KUALA LUMPUR – Muslim women rights group Sisters in Islam (SIS) has chastised the Federal Territories Mufti’s Office for saying that “baby bumps” are part of a Muslim woman’s aurat – body parts that must be covered to ensure modesty.
Utusan Malaysia reported yesterday that the mufti’s office made the statement in reply to a question on the hukum (ruling) over a pregnant woman’s baby bump being shared on social media.
The article stated that the mufti’s office had ruled, in an article titled Irshad Al-Fatwa Siri Ke-628 on the office’s website, that a heavily pregnant woman’s baby bump is an aurat as it can lead to defamation or slander.
Responding to the statement on Twitter, SIS said that it is a strange thought process that can turn a woman’s body into an object of slander, especially since pregnant women have been instructed to hide their pregnancy as it grows bigger.
Pejabat Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan (PMWP) melalui artikel Irshad Al-Fatwa Siri ke-628 baru-baru ini telah pun menetapkan bahagian perut perempuan mengandung merupakan aurat yang perlu ditutup dan bentuk tubuh perut yang memboyot itu boleh menyebabkan fitnah https://t.co/SQD7S4VhH6
— Sisters in Islam (@SistersinIslam) October 22, 2021
“This is an illogical statement because the physical change during pregnancy is something natural and should not be turned into an object that can cause slander.
“Why should the responsibility or ridiculous demands such as this become the burden of women? Are men incapable of respecting the conditions and physical changes of a pregnant woman?
“Whereas the al-Quran has instructed men, if they are faithful, to always lower their eyes in order to maintain self-decency,” said the tweet.
Furthermore, SIS said that compassion and empathy should be shown to pregnant mothers, adding that objectification of the female body must end. – The Vibes, October 22, 2021
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