+ GMT Select Your Local Time London GMT Johannesburg Lagos Cairo Accra Mogadishu Abuja Cape Town Free Town Addis Ababa Austria Bahrain Bangladesh Australia Sydney Austria Bahrain Bangladesh Belgium Brazil East Brazil West Canada Toronto Canada Pacific China Beijing Cuba Cyprus Denmark Egypt Ethiopia Finland France Germany Ghana Greece Hon Kong Hungary India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kenya Korea (Rep. of) Kuwait Lebanon Liberia Libya Luxemburg Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Mexico City Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Paraguay Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Moscow Russia Vladivostok Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Singapore South Africa Spain Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Trinidad And Tobago Tunisia Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom USA Washington USA San Francisco USA New York USA Hawaii Venezuela Yemen Zaire Kinshasa Zaire Katanga Zambia Zimbabwe STO
[Pacific Sighting] See Makkah Clock
Searching EsinIslam بحث موقع
Home | Explore | Broadcasters | Media | Donations | About Us | Contact | Fatwa | Our Sheikh
Save
Wicked Turkish Secularists Give Headscarf-Wearing Job Applicant Blunt Response
29 July 2009
A covered woman who applied for a job in an event planning company received an e-mail that stated the company does not accept people who abuse religion by wearing a headscarf.
Şeyma Engin applied to various companies to find a job. The Çilek Group, which specializes in event planning, was among these companies. Yet, Engin was shocked by the reply sent by a staff member of the company. According to the Web site 8sutun.com, the e-mail she received stated:
“Ms. Şeyma,
“We have reviewed your application. We are sorry.
“As an institution operating in the secular Turkey of [the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal] Atatürk and being composed of the republic's children and protectors, we do not hire those who wear pieces of cloth like a headscarf as if for religious beliefs -- although they [the headscarves] have nothing to do with them -- but really for political and business goals, which abuses religion.
“Do not forget that democracy does not mean paving the way for fundamentalism.
“We wish you success in your search for a job.
“We strongly advise you to try the Fatih area [a district in İstanbul mostly populated by conservative people].
“Good luck,
“Emir Onur Çilek
“Çilek Grup”
In the meantime, a woman wearing a haşema -- a swimsuit conservative women wear at public beaches and pools -- was not allowed to swim in the pool of an apartment complex in İstanbul's Çekmeköy. Security staff told Ş.A. that she could not swim while wearing that kind of swimsuit since it does not comply with the codes determined by the apartment's administration, and they asked her to remove her haşema in order to swim in the pool. S.A., husband of Ş.A., stated that they will sue the apartment management.
“Wearing hijab (Islamic attire including head covering) is an important religious requirement mandated by the Qur’an. As a Muslimah, your first priority is to please your Creator. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “There is no obedience to anyone in disobedience to Allah.” In other words, you are not bound to obey your boss if he orders you to disobey Allah. In Islam, we are not even allowed to obey our parents if they order us to disobey Allah. So you don’t need to apologize for wearing hijab. Since wearing hijab is a religious requirement in Islam, you are allowed to exercise this right in your work place. This right has been guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights. Your boss is not allowed to discriminate against you on that ground or force you to take off your hijab. If he does so, he is violating the laws of the land. As a Muslimah, therefore, you should never compromise your principles. If you cannot handle this issue by yourself, you may do well to get a letter from the Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada (Cair-Can) at (613) 254-9704, Fax (613) 254-9810. It should be enough to bring some sense to the mind of your boss. May Allah grant you success in your struggle. Ameen.”
Case Of Protection In Hijab
When someone has a jewel or any precious item one always treats it with great respect and protects it against any loss. One may even build a special place to keep it or place it in a vault for security. Perhaps one may even hire a guard to insure that it will not be stolen. These things are most obvious to all of us and nothing here seems strange at all. By the way, someone may say, 'Why do we compare women to jewels and pearls? Doesn't this sound as describing women as objects or mere possessions in this world?' In reply to that, I say: Comparing women to jewels and pearls doesn't mean that women are mere objects or worldly possessions. The intended item or object here is what the woman possesses, as mentioned by Allah in His Book. Allah is ordering us to tell the believing woman to lower her gaze and to protect her, guard her private parts and protect her chastity. She is being well advised by her father, brother, husband, son and all of us, to cover herself. Somehow we have been deluded into thinking that women exhibiting their beauty in front of others and men encouraging this is warranted. Many large corporations protect their shareholders from losses while at the same time producing cosmetics, jewelry and clothing that do exactly the opposite for our ladies. Money and vain desires are the primary reasons for this type of exploitation in the world today. It should be that we would be asking the question: 'Why are women exposed in public in a way that men do not even see them in the privacy of your home?' The problem today is that society is so far away from the basic concepts of moral and correct behavior that was originally ordained by the Almighty Lord of the Universe (Allah). As each year passes, we see more and more deviation away from the proper attire and behavior in public. Fashion designers, cosmetic companies and women’s magazines make huge fortunes selling the poor beguiled women on the idea of presenting themselves as if on display in a market for others to stare at them and then decide how they 'rate.' So actually, Islam has been preserving the correct and proper dress code, not only for ladies, but for men as well. In addition to defining the proper attire for the sexes, Islam also carefully instructs both men and women on how to behave toward each other. For instance the Qur’an tells us in surat An-Nur in verses 30 and 31 exactly how to act in the presence of the opposite sex: (Tell the believing men to LOWER THEIR GAZE…) And then (Tell the believing women to LOWER THEIR GAZE…) So, immediately we understand that it is more than just the clothing that is desired. It is the proper respect and behavior of the two sexes toward each other at all times. Keep in mind that Islam is not just another religion. Islam (Total Surrender, Submission, Obedience, Sincerity and Peace with Allah) is for all people, in all places and in all times.
EsinIslam.Com
Sign In Password