Being compared to Lollipops & Pearls

1) Why are we Women Compared to Lollipops?

Being compared to a lollipop isn't exactly a problem, as long as the metaphor suffices what we are trying to touch on. Unfortunate enough, turns out that the lollipop theory doesn't quite fit the reality. The insects are able to find their way inside a wrapped lollipop the way they are able to feast on a lollipop without a wrap.

Sounds like an epic failure? Not exactly, yet close enough. Wrapped or boxed, a hole is required for insects to get in.

But that's not all! Neither does the wrapped lollipop render the dress code of muslim women, especially since 'wrapping' is not what was prescribed upon us muslim women. We were ordered to cover, in such a way that the shape of our body remained hidden. Does the wrapped lollipop serve that purpose? No? That didn't come as a surprise.

What I believe is that, just because of an unsuccessful theory - which probably wasn't thought out well enough before it was presented to social media - we women must not hate the metaphors brothers ascribe us to, such as pearls, gems, etc. There's no other woman deserving of such metaphors other than us Muslim women. Why? Because Allah (subhanahu wata'ala) used to describe the maidens of heaven with such metaphors...

“The likenesses of pearls well-protected” – Quran 56:23

“As if they were rubies and coral.” – Quran 55:58

That being said, we Muslim women are higher in status in comparison to the Maidens of Paradise...

Umm Salamah (Radiahallahu Anha) narrates that she said to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) “O Rasûlullah, are the women of this world superior or the hûrs (of Paradise)?” He replied, “The women of this world will have superiority over the hûrs (houris) just as the outer lining of a garment has superiority over the inner lining.” - (Tabrânî)

....which eventually proves that we Muslims women are indeed more deserving of such metaphors, or any other that describes us efficiently.

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was on a journey and he had a black slave called Anjasha, and he was driving the camels (very fast, and there were women riding on those camels). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Waihaka (May Allah be merciful to you), O Anjasha! Drive slowly (the camels) with the glass vessels (women)!" Sahih Bukhari

Al-Qurtubee (ﺭﺣﻤﻪ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ) said: "Women are likened to vessels, because they are delicate, sensitive and fragile." (Saheeh Adab Al-Mufrad)

2) Why do Men poke their nose into Women's business?

Regarding sisters who find it repulsive when brothers (scholars or their mahrams) advice them instead of leaving their matters for sisters to deal with - bear in mind that it is the shaytaan that causes such ill feelings to develop within our hearts when the truth is made clear to us. Enjoining good and forbidding evil is compulsory upon every Muslim - Men and Women.

Abu Qalaba said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) said a sentence (i.e. the above metaphor) which, had anyone of you said it, you would have admonished him for it".

The Sahaba as well used to advice women in order to prevent disorder. At times, it has offended the best of the women - Umm al-Mumineen - as well. However, they were women who felt remorse and rectified their actions soon afterwards, ma sha Allah.

Umar (radiyallahu anhu) said,"I came to know that the Prophet (ﷺ) had blamed some of his wives so I entered upon them and said, 'You should either stop (troubling the Prophet (ﷺ) ) or else Allah will give His Apostle better wives than you.' When I came to one of his wives, she said to me, 'O `Umar! Does Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) haven't what he could advise his wives with, that you try to advise them?' " Thereupon Allah revealed:-- "It may be, if he divorced you (all) his Lord will give him instead of you, wives better than you Muslims (who submit to Allah).." (66.5) - Sahih Bukhari

It's true that we shouldn't say that we must cover ourselves because men can't control themselves. After all, men do harass us women who 'cover' as well. Albeit it is known that we are harassed comparatively less, our Hijab denotes our status, not the intensity of lust the Men in our society consists of.