amat allah
03-28-2006, 01:48 PM
As a Muslim woman, working in an organization that its goal to raise awareness towards the UAE culture, traditions, and religion among the expats, visitors & tourists, I had to answer the most frequent question "why do Muslim women have to cover their head?" almost everyday.
From a personal point of view, I thought it is odd in this busy, hectic business wise world that someone's attire or personal look can be an issue to be discussed all the time, by the other hand it is my duty to give a clear, comprehensive, and yet simple practical answer. While I am pretty sure that nobody will dare asking a woman wearing almost nothing and revealing most of her private parts under a thin and shy fabric that is made especially for this purpose. We will never witness the same gazes towards those having the weirdest looks. Then I had to ask myself, is it common nowadays to defend being modest, and that is by the way the only human nature shared by all of us and I mean humans only excluding other creatures.
As I said before, all these ideas were only in my head, so please make yourself as if you did not read them, and see below!
The question of Hijab:
This question is one that asked is 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 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 Muslim) and not annoyed…" Qur’an 33:59
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 covering the face is required, while a majority is 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(PBUH) 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 men 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 do not display their beauty except to their husbands…" Qur’an 24:30-31
These verses from the Qur’an contain two main injunctions:
A woman should not show her beauty or adornments except what
appears by uncontrolled factors such as the wind blowing her clothes.
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 wear, However, some requirements must be met. The first of these requirements is the parts of the body that must be covered.
Islam has two sources for guidance and rulings: first, the Qur’an, the revealed word of God, and secondly, the Hadith or the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who was chosen by God to be the role model for mankind. The following is a Tradition of the Prophet(S):
Ayesha(R) reported that Asma the daughter of Abu Bakr(R) came to the Messenger of God(PBUH) while wearing thin clothing. He approached her and said, Oh Asma! 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.
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(PBUH) stated that in later generations of his ummah there would be women who would be dressed but naked and on top of their heads (which look 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 (PBUH) cursed the men who appear like women and the women who appear like men." (Bukhari)
2. The clothing should be modest, not excessively fancy and also not excessively ragged to gain admiration or sympathy.
Often forgotten is by 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.
amat_allah
From a personal point of view, I thought it is odd in this busy, hectic business wise world that someone's attire or personal look can be an issue to be discussed all the time, by the other hand it is my duty to give a clear, comprehensive, and yet simple practical answer. While I am pretty sure that nobody will dare asking a woman wearing almost nothing and revealing most of her private parts under a thin and shy fabric that is made especially for this purpose. We will never witness the same gazes towards those having the weirdest looks. Then I had to ask myself, is it common nowadays to defend being modest, and that is by the way the only human nature shared by all of us and I mean humans only excluding other creatures.
As I said before, all these ideas were only in my head, so please make yourself as if you did not read them, and see below!
The question of Hijab:
This question is one that asked is 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 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 Muslim) and not annoyed…" Qur’an 33:59
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 covering the face is required, while a majority is 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(PBUH) 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 men 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 do not display their beauty except to their husbands…" Qur’an 24:30-31
These verses from the Qur’an contain two main injunctions:
A woman should not show her beauty or adornments except what
appears by uncontrolled factors such as the wind blowing her clothes.
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 wear, However, some requirements must be met. The first of these requirements is the parts of the body that must be covered.
Islam has two sources for guidance and rulings: first, the Qur’an, the revealed word of God, and secondly, the Hadith or the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who was chosen by God to be the role model for mankind. The following is a Tradition of the Prophet(S):
Ayesha(R) reported that Asma the daughter of Abu Bakr(R) came to the Messenger of God(PBUH) while wearing thin clothing. He approached her and said, Oh Asma! 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.
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(PBUH) stated that in later generations of his ummah there would be women who would be dressed but naked and on top of their heads (which look 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 (PBUH) cursed the men who appear like women and the women who appear like men." (Bukhari)
2. The clothing should be modest, not excessively fancy and also not excessively ragged to gain admiration or sympathy.
Often forgotten is by 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.
amat_allah