I had a guide for the day - just me and L...I. He was a Berber and a devout Muslim. We spent 6/7 hours together walking and talking.
He was a lovely, gentle thoughtful man. Probably late 30's He was a family man - a wife and 2 young boys. He was gradually building a house in his village which would be big enough for his extended family which included his parents and eventually his wife's parents. He was not a sophisticated man and had not had much in the way of formal education. We agreed to chat freely and to be able to ask each other questions.
He explained to me that he had met his to be wife in Marrakesh. She was an Arab. (He explained that most Arabs consider Berbers to be inferior and Berbers consider themselves to be more devout Muslims).
He explained that when he first met his wife she was not "covered up." When they agreed to marry he explained that a condition of his proposal was she would "cover up" from thereafter - to wear a hijab etc.
I probed on this. His answers were simple and clear. A woman not covered up could not be respected - by him or any devout Muslim. She was to be his woman - for his eyes. Why should his wife be visible to any other man. Why would she want to be?
As I understand it covering up makes a woman devout in terms of Quran text. It certainly makes the husband happy. I have no idea how his wife feels. What is obvious though - by definition - devout Muslim men cannot truly respect western style women.
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