The veil is not a uniquely Islamic convention; the practice has a long history in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Catholic nuns engage in the practice, of course, and there are several references to the practice in both the Old and New Testaments (King James Version). Ironically, the representation of veiling in the Bible is much more problematic than those in the Qur'an or the Hadith, because the Judeo-Christian sources imply that women should be covered because of their inherent inferiority. I Corinthians 11 (3-10) offers one example:

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn or shaven; but if it be a hame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
For more information about veiling in the Judeo-Christian Tradition. Among Muslim women, the debate about hijab takes many forms. Many believe that the veil is a way to secure personal liberty in a world that objectifies women. Several women have argued that hijab allows them freedom of movement and control of their bodies. Understood in such terms, hijab protects women from the male gaze and allows them to become autonomous subjects. Others have argued that the veil only provides the illusion of protection and serves to absolve men of the responsibility for controlling their behavior.

Both positions assert that Islam is not responsible for sexism. In fact, the Qur'an supports the notion of gender equality. As scholar Fatima Mernissi puts it "the existing inequality does not rest on an ideological or biological theory of women's inferiority, but the outcome of specific social institutions designed to restrain her power" (Beyond xvi).

Mernissi views the recent rise of women's repression in some Muslim countries as a rejection of colonial influence:
The fact that Western colonizers took over the paternalistic defense of the Muslim woman's lot characterized any changes in her condition as concessions to the colonizer. Since the external aspects of women's liberation, for example, the neglect of the veil for western dress, were often emulations of Western women, women's liberation was readily identified as succumbing to foreign influences (Ibid, vii).
Although written in the 70's, Mernissi's work sheds light on more recent events like the reinstitution of mandatory veiling by Afghanistan's Taliban regime.
For more information about veiling in the Judeo-Christian Tradition, see Women in Islam Versus Women in the Judeo-Christian Tradition: The Myth and the Reality by Dr. Sherif Abdel Azeem.

 

Honest letter to David

First of all,Thanks for the photos.They were really beautiful.Now some questions:

Would you tell me about  the retirement age of the American teachers ,other jobs and the advantages the teachers have during their service and after retirement?

This one is a political one :Why do you think the UN hasn't been a success dealing with poverty,war, and other predicaments happening in the world? 

How much does the air plane tickets cost if you happen to be here? 

 

 

 

 

 

Honest letter to David

I was the only son of the family along with sisters of mine before my second brother was born.Now I have a 13 year old brother and I love him very much.Back to the memory lane...

My mind gets scattered as I try to harness THE memories...

(Iran_Iraq War) My friends and I (I was 15 years old) were playing in our street.It was a sunny day and we were playing a game called"Alak_dolak".All of a sudden I heard and saw with my own eyes the roaring of an airplane _the picture is so vivid now_throwing bombs ,It was coming toward an Imamzade(A place where the sons of an Imam is buried),There was a horrendous explosion down the street and the sound wave slammed the door and It broke the windows of our neighbors.Alas! We hurried down the street to see what had happened and You cant imagine what we saw.Blood,blood and more blood.Women were screaming and every one was running away....I  hate war.  

Against what you guessed about my childhood ,I was the kind of kid who punished(beaten) by his teachers most of the time because of lack of preparation.Though, like your self I was really shy and lacked confidence too.I have said this story to my students too to encourage the "not hard working ones" to work harder.I didn't study at all and I hit the books before the exam nights.I was always being criticized by my parents and relatives because I was believed to be "lazy".I really hated some of my teachers and unfortunately, I still do.I had alot of summer  jobs in my childhood including,selling ice_cream,corn,being a bus chauffeur,a assistant  mechanic..to name a few.And I was a failure in almost all of them.I don't go into the details why.It was summer and I was 16 years old and I had to find a job.I happened to work in a shoe making factory.I can still smell the awful glues which should be stuck under the sole.long hours,from 7am to 6pm and I had to do my job in a standing position.Was I a dead body at 6?

In the fall, I had to go to school.I made a decision_You aren't that strong to do physical work so,give it a try in your studies"And I showed them all(every one in myfamily and others)that "When there is a will,there is a way."I recieved my diploma one of the best students in our class.I was accepted in the universoty and now here I am with all those memories behind me and ahead of me.I think this is true that "the more inferiority complex ,the more you try to make up for it. Memories...............................................................

Yours,

Honest