The
Question of Hijab
Suppression or Liberation
Courtesy of About Islam and Muslims
"Why do Muslim women have to cover their heads?"
This question is one which is asked by Muslim and non-Muslim alike. For many
women it is the truest test of being a Muslim.
The answer to the question is very simple - Muslim women
observe HIJAB (covering the head and the body) because Allah has told them to
do so.
"O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the
believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or
are among men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims)
and not annoyed..." (Qur'an 33:59)
Other secondary reasons include the requirement for
modesty in both men and women. Both will then be evaluated for intelligence and
skills instead of looks and sexuality. An Iranian school girl is quoted as
saying, "We want to stop men from treating us like sex objects, as they
have always done. We want them to ignore our appearance and to be attentive to
our personalities and mind. We want them to take us seriously and treat us as
equals and not just chase us around for our bodies and physical looks."
A Muslim woman who covers her head is making a statement
about her identity. Anyone who sees her will know that she is a Muslim and has
a good moral character. Many Muslim women who cover are filled with dignity and
self esteem; they are pleased to be identified as a Muslim woman. As a chaste,
modest, pure woman, she does not want her sexuality to enter into interactions
with men in the smallest degree. A woman who covers herself is concealing her
sexuality but allowing her femininity to be brought out.
The question of hijab for Muslim women has been a
controversy for centuries and will probably continue for many more. Some learned
people do not consider the subject open to discussion and consider that
covering the face is required, while a majority are of the opinion that it is
not required. A middle line position is taken by some who claim that the
instructions are vague and open to individual discretion depending on the
situation. The wives of the Prophet (S) were required to cover their faces so
that men would not think of them in sexual terms since they were the
"Mothers of the Believers," but this requirement was not extended to
other women.
The word "hijab" comes from the Arabic word
"hajaba" meaning to hide from view or conceal. In the present time,
the context of hijab is the modest covering of a Muslim woman. The question now
is what is the extent of the covering?
The Qur'an says: "Say to the believing man that they
should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater
purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.
"And say to the believing women that they should
lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display
their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that
they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty
except to their husbands..." (Qur'an 24:30-31)
These verses from the Qur'an contain two main injunctions:
(1) A woman should not show her beauty or adornments except what appears by
uncontrolled factors such as the wind blowing her clothes, and (2) the head
covers should be drawn so as to cover the hair, the neck and the bosom.
Islam has no fixed standard as to the style of dress or
type of clothing that Muslims must wear. However, some requirements must be
met. The first of these requirements is the parts of the body, which must be
covered.
Islam has two sources for guidance and rulings: first, the
Qur'an, the revealed word of Allah and secondly, the Hadith or the traditions
of the Prophet Muhammad (S) who was chosen by Allah to be the role model for
mankind. The following is a Tradition of the Prophet:
"Ayesha (R) reported that Asmaa the daughter of Abu
Bakr (R) came to the Messenger of Allah (S) while wearing thin clothing. He
approached her and said: 'O Asmaa! When a girl reaches the menstrual age, it is
not proper that anything should remain exposed except this and this. He pointed
to the face and hands." (Abu Dawood)
The second requirement is looseness. The clothing must be
loose enough so as not to describe the shape of the woman's body. One desirable
way to hide the shape of the body is to wear a cloak over other clothes.
However, if the clothing is loose enough, an outer garment is not necessary.
Thickness is the third requirement. The clothing must be
thick enough so as not to show the color of the skin it covers or the shape of
the body. The Prophet Muhammad (S) stated that in later generations of his
ummah there would be "women who would be dressed but naked and on top of
their heads (what looks like) camel humps. Curse them for they are truly
cursed." (Muslim)
Another requirement is an over-all dignified appearance.
The clothing should not attract men's attention to the woman. It should not be
shiny and flashy so that everyone notices the dress and the woman.
In addition there are other requirements:
(1) Women must not dress so as to appear as men. "Ibn
Abbas narrated: 'The Prophet (S) cursed the men who appear like women and the
women who appear like men.'" (Bukhari)
(2) Women should not dress in a way similar to the
unbelievers.
(3) The clothing should be modest, not excessively fancy
and also not excessively ragged to gain others admiration or sympathy.
Often forgotten is the fact that modern Western dress is a
new invention. Looking at the clothing of women as recently as seventy years
ago, we see clothing similar to hijab. These active and hard-working women of
the West were not inhibited by their clothing, which consisted of long, full
dresses and various types of head covering. Muslim women who wear hijab do not
find it impractical or interfering with their activities in all levels and
walks of life.
Hijab is not merely a covering dress but more importantly,
it is behaviour, manners, speech and appearance in public. Dress is only one
facet of the total being.
The basic requirement of the Muslim woman's dress apply to
the Muslim man's clothing with the difference being mainly in degree. Modesty
requires that the area between the navel and the knee be covered in front of
all people except the wife. The clothing of men should not be like the dress of
women, nor should it be tight or provocative. A Muslim should dress to show his
identity as a Muslim. Men are not allowed to wear gold or silk. However, both
are allowed for women.
For both men and women, clothing requirements are not
meant to be a restriction but rather a way in which society will function in a
proper, Islamic manner.
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