Muslim women in general and Saudi women in particular are facing a fierce war to encourage them to stop wearing veils, a call in opposition to Islamic teachings. Dr. Mona Al-Abdullah, Assistant Professor at the Girls' Science College at King Faisal University here, said in an educational lecture that these calls are in defiance of genuine Islamic principles decreed by Almighty Allah in the Holy Qur'an. In this regard, she said the Holy Qur'an says, “Tell the faithful women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not display their beauty except what is apparent of it and to extend their scarf to cover their bosom.” Thus the Holy Qur'an addresses “the faithful” women to shield their private parts and not to display their adornment with the exception of what is apparent of it, she pointed out. Al-Abdullah said these calls, which the enemies of Islam raise from time to time on TV satellite channels and newspapers to satisfy their ulterior motives, are basically aimed to depict Saudi women as being helpless and subjected to the worst kind of oppression, suppression, injustice and tyranny, supposedly manifested in their being deprived of the right of driving cars. She says by making such calls, they spew their venom in an attempt to corrupt conservative Saudi society which demonstrates the noble Islamic values in all its deeds including the wearing of the veil or neqab which is decreed by Almighty Allah. She said that Western and Arab societies which have allowed their women to remove the veil are paying the price of their moral decadence, pointing out that these societies, the so-called modern and open societies, have turned women into machines by burdening them with additional responsibilities. This has diverted them from the genuine tasks which Almighty Allah created them for, such as caring for their bread-winners and children. In fact, she said, these societies are misusing women by engaging them in purely manly tasks, such as picking up children from schools and looking for carpenters, plumbers and electricians. By doing this, she said, they are burdening women with tasks which they have nothing to do with. She categorically denied allegations that Saudi women are marginalized. On the contrary, she said, Saudi women have occupied high posts in government, such as deputy minister and obtained the highest academic degrees from the world's most prestigious universities. This has not affected their progress, success and decency and abidance by genuine Islamic principles. Al-Abdullah warned about the negative consequences of poisoning the minds of Saudi women by instilling peculiar notions which have no roots in genuine Islamic teachings. She also called on Saudi women not to listen to the voices which link their success to the removal of the veil and which encourage them to mingle with men, describing such calls as sinful.
