Why did God Create Hair on Women?
I just love this story Sassou told on her blog about an experience she had with her Islamic teacher in high school. She wrote it in French so I will summarize it in English.
My friend was around 11 or 12 years old at the time. She was in class and the teacher was giving a lesson about how good respectable Muslim women should wear the hijab.
My friend was a little confused and innocently asked the teacher,” Sir, if God wants women to wear the veil then why did he create hair on their heads?”
The teacher found her question very offensive and rude, so instead of giving her an answer he told her to bring her father to the school so he could have a talk with him.
Her father met the teacher the next day. The teacher told him what my friend had said, and then started blaming him for his daughter’s lack of religious education. He told the father that he needed to pay more attention to it.
Her father was stunned and not more than a little mad. He asked the teacher,” I took off work for this? Why don’t you tell me why God made women with hair? “
The teacher didn’t respond.
Her story brought back so many memories from Islamic class. All the punishments inflicted for not doing good, stealing, or drinking. Memorizing verses from the Koran and never being allowed to ask questions because they were so sacred. Studying the hadith and trying to remember the lineage of all the tellers of each one.
One year we had a very rude teacher who thought all the students were spoiled brats because the school was in one of the better neighborhoods in Tunis. He enjoyed calling us names. His favorites were “Yogurt People” جماعة الياغورت(because only the rich could afford such a luxury), Nanan (after the first Tunisian cereal)جماعة النانو, and أولاد نناتيHe was also fond of calling one of my friends “germ” جرثومة because she would often smile and talk during class.
He made students who were a second late to class go recite verses from the Koran in front of the class. “germ” and I were always the first ones to class, but it didn’t matter, he would send her to the front of the class anyway.
I wonder what he calls his students now, maybe “Cell Phone people”.
My friend was around 11 or 12 years old at the time. She was in class and the teacher was giving a lesson about how good respectable Muslim women should wear the hijab.
My friend was a little confused and innocently asked the teacher,” Sir, if God wants women to wear the veil then why did he create hair on their heads?”
The teacher found her question very offensive and rude, so instead of giving her an answer he told her to bring her father to the school so he could have a talk with him.
Her father met the teacher the next day. The teacher told him what my friend had said, and then started blaming him for his daughter’s lack of religious education. He told the father that he needed to pay more attention to it.
Her father was stunned and not more than a little mad. He asked the teacher,” I took off work for this? Why don’t you tell me why God made women with hair? “
The teacher didn’t respond.
Her story brought back so many memories from Islamic class. All the punishments inflicted for not doing good, stealing, or drinking. Memorizing verses from the Koran and never being allowed to ask questions because they were so sacred. Studying the hadith and trying to remember the lineage of all the tellers of each one.
One year we had a very rude teacher who thought all the students were spoiled brats because the school was in one of the better neighborhoods in Tunis. He enjoyed calling us names. His favorites were “Yogurt People” جماعة الياغورت(because only the rich could afford such a luxury), Nanan (after the first Tunisian cereal)جماعة النانو, and أولاد نناتيHe was also fond of calling one of my friends “germ” جرثومة because she would often smile and talk during class.
He made students who were a second late to class go recite verses from the Koran in front of the class. “germ” and I were always the first ones to class, but it didn’t matter, he would send her to the front of the class anyway.
I wonder what he calls his students now, maybe “Cell Phone people”.
posted by Leilouta @ 12:55 PM
34 Comments:
At 2:52 PM,
Mimoun said…
leilouta, you'reso shallow, believe me, try to get more depth in your analyses and ideas...
and hey try also to talk less about "my husbad did this, my husband made that", believe me I know those Americans, he can dump you any time for a pair of other white legged woman...
At 3:31 PM,
Carmen said…
I think Mimoun needs to start a blog of his/her own and show us what depth and analysis really are.
Shit...now I forgot what I was going to comment about re: the post. All because of a friggin nitwit whose comment is shallow and irrelevant.
Leilouta, I'll need to get back to you.
At 3:32 PM,
ouais said…
Bravo mimoun mais à mon avis ton commentaire ne fera pas long feu sur ce blog . Elle est devenue tellement rapide pour faire régner la censure .
At 5:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
Here is an analogy.. so, if someone were to say, why do we have genitals, if we have to cover them?hmmm... I do not support the veil but I thought the story did not have the a good punch.. Is the point, how resentful teachers are? how ignorant they are?I don't get the main point. Dumb teachers are universal and they exist everywhere.
Remember, they're underpaid and abused; one cannot completely ignore that fact.. name calling is not right, but it's in a way, understandable.
At 5:07 PM,
Leilouta said…
M,
You seem very bright, tell us what else you know about Americans.
At 5:59 PM,
Anonymous said…
j'ai essaiyé de bien lire le post et surtout de bien comprendre vu que je ne suis pas "avion" :) taiyara en anglais ...bon d'ici de là j'ai pu comprendre quelque chose ...il semble qu'il y a un critique du fait que dans la religion de façon générale écarte la raison puisque dans la religion musulmane par exemple la femme est appelé à mettre le voile ..mais voila qu'un petit ange qui pose sa question pour savoir à quoi servira ainsi les cheuveux des femmes si elles doivent les caché ! question marrante et en même temps logique :-) ...à ce titre je me souvien du discourt entre Jésus et Saton :-) pas de panique ...alors que Jésus ce trouva sur un petit montagne viendra Saton et lui demanda :" écoute messager de Dieu...si tu crois en dieu vraiment alors saute dans le vide et voit si le bon dieu va te sauver ou non ! ...:-) visiblement Saton cherche à installer le doute chez Jésus ...mais voila que le messager lui réponda avec un ton ferme ...Dieu nous a crée et nous a demander de suivre son chemin ...C'est à Lui et Lui seul d'examiner notre foie et notre obéissance et non pas à nous d'examiner la super puissance du Dieu.....fini
c'est presque, à mon avis, la réponse au question du petit ange ...non ?! enfin je suppose
At 6:27 PM,
Maya M said…
Everybody knows why we have genitals. They are for reproduction. Covering the genitals, while useful to protect them, is mainly a cultural phenomenon. If a teacher devotes much time and emphasis to the importance of covering genitals, he also deserves to be asked why, then, God didn't hide our genitals within the body or arrange reproduction by budding.
Hair serves to protect the head. Covering the head to protect it from sun or wind is more important for bald men than for women. Hair also serves to make the head attractive. So why cover it? Regarding the biological function of genitals, covering is neutral; regarding the biological function of hair, preferential covering of heads with better developed hair is nonsense.
It may be understandable for a teacher to be dumb and call kids names, but it hardly is tolerable. If some teacher feels too underpaid and abused, let him resign. It is unfortunate that good-for-nothing people who cannot find any other job become teachers. It is also unfortunate that a teacher, besides being incompetent, can show hatred to children and still keep his position. Many bad things begin at school.
At 11:55 PM,
gatorbait said…
Jesus H Christ, not only was the teacher and asshat, but obviously the first commenter is one as well.
That whole hijab thing is a crock.
New move date, 7 August.
At 1:03 AM,
xoussef said…
malheureusement Leilouta ce blog n'est pas épargné par les trolls. franchement c'est scandaleux ce genre de commentaires.
clearly some people here desperately need to be taught respect and politeness, like Sassou said.
At 7:39 AM,
Romer!can said…
Thanks for sharing this one. I'm consistently interesting in "true stories" behind the islamic mystique. It's very telling that a typical instructor would refuse to answer a woman's questions. It's very telling that he would not have an answer to give to the father. Then, to label a girl who smiles and talks as being a virus or germ who might infect other women to smile and talk... it lends anecdotal credence to the notion of hijab as a device of repression.
I've heard the positive claims that some women feel the hijab protects them from objectification and thus allows them to be judged mentally/professionally. I'd like to think I can understand this point of view, but ultimately I find it flawed in that men do not have to take the same extreme in order to receive the desired benefits of respect.
There's a cultural problem with how many treat women extremely poorly and I slowly, but increasingly, see hijab is just a symptom of the cancer.
At 8:19 AM,
little girl..... said…
hejab is the way beduins dressed to protect their heads from the hot desert sun... it was worn by both men and women... just look at what saudis wear.... wouln't that be considered as hijab??? to suddenly make it religious is absurd.... and to allow men to take it off, and force women from non desert areas to wear it is rediculous.... it is not part of islamic religion,never once mentioned in the koran, and even the hadeeth where is was mentioned is " da3eef" I mean seriously... if you believe that mohammed was a true profit, and that he raised his daughters well.... why would you believe that one of his daughters was walking into a room full of people wearing a transparent dress..... that showed everything ... boobs, genitals, and all..... without batting an eye lash, and then he saw his semi naked offspring and told her...... cover your hair????!!!! and the only things you need to show are your face and hands!! the story doesnt make sense... if you are visiting someone, and their adult daughter waltzes into the living room naked... would you think that this is a sane normal household?? do you think this family taught their kids any form of modesty or decency? so why are we undermining the profets parenting abilities, and the decency of his household by believing this crap? and why are you opressing all women who believe in this religion because of this rediculously absurd story???? wake up people and stop acting like blind sheep that just follow the flock!!!!
and that teacher is a dirtbag!!! he deserved to be fired, and kids should be taught never to accept humiliating comments just because they are young. just as much as they owe respect to adults, they deserve to be respected as children!!
At 10:34 AM,
The Moody Minstrel said…
It's true. The Quran only specifically states that a woman should cover her "private parts" in her genital region "except when they come to be displayed naturally" and should wear her upper body garment so that it covers her breasts. There is no specific command to cover the hair, nothing whatever about covering the face, ankles, etc..
The hijab is really nothing but traditional Bedouin dress. As such, it was labeled "proper" by conservative Arabs and therefore made mandatory by Muslims eager to defend the ancient status quo. As for the burka, it was invented by Turkish noblewomen in the 16th century as a means of concealing themselves from the common people, not as a form of religious expression.
As you can see, traditional Muslim dress really has more to do with history and culture than the word of God.
At 10:46 AM,
Lynn said…
Mimoun has a point. That American husband of yours could leave you at any time. Better that you should have a Muslim husband who wouldn't leave you. He may bring another 3 wives into the mix so y'all could share his attention but he wouldn't leave you. I bet that American husband makes you show off your wrists and neck and subject yourself to God knows what driving a car! Get out now!
At 11:11 AM,
sassou said…
Je vais m'exprimer en français je suis trop fatiguée pour rédiger en anglais.Sorry.
L'objet de mon post est que je veux qu'on arrete d'empecher les enfants de parler, de poser des questions.Dans nos societes arabes, poser des questions sur la religion ou le sexe est "hram" et interdit. Mon point concernant ce prof, c'est qu'au lieu d'etre choque il aurait pu m'expliquer et ça s'arretait là.Notre société a l'art de fermer la gueule aux enfants, mon point est que la liberté d'expression commence dans la famille et à travers les parents...
Pour ce qui concerne la 2ème partie du post de Leilouta, je suis la "jorthouma", ce professeur avait un problème avec les jeunes des quartiers "huppés" de Tunis c'etait un vrai connard..qu'il soit sou payé ou pas n'est pas le problème de ses élèves, pour un prof d'education religieuse, on ne voyait aucun message d'amour, il n'y avait que du cynisme et de la frustrtation qui se dégageaient de cet homme.
3- dire qu'un americain va abandonner son epouse parce qu'il est.....americain?!! me fait rire et me rend triste..c'est tellement..CON j'ai envie de dire à ces pseudo connaisseurs de la mentalité américaine..que n'importe quel homme peut laisser tomber sa femme. Et faire croire qu'un homme parce qu'il est arabe et musulman sera toujours un bon mari..laissez moi rire :D
Sorry Leilouta for your readers..i'm really too tired to write all this in english :(
At 12:11 PM,
Anonymous said…
LOOOOL to "Better that you should have a Muslim husband who wouldn't leave you. "
...that is because some of them rather cheat on their wives hundred of times..
At 2:58 AM,
N. said…
I had a religion teacher once who was a total douchebag. Granted, it was Intro to The Bible/New Testament (a requirement at my University). I came late to class one day. After class was over, the professor asked me my name (this was probably mid-semester) and then told me that he would rather I not come to his (boring) class than come late. Asshat! I was a paying customer at that university! Just goes to show you that teachers can be total wankers sometimes.
At 11:21 AM,
Anonymous said…
Sassou's post was cute and I saw the simple point. What you added Leilouta, made you diverge from one main point and go on to ten diff. directions, hence the confusion and the annoyance. With all due respect, you tend to do that a lot in your posts.
You wearing a bikini or not... irrelevant.. white legs or not.. who cares.. again, stick with the main point. It makes it ore valid.
peace.out.
At 11:39 AM,
Jewaira said…
I like the story and the father's reaction.
At 4:15 PM,
Leilouta said…
"hence the confusion and the annoyance. With all due respect, you tend to do that a lot in your posts. "
So what does that have to do with Gordon Brown???
At 5:49 PM,
gatorbait said…
Leilouta said...
"hence the confusion and the annoyance. With all due respect, you tend to do that a lot in your posts. "
So what does that have to do with Gordon Brown???
I'm still locked on the bikini part..
At 10:02 AM,
أبو سنان said…
I was raised in a Catholic/Protestant home. I heard all of the nun/religious crackpot stories. All religions have them.
As to the hijab, it should be noted that many Christians in Eastern Europe and areas of Africa cover their hair as do many orthodox Jews. It is not solely a Muslim practice.
This winter take a look at the various scenes set up to celebrate the birth of Jesus, take care to note the "hijab" that the Virgin Mary is wearing.
A bit of tolerance is in order on all sides. In this game of blame and judgement it would seem this is being left out.
At 12:32 AM,
The Moody Minstrel said…
Does Gordon Brown like yogurt?
At 11:41 AM,
Um Naief said…
a muslim husband won't leave you but... hey, he will probably marry 3 other wives and have at least a dozen mistresses on the side! but gosh... make sure to stay away from the american men!
as far as this post and the hair issue... i remember being young and not being allowed to question anything about religion and if i did, it would mean that i would burn in hell for sure. so for a long time, i was fearful of God and fearful of religion. i think that's why i don't believe in organized religion now.
it's sad that you guys were called names. i've noticed that ppl enjoy calling others names here. my FIL enjoys calling women he doesn't like "monkey" or other bad names.... i don't care for it.
At 11:53 AM,
Anonymous said…
Hi, I'm Hassan.
I'm not confused or annoyed at all, and I haven't noticed any distracted wanderings in this blog at all.
That being said...
I'm not going to stoop to Mimoun's level of bigotry, but "believe me" this, "believe me" that, uhh no thanks, there's nothing to believe. I could go on, "believe me...."
I'm not about to criticize hijab. Whether or not it's in the Qur'an or hadeeth is irrelevant, it is an important aspect of some peoples' belief system, and it must be respected. At the same time, the enforcement of hijab a la Iran or Saudi is something I disagree with in the strongest terms. But if one wishes to travel or reside in some of the more conservative areas of the Muslim world, one should wear hijab if it is expected of women. Running around the hinterland in Pakistan without wearing a head covering if you are a woman is simply ill-advised. By the same token, I do not accept the laws of France, Turkey, and/or Tunisia where the hijab is banned under certain circumstances, in my opinion it encroaches on religious freedom and only serves as ammunition for one group of extremists and as a victory for another group of extremists. But to call hijab a "crock" is chauvinistic and borders on xenophobia.
No worries about using French, Sassou, I just tossed it into the Google translator and untied the twisted English that it spat at me (the translation was twisted - syntax etc. - not your post). And I couldn't agree more, stifling the curiosity of children is a crime, in my opinion. I've had teachers like that in American public schools, so "believe me," (oops sorry, Mimoun..... NOT) the phenomenon is not restricted to an "Islamic" setting.
Regarding PM Brown and the yogurt issue, the fact that the dairy cow is going the way of the dodo bird in the middle counties. Agriculture helped shape the Lake District as we know it today, as did rock climbing though in a different way. Skills honed in the relatively temperate Lake District climate were taken elsewhere in the UK, for example Scotland (speaking of Gordon Brown) and the extreme conditions on such mountains as Ben Nevis. This explains the British mountaineering successes around the globe, from the Grandes Jorasses in the French Alps, to the pioneering expeditions of people like Aleister Crowley on K2. Yes, THAT Crowley, and yes, THAT K2. Most people gain access to the Baltoro Glacier that leads to Concordia at the base of K2 at the Balti village of Askole, where Twelver (Jafari) Shia Islam is practiced. Funny, that's what's practiced here in my particular corner of the US, and yes, I'm a white legged man, but not a white legged man of the Arab variety, though I have encountered some of those as well. But I digress...
Still with me 11:21 Anonymous? ;P
salam alaikum wr wb
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At 8:04 PM,
Anonymous said…
The point of the hijab is to make women publicly less attracive to men, so they wont go hounding her lol. I could answer what that teacher couldn't! :D
At 12:41 AM,
buy cheap eden gold said…
Its history has brought so many memories of the Islamic class. All the sanctions to be doing good, steal or drink. From the verses of the Koran outside and he will never ask questions because they were so sacred. Studying in a hadith, and trying to remember the descent of all the tellers each.Eden GoldBuy Eden GoldCheap Eden GoldEden EternalEden Eternal GoldEden Eternal Review
Congratulations to Mimoun Mon but will notice your comment did not last long in this blog. She became so fast pour EST censorship regime.
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At 11:57 PM,
Bilal Hussain said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
At 12:29 AM,
eolithic50 said…
I also had the same question; why veils on head? then checked the Quran, Bible and Torah. There was no law on it.
It was only mentioned in the hadith of the prophet Muhammad (saaw) and in those times; they all wore black like crows but there was conditions and environment required it but black absorbs heat and white reflect it and implies that it was used for identification.
Jewish people had a trend for married Jewish women to wear veil on their head.
Conclusion: There is no sin for the creator has not commanded women to wear veil on their heads but to cover their bosoms and to be modest so they do not be molested. only tradition requires it for recognition of belonging to a certain division of Islam. It is known that those responsible for creating division or those that forbid in the name of Allah that which Allah hasn't forbidden in Islam will go to hell. Islam is Abraham's religion of Tawhid.
Make no distinction between the prophets and worship only the unknown creator. No one knows the name of Allah but Allah told Musa "I am who I am" and the most beautiful names belong to Allah and only Musa spoke to directly with Allah. I pray that Allah helps us to end all division in Islam. Insha'Allah.
At 3:28 PM,
price per head online said…
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