[cheesypeetyz]

Firstly, I'm not sure what people personally believe, but I dont think burkas are compulsory. Hijabs and loose clothing are complusory though. Science shows us that we need sunlight on our skin to develop vitamin D and generate calcium in our bodies. However, studies show that the Hijab and Burka cause Vitamin D deficiencies.

Can someone give me some light on the topic. At the moment, I think that if a woman wears a Hijab then her face and hands will still be subjected to sunlight which shouldnt cause any problems, should it? where do you need sunlight on your body?

The reason I ask, is because science also tells us that our diet cannot produce enough vitamin D. Please help me with this question. I know there is no fault in Islam. Allah would never make you do something to harm you. Please help me prove the muslim dress code is still suitable and recommended. I already know it can reduce rapes etc...

[Hitfaromarf]

The hijab is obligatory... and I would rather be deficient in Vitamin D than get severly punished by Allah swt.

There are other sources of vitamin D. In my opinion I think that scientists are trying to ridicule Islam, which wont work.

Do you seriously think that people will diminish their iman just on some pity scientific note?

Some people choose to wear the burqa because females duringthe time of the prophet muhammed (saw) used to. There have been many debates on this but surely Allah swt knows best.

[kennyguitar]

I think the vitamin part only happen in the morning and not the whole day. So basically all the sunbathers in the west are actually damaging their skin by exposing it throughout the day. That's why people in the desert all cover-up. If you go to any tropical countries, all people like to be under the shades instead of exposing themselves to the sun.

Women actually don't wear hijab in the house and they can go around the backyard (of course with fences and all and covered from outside view) without wearing one.

[BluewayAllere]

I have heard these weak arguments before, honestly if you sit near a window (given you have a proper fence) you will benefit from the sun, if not there something called the Barakah of ALLAAH

[russianstallian]

Brohter J786,

Can you please explain your sig?

[perhilzit]

whats to explain?

[soprofaxel]

asalaamo alaykum

take vitaman A and D supplements if you need vitamin D. the sun activates vitaman D so a person should atleast be expose to the sun for 15 minutes a day. That doesnt mean you have to spend all day without such clothing.

Also muslims never had a problem with vitaman D defeciency in the past. So as most people until most food now are processed and are plants lack the minerals from the depleted soil. So its important to take supplements and excersise. |Try to get some sun for awhile without exposing your self to men.
wasalaam

[gugamotina]

All above, aside from the other scientific study that I had come across about Burka actually diminishing the probability of skin cancer normally caused by the UV.

People would love to be without Hayaa and put sun screen just to go out half naked rather than being decent and cover up

[cheesypeetyz]

Brohter J786,

Can you please explain your sig?

Well. I think it really sums up Islam for me. If we consider Allah's word in the Quran and the Holy Prophet (SAW)'s Hadiths/Sunnah, then we will live a prosperous life

[cheesypeetyz]

people

I read all your responses. I pretty much already covered all of it when I was explaining it. Thanks though. I just wanted to see what everyone thought. Jazak'Allah Khair.

[hablyShappY]

However, studies show that the Hijab and Burka cause Vitamin D deficiencies.

Which studies? Please provide the source, links, names, etc.

Also, did you know sunlight is not the *only* source for Vitamin D?

[cheesypeetyz]

Which studies? Please provide the source, links, names, etc.

Also, did you know sunlight is not the *only* source for Vitamin D?

Well it isnt wrong information incase that's what you're worried about. Just type it in google and you'll see. The reason I started this thread was to find out more information. For example, I think muslim women can actually absorb the sun when they are in their private gardens etc. Plus Islam only requires muslim women to leave their hands and faces uncovered. I'm sure they could absorb Vitamin D through their hands/faces.

Yes, Vitamin D isnt the only source. But I read somewhere that even 10 tall glasses of fortified milk would not equate to the minimum requirement. I'm also sure that we *do* need contact with the sun even if we obtain the Vitamin from elsewhere. Please check on google...

Just to conclude: I have no doubts about Islam. I just started this thread because I think unbelievers only show the science they want. I'm sure (as I said before) muslim women can come into contact with the sun and absorb vit D without breaking any rules in Islam...

[soprofaxel]

asalaamo alaykum

the sunlight does not give vitamin D it activates it. It cannot be activated through a window or inside a car but with direct contact. You should get vitamin A and D together. from what i know vitamin D deffency is from lack of being outside not wearing clothes. People spend too much time in air condition homes, dont excersise and eat malnourished processed foods. For vitamen D take supplements. Dont take cheesy store bought supllements too. they are watered down cheap valued herbs.
a good source for good herbs are Amazon herbs, cedar bear naturales, gaia herbs, Grandma's herbs, Limited edition, red rock naturals, LIfe extension, and the best is natures sunshine. We lack nutrition all around not just vitamin D. people are dying and getting cancers and other chronic illnesses because of the health care systems and food industies.
wasalaam
take care
Chris

[cheesypeetyz]

asalaamo alaykum

the sunlight does not give vitamin D it activates it. It cannot be activated through a window or inside a car but with direct contact. You should get vitamin A and D together. from what i know vitamin D deffency is from lack of being outside not wearing clothes. People spend too much time in air condition homes, dont excersise and eat malnourished processed foods. For vitamen D take supplements. Dont take cheesy store bought supllements too. they are watered down cheap valued herbs.
a good source for good herbs are Amazon herbs, cedar bear naturales, gaia herbs, Grandma's herbs, Limited edition, red rock naturals, LIfe extension, and the best is natures sunshine. We lack nutrition all around not just vitamin D. people are dying and getting cancers and other chronic illnesses because of the health care systems and food industies.
wasalaam
take care
Chris

Sorry you're right. It does activate it. Bro, can I ask: Can Vitamin D be absorbed through your hands and face? The reason I ask is because I think that even if women wear hijab, they can still absorb it while fully covered.

[hablyShappY]

Well it isnt wrong information incase that's what you're worried about. Just type it in google and you'll see. The reason I started this thread was to find out more information. For example, I think muslim women can actually absorb the sun when they are in their private gardens etc. Plus Islam only requires muslim women to leave their hands and faces uncovered. I'm sure they could absorb Vitamin D through their hands/faces.

Yes, Vitamin D isnt the only source. But I read somewhere that even 10 tall glasses of fortified milk would not equate to the minimum requirement. I'm also sure that we *do* need contact with the sun even if we obtain the Vitamin from elsewhere. Please check on google...

Instead of dodging my question, why don't you provide me the source for the "studies" you mentioned? Who carried out the studies? Why are you hesitating to provide the sources? What exactly do you want me to google?

[cheesypeetyz]

Instead of dodging my question, why don't you provide me the source for the "studies" you mentioned? Who carried out the studies? Why are you hesitating to provide the sources? What exactly do you want me to google?

Whoa easy. I'm not trying to dodge anything. I've made it clear already that I have no doubt in Islam. Hold on. I'll google it myself. Give me 5 minutes...

[cheesypeetyz]

Here's some things:

http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/...a10809_fm.html
[clip]
http://www.jci.org/cgi/content/full/116/8/2062

Just type in "Vitamin D Deficiency in Muslim Women" or something to that effect or use key word like "vitamin d" "burka" etc. Related articles will come up.

[cheesypeetyz]

I think it might appear as if I have some doubt in Islam. I've already said I dont. But just to be clear, I'll say it again. I'm fairly new to this website although I've been reading it for ages. I don't want to be known on the website as someone who doubts Islam...

I think:

* Muslim women can easily sit in the sun in their private gardens or anywhere where no men are around. They can even remove their Hijab or Burka

*Even if Muslim women are in public, if they wear Hijab their hands and face will be uncovered and can hence be in contact with the sun

*If Muslim women wear light coloured clothing, it wont block out the suns rays. They are not limited to black coloured clothing. Infact our Holy Prophet (SAW) prefered white clothing

There's other reasons too. I basically just think science only tells half the story, because it's not as if Muslim women can not have sunshine everyday....

I am also in full awareness that Allah would never order something for women that would be harmful...

[seervezex]

Can Hijab Be A Health Hazard?
Q-News International, No. 171 (July 1995)

Following the Letters page of The Independent over the last couple of weeks readers may have noticed that the dreaded hijab has become a bone of contention again. Not content, it seems, with the conventional explanation that the headscarf is a sign of feminine modesty and decency, opponents have trotted out a new gripe. Like cigarettes, they say, hijab is bad for your body and should carry a public health warning.

The new line of attack runs thus. Studies have shown that life-long hijab wearers are more susceptible to osteoporosis ("brittle bone disease"), a bone-weakening disease caused by Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is produced naturally in the skin on exposure to sunlight which, it is assumed, muhajibas don't get enough of because they are covered up most of the time. "Surely this proves that God did not intend us to be shrouded in black from head to toe?" concludes a convinced Julie Hynds from sun-baked Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The assumptions behind the question are, at first appearance, equally unshakeable. A democratic society can concede the right of Muslim women to dress as they please, but the proper exercise of that right presumes that the choice be a free and informed one, not swayed by incorrect or misleading information. If evidence comes to light that covering up is damaging, then that must be made public. After all, good health for all is almost as sacrosanct as life itself. It is the duty of the experts to inform. Just as the doctor who knowingly fails to inform his patient of a cure, or prescribes him the wrong one, for his ailment is acting negligently, so too is the society whichwithholds valuable information from its members.

Mistress Hynds was actually being a little economical with the truth. She was referring to the conclusions of a recent investigation into the higher incidence of osteoporosis amongst Asian women. But before all you sisters out there start ripping off your headscarves and reworking your chadors into curtains, was there not just a hint of prejudice in Hynds' all too readily extended advice, and worse still, could it in fact have been malice dressed up as benevolence?

Needless to say, the letter from Mistress Hynds, who also, quite incredibly, believes she "can walk down any street in Britain in my normal loose top and trousers without attracting unwelcome attentions", did not go unanswered. Dr Abdul Majid Katme replied, "This is a common fallacy among the people of the West. It is a medical fact that diet is the main cause of Vitamin D deficiency among some Asians, and not lack of exposure to the sun. We Muslims who live in the East and Asia are exposed to the sun all the time and our houses, yards and private gardens are full of sunshine."

Ah! So we have two medical facts vying for primary cause. Not being a doctor in even the simplest sense of the word, I decided to do a little research.

Well, sort of. I asked a doctor friend who simplified the explanation like this. Vitamin D lines the wall of the stomach and 'grabs" calcium from within to feed the bones. The Asian diet is one which, he said, contains a lot of phytates (don't bother looking in the dictionary, it's not there). These substances mix with the calcium and actually prevent it from being drawn into the body by the Vitamin D.But the issue was far from settled. Enter Mr Malcolm Swinbank, from the little more sunny town of Surbiton. Striking a blow for the non-muhajibas he recounted meeting three different health workers from the Middle East, all of whom reported a high incidence of pelvic deformity among young women in their maternity units, the result they believed, of Vitamin D deficiency which they attributed to the covering of girls since adolescence. "It does not seem unreasonable that a sudden limiting of exposure to sunlight following a comparatively sun-filled childhood and unaccompanied by any dietary compensation could have serious effects."

Boy, Oh boy! Has the discussion come to a decisive contest between Islamic Law and modern medicine? Not quite. As one Haruza Baig was to say in a letter of the same edition, there is nothing in the Islamic tradition which requires women to be shrouded from head to toe in black, nor anything which restricts absorbing sunlight by scantily clad sunbathing to their hearts' content in the privacy of their own homes and gardens. And to that I added my own observation that, in an age where vitamin supplements are available as freely as candy, walking around in a chador need not be harmful.

There were other complications too, to the "hijab is bad for your health" diagnosis. For one, most Asian women, Muslim or otherwise, don't wear the hijab at all. Secondly, Britain isn't exactly that sunny a country that experiments about lack of exposure to sunlight should take place here. And, thirdly, even if we concede that some Muslim women might be starved of sunshine and Vitamin D, it cannot approach the physical damage that can be done by skin cancer - attributed to overexposure - of which there has been a phenomenal rise since the sun-tan came into vogue with Coco Chanel. In fact, overexposing, or more bluntly, nudity, is probably itself a cause of the reaction that is seeing more and more Muslim women taking to the chador. On reflection, pointing the finger at hijab seems to he somewhat mischievous, considering that there are a lot of hot countries out there where women have to cover up, or smear themselves with sun-block, to protect against searing sunlight. And what about the hole in the ozone layer?

Faisal Bodi. Wasalam.

[cheesypeetyz]

Thanks for posting that. Flawed research then it seems. Lets not also forget the Burka and Hijab have been worn for centuries and "brittle bones" and other deficiencies have not been a problem within our communities...