Take a look at these pictures of the very hot, beautiful and gorgeous me....
do I look like a religious lady to you?
If I am, then let's talk about the headscarf and the misconceptions it causes.
Cause I am far from being religious, baby, with a capital R.
So, being a dude in a tudung [headscarf], allow me to share my piece of cloth - I mean, mind - on this issue. Which is barely an issue at all. At least from my perspective. I mean, why the hell do you care about what other people wear? It's her body, so it's her own frigging problem. So long she's not showing her bare nipples around arousing men to masturbate in public, then she's not causing other people any harm.
Is it not supposed to be as simple as that? Isn't life and sense simple?
But coming back to the question - how deep is the power of the headscarf?
In Malaysia, the headscarf issue is a huge thing. Most conservative sects of the Malaysian society judge the goodness of a woman through this piece of cloth.
Prime example comes from my own mother, who is a stauch supporter of PAS. So very often she told me the reason why we should vote for PAS leaders. "Their wives wear headscarves," she would say. "Look at the Ministers' wives. You see all of them covering their heads?"
I would look at her in confusion and replied with a "So?". More than enough reason to tempt her relentless complains on how I am furthering away from my faith, 'kerohanian' and all.
So yes, apparently from her perspective, headscarf speaks of political integrity.
Hmm....
Another prime example would be of seeing a headscarf girl smoking cigarettes. Not that I'm a smoker but I have witnessed occasionally how people tend to judge female smokers much more severely compared to the male ones. It's bad enough being a woman smoking, what more with a headscarf. So this one lady friend of mine complained to me, "why is she shaming us headscarf-wearers by smoking in public? Oh God, she should at least take off the headscarf before doing that."
Again, I kept my true response to myself. Being honest is good but being honest and inviting trouble is another matter, so to speak.
Somehow, that piece of cloth brings a significant amount of expectations to its wearers - which is bad considering how people would have their own first impressions on such people before even knowing her. People would usually deem its wearers to be more moral, in a sense. People expect them to be more religious, more conservative and proper.
It's heavy and uncomfortable. You would prefer for them to get to know you first before having that kind of impressions. Having to ruin one's impression towards you is never a fun thing to do. Somehow you feel like justifying yourself - "I'm sorry but I am not that or this kind of person. I may seem proper but I say fuck all the time."
So when I meet new people in my liberal gathering groups, they tend to be surprised. Taken aback, at least to see someone with a headscarf to join in their discussions on sexuality, religion and spirituality. The first and second time were okay. But the third time it happened, I was a bit annoyed. But I know it's not their fault. It was rare, then, I guess for someone of my appearances to declare that I have nothing against homosexuals and even deem myself a possible bi.
Then they stared at me in amazement. I responded with a smile. So did them.
And it got me thinking. Man, my appearance must have meant something for them in the beginning. Thank God the impression changes as time passes by.
I am not a religious person, said I. They were surprised - a reaction which in turn surprised me even more.
How I wish to be clear on one matter - headscarf doesn't make someone a better person. It's a piece of cloth. The Islamic rule which makes it compulsory for women is even debated among Muslim scholars - some says it's required, some says it doesn't. Still, wearing it doesn't make one automatically a better Muslim, what more a devout one. Love could never be measured through such medium. Love to God comes from within instead from the outside appearances.
An Indonesian cleric clarified on the matter in a documentary Siapa Aku? by Norhayati Karpawi. He explained that the underlying meaning behind the Quranic verse which commands for the covering of female heads originated from the intention to differentiate free women from the female slaves during the Prophet's time. Applying it to the current era, the compulsory rule is no longer relevant. Distinction between free women and female slaves is not needed as the latter barely exist. The rule, therefore, became unnecessary. Islam required only modesty.
Nevertheless, I know not much Islamic knowledge. But documentary would prove to be an enlightening watch for those who are interested in an alternative view on the practice of wearing the headscarf. Is it required or is it not? Is it sinful not to wear it or is it not? Yada yada yada... The film even contains a clip of a famous politician admitting that the group he initiated in the 1970s was the one responsible for popularizing the headscarf culture throughout Malaysia. What's worse was that the culture was not justified for religious purposes but to provide Malaysians with eastern identity. This politician had the opinion that the youths of his generation were too westernized in thinking, social behaviors, attitudes and so forth. Therefore, he started a movement to reform the society to be more eastern-ized. Spreading the headscarf thingy would solidify their goals to provide for an eastern identity.
Is it just me or it sounds like regimentation?
It took me twenty years to discover that it is possible for my practice of wearing the headscarf has nothing to do with my faith at all. Instead, it's an 'eastern-identity' thing.
My first reactions was severe. I felt cheated alive.
And there I was, thinking headscarf would save my hair from burning in hell.
I know. I know.
Not wearing one doesn't make a woman less than a good Muslim. That is my honest opinion which stems neither from any religious thinking or intellectuality. It's just common sense. Common sense that proves to be more than useful in judging people. And through our common sense, we all know that a piece of cloth couldn't possibly be the scale to measure one's goodness. Goodness comes from behavior, heart, feelings. How we treat and respect other people. It is quite unfortunate that people seem to overlook those aspects and instead focus their sights on the surface of the subject-matter.
Are they just blind or short-sighted - I have no idea.
However, I guess sometimes it's good to be an instant attraction in a community that is distant to the practice of hijab, especially amongst the non-Muslims. Headscarf seem to guarantee that attention in instant surety. But still, I would love to see people no longer surprised to see a liberal Muslim female with a headscarf.
I wear a headscarf and I'm a liberal. And I am not bipolar. Just so you know. Hehe.
Ruby Jusoh is trying hard to complete her first novel. Still, the hero puzzles her endlessly. Is he a good man or is he a bad man? Or is he just a fucking bastard? Or perhaps, the heroine is just an egoistical bitch-in-denial blindly in love with a fantasy she could never let go? Humans are stupid.
That is a fact.
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