Common questions asked by Hindus about Islam
Q6. Bindi and mangalsutra?
Question
Why do
the Muslim married women not put bindi or tikaon the forehead and
wear Mangalsutra, like Hindu married women?
Answer:
1. Bindi or tika
Bindi is derived from the sanskrit word bindu, which means a ‘dot’. It is
usually a red dot made with vermilion powder and is worn by the Hindu women
between their eyebrows on their forehead. Bindi is considered a symbol of ‘Parvati’ and signifies female energy which is
believed by Hindus to protect women and their husbands. It is traditionally a
symbol of marriage and is worn by the Hindu married women. It is also called as
tika.
2. Bindi
has become a fashion
Nowadays,
wearing bindi has become a fashion and is even worn by unmarried girls
and women. The shape of the bindi is no longer restricted to a dot and
is available in various shapes, including oval, star, heart shaped, etc. It is
even available in different bright colours like blue, green, yellow, orange,
etc. The material of the bindi is no longer restricted to vermilion
powder, but is made of coloured felt and other material. It is also available
in a variety of designs in combination with coloured glass, glitter, etc.
3. Mangalsutra
Mangalsutra
means a thread of good-will. It is a necklace worn specially by Hindu married
women as a symbol of their marriage. It consists of two strings of black beads with
a pendant usually of gold. The black beads are believed to act as a protection against
evil. It is believed to protect the women’s marriage and the life of her
husband. In southern India, mangalsutra is called tali, which is
a small gold ornament string on a cotton cord or a gold chain. Hindu
Married women are never supposed to remove their mangalsutra. It is only
cut off when a Hindu lady becomes a widow.
4. Allah
Is the Protector
Allah
(swt), our Creator, is the best to protect human beings. We do not require any
red dot or black thread to protect us from evil. It is mentioned in the Glorius
Qur’an in Surah An'am Chapter 6 verse 14
“Say: Shall I take for my protector any other than Allah, the Maker of
the heavens and the earth?”
[Al-Qur’an
6:14]
It is mentioned in several places in the Glorius Qur’an including Surah Ali Imran Chapter 3 Verse 150 and Surah Al hajj Chapter 22 Verse 78
“Allah is your Protector, and He is the best of helpers.”
Wearing a bindi or mangal sutra signifies a lack of faith in Almighty God, our Creator, who is the best to protect.
5. Against
the Islamic Dress Code
Wearing
a bindi or mangalsutra is a sign of Hindu women. The Islamic
dress code does not permit a Muslim to wear any sign, symbol or mark which is
specially significant of a non-Muslim.
6. In
Islam, Both Married and Unmarried women should not be Teased
Once, a
Hindu friend of mine, while mentioning the benefits of mangalsutra said
that it easily identifies a married women, and thus prevents them from being
teased and molested. According to Islam, each and every woman, whether married
or unmarried, Muslim
or Non-Muslim, should neither be teased nor molested.
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