HIJAB: SUPPRESSION OR LIBERATION?
III&E Brochure Series (published by The Institute of Islamic Information
and Education (III&E) and reproduced in electronic form by Islamic
Academy for Scientific Research with permission)
"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 behavior, 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.
Mary C. Ali