N I thought only Non Muslims would moderate me

A powerful man humiliates a young girl

Yesterday it was reported that Muhammad Tantawi, the dean of al-Azhar University in Egypt, announced that he was going to issue an “edict” banning the niqab or female facial veil. This happened after he visited a girls’ school, and found one student wearing niqab and demanded that she remove it:

“Why are you wearing the niqab while sitting in the class with your female colleagues?” Al-Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Mohamed Sayyed Tantawi asked the 8th grader.

The young girl was shocked with the question coming from the country’s top scholar.

A teacher intervened to explain.

“She takes off her niqab inside the class, but she only put it on when you and your entourage came in.”

But Sheikh Tantawi was not satisfied and insisted that the young girl takes off the face cover.

“The niqab is a tradition and has nothing to do with Islam.”

After the girl complied he insisted she should not wear it any more.

“I tell you again that the niqab has nothing to do with Islam and it is only a mere custom. I understand the religion better than you and your parents.”

It is quite shocking that this man can speak to a religious Muslimah this way in front of her teachers and classmates. I’m sure he does have more knowledge than her; if he did not study books which mention the rulings on female dress, he would not have become a scholar (then again, to do the job he seems to be doing now, you would not need to study for decades to become a proper Islamic scholar). He surely knows that many major imams said that the niqab was compulsory, and that the rest said that it was an act with great merit and that the ‘standard’ hijab we know of today is only the minimum. He has thus lied publically in order to humiliate a young woman. (More: Seeking Ilm, Yasir Qadhi @ MuslimMatters, Ginny, Yursil, The Chaplain.)

It’s not the first time he has behaved dishonourably in this way towards Muslim women. Whatever we think of Yvonne Ridley, we can agree that she was right not to shake Tantawi’s hand, even if she might have refused more politely, and that Tantawi was wrong — and knew he was wrong — to insist on it and find fault with her:

This is the problem with Muslim converts of the west. You follow the extreme interpretation. Yvonne, you are just like my daughter, and there is nothing wrong in a hand-shake.

This is not even a case of a Muslim shaking the hand of a non-Muslim woman who does not know that Muslims are not allowed to shake hands with those of the oppsite sex outside their close families. He is a ‘scholar’ and attacked a Muslim woman for doing the right thing in Islam. He has now done this twice, at least as has been reported. Does he get a perverse pleasure from doing this? He told Muslims not to resist the ban on the hijab in schools in France because France is a non-Muslim country and it’s their affair, but how does this translate to opposing an accepted Islamic form of dress in a Muslim country?

While any moderately knowledgeable Muslim knows that al-Azhar is not the Vatican and Tantawi isn’t the Pope, that no such position exists in Islam anyway and that not all scholars at al-Azhar accepts his views on niqab in Egypt or hijab in French schools or the legitimacy, or otherwise, of interest-based finance, these facts are not so well-known in the western media, such that the ‘edicts’ of Tantawi or anyone else in his position will be repeated in the western media and thrown in the face of Muslims. In this case and in Ridley’s, he attacks two positions Muslims might follow that are difficult and which face resistance by both outright non-Muslims and secularists in the Muslim world, and in which they need the support of those in power, not their contempt. This isn’t about a scholar advancing a controversial minority position; it’s about a powerful scholar abusing his own position.

Possibly Related Posts:

* Tantawi: the Italian bigots’ imam
* Digital Niqabi on fitna and niqab
* What are the shibboleths of ignorance about Islam?
* Sister Ardo responds to “Blog Niqaab”
* The fallacy of multiculturalism helping terrorism


10:01 pm on 6th October, 2009 | Category: Niqab (face-covering) | 14 comments
14 comments to A powerful man humiliates a young girl

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Sharissa
October 6th, 2009 at 10:04 pm

Salams,

I don’t believe I’ve ever met this particular Sheikh, however I remember when I went to al-Azhar to get my certificate stating that I’m Muslim.. that the guy who I re-recited my shahadah in front of was a moron… He was telling me about things I already knew about (and I told him I had been Muslim for 8 yrs, but I sat there and watched him tell like 20 other girls the same thing..so I suppose he has memorized what to say to all the folks getting the muslim certificates) .. to make matters worse he asked me which I would prefer… being like an animal or being like an angel (or something like that) and I was like neither.. And he was like, “No, you want to be like an angel because they’re good etc” and I was thinking (but didn’t say aloud), “No, I want to be human because I have the freewill to choose right from wrong and when I choose to do the right thing I’m above the angels..because angels don’t have a choice.. and when I choose to do the wrong things I’m below the beasts.. ” .. I didn’t say anything.. the guy didn’t impress me much. To make matters even worse they gave me (and the others) books on Islam.. which was cool except they were all about rulings..and really not something for newbie’s.. and the English… well you can just guess how bad the English translation was.. not to mention the books were written in the 1980s…..

Anyhoo, I don’t think niqab was ever obligatory for Muslim females - with the exception of the prophet’s (pbuh) wives… they had to wear it for protection. However, I think that if the girl chose to wear niqab..then that’s her choice and he shouldn’t try to make her less modest.

May Allah guide us all. ameen.
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AmericasDownfall
October 6th, 2009 at 10:53 pm

Unfortunately, this is and indication of the absence of good behavior in today’s society.

Attaining knowledge has become a pursuit of arrogance and clout. I remember a lecture from Bilal Philips where he mentioned that several of his classmates at the school in Madina cheated on their exams.

Subhanallah! These were scholars-in-training committing dishonorable acts simply to pass a grade. What then happens when they go back to their home country with their degrees, yet they have this obvious character flaw?

May Allah protect us all.
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Ikram Kurdi
October 6th, 2009 at 11:06 pm

Muhammad Al-Ghazzali too says niqab has nothing to do with Islam, and he has a lot of good evidence for it too. One of the reports he mentions is that the Companions were surprised to see a woman wearing niqab come to talk to the Prophet and asked her why she was wearing it. There are many ahadith that prove the Prophet could see the faces of women in normal daily situations.

The hadith from Aisha (ra) where she says they used to cover their faces when the army came is dha’if in sanad, and shath in matn, thus it cannot be used for making rulings.

This man though should have had better adab than make such a scene.
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DrM
October 7th, 2009 at 8:42 am

Spot on post. Tantawi is a pathetic government appointed “scholar” for dollars. Given that the Egyptian puppet regime itself takes orders from West, this attack on niqab(whether its Islamically relevant or not is no ones business) is timed to coincide with European Islamophobic propaganda.
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H
October 7th, 2009 at 2:03 pm

I don’t think that the hadith of Aisha (ra) is the only evidence that the scholars have for supporting the niqab.
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Abul Layth
October 7th, 2009 at 6:00 pm

And he was like, “No, you want to be like an angel because they’re good etc” and I was thinking (but didn’t say aloud), “No, I want to be human because I have the freewill to choose right from wrong and when I choose to do the right thing I’m above the angels..because angels don’t have a choice.. and when I choose to do the wrong things I’m below the beasts.. ” .

What is interesting is that the human Muslim condition is superior to the Angels! Allah says in the Qur’an,

“Verily, those who believe [in the Oneness of Allah, and in His Messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) including all obligations ordered by Islam] and do righteous good deeds, they are the best of creatures.” [98:7]

Muhammad Al-Ghazzali too says niqab has nothing to do with Islam, and he has a lot of good evidence for it too. One of the reports he mentions is that the Companions were surprised to see a woman wearing niqab come to talk to the Prophet and asked her why she was wearing it. There are many ahadith that prove the Prophet could see the faces of women in normal daily situations.

Hijab was revealed in the later days of Islam - not the earlier, hence the reason why many women’s faces could be seen. Furthermore, many of the sahabah explained 33:59, specifically the word “Jilbab”, to refer to what covers the face. As for Muhammad Al-Ghazzali, certainly not the true Ghazzali who declared women covering their face to be necessary, then he is not from the scholars that this Ummah relies upon in fiqh! We do challenge you, though, to bring a single scholar of the past 1300 years stating that the face of a woman should not be uncovered infront of the ajnabi! I await your quote!

was-Salam! Abul Layth
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LeedsLad
October 7th, 2009 at 9:05 pm

A good example of how Islam has been raped can be read from the poster called “Abu Layth”. In the verse you quoted, it says “those who believe [in the Oneness of Allah, and in His Messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) including all obligations ordered by Islam] and do righteous”.

Allah will not show favours to one just for “believing” but also for righteousness. Hence, mother Teresa has a much better chance of being amongst the best of people than a Muslim taking part in the culling or humiliations of people he/she assumes not to be serving his/her interests. Neither is a Muslim that who enjoys a middle class existence in Saudi Arabia who chooses to go abroad and bring misery to dirt poor Muslims in countries such as Afghanistan.

Was it not an Egyptian Mullah who once said black women need not wear hijab as their kinky hairs was deemed unattractive in the eyes of an Arab colonialist?
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muslim reader
October 8th, 2009 at 1:40 am

Leedslad, the Quran verse 33:59 (which Abul Layth quoted) states:

[Quran 033:059] O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
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Ahmed
October 8th, 2009 at 7:08 am

This is exactly why the Ulema should work outside the state apparatus…
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LeedsLad
October 8th, 2009 at 10:11 am

Interestingly, the preceding verse of the one quoted by “muslim reader” says: 33:58 those who annoy believing men and believing women without just reason, bear on themselves a slander and a gross sin.

The next verse discusses the threats Muslims faced when living amongst those who wish to bring harm to the Muslim communities. You used: “to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies “

Veils did exist pre-Islam, yet the verse properly translated from the time it was revealed would correctly mean “lengthen outer garments” and not “draw ..cloaks…”.

This is the honest translation minus the Pagan/Hindu and Arab supremacism: O Prophet, Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should lengthen their outer garments over their persons(when abroad): in most convenient, recognisable manner and not molested.

So how is walking around with a gothic tent “convenient” or “recognisable”?

Islam began as an open source faith, yet such attitudes and misrepresentations have turned it into a dark art. We should encourage transparency and professionalism rather than hiding behind veils made in China.

I am pretty peed off with both sides, nor do I ask those under my right hand to wear such cloths to feel “complete” or mock those who choose to wear such cloths. Please stick to the spirit of Islam only.
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s.ali
October 9th, 2009 at 12:15 am

Lol. Leed7 lad maybe ur warped interpretations lead u out of islam
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Goolam Dawood
October 9th, 2009 at 10:28 am

I think we transgress. Leedslad has his points. I think many conservatives are selective with their evidences and tend to require alot on the the meaning/tafseer in brackets rather than the actual wording of the Quraan an Hadeeth. But that’s just me.

These are all the way we understand the revelation anyway. Many of the counter points are clear. We understand that the ulema have differing and constantly evolving positions. But most importantly, face covered or not, noone has transgressed the limits as we understand them.

This is not about the niqaab. Its about a scholar impeding on societies right to practice the deen within its limits and undermining some very fundamental Islamic and Human rights. Its about a mufti becoming public morality/cultural police and that’s unacceptable.

As for the outrage, I’m always a troubled by the double standard of muslim moral outrage. Muslim women around the world are suffering far worse humiliations and very little outrage is expressed. This girl removed her veil. Sisters are being murdered, denied education and work. Murderers are slipping by the wayside because of manipulations of fiqh and the culture of honour killing, and not even a shout. And there are opinions in the madhab that defend the father that kills his children.
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Egypt cleric 'to ban full veils' « Ginny's Thoughts & Things
October 9th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

[…] 2: It seems that Yusuf has also weighed in on this (here and here), as well as Seeking Ilm, and MuslimMatters. And it also seems that per Yusuf’s and […]
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srizals
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
October 10th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

As we Muslims argue on things of furu’, our enemies are laughing at us. Who’s the bigot then? Embrace differences. Interpretations would be different of course. It depends on our knowledge and the wisdom that is given to us by Allah. Never think too highly of yourself. It is a small opening of evil that would open the door to bigger flaws. May Allah guide us always.I am a proud member of the followers of the ways of Muhammad, the union of Muslims, ahlul sunnah wal jamaah. My prophet’s genuine hadith, and Al Quran that he has brought to me is my guide. Nothing and no one is above them. Go against them, then you are obsolete! Don’t be blinded by wisdom unguided by these two. They are the criterion of right n wrong, remember? Muslims would evolved into 73 sections of thoughts, only one is going to heaven. Have you check out your reality lately?
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Old Pickler
October 10th, 2009 at 7:09 pm

A schoolgirl shouldn’t be hiding her face - that’s all there is to it.

Taken from http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/mt.php/2009/10/06/a_powerful_man_humiliates_a_young_girl#comment-15918

srizals@gmail.com

May Allah showers me with patience. Sometimes I just can't care anymore. I'm sorry if it seems that I'm slowing my pace in the internet. Let me remind U that I'm alias. It's coming to the end of the year n my job is getting hectic then before. Cut me some slack ok. I'm only human.