What would happen if a Saudi lady drives???

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Devastated

I've read somewhere that King Abdullah promised to allow Saudi women to drive. When will it be? Ask the King...
About niqab, I recall the prophet said in one hadith: "if your girls are adult, cover them up, except this and this."
When the prophet said "this", he pointed out his face and hands.
So I think full-cover niqab (ninja custom) is not part of sharia law. It's just a part of culture or local custom in Saudi Arabia or maybe this is part of Wahabbism.

KLM

Ok, as far as I know, there is no official law that bans women from driving. The only reason they don't is social stigma. If you go to the rural areas, believe it or not, you will see women driving huge pick-up trucks.

I totally agree with you; it is crazy that we can't drive especially since the men here drive like loonies. I also agree with you when you say that they shouldn't be forced to wear a veil but that depends more on the family. That's not a law. The more conservative families demand that their women cover their faces even though it's not compulsory. The more moderate families (thank goodness I'm from one), think the hijab is enough. Even an abaya is not necessary by law but again, society dictates that unless you wear an abaya, you will go to hell.

As far as what would happen to a woman caught driving, I really don't know cuz it's never happened. Maybe they would arrest her and then hand her over to her guardian or maybe they would give her a 2 hour lecture on how it's haraam for women to drive!! I really don't know.

There definately need to be some major changes made. I just hope they're done soon before we suffocate under our veils and behind our tinted windows!!

bgee2001ca

She would probably get where she was going a lot faster.

I agree that drastic changes are needed, however change is the only thing I know of that goes slower than a snail.

Dalzz

A couple of years ago, a group of working women drove in Riyadh city for about two hours until they reached Prince Salman office! He didn't say anything to them, but the police" hay2at 2l2mer belma3roof " arrested them and banned them from their jobs for a whole year and all the newspapers talked about them, in other words they caused a chaos!

Halawa

I agree with you 100 percent... it is crazy and the funny thing is when you talk to any saudi person they will tell you there self that saudi is just as immoral as the next country its just all hidden...but like someone else said if these women do not stand up for there rights no one else will and nothing will ever change... if we didnt have ppl like martin luther king and rosa parks there would still be slavery so its up to the saudi women to make the change in the country no one else :)

Emily Hobhouse

I agree with you. Unfortunately you are an American. But spread the word.

I meant that it takes Muslims from all across the world to support the women in these fundamentalist states. At the moment, there is a lot of defiance with people going out of their way to wear the veil, as a badge of their religion. Of course they miss the point - they are free to wear it if they choose. But unfortunately, many women aren't. So yes, we need men like you and women, like the lady below, to voice your opinions so that Muslim women can truly be free.

lonepinesusan

I think all those women should revolt instead of letting the men control them.

[Christina loves her fiance]

i bet change will come, but not all at once. i mean, look how long it took for america to be where it is today (minus bush and the war). it really just takes time.

sarahh_f

The 'veil' [face cover] is actually not forced. A lot women don't wear them anymore. Infact, you on't even see head scarves on some girls [unless if you're in Riyad]. & yes they should be allowed to drive. But they didn't speak up about it till a couple of years back, so I guess we'll see it soon InshAllah. They're getting there.

& a few women have made headlines for driving & being caught. I think the ones I read about didn't get any penalties etc.

Reasonable

first i think you need to keep your opinions to your self second don't force no one i would sugguest if you come to Saudi and drive so you can see what will happened i think what will happen is every guy will be following you and your father or who ever is responsable for you will be in a deep problem and nothing will happened to you

Mintee

I do have my US drivers license, but as a saudi also, I refuse to drive in main stream saudi streets.. You are aware that Saudi is rated consistantly #2 or #3 worst traffic in the world!.. And believe me, I know.. I white knuckle it everytime my husband takes me out.. Its horrid.. before us women can drive, the police need to get serious with controlling traffic.. You see people driving down wrong on a one way street, running lights, stop signs. making u turns in the middle of busy streets, making left turns from the far right, or visa versa, backing up on freeways cause they missed their turn off, parking in the middle of a busy street to chat with a friend they just ran across, driving over sidewalks to cut around traffic jams,, plus the list is endless and driving 90miles a minute in bumper to bumper traffic.. It scares the hell out of me each time.. the police just sit on the side of the road, talking on their cell phones doing nothing, or waving at their friends as they drive by... its rediculous.. ..

The reason women were forbidden to drive in Saudi was because there were fears that women would seek lesbian relationships.

Masatoushi O

she would go to jail and get whipped

mecca laran

thank you my brother!!!!

islam is a way of life. it does not force you to wear a veil!!

they should read the quaran again because islam is peace and obediance not TORTURE!

2gorgeous

I won,t say that Saudi Arabia is a bad country and needs manyyyyyyyyyyy changes because i am born and brought up their and I just love it,Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!! but you might be right at this point-WHY NOT EQUAL TREATMENT TO WOMEN?WHY ARE NOT THEY ALLOWED TO GO OUT ALONE?well I won,t say it,s the king,s problem because I heard that once that the king is trying to do something for lady,s to drive but it,s just this strict law.I guess covering your self is not wrong because it,s there in Islam that women should be covered but not extremely I guess but now a days even wearing abaya,s of new attractive styles has become a fashion so imagine how would the girls do without them???????????

wolf

She would be ticketed and could be arrested. The women wear the niqab in Saudi Arabia anyway and would find it hard to see in order to drive. Plus it's dangerous for women to drive in Saudi Arabia as the men there drive like morons going 90 mph down the road and running over people and crashing their cars. Besides the women in Saudi have no reason to drive. There are plenty of Taxis and drivers for them. Muslim people who are answering. Sura 33 verse 59 says
59. O prophet, tell your wives, your
daughters, and the wives of the
believers that they shall lengthen
their garments. Thus, they will be
recognized (as righteous women)
and avoid being insulted. GOD is
Forgiver, Most Merciful.

What do you not get out of this verse? It specifically says that all the believing women and the wives of the Prophet(PBUH*) are required to cover everything except the eyes. There is a very strong Hadith which says that women are to cover everything except the eyes. Muslims are required to follow the Hadiths and in Saudi Arabia we follow the Qur'an and strong Hadiths. The law of Hijaab requires that the whole female body (from head to feet, including the face) be concealed in the presence of ghair mahram (with whom marriage is permissible). A woman should not emerge from the house unnecessarily. If she has to, due to some need, then she should cover her face and body with the outer garment e.g. â€˜Burqaâ€™, so the face and shape of the body are not exposed. It should be kept in mind that the outer garment should be of simple quality and the eyes should be covered with a net or cloth so as not to be a cause of attraction. The veil should not be put on in such a way where the outer garment is of good quality or thin cloth or wrapped round the face so the shape of the nose are exposed.

Allah says in the Holy Quran,

"Oh Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veil) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
1. The whole body, except for the exempted parts should be covered.
2. Any veil which itself becomes an attraction is to be avoided.

3. Garments should not be semi transparent.

4. Dress should not be tight fitting.

5. Garments should not be perfumed.

6. The form of dress should not in any way resemble that of men.

7. It should not resemble that of non believers.

8. Garments should not reflect worldly honour.

It is not permissible for women to wear very fine and thin clothes i.e. muslin etc. as it is to go naked. Women have been required and directed to keep their body covered from head to foot. No part of her body should be exposed before a non-mahram (un-permitted person).

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