Niqab optional or mandatory.

[glo]

I think my thing is like another poster said, I deduce from facial expressions a persons state of mind at that moment. I usually do like to talk to a person face to face (no pun intended) and make eye contact as I was always taught that it is rude to do otherwise. I can talk to a sister in just in hijab and relate just fine. A niqaubi I could not tell what her facial expressions and are and you have some women God bless them who are so devout that they even cover one or both eyes.

I was taught just the same.

However, different cultures teach differently.
A friend of mine is married to a Zimbabwean. In his culture it is considered rude for a young person to look at an elder when being spoken to or speaking. Instead you are supposed to cast your yes downwards.
It is okay to briefly glance up once in a while ... but any longer eye contact would be perceived as staring (and, I guess, also a challenge).

My friend finds it very difficult to ge used to that difference in social rule and custom. Perhaps it will never feel quite natural to her ...

 

[ragdollcat1982]

Yes it is amazing to see the level of faith of some Muslim women mashallah because they are doing this for the pleasure of Allah because the women's eyes can be very attractive aswell as their hands and feet so some women cover these too for the pleasure of Allah.

Muslim women are hidden diamonds and the beauty of these diamonds is ONLY for their partners to see. They are chaste women and the devil cannot make a man see such women in a desirable way because they have hidden all desirable aspects of themselves away.

The veil is a truly beautiful thing and it is the wish of Allah that his creations- The females cover their beuaty that he has given them and ONLY show it to their partners because he wants them to keep their respect because let's be honest now a man will NEVER truly look at a uncovered women in the same respectful way than a covered women because an uncovered women is the playground for satan to unleash lustful carnal desires in men.

A man is made this way that he may look at an uncovered women who shows off her beauty,shape and curves in a sexual way for he may not purposley do so but it may happen for that is the way a man is created and Allah only wants the best for his creations that is why all men and women should also keep their gaze low so that they avoid desires being ignited inside themselves. Everything in life is a test for us and we will find out our test results on the day of judgement. May Allah guide us to the straight path and make us of the residents of Jannah. Ameen

Well I leave my hands and face exposed. I sometimes will wear flip flops or sandles without socks as a Christian I am not bound to cover them like I am my body and hair. I agree that lust is a powerful thing for men and that a woman should dress in a manner that will not draw unwanted attentiont to herself. However that does not absolve a man of his responsibilty for looking a woman in such a manner. A man should avert his eyes or if need be leave the room or turn around and walk away in the opposite direction. Jesus said that a man who looks at a woman with lust in his heart has already committed adultery.

 

[Hamza Asadullah]

Well I leave my hands and face exposed. I sometimes will wear flip flops or sandles without socks as a Christian I am not bound to cover them like I am my body and hair. I agree that lust is a powerful thing for men and that a woman should dress in a manner that will not draw unwanted attentiont to herself. However that does not absolve a man of his responsibilty for looking a woman in such a manner. A man should avert his eyes or if need be leave the room or turn around and walk away in the opposite direction. Jesus said that a man who looks at a woman with lust in his heart has already committed adultery.

Yes of course that is why Allah tells both men and women in the Qur'an to lower their gazes because casting ones gaze upon that which we are not supposed to see is adultery of the eyes.

So are you a mormon? The reason why i ask is that not many ortrhodox Christian women actually cover apart from Mormon's.

According to Paul the explicit purpose of the Christian woman's headcovering, is that it is a sign of man's authority over woman. The explicit purpose of Islamic hijab is modesty and protecting one's chastity and honour.

It is strange how so many Westerners as well as the media seem to falsly think and portray the purpose of hijab to be a symbol of male authority and oppression for Muslim women when in actual fact it is in Christianity that the purpose of Headcovering is due to male authority.

Again a clear lack of knowledge on the part of most people most likely due to the false media portrayal of Muslim women aswell as a lack of knowledge. This is why knowledge is so important as it brings clarity to misconceptions.