Veil in light of religious diversities,“ Universally Respected individually despised “

wilayattimes (Jammu and Kashmir)

The recent baked controversial plots disguised as” veil” has been made instrumental like the bait to catch big fishes has now emerged as gigantic nightmares for those who rely on secularism ethos .

By Hakeem Suhail Abass:

The recent baked controversial plots disguised as” veil” has been made instrumental like the bait to catch big fishes has now emerged as gigantic nightmares for those who rely on secularism ethos .

Undeniable facts , all judiciaries and religions preambles award it to ensure the safeguards of woman folks.

Precisely, education and religion can’t be segregated as they both serve the divine attributes, now if it was so that covering one’s body with veil could be pernicious against the bylaws of schools when we already know that a school entertains the rainbow of students coming from different school of thoughts be it Hindu , Sikh , Jain , Christian here every religious has their sublime regards towards veil. Now the question is popping in my mind why then the school management enrols the veiled students if their presence could cast the varied jingling sprits . The admission department can easily deny such admission and could breach the constitutional rights enjoyable for every citizen .

Divinity and education are intermingled it aims at to craft a human being to be known for the abstract qualities until a child reaches to 15 years of age , it is believed that this age is considered the great podium to infuse the hearts with sagaciously blessings of prayerful devotee then further this product is utilized for various aims in the contemporary ages .

Those involved in raising issues on veil should rethink before hatching any sort of such controversies as when fire catch’s the pace the water gets simmering at the distant thresholds.

Religion chisels the mind of an individual right from the womb of mother the inheritance religious beliefs rocks an individual in the cradle. Such bond only untied when they came to face the crossroads.

Jis Ilm Ki Taseer Se Zan Hoti Hai Na-Zan Kehte Hain Ussi Ilm Ko Arbab-e-Nazar Mout The lore that makes a woman lose her rank Is naught but death in eyes of wise and frank. (Alama Iqbal RA)

Indian folklore have the potential to keep the charm of charismatic veil growing on , by giving their heads the crown of respect , wearing multiple veils tinted with dashing dazzlingly ornaments. This practise has kept the ancestral traditions in tact.

Covering the head and sometimes even veiling the face is often seen as a mark of respect. In some cultures, married women are supposed to pull off a veil in front of elder male members of the family. In very traditional and rural areas, women use their sari to completely cover the face and neck, concealing their identity before males.

Some women use the fabric to cover their whole face, chest, arms, and stomach. This type of veiling is still popular with Hindu brides and is observed on the wedding day. Many new brides use the ghungat until their father-in-law advises to unveil. This is to keep the modesty of the bride, as they say.

Interestingly, the practice of covering the head with a veil is also practised in other religions. For instance, in Islam the practice of Purdah is mandatory for women. Similarly, in Christianity also there are provisions for wearing a head scarf during prayers. However, covering the head and wearing a veil is quite rampant in Hinduism, especially among the orthodox Hindus. Let us find out why Indian women cover their head and face.

In most religions the main reason why women should cover their heads is because of the concept of security. It is believed that when a woman covers herself completely, there are less chances of her getting noticed by other men and hence it guarantees her safety. That is why a woman is supposed to cover her head or remain in a veil in front of other men, except her husband.

The chastity of the woman is held of paramount importance in all the sections of Indian society. People think it symbolises the prestige or especially the purity of the family. As a part of culture, most of Indian women decorate their hair and the beauty might attract other men. Hence, the women often cover their heads.

In Islam as well, women are supposed to cover their heads, as per some religious beliefs. While some people believe that God requires women to cover their heads and faces, others believe that it is simply a religious act which needs to be done in order to be a part of the religious group.

Lets analyse what the Hindu Scriptures have to speak on modesty ?

It is mentioned in the Rig Veda Book no. 8 Hymn no. 33 V. no. 19

“When Brahma has made you a woman, you should lower your gaze and should not look up. You should put your feet together and you should not reveal what the garment and the veil conceals.”

So the Rig Veda says that the woman should wear the veil.

They should lower their gaze and should not stare.

It is further mentioned in Rig Veda Book no. 10 Hymn no. 85 V. no.30

“Unlovely is the person is the husband who covers his thighs with the garment of his wife. “

So the Rig Veda says that wearing the clothes of the opposite sex is prohibited.

It is further mentioned in the Mahavir Charitra Act 2 Page 71 that

When Purshuram comes, Rama tells his wife Sita that “He is our elder, please lower your gaze, and put on the veil. “

Rama tells his wife Sita to put on the veil and to lower her gaze.

If you read historical books, the books talking about the Coin Age, the Age of the Gupta and the post Gupta age, there are coins , on which there are pictures of the Indain woman wearing the veils and the veil are going upto their shoulders, some go upto the arms. There are many Indian woman in the villages who wear the veils, some of the woman even cover their faces.

So,if you analyze, even the Hindu Scriptures say that a woman should wear the veil. That the woman should lower their gaze.

Now lets look at the Christian Scriptures:

Matthew 5:27-28

You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery’

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart

Wearing of opposite sex clothes not allowed

Deuteronomy 22:5

22:5The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

I Timothy 2:9

And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.

Punishment for a women who does not cover her head

I Corinthians 11:5-6

11:5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven

The Noble Qur’an – Al-Ahzab 33:59

And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornments except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband’s fathers, their son’s, their husband’s sons, their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sisters sons or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex.

And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And beg Allah to forgive you all O believers, that you may be successful. Do not point your fingers on followers of Islam, because we believe and we know that the Quraan is the word of God and we obey by it.