RELIGION-culture.

As I grew older, I started realizing things that people do but never admit. As a child I've been traveling around the world learning about new cultures which I still do. I couldn't help but realize how different us Arabs act in different places of the world and in front of people from other parts of this world. 

To begin with, there are a lot of Muslim women who are veiled when they're in their country, but once they travel they decide that staying veiled is not as important as it is in their own hometown; what's is even sadder is that their families would agree with them. Why? because it's a shame to be unveiled in front of people they know, because they raised their girls to ladies telling them "You have to be veiled because our culture is not ready to accept unveiled women, what would people think of you or us?" and so it goes on..

Muslims are known for one characteristic that never really ends within the generations; which is jealousy. whether it's  towards their country, their home, or most of all their families. They would do anything to keep the harm away from them, keep them safe, and happy. Except that this single characteristic totally disappears when it comes to dealing with people who aren't Arabs. For instance, parents are rarely fine with their daughters to go chill with guy friends, meet new people in their own country (unless it's work or study related). Unlike when they're outside the country, or whether it's with someone who's not arab; that's when they're fine with it. 

It's very shameful to say so, but most of the people in the Arab world, do what they do or don't do certain things not because our religion doesn't allow us to do so for of course reasonable reasons; but because of our culture and because our society is not ready for such things to happen. Let us pause for a while and forward to the far future, when our society is actually open-minded enough to digest all those things that's happening around the world. I can guarantee that 85% if not more of the Arab world would follow the trend or whatever it's called and forget all about our religion. 

 If you don't want your kid, daughter, or son to do a certain thing; sit them down and explain the religion part first and follow that by the cultural reasons. For example, "No sweetie, I still think you should wear your Hijab when you travel because your hair is a part of you, it's something that makes you prettier, it's like a tiara; and if you let everyone see that you would attract them and that's why you should stay veiled." (part 2 and sadly the part where they actually respond to), "You come from a very well known family, from a crystal family background, and we're known for being conservative.. what would people think?".

Religion comes before culture, and culture comes right after tradition. It's not the other way around. So even if you're in the UAE, Germany, America, United Kingdom, or any other spot on this earth. Allah can still see what you're doing. So how can we not be frightened by his judgement, and be frightened by our society's? 
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It's important to note that women who do that (wear hijab in el blad then remove it when they travel) are doing it because the only reason they are wearing it is to fit in or to avoid being talked about in the community, and therefore their choice to wear it was either literally forced upon them by their family or forced upon them by society. This means that the reason they wore it is for cultural reason and not religious. So does it mean that women who wear hijab should wear it only if they are doing it for religion? If that is the case, (which might make sense, why not respect the hijab that you are wearing?), then parents and society should stop forcing girls to wear the hijab at a certain age and let them decide for themselves when they feel they can respect the hijab and all its connotations?
Otherwise its a matter of free will, and judgement as you said comes from Allah, not us. I don't think any of us is in any position to judge someone else, even if you think they are in the wrong.
— Mariam
Thanks for your comment Mariam, but I'm going to have to disagree with you, Hijab is not something that you can go to once you want to. As Muslim women we're all obliged to wearing Hijab right after puberty, and the fact that some of them don't because they think they don't look good, or that they're going to be limited with the things they would do is sadly nonsense. On the other hand, I do agree with you on the part where you said those who do that are usually forced. Parents shouldn't force their daughters in wearing the Hijab WITHOUT an explanation on why they're doing it and the reason behind it; and honestly there's no discussion there. Islam is a religion that falls under the category "peace" and it has provided us with enough reasons and explanations to satisfy our concerns. You're right, we're not to judge.. & in my post I'm not judging anyone I am simply pointing out a clear trend that most Arabs are following with a solution maybe. Thanks again.
— Sara AlMadani
Hi again, I just wanted to add that although you say wearing hijab is obligatory in our religion and that it's not a question of going to it when you're ready...I respect your opinion but the way I see it is that even following religion is a personal choice. We can't shake our heads at our brothers and sisters just because they are not as religious as we are. Like i said, God will judge them, not us. If a girl takes off her hijab it doesn't mean we should respect her less. She can be closer to Allah than a girl with hijab. You never know. So it still is a matter of free will which again is a blessing from God, and not for us to take away from other humans, even if it is by just shaking our heads at them and placing them at the sidelines of our society. We do live in a very conformist society where being different is frowned upon. Although most people look at the "free future" as a doomed future, I think the Emirati population would benefit a lot from being a lot more respectful of other people's choices whether they agree with their own set of values or not. (I'm not saying you are being disrespectful BTW, I just think the whole Emirati population should stop being so judgmental and accept people with their differences. This would bring us a lot more closer together.)
— Mariam
I understand that the religion a person follows is a personal choice, and that's why I said "AS MUSLIMS.." we're obliged, and I didn't even mention that we should treat those who aren't differently or disrespect them, I honestly don't know where you got that from.
Again, my discussion was not about those who choose NOT to wear Hijab, I was talking about those who wear it here and forget about it when they travel just because they're not in the country anymore.
I have to agree with those who say that the free future is a doomed one, I wouldn't put it in any other way, because sadly not all of the people in our society know the meaning of freedom and they use it in the worst way ever. About being judgmental, then you must have got the wrong impression from my blog. Scroll up my posts and you can see that I'm not really judging people, I'm putting the picture out there and giving solutions or things that could happen to prevent such things. Honestly, and in my own personal opinion, I don't really think it's a matter of choice when you are a "MUSLIM" when it comes to such matters. I think if you're choosing to be a Muslim then you should stick to what Islam is telling you to do and respect the rules. I think Hijab is one thing that makes us stand out as Muslims between other religions. There's no argument there. Prophet Mohammad -may peace be upon him- said, "Whoever among you sees a munkar/a sin, then let him change it with his hand, If he is not able then let him change it with his tongue,
if he is not able then let him change it with his heart". & I would like to think of this blog as at least a contribute to what I know and what I believe in. Thanks again.
— Sara AlMadani
Sorry you misunderstood me, I did not mean you are judgmental at all. Maybe we just see things differently, because I was talking about Muslims too and freedom of choice of Muslims to choose to what extent they want to be religious. I know it's not for a person to pick and choose what he wants to follow but it's a personal thing what you are talking about. They are not harming anyone.

I think you should speak up when someone is being mistreated or a weak person is being taken advantage of or being abused, but personally I don't see why it's anyone's business to tell me whether I should wear Hijab or not. Again, I really don't think you are judgmental I think we just have different point of views. Cheers!

— Mariam
I don't think I'm being clear enough. Again, my blog post was about those who actually WEAR the Hijab BUT they're not committed to it once they leave the country BECAUSE they think of it as a culture obligations rather than a religion one. I agree, we both have different point of views but on different issues. Thanks.
— Sara AlMadani
I'm going to make a jump here-

I think what Mariam is saying that just because girls who do wear hijab in the country but take it off when they travel could be because of the fact it was forced on them by their family and/or to keep people from talking, which also brings in your point of how those girls wear the hijab because of cultural expectations. It's pretty much the same. Just because we see something, it doesn't mean there could not be any interior motive behind it with a different agenda.

I myself do not believe in how my parents forced me into wearing the hijab. I wasn't convinced and I still am not even though it has been almost 11 years now. But I wouldn't take it off either. I think the way our religion is being preached down on us from our parents doesn't always come out the way it should and it comes down more than of a force factor rather than making it something beautiful.

— Sara
Sara, thanks a lot for your comment.
I see what you mean, and I mentioned that in my blog post that the way the parents are interpreting the concept of hijab to their daughters isn't right.

I hope in the future we can send this message to the coming generation in a better way.

— Sara AlMadani