When Michelle Leslie donned a burqa while imprisoned awaiting trial in Bali last year, the responses from Australian Muslims varied from outrage and disgust to complete apathy. Many Muslims took her actions personally, offended that she may have been using Islam to guide herself to freedom. Others wisely demonstrated just how little they cared. As the Islamic Council of Victoria’s Waleed Aly wrote at the time, “it’s no fluff off my prayer mat.”
If it isn’t abundantly clear already, Muslims love their religion and they take it very seriously. We don’t want our customs, beliefs and traditions to be given un-Islamic interpretation and meaning, or given the Daniel Pipes treatment. Avoiding misunderstanding is always highly desirable. Using Islam for, ostensibly, self-serving purposes can lead to chaos.
Yet, it seems that we are unable to successfully project our own desired image, due in no small part to the diversity, and therefore difference, within the Muslim community. Consequently, it is left to others to form an acceptable “Australian-Muslim identity”, often resulting in that undesirable misunderstanding.
Cue Sabrina Houssami, who has unwittingly caused the latest Muslim-related din. As Australia’s first ever Muslim entrant in the Miss World competition, the competition has gained far more coverage than it deserves.
Amid the feel-good promotion of an Aussie-Lebanese-Indian-Muslim taking part in a global beauty pageant, you will hear the howls of protest from various corners. There are the usual voices of dissent with respect to the evils of beauty pageants: that pageants degrade women, reducing them to little more than eye candy. This, however, is hardly a new concept.
Such competitions provoke intense opposition from people of all ethnicities, religions and of both genders. As Radar’s Dominic Knight points out, “They are ogle-fests, nothing more; a walking, talking version of FHM dressed in a layer of patronising trash about global understanding that infuriates anyone who actually works towards it.”
Yet these arguments against such contests are met with just as many enthusiastic, albeit questionable, justifications: pageant contestants are intelligent as well as beautiful, backed by impressive resumes, making the world a better place through charity work. Perhaps their charitable work does make a difference; but why swimsuit and evening gown competitions are necessary to achieve this is bewildering.
Houssami takes these asinine justifications further by invoking religion, breathtakingly saying, “Religion is something that is interpreted by the individual and I try to focus on the moral values of religion. I will wear a bikini but not a string bikini, so as long as it is not skimpy.”
It’s rather difficult to digest Houssami’s insouciance. In reading this, there would be those operating at a very basic level of shock: how can she link moral values of a religion to a swimsuit competition?
But my first reaction (one which is probably shared by many other Muslims) is to ask why her religion is being mentioned at all.
Muslims are rightly affronted (and consequently disadvantaged) by the mention of religion when a Muslim commits a crime; we’re just as affronted when Islam is “illuminated” for a beauty pageant. The two simply have no comparison or connection.
Drowning this discussion in feminist rhetoric of beauty myths, as though no Muslim values it, would be disingenuous. The modesty of Muslim women wearing hijab or a burqa should not be interpreted as meaning beauty has no place in a Muslim woman’s life; of course, it does.
However, by mentioning her religion in the context of a beauty pageant, Houssami, who is not visibly practising her faith with her dress, is indirectly claiming a representative role. Her behaviour is aligned with, and perhaps even deemed acceptable in, Islam. This places other Muslim women in an unfavourable light by marking their modest dress as an extreme approach to Islam. Given that modesty is required in both men and women, this is simply not the case.
Sabrina Houssami owes no explanation to anybody and she is completely free to do as she pleases. If she wants to wear a bikini, parade in front of millions and justify it by saying she’s a member of MENSA and loves to act charitably, it ultimately matters little. But these competitions do not look to a contestant’s spirituality and belief system. Religion should simply be left out of it.
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“Miss Houssami also hopes to dispel myths about Islam by competing. “Religion is something that is interpreted by the individual and I try to focus on the moral values of religion,” she said. “I will wear a bikini but not a string bikini, so as long as it is not skimpy.”
she’s virtually a fundamentalist… I’ve often remarked that the distinction between a string bikini and a “regular” one, is profound and under-appreciated, by less nuanced mainstream opinion.. The sister has offered a compelling orthodox defense of Islamic modesty.
You go girl!
BTW her invitation to join the nerds in MENSA seems so obvious that it does not warrant direct commentary
It would be wrong to single out Miss Houssami for criticism in this regard. It has become common to hear of Muslim women who, despite having removed their hijab or engaged in things that most Muslims would consider forbidden, are paradoxically claiming to help the cause of Muslim women. They are doing this by, to use the common term, “breaking down stereotypes”. For example, I am sure that at various times, we have seen Muslim women who have reached great heights in their professional life (despite not wearing hijab) being held out as role models for young Muslim women or, as is the case here, talking about how their achievements somehow further the cause of Muslims everywhere by breaking through these supposed glass ceilings.
Whilst there is an entirely different discussion to be had about what is and what is not appropriate work for Muslim women, there is a concern about what is going on here: when women that are not visibly Muslim hold themselves out as Muslim role models or as ‘Muslimahs that have made it’ they are, in fact, hindering the ability of Muslim women who are visibly Muslim to achieve similar heights. Firstly, it creates the impression amongst some young Muslim women that they cannot really succeed unless they abanon their hijab. Secondly, it leads employers of Muslim women to think that the hijab is something optional that women choose to wear rather than are required to wear.
I thought it was a great piece.
My impression is that the situation Amir describes is peculiar to Australia. I personally know of MANY sisters in the UK who have risen to the top of their chosen fields regardless of their muslim dress. That list includes but is not limited to consultant surgeons, barristers and actuaries.
Muslim need to think very carefully about what parameters they use to gauge “success”
I think that is an interesting opinion Amir. I have no doubt about the requirement of hijab, but also understand that it is not up to me to enforce the wearing of it upon others, especially here in the West.
In my experience of being Muslim and around Muslims, there are differing levels of religiosity and religious attatchment. There always has been and always will be. You can be Muslim on many levels - part of our creed is that someone can still be a (sinning) Muslim, while doing any act or believing any thing which does not take them directly out of Islam.
Not everyone can be like the Prophet (s), even if they wanted to or try to be!
I wasn’t suggesting that women should be forced to wear it or even that women who don’t wear it are doing something wrong by having careers or being successful. I was speaking specifically about women who don’t wear it but, at the same time, hold themselves out as examples of ‘Muslimahs that have made it’, claim that their success has led to significant stereotypes being broken, or that their success makes it easier for other Muslim women to follow.
Personal sinfulness is another matter, but the hijab is different because it is the principle reason why some women find it difficult to ‘get ahead’ in their chosen careers and why others lack the confidence that they can attain the same heights in their chosen profession as their non-covered sisters. This is the point that I was trying to make: that all this talk of ‘breaking down stereotypes’ is not really accurate because the biggest stereotype affecting Muslim women — that hijab equates with backwardness or the like — is being reinforced when the women who are most visibly holding themselves out as ’successful’ are not wearing it. This is why I don’t think Ms Houssami’s comments are particularly helpful to the cause of Muslim women in this society.
“This is the point that I was trying to make: that all this talk of ‘breaking down stereotypes’ is not really accurate because the biggest stereotype affecting Muslim women — that hijab equates with backwardness or the like — is being reinforced when the women who are most visibly holding themselves out as ’successful’ are not wearing it.”
This is exactly the essence of my piece. While there are, of course, many accomplished and faithful Muslim women achieving wonderful things, the effect is not as powerful when she doesn’t wear hijab or any form of Islamic dress. What makes her different from a non Muslim at a basic level? Sure, she might believe differently and pray five times a day, etc, but no myths have been dispelled because she looks just like the next woman.
As I said in my piece, I don’t think it’s our place to hand down judgment on other Muslims, but I will certainly raise my voice when my religion is being invoked in such an insulting way.
Thanks for the clarification - it makes much more sense now. I actually agree more fully with you both… I hate the religion card being played when it is off on a tangent too, like being Muslim is an ethnicity or something.
But it seems to me that there is a plethora of ‘muslim’ women out there who succeed or fail either covered or not and they deserve our support and respect.
I also hate the whole “breaking down stereotypes” card that gets played too. The Australian Muslim context clearly shows that we Muslims do not fit in to nice little defined boxes. Specifically when we have this varigated scale of appearance - from the convertables to those who wear the scarf but the tightest clothes, to those who don’t cover their hair but are much more modest than the above and all in between; each one of them identifying as a Muslim woman.
If our generation is anything to go by, there will be plenty of hijab wearing girls/women being successful in the very near future, if not in the present. Once people see that wearing hijab does not stop you doing anything (much), then actions will speak louder than words.
I have seen plenty of hijabis in all types of jobs, from being martial arts instructors/competitors to swimming, athletics, as well as office jobs and suchlike. These go a long way to changing stereotypes when interacting with the wider community. I think it is great!
However, as Islam as a faith is ultimately controlled and run by men, isn’t it just the case that as women are excluded from ‘theological’ power, Islam is just another means of preserving the patriachy over women.
See http://weekbyweek7.blogspot.com/ for our comments on the significance of the ‘masculine’ in Islam.
That’s not true. Islam doesn’t exclude women from ‘theological’ power. The majority of narrations of the Prophet were captured by women and there have been many female scholars throughout the ages.
Thank you for taking the time to post comments
what are the next 10 words in your argument? in fact there are none.
Indeed if you were to have read here : http://austrolabe.com/2006/06/.....r/#more-19 it will be immediately apparent that no one has been “running” Sunni Islam for 1300 years. Islamic scholarship has always been a fellowship of meritocracy. The strongest opinion wins.
The greatest scholar in islam was in fact a woman Aisha bint Abi Bakr. The communicated the vast numbers of the most important prophetic traditions (hadith). Thus large chunks of our faith have been communicated to us by a woman, and it is through the prism of her perspective that many pillars of theological orthodoxy stand.
The world of classical Islam had thousands of women scholars, something sadly lacking in the modern muslim condition. Sheikh Abdul Hakim Murad estimates this number to be between 15 and 20% of all scholars http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/ahm/default.htmThis is a higher figure than the % of female scholars at his university today ; Cambridge.
One of the modern Islamic reform movements in Pakistan, that seeks to return to greater religious orthodoxy in pakistan is founded, run by and funded by a female scholar Farat Hashmi (who did her Ph.D. at a british university).
You may also have not realized that the author of this piece was a woman.
So you will need more than a 10 word slogan
I should make it clear that my response was to “weekbyweek”
weekbyweek…what an incorrect comment.
Sabrina Houssami never claimed representation of Islam. She was as expected “cornered” by some media groups who have tried to stir up this issue and focus on it.
Sabrina opted not deny her religion or her father religion and has tried to say the right thing about Islam.
The point here is not to discuss whether or not Islam allows beauty pageants or disband them, the point is that this young lady sais that she feels proud to be a Muslim and that Charity ‘Zakat” is a main pillar in islam.
We should praise her courage and defence of islam instead against part of the medi of analysing its “islamic correctness”
I was speaking specifically about women who don’t wear it but, at the same time, hold themselves out as examples of ‘Muslimahs that have made it’, claim that their success has led to significant stereotypes being broken, or that their success makes it easier for other Muslim women to follow.
I think that when somebody has made it- if they’re a woman and proudly muslim they should be embraced- instead of scrutinised. Just because you don’t wear the hijab does not mean you have not had significant impediments to your success- be it from not drinking with work mates or strict family upbringings. Let’s celebrate all our achievers.Leave judgment to God.
You don’t know what it feels like to be a young woman receiving demeaning messages about your religion from an early age- by the outside media and even the internal muslim world which subscribes conditions on your success. When brown faces like Mishal Hussain adorn BBC or muslim names like Nadia Jamal are in the paper- it is a huge morale booster for young women, (regardless of whether or not they use prayer beads everyday.) Just through networking and common affiliations it can be so powerful to have that connection.
that hijab equates with backwardness or the like — is being reinforced when the women who are most visibly holding themselves out as ’successful’ are not wearing it.
Not necessarily. It is ironically women themselves who are actually more inclusive- i’ve spoken to US court judges who wear hijabs - their happy to see sisters up their in all their colours. She said Muslim women should not be homogenous. Like the jewish community- it’s great they should be to have varying religious and even political views- shows subtlety and intellectual depth in a community. There is no police of Islamic orthodoxy in the west- just thinking and free thought which should be embraced.
Solidarity sisters- let’s get over superficial differences and embrace humanity in its variety. Houssami is not a muslim scholar- she’s not invoking some kind of theological change so as jesus says “Judge not lest ye be judged- lift the plank from your own eye first etc.”
Constant scrutiny of muslims really turns off people who could be so sympathetic to the community- because they’re scared they are too sinful to be even able to say “hey you know i am muslim too.” It probably even prevents some great people taking that step of saying i’m muslim- beloved infidels like karen armstrong and the late edward said- (i still harbour hope they are secretly muslim!:)
Besides contradictions make people interesting and complex and give the muslim world its stunning variety.
ps- “infidels” thing was a joke!
Peace
(and congrats on a fabulous and very intellectually stimulating blog Muslim thinkers:)
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