijab-yes\/","title":{"rendered":"“Men Observe Hijab?” Yes!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"girls<\/a>
Girls in Hijab celebrating Qatar National Day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During my short spell as a teacher<\/a> at Qatar Academy<\/a> in Doha, Qatar, which ended with my being jailed for allegedly insulting Islam<\/a>, I saw girls and women in Hijab all the time. Many of those girls were my own students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BUT, of course, I didn’t have any discussion about it with — nor did I ever even ask any question about it to — any of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading a Twitter thread<\/a> a little over a month ago about Hijab by Qasim Rashid<\/a> on #MuslimWomensDay<\/a> (March 28), I learned something about Islam that I hadn’t known until then. I reproduce the thread here — with permission from Rashid — to remind myself of this new insight and understanding, and with the hope that it enlightens others as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here it goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

On #MuslimWomensDay<\/a> I want to post this thread about Hijab in Islam. This is something I hope every guy reads. \/1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

People often conflate “Hijab” & “headscarf.” Wearing the headscarf is one form of Hijab, but men often forget that Hijab is much more. \/2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Accordingly, when addressing Hijab, the Qur’an does not address women first. It addresses men first. What? Men observe hijab? Since when? \/3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Well, since always. The primary responsibility of observing Hijab is not on women \u2014 it is on men. It’s critical to understand this point. \/4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

How must men observe Hijab? Men are commanded to not stare at women & to not be promiscuous. The Qur’an commands men to observe modesty. \/5 pic.twitter.com\/z0xDje6Kc1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Verse 24:31 rebukes forced laws on women that say “Women must cover otherwise men are distracted.” This verse destroys rape culture. \/6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Qur’an commands men,”Don’t stare at women,” demolishing complaints that what she’s wearing is “too provocative,” etc whatever that means. \/7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Guy: But she’s wearing revealing clothing!
\nQur’an: Why are you staring? Stop
\nGuy: But,it’s revealing
\nQur’an: Why\u2014Are\u2014You\u2014Staring?
\nGuy: :\/
\n\/8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Men have an obligation to God & to women to observe Hijab. It simple. If a guy chooses to accept Islam, Islam says he must observe Hijab. \/9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Thus Muhammad(sa) rebuked men, “Be chaste yourselves, & women will be chaste as well,” again putting the primary burden of Hijab on men \/10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

This is critical. We’ve all heard guys say “I want a chaste wife,” yet themselves they’re anything but. Do w\/e\u2014but dont be a hypocrite \/11<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Once men are thoroughly commanded to observe Hijab by being modest, not staring, & reforming themselves, then the Qur’an addresses women \/12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Now, many men magically & suddenly discover the concept of Hijab for women\u2014ignoring the primary burden first placed on men \/13<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

For some reason men think they can simply force women to observe Hijab. No. Such. Permission. Exists. To. Force. Hijab. In. Islam. \/14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But as His Holiness the Khalifa of Islam Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) reminds men who force Hijab on women — stop & restrain yourselves. \/15 pic.twitter.com\/M0pXbTd3a4<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Hijab is a critically important Islamic teaching. No one denies this. But it seems to me that too many men forget it applies to us FIRST \/16<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

So that’s my thread on Hijab in Islam. To learn how Hijab applies to Muslim women\u2014I suggest u ask Muslim women
\nPeace! 17\/17#MuslimWomansDay<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also wrote an article about it. Here it is: Muslim men need to understand that the Quran says they should observe hijab first, not women<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There is a lesson here for non-Muslims too, a lesson for men in Nepal for instance. Victim blaming when it comes to gender-based violence, such as sexual harassment during festivals, such as Holi<\/a>, or even something as heinous an act as rape, Nepalese culture allows men to blame the victim<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back, I find it kind of ironic that, all through my adult life I decide I don’t know enough<\/a> about the people and religion of the Middle East and that I must actually go live there among them to learn about them, get the opportunity, go there (Qatar), spend almost two years, leave, and I learn more about many aspects of their religion etc. from outside than when I was there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you think?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A reproduction of an excellent twitter thread on the question of the Hijab.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":11731,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"\"Men Observe Hijab?\" Yes!\r\n\r\ncc @MuslimIQ","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[30],"tags":[457,456,519,458,404,459],"class_list":["post-11724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-qatar","tag-hijab","tag-islam","tag-qasim-rashid","tag-rape-culture","tag-sexual-harassment","tag-victim-blaming"],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/girls-in-hijab-qatar-5964-feat-image.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Jbro-336","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11724"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11724\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30041,"href":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11724\/revisions\/30041"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}