The following incident took place when Muhammad Ali's (Boxer) daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were not modest. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters.

"If memory serves me correctly, I was wearing a little white tank top and a short black skirt. I had been raised Muslim, so I had never before worn such revealing clothing while in my father's presence. When we finally arrived, the chauffer escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father's suite.

As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down beside him and said something that I will never forget.

He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Hana, everything that Allah (SWT) made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them."

He looked at me with serious eyes. "Your body is sacred. You're far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too."

Source: "More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Through His Daughter's Eyes".

One day, a brilliantly beautiful and fragrant flower with attractive colors met a pearl that lives far in the bottom of the sea and has none of these characteristics. Both got acquainted with each other.

The flower said: "Our family is large; roses and daisies are members of the family. And there are many other species that are various and countless; each has a distinctive scent, appearance etc."

Suddenly, a tinge of distress appeared on the flower. "Nothing accounts for sorrow in your talk; so why are depressed?" The pearl asked.

"Human beings deal with us carelessly; they slight us. They don't grow us for our sake but to get pleasure from our fragrance and beautiful appearance. They throw us on the street or in the garbage can after we are dispossessed of the most valuable properties; brilliance and fragrance."

The flower sighed. And then the flower said to the pearl: "Speak to me about your life! How do you live? How do you feel it? You are buried in the bottom of the sea."

The pearl answered: "Although I have none of your distinctive colors and sweet scents, humans think I am precious. They do the impossible to procure me. They go on long journeys, dive deep in the seas searching for me. You might be astounded to know that the further I lay, the more beautiful and brilliant I become.

That's what upraises my value in their thought. I live in a thick shell isolated in the dark seas. However, I'm happy and proud to be in a safe zone far from wanton and mischievous hands and still the humans consider me highly valuable."

Do you know what the flower and the pearl symbolize?

You will find that: The flower is the unveiled woman (who shows her charms) and the pearl is the veiled woman (who conceals her beauties).

Moral: So decide do you want to be like a Flower or Pearl, Flower which is used when needed and thrown away in Garbage after it is used or Pearl which is highly valuable and respected every where.

Hijab is a religious obligation in Islam. As such, it is not a cultural tradition, nor a political statement, but an aspect of Islamic religious belief. The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the United States Constitution, and in the European Convention on Human Rights. It is recognized as one of the most fundamental liberties every human being is due. Perhaps to many from a Christian background, it seems as though freedom of religion is about freedom of thought or belief. But really, freedom of religion is about freedom of expression. I think there is great wisdom in that the two rights, free speech and freedom of religion, are put together in the First Amendment. The way I dress as a Muslim woman is an expression of my religious belief and as such should and must be protected as one of my basic human rights.

Unfortunately, Muslim women in many places around the world are being denied this basic freedom. There is so much, it almost seems to be hysteria, in the West about women in a few places who are being forced to wear hijab, and yet there is no attention being given to the women in many other places, including several Western countries (supposedly the great defenders of freedom and human rights) who are being forced to not wear hijab. People, it's the same issue. Both sides are trying to enforce a rule on how women may dress. Why is one a concern to you and not the other?

Some of the most ridiculous statements and some of the most utter garbage that I have ever read are in arguments that are used to justify anti-hijab discrimination. Sometimes I laugh incredulously at it, other times I am just left gasping. How is it that a simple piece of fabric on a woman's head, a square 40"x40", evokes such utter hysteria among some people? If I chose to dress in a bikini top and a micro-miniskirt that would be my right. If I chose to have a purple mohawk, cover myself with tattoos, or wear leather clothing with metal spikes, that would by my choice and my self-expression. But let me choose to fold a piece of fabric over my head and cover my body except my face and my hands and suddenly the rules have changed. Suddenly it becomes "a symbol of allegiance to fundamentalist Islam", "an ostentatious display of religion contrary to the secular nature of our society", and to many people it must be banned.

Sometimes, it makes me wonder just how committed we really are to religious freedom. Is it only some religions that one is free to practice? Is it only religions like Christianity that don't have rules about how to dress? Is it only for religions that are "socially acceptable"?

Who, precisely, is the Muslim hijabi woman harming? If she isn't hurting anyone except possibly herself then MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

The main reason for wearing Hijab is to obey God who made it an obligation on women. Most Muslim women who do wear it are honored and feel a sense of pride for not defying God's rules. In addition to this main reason, the following are complement reasons for wearing Hijab, some of them are humorous:

* The inner feeling of peace you get when you wear it.

* Protect women from unwanted attention from men.

* People treat you for your mind not your body. For example, when you succeed in a job, it is because of your performance and intelligence and not because how short your miniskirt is.

* Time isn't spent productively when the average woman spends two and a half years of her life styling her hair.

* Beauty fades eventually, and with hijab people learn to love your inner beauty not your outer beauty.

* It keeps you warm in the winter. You don't have to worry about trying to keep a hat on to stop your ears from freezing up! Plus the head is medically known for the place where a high level of heat is released from the body.

* Long Lasting. Hijab protects your hair for longer and keeps it shiny, healthy and in good condition.

* Freedom from stupid trends you don't believe in. Freedom from being compared to a unrealistic image. Freedom from worrying about how you look, rather than how you should act. Freedom from paying ridiculous amounts of money on ridiculous clothes that will be out of fashion in a ridiculous amount of time.

* When a girl in a miniskirt walks past the football field, it's all cat-calls and whistles. When a woman with Hijab walks past a football field, it's eyes averted to the ground and a respectfully mumbled "Good morning."

In Islam, wearing a " Hijab " ( a veil ) is a must for all women. It is mandatory according to the Islamic rules extracted from the Qur'an and Prophetic Narrations. Of course, it is not a must at all times and places. Women have to wear it when there are other "Strange men" at the same place for a variety of reasons. "Strange men" are men other than the woman's father, husband, brother, son, uncle and other related men that are specifically stated in the Islamic law.

I agree muslim women aren't forced to wear the Hijab or Niqab. Its a personal choice which comes from the heart of each and every muslim women. No women should be threatened or harmed in any way if she does not wear Hijab. Any muslim women who does not wear the Hijab is her business with Almighty Allah and none shall intervene. "Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from error." (Holy Qur'an - 2:256)

According to the Qu'ran, the same high standards of moral conduct are for men as it is for women. Modesty is essential in a man's life, as well, whether it be in action, morals or speech. Islam also commands proper behavior and dress of men, in that they are not allowed to make a wanton show of their bodies to attract attention onto themselves, and they too must dress modestly. They have a special commandment to lower their eyes, and not to brazenly stare at women.

In Sura Nur of the Holy Qu'ran it says, "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them, and God is well acquainted with what they do".

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "And the eyes commit zina (adultery). Their zina is gazing."

As Muslims, we are the torchbearers for the rest of humanity; therefore we must set the example and set ourselves apart for the rest of society.

The hijab gives me the freedom to concentrate on my work and not bother about men. The hijab is a gift from God for women. -Fakhira Atheeq, Tamil Nadu

Wearing the hijab has liberated me. I feel like I am now accepted for who I am. I cover my head and every strand of hair. I was the first hijabi in my family. -Farah Saleem, Bengaluru

I was student union president in college and very active. I got interested in the Quran at 19 and decided to wear the hijab. I was the first one in my family to do so. -Sheema Mohsin, Karnataka

One has to gear up mentally to wear it in a mixed society like Assam. People may complain it is too hot to wear, but they should fear hellfire more. -Sahana Begum, Guwahati

I started wearing a headscarf just a few months ago. I get so much respect from people. Ghunghats and purdah are a part of Indian culture. -Rukhsana Fatima, New Delhi

When a man goes higher in his hirarchy of status in the society, his dressing habits changes from formal to complete suit and he appears with fully covering his body with tie and shoes etc. when he comes out to social gatherings. Wheras