"Unislamic" jean-wearers...

Bess writes: Warning to all Muslim jean-wearers out there: jeans are "Unislamic" and the wearing of them a sin. Or so claims the Darul Uloom seminary in Deoband, India. Clerics there have issued a fatwa against jean-wearing, which extends to both sexes. The decree was issued in response to a query, reports the Deccan Herald, regarding jean-wearing in cold countries in the West. Why?? Apparently, “the physical structure (curves) of the body is reflected if one puts on a jeans. Wearing them by a woman is a sin”. And, if that isn't enough... “Women who want to look as men, are cursed.” Apparently, the use of black hair-dye is unIslamic too, but strangely any other colour hair dye is allowed??? Now that is a theological teaser.

Comments

[James]

Religion really is an awful thing.

[iain rae]

Just when will women realise that religious leaders want women to be meek ,docile, subserviant,and know their place.We men create our religions , and the least women can do is follow our rules.

[jj]

Religion is poison.

[shah]

Good to read that some people do take interest what Muslim Jurists say.
It would be nice if they could be honest about the report and publish the whole report insted of selection of their on desire.

[Craig]

I am currently wearing a pair of jeans, and I challenge any offended religious supremacist to do something about it

So what this has no relevance to me or "FAITH". Why do you publish such dross in your newspaper. Does this affect me no, why do we feel that we have to judge everyone by our own western standards. There are many other civilizations in the world that have been around much longer than the west. With the demise in our financial system maybe we will be following the fashion trends in china or india.

[Alan C.]

Not only women James #No1
The top men in religions (all of them)expect us ALL to be subservient.
Well they can take a hike! I'm off to change into my Wranglers.

[Alan C.]

Sorry, I was refering to iain rae at #No2

[Jan]

Interstingly despite the supposed anti femail bias of Religion,practicising Christian women in the Usa live much longer than athiests.I wonder what response the fundamentalist secularists attribute this to

[40 Degrees South]

Imagine the outrage if some silly Christian cleric had uttered this nonsense: hyperventing at the BBC (and at our ABC), the quality broadsheets having fits, the clever and the credentialled loudly proclaiming their abhorrence at this assault on women. Just like Muslim women being barred from the Olympics or burning girls alive in their schools in Pakistan: not a boo from the card-carrying feminists. Here's their chance to speak up.

[Hanifah]

hmmm, here is a ruling that pertains equally to me and women- the jeans rule and the hair dye rule. Is that not a good thing? It's not sexist then- Is it? The black hair dye ban is aimed at older men not trying to appear younger- most arabs would have beautiful jet black hair in their youth and if they go grey they can dye it any colour but not black.

[sah]

its good to be ethical in dressing, even as a Christian i do feel that Muslim ethics are better to be followed ...we have made ourselves commercial....men and women why? Doe snot gospel say us to live ethically high ...why only Muslims?

[Paul Sutcliffe]

The Gospel says do not care about what you wear. In the sense that we have no imperative keep the global shallow fashion business going. Jeans and the like are mostly made by poor people who are treated from fairly badly to verging on abuse, work long hours, and live in awful conditions. Like most of the Western fashion business, and high street shops, jeans reflect Western consumerist values at their worst.

[Bob Marley]

Well Paul, it's not as if muslims have ever exploited anyone is it?

[Lee]

I agree- keep the Muslim women at home and homely! Any attempt to make the women of Islam look good will let western men take an interest, and Arab men can't compete! So if the women are veiled and wear baggy clothes and look plain, the Arab men can keep the women to themselves.
However, if the women ever do start to dress nicely and become attractive, then they have a better chance at life with a Western man rather than someone who wants four plain women instead of one good looking woman!

[Meera]

Maybe they should wear really short skirts instead!

[faceless]

I imagine it was done in reaction to the seeping of Westernism into their culture.

Which seems fair enough to me.

[Helen E.]

It always makes me laugh (and shake my head in disgust at their hypocrisy) when I see Muslim women in London wearing the highest, blingiest, tartiest stilettos, their faces are caked in makeup that most women would only wear on stage, those with just the head scarf wear the tightest jeans and most revealing tops and even those wearing the floor-length clothing (as a woman I've been at in women-only gatherings where it's removed) have underneath the kind of clothes that only hookers would wear.

[Doc Mick]

Wearing jeans in a hot country like India is not particularly comfortable nor - more to the point - hygienic. It therefore can be considered un-Islamic.

[Bro. Ronald]

There are several Christian Faiths which teach holiness to their members.
The bible teaches against woman wearing makeup..cutting their hair..wearing jewelry..coloring their hair..wearing any clothing that pertains to a man. Woman and Men are taught to dress in "modest apparel" looking humble..not looking like a harlot or trying to draw attention to themselves.
God wants his children not to be fashion trend setters. Be holy looking in Spirit as well as dress.

[Norman]

I haven't worn jeans (in Scotland!) for 30 years because they're too hot for me. Somehow I figured this out for myself without the help of a fatwa. But then I never sought to prevent anyone else from wearing jeans.

[dor]

From horrific to petty, when I read of the laws imposed on Muslim women, I praise God that I was not born in an Islamic nation or to an Islamic family. I came to faith in Jesus Christ at 19 years of age, and have been labeled a fundamentalist, but baby, I wear my jeans, speak my mind, and go wherever I want to go whenever I feel like it. And I know now more than ever that my freedom--on every level--was not free!

[Mittelbaum]

About the end of the Swinging Sixties I was flying out of a strictly Islamic country to Europe, via Beirut, then the playground of the Middle East. In first class was an obviously Muslim man with his four wives (well, I assumed them to be his wives!), all in burkas.

About a half-hour in to the flight, one of the wives went in to the toilet and came out ten minutes later in the tiniest micro shirtdress, full make-up (especially eyes!) bare legs and stilettoes. She was followed by the other three, who all emerged similarly, but in black leather micromini skirts. For the rest of the trip I was treated to a rousing display of flashing knickers and three very low tops, while the shirtdress developed an interesting habit of popping a button here and there, giving a glimpse of lovely olive skin and white knicker waistband before being (slowly) done up again. When the man was busy or reading, I got several beautiful smiles and lowered lashes.

They all got out at Beirut. I have never been so envious of another man. But my time in the Middle East taught me that very many men and women were only devout Muslims in public, but in private fully embraced Western ways. How do I know? Not telling.

[sah]

i think even freedom is not at will..we still have gender based lavatories and dressing rooms....what to talk about freely roaming of women alone in places where male does not hesitate to go...Fighting forces in first lines are male not female etc...we have to admit that Victorian age modesty has gone into dust and now money maker CEOs' are turning Christians in salable bodies...otherwise look at the Jews (and most of the CEO's are they) keeping their men and women at modest dignity like Muslims.So what's wrong in being a freedom lover but modest Christians who has values of saying not to be attracted by every dick,tom and harry on the streets but to their partners.

[openmind]

So religion is poison is it? How about religion inspiring the greatest art the world has seen, (painting, literature, music, architecture, philosopy...) the fact that religious orders started the first hospitals and schools. That religion has, and still does, offer the sad, the desperate, the abandoned renewed hope? That people who believe - no matter in what religion - live longer and happier lives? The benefits of religion have been unquestioned for over 2,000 years in the West and for longer in other cultures. Of course cruel and unspeakable things have been done in the name of religion but please remember the inestimable benefits religions have brought to the world.