Women In Black: The dance of the 7 veils

Once again, the issue of the ‘Burqa’ has raised its ugly head. Quite frankly, Muslim women are a tad bored of the same argument being debated over and over again. Little old us, subservient Muslim women, an eyesore to modern Britain, causing MPs, Presidents, and every Tom, Dick and Pierre to wade in with their own views on what to do with us.

The issue is simple. Muslims growing up in the west are faced with an identity crisis - many are brought up in families who came to Britain seeking a better life and good education for their children. What they didn’t forecast was that these children would grow up feeling ‘different’. ‘Not-quite-white’ even if they do their very best to blend in. We just can’t hide our Muslim names, antennas and googly eyes all that well.

A new identity is being forged: that of the practising British Muslim. This is a generation of ‘proper Brits’, without the dodgy accents. They’re ‘with it’. They have cool trainers.

As a young, with-it, British Muslim (do the BNP tenderly refer to us as ‘BM’s’ yet?) I’ve witnessed a social trend amongst my peers, whereby many of these not-quite-white children grow up and begin to seek their roots– quite often after a period of ‘rebelliousness’. We frequently see a period of doubt and confusion; a period of testing the waters; and then “The Decision”. Whereas in Muslim countries, being and acting Muslim is perceived as a given, in the west an Islamic way of life is either put to one side or actively sought. There’s a saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) that towards the end of time, holding onto your faith would be like holding onto burning cinders. Practising Western Muslims are acutely aware of this battle between good and bad, surrounded by temptations.

For Muslim women in particular, that battle is particularly bloody. Just look around at the modern Western women - the image portrayed in the media, the incessant battle of the body beautiful, the use of women as sexual objects gyrating on our screens with seemingly no shame. Yes, I’m sure it’s fun being a sex-symbol. But plain Jane needs to get a grip.

Why SHOULD a woman be urged to feel so confident in her body that projecting her own naked image on a 70ft building be viewed as the greatest feat womankind can ever achieve? (FYI, my point of reference here comes in the form of a Mr. Gok Wan as featured on Channel 4).

Why SHOULD women always be seen ‘with their face on’?

Why SHOULD women have to submit to these ideals that society and the media portrays?

The same society who then argue that the Burka is a tool of oppression, which they wish to save us from.

How ironic. Telling us what we should and should not wear. My dear Muslim-woman-freedom-fighter, you’re no better than the invisible enemy you fight.

There’s a simple fact striking fear into the hearts of many: the Niqab in the West is on the rise. And you know what, I understand your fears. We look pretty scary. Perhaps instead of demonising a piece of cloth, we can attempt to unveil the motives of these women. It may just surprise you.

First I’d like to differentiate: Hijab refers to covering of the hair, and Niqab to veiling of the face- the media’s preferred word of ‘Burka’ aka the postbox, refers to the one-piece head-to-toe covering prevalent mainly in Afghanistan. Before launching into my tirade I need to make one thing clear. As a Muslim women, I accept that some women feel obliged to wear it- in every society you get the bad eggs, and Islamic society is no different. This article is not concerning itself with this. I’m focusing on why today, some Muslim women are actively choosing to take the ‘extreme’ step to wear the Niqab- often a choice met with disapproval from their family and friends.

Many Niqabi-converts that I personally know are young, educated, Western-born women brought up in Islamic, but often fairly moderate settings. Why then do they choose to cover?

Again, simple. Welcome to modern day feminism. Muslim style.

Know-it-alls believe that wearing the Niqab creates a barrier between the wearer and society, hindering communication and creating divisions. Well this may surprise you…but to some extent, that’s kind of the point.

In Islam, every action is judged on the merit of its intention. Traditionally, the Niqab was worn by the wives of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and so the religious intention of wearing it is following in the footsteps of Islamic tradition and the Prophetic way of living. But where’s the wisdom behind this?

The modern day Niqab is a form of liberation from the shackles of society’s expectations. It’s a polite up-middle-finger. By closing yourself off to society, you’re effectively operating in accordance to your own set of rules. The invisibility cloak is a form of seclusion, setting boundaries for yourself. That’s not to say you can’t communicate effectively with society; rather, it empowers you to be able to communicate on your own terms. ‘Khalwa’ in Arabic means ‘solitude’ or ‘privacy’ and often refers to a spiritual state of solitude- every great man of religion conveyed the same message: that to know God and the Higher Reality, you must know yourself. The Niqab is a means of keeping yourself in check with your inward goals, getting closer to God by prioritising your everyday actions by placing a physical barrier.

The Niqab debate is simple: it’s a matter of freedom of expression. Do we, or do we not have the right to wear what we want? Make up your minds Mr. Leaders of the “free” world.

It seems us Muslim women just can’t win. We can talk perfect English, have our British quirks, be productive members of society, contribute to the community- yet seemingly by ‘looking’ different, be it Niqab or otherwise, this justifies being labelled as a cause in need of saving.

I have to say, a few years ago, the idea of covering my face seemed extreme. Although I respected those who made that decision, I felt that whilst living in a western society, it would be counter-productive to seemingly shut myself off in my black armour and though I admire those who choose to wear it in the name of piety, I doubt I too would follow this way.

But day by day, the temptation to don the ninja suit becomes stronger. Though perhaps I’d paint a smiley face on mine, to spread some love.

Why would I even consider hiding my ‘pretty’ face?

Us Muslim British women are a rebellious, unruly lot- Muslims with CLOUT. There’s no thumb big enough to hold us under- and the more you tell us to take it off, the more layers we’ll put on. Forget the Hijab, Niqab, or Burka. I predict in the future, Muslim women in the West will walk around in black cardboard boxes, with a metallic finish. Bionic arms as an optional extra.