The Dark Danger: Bigotry: Which Important Topics Do Some of the Passionate Defenders of the Headscarf Never Talk About?

As we explained with the quoted verses, women are ordered to wear a jilbab that covers their bodies when conditions require it. However, it is left to the women’s choice to decide if it is necessary. Furthermore, a woman can just say that she is obeying verse 59 of Surat al-Ahzab by wearing a headscarf and may choose to wear a headscarf instead of jilbab. Everyone should respect this decision. But it is wrong and dishonest to claim that the headscarf is made obligatory in the Qur'an, when in truth it is not, and to drive perhaps millions of women away from religion due to this persistence. Such people have one feature in common: though they portray themselves as extremely pious people with their relentless persistence about the wearing of the headscarf, which is not a commandment of the Qur'an, they don't show the same commitment or zeal when it comes to other commandments in religion or about matters that are vital to Muslims. For example:

• Darwinism – They don't care about the fact that the majority of people have lost their faith as a result of Darwinism. They are not bothered by the fact that students are being told ‘there is no God’ (God is above such claims) at schools and don't even think about taking intellectual steps against this inculcation.

• Prayer (Salat) – Most of these people do not pray or most of the time postpone it. However, according to the Qur'an, there are specific times for prayer and prayer should be performed at those times. Surprisingly, these people are not bothered by the fact that they themselves or their spouses or children don't pray, and display an incredulous indifference about it.

• Spending in the way of God – God orders us in the Qur'an to donate what is more than needed. In many verses, Muslims are commanded to be each other’s guardians, which means that Muslims should protect and take care of everyone who needs help. However, those who incessantly talk about the headscarf surprisingly try to explain away this subject: They have made convenient spending models, stating, for instance, that it is sufficient to spend 1/40 of their wealth, which is not in the Qur'an, and thus avoid spending in the way of God.

• Islamic Union – The unity of Muslims is a religious obligation for Muslims, just like prayer and fasting. However, these people live as if this obligation does not exist at all and never talk about Islamic Union or urge Muslims to unite.

• Miracles of creation – They don't seek to help people gain earnest faith in God through science and reason. Most of the time, they only talk aboutIslamic history. They talk about the sacrifices of our Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions as impossible practices that cannot be achieved by other Muslims. • Love of God, fear of God – They don't make intellectual efforts to make people understand and love God. They don't remind people of God’s artistry and His infinite beauty, and they do not invite people to give thanks to God, to be loving and self-sacrificing.

• Persecuted Muslims – To these people, Muslims suffering in Syria, Iraq or Libya are merely evening news. If an extraordinary oppression takes place, they hold short meetings, chant empty slogans, and then carry on with their daily lives. However, it is incumbent upon all Muslims to make an intellectual effort to prevent oppression and end the philosophy of violence.

• They are indifferent to the blasphemy in the media - Most of these people, who talk about it for days when something happens related to the headscarf issue, display an incredulous indifference when religious values are disrespected. These people are not bothered by the fact that people say bad words about God (God is surely above such remarks). Consequently, they do not use their legal rights against such acts or words, or make a move to intellectually answer them.

• Mahdi movement – Our Prophet (pbuh) talked about the Mahdi movement in an extensive manner with more than 600 hadiths. Giving the glad tidings of the Mahdi is crucial in removing the air of lethargy surrounding many Muslims. However, these people who claim to love the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) meticulously hide his miracles and avoid telling people about his hadiths concerning the End Times.

• Second coming of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) - The second coming of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) to Earth is clearly proclaimed in the Qur'an. However, these people pretend as if this fact does not exist. They don't feel the joy of knowing that a prophet will return after 2000 years.

• Reign of Islamic moral values – The reign of Islamic moral values in the world is one of the greatest glad tidings that God gives in the Qur'an. Muslims should work to be instrumental in the realization of this beauty. However, these people completely ignore God’s order and almost never mention this topic.