THE QUESTION OF HIJAB: SUPPRESSION OR
LIBERATION
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"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 (in English: "The
God") 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 believers) and not
annoyed..." (Qur'an 33:59)
"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)
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, as a woman's face also shows much of her beauty that
should only be shown to her husband or direct family members, 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 (because their clothing
material would be so thin) 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 ("Islamic" in English: "peace through submission to God") Islamic
manner.
