A reflection on the 'tudung' issue

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection
"Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80)

REGARDING the 'tudung' latest issue (Malaysian Association of Hotels - MAH - banning Muslim front staff members from wearing headscarves), a few days ago I read in a news piece this statement by a Muslim girl.

* Farisha, who has worked for a year as a receptionist at a five-star hotel in Putrajaya, said she removed her headscarf whenever she went to work.

“To be a receptionist at this hotel, you can’t wear the 'tudung'. They say that this is in line with the image of an international hotel.

“So after I finish work, I will put it back on. I just don’t wear it at work. What else can I do? It is not easy to find a job now,” said the 29-year-old. 

A few minutes before continuing writing this article today (Wednesday, November, 15th) I heard over Radio IKIM an 'ustaz' in his daily 'tafsir' (interpretation) of the Qur'an commented that human beings are more concerned and 'will go all out' for his 'rezeki' (rizq or sustenance) which is guaranteed by Allah SWT than to obey his Lord orders and things He forbids.

He referred the above statement from a quote from the famous 'kitab' (book) Hikam written by the renowned 'ulama', 'Atha'illah As-Sakandari - the majority of people have little or no faith to what Allah SWT has had promised such as the question of 'rizq'...we kowtow to the orders and fancies of fellow human beings rather than to submit to our Lord.

A scholar said: "We see in this capitalist society, everyone will do anything that is possible to gain their 'rizq'. People think they are expanding their 'rizq' by doing 'haram' (forbidden) activities and business, but they aren’t. Islam tells us the 'rizq' is assigned at our birth and on top of that Allah SWT made promises of 'rizq'." 

In the Qur'an, Allah SWT says: "And whoever fears Allah, for him Allah brings forth a way out, and gives him (her) provision (rizq) from where he (she) does not even imagine..." -Surah At-Talaq: 2/3

The outcry among Muslims and Muslim groups now is only focus on the hotel industry; why not we especially Muslims expand the 'tudung' issue or in the true sense regarding Muslim women 'awrah' (parts of body that should not be seen or be exposed according to Islamic law) as a whole in all aspects and fields of life including in sports, during gatherings and celebration such as weddings.

We had just witnessed KL2017 (South East Asia Games), did not we see Malaysian 'Muslimah' athletes especially gymnasts in skimpy outfits - of course this is not the Islamic way of life; but it seemed nobody take any hood! 

Malaysia became champion and almost everybody celebrated - a day was declared a holiday to the joyous of governments servants including those at helm or work in the 'Pejabat Agama' (Religious Office)...well don't we have guilty feelings that our 'Islamic government' and we as Muslims seem to agree to the 'maksiat' (sin) we had witnessed or worse still organised!

Well, in today's world, it is okay to expose one's body under the name of sports. It seemed that this phenomena is accepted by all even by Muslims countries and Muslims themselves. So that's it - Muslims nowadays perhaps were at the feet of 'those' Western 'masters' - we follow their sets of rules.

Regarding how the West treats women, an American woman convert, Iman Daglas in her book, ‘A Well-Guarded Treasure’ (Darussalam) wrote: “People are so eager to simulate the people of the West, while in America and Europe, morals have deteriorated to the point that they no longer exist.

“There people would give anything to reverse the moral decline, yet it is too late. Things have gotten so out of control that there is no turning back. It is truly the most overwhelming problem facing the 21st century.

“Women, especially, are treated with absolutely no respect. To so many men, women are nothing but objects, to use any way they choose. When he is done with her, he just throws her aside and goes on to the next women.

“Women have allowed this to happen, by giving up moral and modesty, by not guarding their chastity and virtue; they have allowed themselves to become nothing more than cheap objects of men's desires.”

Think, O women including gymnasts, air stewardess, models, singers, actress and front line hotels staff, when you are young with your ‘solid’ and beautiful bodies; they (the men) would put you in front, on the front cover of their magazines and newspapers or parade you on the red carpet or modeling or performing stage; but when your beauty fades away and skin wrinkle, your body wrecks and shrieks because of old age, only then you realize the truth.

The men would dump you; the same way the leaders of Western world treat women just like sex objects

As for pious Muslimah who feared Allah SWT dan His law; the ‘loss’ in this world (such as unable to work in hotels or take part in some sports because of the dress attire,is nothing because He who rules all the worlds has given this assurance: “And those who have fear of their Lord will be driven to the Garden in companies and when they arrive there, finding its gates open, its custodians will say to them, ‘Peace be upon you! You have done well so enter it timelessly, for ever’.” (Qur’an, 39:73)

Allah SWT also says: “Such people will be repaid for their steadfastness with the Highest Paradise, where they will meet with welcome and with ‘Peace’. (Qur’an 25:75)

Before ending this article, forgive me (the writer) for not being able to stop the urge to pose this question - in weddings we had seen some 'pengantin' (brides) at times such as during the 'nikah' ceremony (solemn of marriage) especially in 'masjid' wore their 'tudung' but during their receptions including in hotels their 'tudung' 'were no longer on their heads and some even dare to bare some parts of their bodies such as their shoulders - well who asked them to put away their 'tudung'...the Malaysian Association of Hotels or leaders or capitalist of the Western world? 

And among stewardess of MAS and Air Asia, could a Muslimah wears a 'tudung' (cover up completely) if she wish to 'berhijrah' (change for the better in religion)?