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I met this Korean guy in Turkey at a train station. During discussion he politely showed curiosity regarding why Muslim women cover themselves so much ? There was no time for long discussions, so my small mind came up with an odd (stupid) example.
I said to him, "You see, as we all men sit here and a woman passes by, wearing less clothes. It would immediately attract a lustful attention of all the men, because it is in men's nature to get attracted to it. That is why, in order to protect women from illegal desires of stranger men, she needs to cover herself and men need to control their gaze so that such lustful feelings don't arise in their heart. On the contrary, if there are all women sitting here and a stranger man passes by, no woman would even bother to look...."
"Who said so..?" A meaningful naughty smile on his face interrupted me.
"Sorry...what?" I was surprised.
As he went towards his train, my mind went to my past. When my female cousins used to ask me about girls in my class (unfortunately, our parents put us in co-education) I didn't even know which girl was in my class and how did they look like, because it was drummed in our minds to mind our own business (Which I am thankful for). Even if someone tried to talk to us we used to avoid looking at them and used to move away from them soon, without being rude. But my cousins used to recognize any guy in the market, shopping centers....etc....At times I was even embarrassed that they know more about the boys studying in my school and it was perfectly normal and impressive for us that they have such a sharp observation + memory. This boy resembles that actor, and...WOW ! I didn't even look at the face features of even my friends so closely and then take time to compare his eyes, nose and face..etc. with those of the list of actors in my memory. How do you do that. It was really embarrassing for me. I wanted to learn this art but couldn't.
It was because lowering of men's gaze and covering of women was always taught and emphasized to us, but the society never seemed to think of the other way round. Even though I am sure that women don't look at stranger men with a lustful gaze that is why men don't bother too much about covering themselves. BUT still, there must be some ruling regarding this matter. I need to check it from a religious scholars as soon as possible.
I need to leave, because I know people would throw everything at me.
I said to him, "You see, as we all men sit here and a woman passes by, wearing less clothes. It would immediately attract a lustful attention of all the men, because it is in men's nature to get attracted to it. That is why, in order to protect women from illegal desires of stranger men, she needs to cover herself and men need to control their gaze so that such lustful feelings don't arise in their heart. On the contrary, if there are all women sitting here and a stranger man passes by, no woman would even bother to look...."
"Who said so..?" A meaningful naughty smile on his face interrupted me.
"Sorry...what?" I was surprised.
As he went towards his train, my mind went to my past. When my female cousins used to ask me about girls in my class (unfortunately, our parents put us in co-education) I didn't even know which girl was in my class and how did they look like, because it was drummed in our minds to mind our own business (Which I am thankful for). Even if someone tried to talk to us we used to avoid looking at them and used to move away from them soon, without being rude. But my cousins used to recognize any guy in the market, shopping centers....etc....At times I was even embarrassed that they know more about the boys studying in my school and it was perfectly normal and impressive for us that they have such a sharp observation + memory. This boy resembles that actor, and...WOW ! I didn't even look at the face features of even my friends so closely and then take time to compare his eyes, nose and face..etc. with those of the list of actors in my memory. How do you do that. It was really embarrassing for me. I wanted to learn this art but couldn't.
It was because lowering of men's gaze and covering of women was always taught and emphasized to us, but the society never seemed to think of the other way round. Even though I am sure that women don't look at stranger men with a lustful gaze that is why men don't bother too much about covering themselves. BUT still, there must be some ruling regarding this matter. I need to check it from a religious scholars as soon as possible.
I need to leave, because I know people would throw everything at me.
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