Artefact communication: exploring the Islamic culture of niqab wearing among muslim women

Niqab (artefact) is known as religious dress code for Muslim women and it is a visible sign of Islam. Arabic word niqab, which is regarded as Arabian culture, is a piece of cloths that covers women's hair, neck, shoulders and face, except two eyes which are visible. Now a days, niqab wearing is a divisive and controversial issue due to misunderstanding among Muslim and non Muslim communities. The goal of this study was to describe a detailed and comprehensive description of women's understanding on Islamic concept of wearing niqab. The study also attempted to find out people's perceptions towards niqab wearing women. This qualitative research employed the hermeneutic phenomenology method. The interviewed participants consisted of 33 Muslim niqab-wearing women for in depth and individual information and 12 mixed group women (Muslims and non-Muslims) for focus group discussion to confirm the main interview data. NVivo 10, a qualitative data analysis (QDA) software from QSR International and Microsoft Word computer software program was used for data analysis. According to analysis, five themes and nine sub-themes emerged from the interview transcript. This study revealed the niqab wearing women's lived experience, perceptions and feelings. The current research findings came out from the religious, cultural, environmental, controversial perspectives and women's perception towards niqab wearing women. The findings revealed that wearing niqab women's personal choice as a modest dress but not obligatory. In Malaysia, Muslim women wear niqab as both a cultural context and religious both perspectives. The environmental perspective is, niqab wearing women do a lot of sacrifice by bearing the uncomfortable weather to receive blessing from by Allah (S.W.T). This is due to their deep faith to the Almighty Allah and only to receive mercy and rewards in the hereafter. On the contrary, western media accused niqab wearing women as extremist and conservative, and in favour of banning niqab for security reason. So, most of the participants consider niqab ban as a religious and political discrimination. In this research, participants expressed that niqab wearing is women's individual choice and empowerment; it's expression is Islamic identity. When women wear niqab they feel freedom and liberty. Very few participants wear niqab to follow their family choice. They are not forced to wear niqab but when they went to overseas they think hijab was sufficient. Niqab wearing women also faced discriminated or harassed because of their perceptions about religion and Islamic culture. Even though in some countries women are restricted to wear niqab, they think media should not expose niqab badly and try to respect Muslim culture. Wearing niqab is not anti-social or anti-women movement and it's not a barrier for development and prosperity. It should not be perceived as a security risk. In fact, some misguided people abuse niqab and involved in crimes that portray bad images of Islam as a religion. If the positive deeds of niqab are highlighted it will be better acceptance almost everywhere.