OF THE HIJABITES AND THE NUNS
There is no much difference between the head cover used by the Muslim women and the Christian nuns. This piece of cloth, it is unarguable, gives the women beautiful outlook and prevents them from social harassment. This is the simple truth, accept it or reject it! I have witnessed, read and heard of situations where women who cover their heads are admired by their fellows wherever they are. The only difference that I have constantly observed is that majority of the Christians prefer to make caricature of Muslim women who wear the head covers. In addition, the Christian women do not copy the model set for them by Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ who they believe is the source of their salvation.
Above all, those who don the head cover – veil or scarf - possess spiritual protection that no human can easily explain. I have read and heard of situations where women with their heads covered in adherence to the divine instruction of their religions were mysteriously secured from physical injuries and spiritual attacks. There have been cases when armed robbers terrorised passengers on the roads but would protect the Muslim women in Hijab and the nuns. There are also cases when spiritual consultants rejected Muslim females for sacrifices.
The story of a sage in defence of women covering themselves is interesting. The sage told his questioner to pick two candies. He then told the questioner to throw one of them into the dust and pick it up; then he asked the questioner to choose between the dirty candy and the one yet covered. The questioner quickly chose the covered one. That was the conviction that, no matter the perceived detestation for women who cover their heads, no sane human would prefer dirty things to clean things. Medically and hygienically, covering of consumables and fragile things are recommended.
Naturally, women are fragile and their bodies are prone to attraction and assault by men. This is why the women who prefer to move about with nudity in the name of civilisation meet different kinds of harassment. The rising level of rapes in African societies, at least of the adults, can be linked to the costumes which women wear. Some of the victims wrap themselves, dress half-naked or even put on underwear to seduce or attract suitors, though men are becoming wiser these days. No normal Muslim woman dresses abnormal. But a lot of Christian women do dress abnormal for the mere reason of mimicking the Western world which, apparently, has code of dress for different occasions. Nowadays, it is ladies who seduce men with their atypical dresses and yet cry wolf when hassled.
If the Christians do really believe in Mary, why do they refuse to cover their heads? Yet, the nuns amongst them dress like Mary. Again, the height of hypocrisy is displayed whenever they want to pray. While praying, some of them would place a piece of paper, a handkerchief or part of their wrapper on the head. I often laugh silently when I see them do this in public places especially in buses. This attitude is observable even in churches. But on a serious note, why should Christians derive joy in fighting Muslim women who wear veils like Mary, the mother of Jesus? In Nigeria, all government agencies which require the capturing of the photo of the citizen allegedly treat the Muslim women with disdain.
The latest of these series of ill-treatment and denial of the fundamental rights of Muslim women in Nigeria was Amasa Firdaus Abdulsalam who was not permitted by the Body of Benchers to enter the International Conference Centre on December 12 where the call to bar is usually held. Firdaus wore her new gown but insisted on wearing the wig on top of her Hijab. It was a violation of her right to freedom of religion as protected by Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution. In an interview, she maintained her convictions to set a precedent for Hijab-wearing Muslims during the call-to-bar ceremony. This singular action has triggered controversies amongst the local and international law bodies and human rights activists and organisations.
We are worried that this matter is gradually degenerating into another religious confrontation between Muslims and Christians of Nigeria. And we ask: Haven’t we had enough of these religious wrangling?