Islamophobe Pratibha Patil, Read up on History

By Ayesha Ameer - Hyderabad

Old wine in a new bottle?

Pardon the cliché, but well, this time it's Pratibha Patil – forerunner for President of this great, multicultural kaleidoscope of a country – who has come up with 'revolutionary' ideas for 'zenana liberation'.

Mrs Patil seems to be yet another product/spin-off of Western tomfoolery: she displays the same standard characteristics of that imaginative brand of conniving manipulators who are defined by their hist(e)orical amnesia, unmitigated hypocrisy & Islam-hate .

It is a tragedy that our future President of Shining India doesn't have a clue about the origins of a religious practice that is upheld by a community 200-billion strong throughout the world.

Our Honorable future President's statement also stinks because of the blatant hypocrisy underlying it. In case she hasn't noticed, all her public appearances are in a strikingly modest style of attire, very much in conformity with the requisites of the Islamic Hijab . (Or is bin Laden a Mughal?)

We're not observing Purdah because the Mughals forced us to, and we're not taking it off because you want us to, Mrs. Patil. We're doing it because we're Muslims, and modesty is something ordained by Islam. Islam is Deen al Fitrah – the religion of nature. And nature demands modesty.

Islam has placed men and women on an equal footing in matters of worship, spirituality, universal rights. It is according to the physiological makeup of the male and the female that Islam assigns them different positions and different responsibilities.

As for the practice of Purdah, firstly it is a commandment of Allah, which makes it as religious as any act of worship for us. Further, the Quran elaborates: "O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as respectable women), so as not to be annoyed."
(The Quran, 33:59)

As a woman, my safety is a primary concern for me. Because I am vulnerable (and men are not!) Am I then insane to ignore a means that grants me that safety so very practically?

A woman's sexuality is assigned a very high position of importance in Islam, and that is why Islam strives to preserve and protect that which is also her biggest vulnerability. The Purdah or Hijab has been prescribed for women, serving a practical purpose: this very preservation/protection. Use the Purdah - avoid molestation. The verse quoted above states as much. Attire speaks powerfully. My attire is a telling personal statement that says: Keep off. I don't entertain uninvited and undesirable attention.

Muslim women want to be recognized, yes. We want to be recognized for our intellectual abilities and strength of character, rather than for the depravity of having discarded the law that has granted us birthrights like no man-made law ever can. We want to be recognized for our Haya and self confidence and ideals, rather than for the dimensions of that which Creation has bestowed upon us, or for our status as sex commodities, mere objects of play and gratification for men, used and trashed once their selfish greed has made the most of our bodies.

If you really want to empower Muslim women, take the first step towards solidarity with us by applauding our indomitable courage to cover up in an age that gives it all away. Broaden your perspective and tolerance for diversity, especially where diversity tends towards peace, morality and values. Our country is already besieged by the flu of dirty communal politics. We need a breath of fresh air, not fuel in the fire.

Celebrate womanhood by embracing realities rather than turning women into clones of the male ego. Take up burning issues like female foeticide, dowry, immoral trafficking, domestic violence, sexual harassment that women across the nation are roiling in, instead of spewing poisonous statements that can have no constructive motives. For starters, address women's health issues on a national basis. And see if you can get workers' wages for women to equal that of men. Do that, even if it's the only thing you take up for your entire tenure. It'll be worth it.

And read up on history, Mrs Patil.