When an Islamic scholar in the UK advocates for banning perfume for women on the grounds that “Allah told him to,” it raises immediate concerns about the intersection of personal religious interpretation and public policy in a secular democracy. In Islamic tradition, some scholars reference hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) that discourage women from wearing strong perfumes in public settings, arguing that it may attract undue attention. However, these are religious guidelines meant for personal observance by believers—not legal mandates for society as a whole. To assert that such religious rules should be enforced universally, especially in a non-theocratic country, is not only unrealistic but also infringes on the rights and freedoms of others who may not share the same interpretation or beliefs.
Statements like “Allah told me” also warrant critical scrutiny. In islam, revelation is considered to have ended with the Prophet Muhammad; no individual today, regardless of scholarly stature, receives divine instruction in the prophetic sense. When someone uses divine authority to push for restrictive societal rules, it opens the door to religious authoritarianism and undermines the pluralism of modern civil society. In the UK, freedom of religion includes the right to practice one’s faith—but also the right of others to not be bound by its rules. Suggesting bans based on personal religious views risks alienating not only non-Muslims but also many Muslims who believe faith should be guided by conscience, not coercion.
Rather than calling for bans, scholars who hold traditional views on modesty can offer their perspectives as advice to those who voluntarily follow Islamic teachings. A more constructive approach would be to focus on education, spiritual development, and respectful dialogue—especially in a multicultural setting like the UK, where Muslims live alongside people of many backgrounds and beliefs. Attempting to impose religious norms through pressure or legal mechanisms only fuels backlash, misunderstanding, and division, which ultimately harms the very message of dignity and respect that islam seeks to uphold.
Statements like “Allah told me” also warrant critical scrutiny. In islam, revelation is considered to have ended with the Prophet Muhammad; no individual today, regardless of scholarly stature, receives divine instruction in the prophetic sense. When someone uses divine authority to push for restrictive societal rules, it opens the door to religious authoritarianism and undermines the pluralism of modern civil society. In the UK, freedom of religion includes the right to practice one’s faith—but also the right of others to not be bound by its rules. Suggesting bans based on personal religious views risks alienating not only non-Muslims but also many Muslims who believe faith should be guided by conscience, not coercion.
Rather than calling for bans, scholars who hold traditional views on modesty can offer their perspectives as advice to those who voluntarily follow Islamic teachings. A more constructive approach would be to focus on education, spiritual development, and respectful dialogue—especially in a multicultural setting like the UK, where Muslims live alongside people of many backgrounds and beliefs. Attempting to impose religious norms through pressure or legal mechanisms only fuels backlash, misunderstanding, and division, which ultimately harms the very message of dignity and respect that islam seeks to uphold.
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