There wasn’t much discussion (at least, not in the clip that was shown) about the role of her husband in her decision to wear niqab, if he had any role at all, so I didn’t really pick up the same undertones that you did. At the same time, I think she said at the beginning that she was 24, and she’s been wearing it for 3 years, which means she was 21 (or so) when she put it on – so age might have been a factor too in the timing of when she decided she wanted to, or was ready to, wear it.

@ Yasmine: Different people would give different advice in the situation of a woman who’s considering becoming Muslim, while at the same time dating a non-Muslim. It’s not really my place to say what’s right or wrong there, but I think that kind of situation is definitely a complex and challenging one, and reflects one of the areas where people coming into Islam may struggle. As for the question about what Muslim women wear, a lot of Muslim women don’t cover their head at all, a lot of Muslim women cover their head in various ways, and the women who also cover their face are a pretty small minority, globally speaking (although there are specific areas of the world where most women cover their face.)

@ softestbullet: Good question. I have no idea!

@ Zahra: Very interesting thoughts on how this interview contrasts with the other “Ask Me Anything” segments with the nurse and the soldier – thanks for sharing those!

@ Everyone:
This is that last that I’ll say about the issue of Muslim women marrying non-Muslims. As I mentioned above, my problem was NOT with Khan’s belief that Muslim women *should* only marry Muslim men, which, as has been pointed out by nearly everybody, is the mainstream/traditional perspective on the issue. My problem was with the way that she just dismissed the question by saying that ALL Muslim women only marry Muslim men, which, as a *descriptive* statement, is problematic and exclusive because it ignores the realities of a lot of Muslim women (which exist, even if you think that their relationships are wrong and/or unIslamic.)

Having said that, a look back at my original post shows it to be exclusive as well, implying that the only alternative to Muslim women marrying Muslim men is “Muslim women who marry non-Muslim men,” which also ignores Muslim women who don’t marry, or who don’t marry men. Again, this is NOT the place to talk about the right or wrong of any of this, but it also shouldn’t be the place to push anyone outside of the category of “Muslim women,” and I apologise for my original wording.

I’m a bit amazed that the conversation keeps coming back to the theological question of who Muslim women are supposed to marry, when Krista specifically said this is “not a debate we’ll have here.” I appreciate Sobia’s explanation, which clearly delineates a mainstream and a minority position–but it seems others (like Anon) still feel a need to reiterate this.

I think the recurrence of this conversation illustrates one of Krista’s points about the “Ask Me Anything” format–that it’s hard to rein in a public conversation once opened, and that putting the niqab up for debate in a public setting might lead to spillover, where other niqabis are expected to deal with intrusive questions. I can’t help but note that the nurse and soldier (unlike Khan) have experiences that aren’t immediately visible when they go to the mall just to shop, and are less tied to identity. They’re also experiences that are presumed to be negative, so I’m not sure if that colors the context of this niqab discussion.

those ‘scholars’ are very few and are not considered mainstream

Although Krista didn’t want this discussed here I will still briefly answer your question (sorry Krista…I’ll try to keep it as non-controversial and short as possible).

Traditionally the view has been that Muslim women cannot marry outside the religion. And I would say most Muslims interpret the Qur’an in this manner. There is a verse in the Qur’an which many state tells Muslim MEN that they can marry Christian or Jewish women. However, there are Muslims, including scholars, who interpret it a little differently. They say that verse is not addressed to Muslim men only but also Muslim women. In other words making it ok for Muslim women to marry Christians or Jews as well.

So it has become open to interpretation and I think it’s a choice which interpretation people feel more comfortable with.

Things in Islam, as in life itself, are rarely as black and white as they appear. There is a whole lot of gray.

And what would abusing the right to dress as you please even entail??

Also what is more common to see Muslim women wear- the scarf that covers the head and the face (niquab) or just the face? I don’t remember the correct terms.

If you have time please forward a response.

You were bothered that she said that Muslim women only marry Muslim men? Well perhaps its not always the case, but if the Muslim woman wants to follow her religion correctly it is. I’m not talking about reverts who were married already.

Only Allah can know who is truly Muslim and who is not, but this kind of blatant disregard for the commands of Allah can’t be a very good sign.

[This comment has been edited to fit within comment moderation guidelines.]