In the global debate regarding the veiling of Muslim women, one important factor is often overlooked: The fact that depriving a human being from live-giving sunlight and air represents physical torture. Indeed, this form of torture has been used for centuries in prisons.
It has long been known that the average human being requires a certain amount of sunshine on a daily basis in order to be healthy. Under the right circumstances sunlight creates vitamin D in the oils on the skin, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream and helps generate health throughout the entire body, largely serving to assist calcium in bone formation.
It has also been understood for many years that purdah--the custom of sequestering women from men, forcing them to remain indoors and to cover up the bulk of their skin--creates a serious disease called osteomalacia or "bad bones." Writing decades ago, famed nutritionist Adele Davis stated:"Osteomalacia. This disease--its name literally means bad bones--results primarily from a severe vitamin-D deficiency. Arabian and Indian women who keep themselves heavily veiled frequently develop such painful backs that they can scarcely rise; and they suffer multiple spontaneous fractures and have extremely rarefied bones, all of which clears up dramatically when vitamin D is given them." (Davis, Let's Get Well, p. 256.)
"Sir Robert McCarrison, the great English physician, wrote of osteomalacia in India among the Mohammedan women observing the custom of purdah. These women veil their faces at adolescence and rarely go outside their homes."
"...in most of the Sunni Muslim women (who form majority of the Muslims), in spite of high intake of calcium, osteomalacia is often seen. There are two reasons for this:
"1. Use of burkha which prevents sunlight reaching the skin.
"2. Living indoors - most of the Muslim women specially those staying in the Muslim localities, do not move out of the house and thus are not exposed to the sun and often develop osteomalacia."
As we now know, vitamin D is necessary for a variety of other metabolic processes in a healthy individual. Moreover, sunlight has other positive effects besides vitamin-D production. For one, it is necessary for the production of the hormone melatonin through the eyes. Thus, Muslim women who wear the full burkha* are deprived of this health-bestowing chemical as well, which is necessary for proper sleep and, consequently, mental health. Also, merely taking vitamin D or melatonin supplements would not make up for other potential health benefits associated with adequate exposure to sunlight, and supplements are not the best choice for optimal health in any event.
In addition to developing bone and other problems from a lack of vitamin D and melatonin, covered women are deprived of fresh air on their skin, which is the body's largest organ. Hence, the skin is not given the opportunity to breathe adequately. Furthermore, the color of choice in covering up women because of "religious" purposes is often black and sometimes blue, undoubtedly creating much sweltering and heat stroke in the very hot regions in which this clothing is traditionally worn.
While the emotional, mental and spiritual problems with forcing a woman to veil herself may be increasingly clear, the grossly under-explored factor in the burkha/niqab debate is the toll on women's physical health. The bottom line is that veiling women and depriving them of life-giving sunlight and air represents physical torture - especially in heat-absorbing dark colors - on a mass scale. How many women are suffering horrendous health problems, exacerbated by being forced to give birth repeatedly, because of this oppressive custom? In the veiling of women, then, we are looking at a serious and appalling health crisis affecting millions worldwide.
* There are many forms of oppressive dress for women within the Islamic world, compelling us to learn these terms:
See also:* There are many forms of oppressive dress for women within the Islamic world, compelling us to learn these terms:
burqa/burkha/burkaSo obsessive is this women-oppression that there are reputedly over 100 terms for bagging females.
niqab
chador
sitar
hijab
abaya
jilbab
Women in hijabs 'need sunlight or risk illness'
Women's Rights in Islam
Acharya S, aka DM Murdock, is an acclaimed author on the development of religion. Find more about herself and her works at her website, Truth Be Known.
Comments (17)
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written by vbv , June 30, 2009
Allah's diktats arenothing but the outpourings of that charlatan fake 'prophet' Muhamad. no wonder they are all irrational,crazy and stupid.Muslims would do well to think rationally rather than merely follow these diktats like dumb brainless mutts!
written by Johan , June 30, 2009
Huh... Allah or Muhammad might have been ignorant but our dear 'new age islamic scholars" very soon will tell the world that how Burqa actually good for women's health. Just wait for a while our great scholars are just working on this subject!!! Very soon they will establish the wisdom of ALLAH and Muhammed.
written by Anti Clot , July 01, 2009
Another typical desease of muslim women is diabetes because the opportunities for sports are very limited in many countries with exploding costs, amputations and deaths while Halal food does not mean anything in terms of health. It is all nothing but superstition.
written by kafir/infidel ( & Ex.communist , July 02, 2009
ISLAM in any respect is a dark chapter in human history. As long as ISLAM rules in Moslem countries - there will not be peace ,both internally and externally ,there will not be progress or happiness. ISLAM is incompatible with human civilization, especially liberal,peace loving,democratic ideas of equality and equal laws to all. ISLAM is devoid of any new,progressive,liberal ideas of compassion also. ISLAM is a copied version from judaism,christianity and pre ISLAMIC arab pagans but ofcourse with savagery and brutality,cruelty and hatred ,killing added liberally. Moslem women are permanently made sex objects (robots like ) with much inferior status and slavery. A moslem woman canot do anything by herself. A moslem woman cant fall in love with and marry a nonmoslem man. A moslem woman must not changer her religion. In case of rape , a Moslem woman needs four Moslem men only as witness to prove her case !!! and if she wants to file a case.
written by a guest , August 23, 2009
Kafir/Infidel:
Islam is not just a dark chapter in the human history, it is one of the darkest clouds for the near future.
A 'religion', in the sense of a belief system, that does not respect other relgions and promotes hatred and killing of others; should not be allowed the same constitutional ptotection as any other religion, that does not do so.
Islam is not just a dark chapter in the human history, it is one of the darkest clouds for the near future.
A 'religion', in the sense of a belief system, that does not respect other relgions and promotes hatred and killing of others; should not be allowed the same constitutional ptotection as any other religion, that does not do so.
written by Radical , October 08, 2009
Looks like the Vitamin D supplements will be heading to Islamia then. Psychotic suppressants will be sent to your address my dear.
written by Rafiqua Ramzan , November 23, 2009
Salaams
I was shocked to read the absurd ideas which you are all putting in a muslim woman head.Hijab is a very important thing in a women's life which gives her respect and importance in the society.It is a means of security and islam has never objected on women going out so if she wears abaya or a coat to conceal hr figure from males of the society and its not that she is depriving herself from sunlight but on the other hand she is protecting herself from various diseases which a person gets when he is exposed to full sunlight.She can get sunrays even in her hijab and she gets benefit of sunlight even though she is fully clothed( unlike the western women who makes herself naked to tan her figure!)
I was shocked to read the absurd ideas which you are all putting in a muslim woman head.Hijab is a very important thing in a women's life which gives her respect and importance in the society.It is a means of security and islam has never objected on women going out so if she wears abaya or a coat to conceal hr figure from males of the society and its not that she is depriving herself from sunlight but on the other hand she is protecting herself from various diseases which a person gets when he is exposed to full sunlight.She can get sunrays even in her hijab and she gets benefit of sunlight even though she is fully clothed( unlike the western women who makes herself naked to tan her figure!)
written by Acharya S , December 05, 2009
Hi guys -
M. Khan, thanks for posting my article. Many other articles about Islam can be found at my FreethoughtNation.com website.
Please, everybody, come visit and comment there!
Freethought Nation articles on Islam
M. Khan, thanks for posting my article. Many other articles about Islam can be found at my FreethoughtNation.com website.
Please, everybody, come visit and comment there!
Freethought Nation articles on Islam
written by Acharya S , December 05, 2009
Oh, I should add that mentally ill sociopaths like "Radical" are not welcome to come post at my site. Nor do I want crazy people like this individual above making depraved remarks women's bodies. Please, keep your misogyny to yourselves. The Muslim women only need to be protected from deranged Muslim men, obviously.
written by Ahmed , October 20, 2010
Amar khan:
I would not use offensive comments like yourself in depicting any religion or any belief because then that becomes irrational considering that you are a religious man depicting a certain religion or ISLAM specifically.
But what i want to clarify is the way you interpret matters seems very superficial, lets consider your article about pedophilia for example the way you showed the verses in SURAT AL TAHREEM and you also got tafseers to prove your point which does not make sense at all if you ask yourself one simple question;
For those young girls your talking about ; and its "3 months from what?!!from the time their born or from the time they get divorced or from what time exactly?!! i cant understand how come your talking about time relevant to nothing!!another thing is I do not understand who on earth told you that the word "Yassena" means in english "desperate"!!
Oh you people out there i can understand the urge and the energy of not understanding ISLAM and fighting it due to all the propaganda coming out from someone like him AMAR KHAN but if your really honest about understanding anything on earth related to islam christianity etc.. you should know who to listen too.
Thank you for opening the space for discussion
I would not use offensive comments like yourself in depicting any religion or any belief because then that becomes irrational considering that you are a religious man depicting a certain religion or ISLAM specifically.
But what i want to clarify is the way you interpret matters seems very superficial, lets consider your article about pedophilia for example the way you showed the verses in SURAT AL TAHREEM and you also got tafseers to prove your point which does not make sense at all if you ask yourself one simple question;
For those young girls your talking about ; and its "3 months from what?!!from the time their born or from the time they get divorced or from what time exactly?!! i cant understand how come your talking about time relevant to nothing!!another thing is I do not understand who on earth told you that the word "Yassena" means in english "desperate"!!
Oh you people out there i can understand the urge and the energy of not understanding ISLAM and fighting it due to all the propaganda coming out from someone like him AMAR KHAN but if your really honest about understanding anything on earth related to islam christianity etc.. you should know who to listen too.
Thank you for opening the space for discussion
written by eman , July 12, 2011
we feel him
if u study islam from correct sources then u will be able to understand islam
hijab never ever cause diseases
it give protection from ultraviolet rays of sun
read the book worte by muslim schlors dont read those who dont know islam just want to spoil it
we are not able to see each and every thing of this universe
dont say allah a imaginarity god
human being is not able to see the personality who create this whole universe man is unable to expolre the whole universe then how could he see maker of this universe?????????
who creates u????????
human being is not able to do all these things whose are beyound of his reach
if u study islam from correct sources then u will be able to understand islam
hijab never ever cause diseases
it give protection from ultraviolet rays of sun
read the book worte by muslim schlors dont read those who dont know islam just want to spoil it
we are not able to see each and every thing of this universe
dont say allah a imaginarity god
human being is not able to see the personality who create this whole universe man is unable to expolre the whole universe then how could he see maker of this universe?????????
who creates u????????
human being is not able to do all these things whose are beyound of his reach
written by Cerebrum123 , July 12, 2011
We here have been studying Islam by it's own sources such as Quran ,sahih hadith,sira ,and accepted tafsir. The Quran alone is enough to make anyone who studies it in an objective manner reject it for it's many errors in science and history ,not to mention it's internal contradictions ,and inconsistencies. You are however right when it is beyond our reach to know our creator. That's why Jesus came as God in the flesh to reveal Himself to us ,so that we might be forgiven our sins ,and receive salvation. He died on the cross then rose from the dead to show His victory over sin and death ,so that anyone who chooses His free gift of salvation will not perish ,but receive everlasting life with Him in heaven.
written by Manpreet , July 12, 2011
Hello, My name is Manpreet Kaur Lall and I am very interested in the Islam religion. As I am a Sikh, I acknowledge that fact of wearing the hijab for religous purposes, however, if it is protecting women from the UV lights, then that must mean that men should wear them. This will only be fair as they will also benefit from the hijab as they will also be protected.
written by Sarah , January 06, 2012
It really doesn't take much for vitamin D to synthesize in the body. If a woman wears a hijab but exposes her face and hands to the sun for at least 5-10 minutes a day, 2-3 days a week, she is not at risk of developing osteomalacia or any other condition as a result of not being more exposed to the sun. The bigger issue is if she wears garments to cover her hands, tops of her feet, and face as well - THAT is definitely dangerous.
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why imagianry allah never thought of this health problem in women ??
is he ignorant ??
no...he is just imaginary.