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Ok so the why doesnt asad wear a kurta all the time when he tells his sister to do that post has become quite popular on the forum. While some people are like OMG, ITS AN OFFICE, WHO WEARS A KURTA TO AN OFFICE? others are like HE IS JUST OVERPROTECTIVE SO WHATEVER HE SAYS MAKES SENSE!
I know older brothers are generally over protective but Asad definitely does appear a bit conservative in this scene. Since, this show has an islamic back drop the scene with najma touched upon a very sensitive topic.
So, here is my take on the whether Asad is an over protective hypocrite or not. I'm trying to explore Asad's psyche 😛
Islam has laid out an appropriate dress code for both males and females and over the years the culture of the subcontinent has merged with these guidelines to form norms about appropriate dressing for muslims in the subcontinent. So, its generally considered fine for men to wear western clothes because it highly abides by the guidelines given in Islam. However, whether western clothes are ok for females to wear have been the core of many debates and there are a lot of interpretations intertwined with this debate. Some consider it perfectly fine for women to wear jeans as long as they are covered. I'm studying at a university in england and see many arab girls who are very religious, cover their hair but wear jeans because their logic is that, they are technically covered from head to toe. However, muslims in the subcontinent have merged a lot of their culture with their religion. So, shalwar kameez, which essentially a native to the sub continent and NOT islam has become synonymous with modest dressing for women because to them jeans and tops have become synonymous with the western world which doesnt follow their culture and religion.
I think Asad is a man of norms. Its just the traditions and culture of bhopal.. Any other man could behave like that despite their religion!
His purab, paschim dialogue most importantly showed how he thinks norms, traditions and cultures are very significant. He plays the guitar, that isn't what staunch muslims would do. Hence, religion does not dictate what this man does, His theory in life is beyond religion. Its based on his upbringing, which religion is a part of, BUT, his society and his circumstances have also shaped his personality.
My conclusion is, Asad is on the whole as religious as the general modern muslim youth of pakistan and India. I.E He isn't that staunch a muslim. What differentiates him and makes him conservative is not religion, but the immense significance he places on norms and values associated with religion in the subcontinent., where unfortunately, its easier to revise the norms associated with men but women are still expected to be strictly tied to their culture and everything else is somehow deemed immodest without going into its logic.
Thats why, he cant get himself to allow his sister to go clubbing wearing western clothes. Thats the culture he blindly follows. This culture, sadly. has a lot of flaws and hopefully zoya will amend his thought process.
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