:salam2:
1. For starters, this might give you an idea of the situation in Germany:
Bias and Discrimination
In Germany, a survey in December 2003 found sixty-five percent claiming that Islam could not fit with the West, while majorities opposed any new immigration and would feel uncomfortable living in a neighborhood with Muslims.10 This is reflected in the rising numbers of Turks in Germany who feel they are being discriminated against.11
The murder of Theo van Gogh in the Netherlands in November 2004 also seemed to spark some violence in Germany. There were a number of assaults and several mosques were targeted by arson.
Islamic Practice
There are at least 2,500 Muslim places of worship in Germany, and about 140 classical mosques with domes and minarets. However, the process of building mosques has been fraught with difficulties, often from local governments giving little or no justification for their actions.12 Imams are required to take courses in integration into German society.
Although there has been no move towards a general ban of the headscarf, over the last few years there has been a dispute over teachers. In 2003, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled against Baden-Württemberg in its effort to ban a Muslim teacher wearing the headscarf, but left the door open for state level bans of the hijab. Various states have passed laws banning the hijab for teachers, and the state of Hessen has banned it for all public officials. In crafting these laws, there have been efforts to create exemption for Christian dress. As this would generally be seen as discriminatory, lawmakers have had to rely on rhetorical devices such as declaring the nun’s habit occupational rather than religious. The conflicts over these policies continue and may not be resolved thoroughly without a final federal court decision.
Halal slaughter was challenged legally for many years in Germany. However, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled in 2002 that Muslims have the right to exemption from animal protection legislation in respect of their religious beliefs. Despite the court’s decision, conflicts over slaughter continue.
Public Perception of Islam
Polls show deteriorating attitudes towards Muslims in Germany. A survey in 2003 found 46% of respondents agreeing that “Islam is a backward religion,” 34% agreed that “I am distrustful of people of Islamic religion,” and 27% believed that“immigration to Germany should be forbidden for Muslims.” Another survey in 2004 showed that 93% of Germans associate “Islam” with “oppression of women” and 83% with “terrorism.”
source:
http://euro-islam.info/pages/germany.html,
See also:
http://www.islamonline.net/English/ArtCulture/2004/02/article02.shtml
2. Give them an idea of a society where men and women try to please Allah, do not try to attract or distract each other with their physical appearances, where they do not feel the need to compete against each other and go together as equally important (but not identical) members of the family unit (each with his/her distinct duties and rights).
3. Talk to them of the concept of modesty in islam and the dress code (see, e.g.,
http://macdonald.hartsem.edu/mattsonart4.htm)
4. Cover the rights of Muslim women in detail, see:
http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9050&highlight=women+rights
5. Make sure to stress that muslim women do not wear Hijab under pressure from the men, rather they choose to wear it to please Allah and be free from physical-discrimination and that its not an infringement of their rights:
Whoever embraces Islam has to accept its rules even if they pose restrictions to his freedom since such rules are set only to benefit mankind. Allah Almighty, the Lawgiver, knows our nature more than we do.
Definitely there is no religion without rules binding on its adherents and followers, so the deviation we see nowadays relates to man’s following his self-inclination; this sometimes drives him to worshipping idols or sun or anything else in his pursuit to lead a life where he will not be subject to any rules.
Logically, if a woman finds hijab as restricting her liberty and, thus, goes about displaying her body to seduce men or snatch another woman’s husband (thus ruining a serene and peaceful marital home), she should not be surprised if her son or husband happens to be the victim of another woman’s foul play.
Hence, the wisdom behind prescribing hijab as a duty for women is to safeguard and protect the whole society from temptation and secure the stability of marital lives.
In the following verse, Allah Almighty prohibits women from revealing their adornment in the presence of marriageable males: (And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed. ) (An-Nur 24: 31)
Persons mentioned in the above verse are women’s maharim (unmarriageable males), in the presence of whom she is permitted to take off her veil since she could not be harassed by them with lusty motives.
Allah Almighty prohibits women from even stamping their feet to reveal their hidden adornment: (and let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment… ) (An-Nur 24: 31)
Despite all this, some people still consider hijab as a restriction to woman’s freedom, unaware of the fact that it greatly protects her to the extent that had Allah Almighty not commanded her to wear it, she should have called for it. Besides, a woman’s beauty is something temporary, which will, after some time, start fading away, with her husband maintaining his youthfulness and vigor, and perhaps, nourishing hope of taking another wife. Being seduced by an unveiled woman may turn the husband against his wife, thus putting his marital life at stake.
Beauty is a kind of quality that the more one sees it the less captivating and enchanting it becomes; it is only absence that makes the heart grow fonder. Parents may not notice any development in their child due to seeing and having him around all the time, but on staying away for some time, they will definitely notice change in him on seeing again.
A husband may not observe the gradual loss of his wife’s beauty as he daily sees her; on the contrary, she will still remain in his eyes the beautiful bride whom he married many years ago. Yet when he goes out and sees those younger and prettier girls exposing their beauties outdoors, this may injure his self-esteem as he tries to notice variation in beauty (the thing that would not happen had all women adhered to the rule of hijab).
It is so strange that many women are not aware of such a wisdom behind ordaining hijab. It is just for their own sake; to safeguard their marital homes.
Punishment, as far as religion is concerned, never comes unless sin is committed. For instance you have the right to enjoy the beauty and the fragrance of a flower without blame unless you stretch your hand to cut it (trespassing on the right of its owner). You could also contemplate the beauty of a pretty mare without blame unless you try to ride it without the permission of its owner. The same applies to all kinds of beauty on the surface of earth, (And horses and mules and asses (hath He created) that ye may ride them, and for ornament. And He createth that which ye know not. ) (An-Nahl 16: 8)
The above Qur’anic verse permits anyone to enjoy these adornments, either their owners or any others who would like to contemplate their beauties. Thus, it is permissible to contemplate all kinds of beauty on earth except starring at opposite sex. It is not permissible for a male to look at a female other than his wife and the same applies to females, they are not allowed to gaze upon males and contemplate their masculinity. Allah says: (And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest. ) (An-Nur 24: 31)
Thus, it is clear that hijab was meant to protect the Muslim woman, Muslim homes and Muslim society as a whole. It is Allah Himself who created man and woman, and He knows what is beneficial to them and what is harmful.
source:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/...nglish-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaEAskTheScholar
Hope this is of some help Insha Allah (please do not hesitate to discuss this further on this forum).
Your brother
