Abbaya/Cloak /Gown

‘A real necessity for females’

You tell someone that you wear a gown you are either appreciated or you are being disapproved of doing so. Some would say that it’s a very good thing; others would tease you and say you have become too religious and others would say that it sucks and it is pathetic. Majority of our people considers abbaya as a sign of PAINDONESS and think of those who wear them as old fashioned, medieval people. This interpretation of people regarding abbaya is definitely wrong and I have reasons to justify my claim.
First defining abbaya, it is actually like a long cloak that covers the whole body from top to bottom and only feet and hands are bare. Islam has enjoined upon the females to wear a shroud and it is quite a meritorious act. The wives of the holy prophet also observed ‘pardah’ and the Prophet himself have instructed the females to wear a gown.
Now coming back to the topic, I was saying that abbaya is beneficial for a female specially a girl. Firstly, when she dons it, her whole body is covered and unlike other girls, she is wearing no more revealing clothes that might attract men and force them into committing indecent acts.
Secondly, you cannot then call her “attention seeker” which is the main purpose of our so called high society and modern females.
Abbaya is also a time savor. You do not have to go through the difficult phase of first putting your clothes on. Since by just wearing fitting and tight outfit, satisfaction is not achieved so now, the heavy make up is put on along with matching adornments. After checking oneself in mirror for may be hundredth time, you are finally ready after 2 hours or may be more.
By wearing cloak you feel comfortable, at least I feel so, and you do not become a show piece for men. I do not understand that if men are expecting girls to wear clothes that expose their body and make them almost naked, why not men, in return, be a source of sight for girls and get naked to the same extent.
I think that it’s the girls’ fault that they consider themselves inferior and try their best to get attention of men. The girls are simply degrading themselves. They should realize the fact that it is mostly men who dislike the idea of girls wearing shrouds since they would be then unable to ogle at females and fulfill their lust.
The affairs and love and crushes also start from here. As a result, the girls run away from their homes and bring embarrassment to their parents and family.
The only disadvantage that I could think of is that when a girl wears abbaya, she is made the target of taunts and males jeer and scoff at her. She is considered of medieval class. She is being told that you have become too religious as if being religious is a bad idea.
In the end, I think it’s not worth that a girl should stop wearing a cloak just because of the teasing of people that are really very pathetic and unreasonable. Since the people are being badly affected by the culture of foreign countries and they have forgotten the commandments and teaching of their own religion, there is no point of living according to their desires. Their minds have become rusted and they are now unable to discriminate between the right and the wrong. There is no one to stop them and even our dearest leader Busharruf is in favor of this and call it “open mindedness” which in reality is quite opposite of it. We can’t do anything for them but pray to Allah for their welfare.