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The Question of Hijab: Suppression or Liberation
Mary C. Ali
"Why do Muslim women have to cover their heads?"— this question is asked by Muslims and non-Muslims 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, as the following verse
indicates:
"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
with self esteem; they are pleased to be identified as Muslim women. As chaste and modest women, they do not
want their 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 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 (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 to conceal. As an Islamic
term, it points towards 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 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 regarding the parts of the body which
must be covered. Islam has two main sources of 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 humankind. 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. The Prophet Muhammad (S) states 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.
It should not be shiny and flashy that invites people's attention to the dress
and to the woman who wears it.
In addition there are other requirements:
(1) Women must not dress so as to appear as men. Ibn Abbas narrates:
“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 immodest 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 behavior, manners, speech and appearance
in public. Dress is only one facet of the total thing.
The basic requirement of hijab also applies to Muslim men'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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