On May 15, 2025, as U.S. President Donald Trump stepped onto the red carpet in Abu Dhabi, the world witnessed a spectacle that blurred the lines between diplomacy and cultural theater. A choreographed performance of Khaleegy and Al-Ayyala—featuring young women dancing with uncovered hair and swaying to rhythmic drumbeats—was broadcast globally. While the UAE presented the event as a celebration of heritage and hospitality, many Muslims across the world, including in India, were left deeply unsettled.
Was this a proud display of Islamic culture or a commodification of modesty for geopolitical optics?
My writing is not a moral sermon but a critical reflection—rooted in Islamic tradition, cultural history, and contemporary challenges—especially for Muslims in the Indian subcontinent.
Islam: A Faith Beyond Borders and Costumes- Islam was never intended to be confined to any single culture. From its emergence in 7th-century Arabia, it spread across continents, embracing local customs while preserving its ethical core. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Piety is here,” pointing to his heart (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 18). This highlights a foundational Islamic principle: faith is defined by sincerity and intention (niyyah) , not by external displays alone.
In India, Islam found expression through Urdu poetry, Khadi and Zardozi craftsmanship, and the Ganga-Jamuni tehzīb —a cultural symbiosis between Hindus and Muslims. In Indonesia, Islam blended with batik artistry; in West Africa, it absorbed the rhythms of tribal drumming. The essence of Islam has always rested in its values, not in cultural uniformity.
Understanding Hijab: Between Spirit and Symbol
Today, hijab is often narrowly understood as merely a headscarf. However, in the Qur’anic context, it represents a holistic ethic of modesty. Verses 24:30–31 and 33:59 instruct both men and women to maintain modesty—not as a fashion code, but as a reflection of dignity and spiritual consciousness. What counts as “modest attire” has always varied: Ottoman women in Istanbul wore the çarşaf ; in Damascus, women favored colorful scarves. Indian Muslim women adopted the dupatta , woven from local fabrics and traditions.
In modern India, according to Pew and NFHS surveys, nearly 89% of Muslim women cover their heads in public—many of them by personal choice. This rate is significantly higher than in Gulf countries, where public headscarves are increasingly optional, especially during international events.
Why this difference?
Because for Indian Muslims, particularly Pasmanda (socially and educationally marginalized) communities, hijab is rooted in conviction, not compulsion. It is both a cultural expression and a spiritual commitment—voluntarily upheld, not state-imposed.
The UAE’s Contradiction: Tradition or Hypocrisy?
The UAE’s decision to stage a traditional dance featuring unveiled women during President Trump’s visit is deeply ironic. This is the same country that enforces public decency laws penalizing so-called “immodest dress,” yet suspended them for this particular event, citing living heritage and UNESCO’s 2014 recognition of Al-Ayyala.
Historically, Al-Ayyala was a male warrior dance. Female participation in such public displays was minimal and typically segregated. But in 2025, the UAE chose to place women center-stage—not as contributors to dialogue or diplomacy, but as performers with styled hair and flawless choreography.
Is this true modernity—or merely cultural tokenism dressed as progress?
To many Muslims globally—especially in India—it felt like a betrayal of core values. It appeared as though modesty had been commodified and selectively discarded for the sake of politics and profit, especially in light of the $200 billion US-UAE trade pact associated with the visit.
Historical Lessons: Reform Without Abandonment
Islamic history is rich with reformers who modernized without abandoning core values. In the 19th century, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s Aligarh Movement championed modern education grounded in faith. Egyptian scholar Muhammad Abduh advocated for ijtihād (independent reasoning), reminding us that Islamic jurisprudence is dynamic and responsive.
Muslim women have long been at the forefront of intellectual and social progress: Gulbadan Begum chronicled Mughal history; Begum Rokeya founded schools for girls in early 20th-century Bengal. Today, Pasmanda women are rising in fields such as law, medicine, and public service—often while wearing a hijab or dupatta . For them, modesty is not a political performance but a meaningful expression of faith and identity.
A Wake-Up Call: Questions for the Indian Muslim Mind
The Abu Dhabi spectacle raises urgent questions for Indian Muslims:
* Are we beholden to Arabian expressions of Islam, or can we reaffirm our own rich, syncretic subcontinental practices?
* Is hijab merely a garment, or is it a value? Can a doctor in a dupatta embody more Islamic ethics than a model in an abaya displayed for tourists?
* Are we truly protecting women’s dignity, or merely turning them into cultural props?
Islam does not permit the commodification of women—whether by Bollywood, fashion runways, or Gulf royalty. The Qur’an’s message is clear: dignity, intention, and mutual respect outweigh visual appearances and public performances.
A Call for a Value-Centric Islam
It is time to renew our understanding of Islam based on enduring principles:
* Niyyah over Name: Let intention, not labels, define modesty. A woman covering for Allah deserves respect—just as much as one who serves society with dignity in other ways.
* Ilm over Imitation: Knowledge—especially for women—is the cornerstone of revival. The Qur’an’s first command, “Read,” applies equally to all.
* Dignity over Display: Islam elevates women as spiritual and social equals. Reducing them to decorative roles contradicts both Qur’anic and Prophetic teachings.
* Pluralism over Purity Politics: Islam in India has flourished through diversity. Our legacy is not Wahhabi rigidity or Western mimicry, but a co-existence rooted in justice, compassion, and mutual respect.
Faith Is Not for Sale
What unfolded in Abu Dhabi was not a genuine celebration of Islamic culture—it was a polished performance, strategically crafted for diplomatic consumption. Indian Muslims, especially those from Pasmanda backgrounds who have preserved their faith through generations of adversity, must now ask: Will we define Islam through Arabian pageantry, or through its timeless values?
Let this moment serve as a turning point. Let us educate our daughters, empower our communities, and reject the commercialization of hijab and modesty. The Qur’an reminds us:
> “Indeed, the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you.” (Qur’an 49:13)
Not the most televised. Not the most glamorous. But the most God-conscious.
Shariq Adeeb Ansari
National Working President
All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz
