the islamic veil

[informashun]

why do some women of the islamic faith wear a veil devoutly but millions dont.
if a woman is willing to lose her job for this right how nesessary is it that she must wear it but as said this is not a need to all.
what is the explanation?

[Goodsoulette]

I dont know the answer to this but surely its just like diferent denominations in Christianity practising their faith differently. One sector of muslim women choose to do this and otheres dont. Like some christians go to confession and some dont, some believe in no sex before marriage, some dont.

[Ethel]

Only 5% of British Muslims choose to wear the veil.

All the women that I know that choose to wear it are under 35 - the mothers, aunts and grandmothers don't and never have done. Very often their sisters don't.

The explanantion is the Q'ran states that women should dress modestly and be covered. Different people interpret that to mean different things. Some Muslim women believe it means that their body parts that define them as women should be covered, whilst those that wear the veil interpret it as meaning the whole body should be covered.

As I understand it there is no requirement to wear the veil where men are not present - the infant classroom, for example.

The women of my acquaintance that wear it seem to be making some sort of political statement - at the very least they are politically motivated and somewhat radical.

Of course, I do not know all the women that wear it and their reasons may be different.

[prospector]

different branches of Islam interpret the 'dress modestly' Koran words differently.

For example -
Saudi Arabia ... the centre of Islam (Mecca and Medina) is a Kingdom governed by the Al Saud ruling family but in religious matters the Wahabi sect of Islam is in charge.

The Wahabi sect is very orthodox and all woman wear the veil in public (take it off in the home when only family present).

The issue is wider .... to what extent does a country accommodate the culture and beliefs of migrants?

In Saudi Arabia ... the answer is very clear ... no tolerance ... no churches or services allowed ... no symbols etc .... if you are caught, then you are exited (and if you are from a third world country e.g Philippines, India etc then you spend time in jail also)

France bans symbols, scarfs etc

TURKEY (secular Muslim country) bans the veil and head scarfs

And what does multi-cultural multi-blair PC UK do ----- get itself into a knot over the whole matter!!

What you sow .... you reap

[Lonnie]

Just a 'nice to know',

I some parts of the Middle east, if an unveiled woman meets a man, she must throw her skirts over her head to protect he modesty. I don't know if its actually practiced, but thats what they are told to do.

[informashun]

thanxs all especially the compehensive answer by prosperctor.