Dear Sir: Your Sept. 21, 2011 article “Imman discusses women’s rights and Islam” is not reported completely. I am the Imam who spoke on this Issue and I didn’t say that Muslim women don’t have to wear a veil or Hijab.
The question was about the burka which is used in Afghanistan by women. My comments were that Islam dose not prescribe to a particular face covering. Rather it describes a dress code and teaches women to wear a modest dress where their physical beauty is not so visible which invites the trouble.
I also explained the difference between veil and burka and hijab. According my discussion I very clearly explained that the wisdom of Islamic dress code is for the safety and security of women.
Many Muslims understand Islamic veil or hijab differently but we all agree that there is clear instruction in the Holy Quran about male and female dress code.
One can read Chapter 33:60 and Chapter 24:31-33 of the Holy Quran on this topic. The article somehow give the wrong impression about my discussion on this issue.
By no means do I have any authority to change the instruction of the Holy Quran of give an impression which is not Islamic.
In my understanding Islam prescribes for women to cover themselves modestly from head to toe to avoid any unpleasant situation.
Muhammad Afzal, Toronto, Ontario