I am a Muslim woman, and I don't understand what the fuss is about Mohammed Shami's wife and her dress

The comments were rather disgusting and I couldn't make it past the top five. Photo courtesy: Facebook/ MDShami

This morning, before getting dressed for work, I randomly scanned my Facebook feed. It was flooded with reports of cricketer Mohammed Shami being trolled on social media. Intrigued, I causally clicked on one article. But just 20 seconds into it, I was boiling with rage.

The story mentioned how the cricketer is being trolled by a few religious fanatics for his wife's fashion sense! You see, Shami had posted a few pictures of his family on Christmas, where his wife Hasin Jahan was seen dressed in a maroon-coloured gown. And, hours after the picture was posted, radical digital ninjas started lashing out at Shami for 'allowing' his wife to dress in an 'un-Islamic' way.

The comments were rather disgusting and I couldn't make it past the top five.

The comments are really really Shameful.
Support Mohammed Shami fully.
There are much bigger issues in this country. Hope sense prevails. pic.twitter.com/dRJO5WfOgU

- Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 25, 2016

But, this got me thinking. As a Muslim woman, I am often expected to behave in a certain way, dress in a certain way, and conduct myself in a manner deemed fit by the self-proclaimed moral police. Fortunately, my family comes from a more open school of thought, but the fear of being 'branded' by the community, persists at all times.

Also read: Iran is now imprisoning Instagram models for 'un-Islamic' pictures

For instance, I remember when I was a teenager and had to attend community festivals. My mother would often diss my choice of clothes, claiming that they were not appropriate for a gathering like that. If you're thinking of skirts and dresses, let me tell I was a full-blown tomboy who loved her baggy jeans and loose t-shirts a little too much. But, I was forced to adapt to the culture around me and wear salwar-kameez for gatherings.

A few years later, I moved out of my small hometown and started living in a metropolitan city. Here, I met people from different states and culture, and that made me question the moral codes I grew up with.

It filled me with frustration when I realized that 90% of moral codes applied only to women. Right from the way women dress to the way they laugh, Muslim bigots have a say in everything--even things that don't concern them at all. They have taken upon themselves to exclusively name and shame women, who according to them, are not in line with the religious teaching of Islam.

What these 'thoroughly religious' men choose to overlook is that Islam has a code of conduct list for their ilk too! However, I have never in my life seen a Muslim man adhering to them. Moreover, why is that we as a community find it so hard to move on and adapt to the changing times?

The rules made over a thousand years ago may not even be relevant now. When we are so eager to lay our hands on the latest technology and luxuries, why are we so primeval when it comes to women? Also, why can't people just mind their own business? The way I choose to dress is my problem, why does an entire community have a say in it?

Honestly, I didn't find anything wrong with Jahan's gown. And even if something was, why is it somebody else's business? These questions bother me incessantly.

Also read: Price of sharing pictures without hijab? For this Saudi woman it's jail time

It's high time we start focusing on things that are worth our attention. Like global terrorism, people dying in Syria, poverty, and upliftment of the community in general. And not what women wear.

Fortunately, Shami did not get intimidated by the trollers and give it back to them. He also found support in people like Javed Akhtar and Mohammad Kaif. Seriously, we need more people like them.

The dress that Mrs Shami is wearing is extremely elegant and dignified . Any one who has any problem with it is sick in his mind .

- Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) December 26, 2016