Hijab [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Hijab

THE QUESTION
OF HIJAB: SUPPRESSION OR
LIBERATION?

"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:
A woman should not show her beauty or adornments except what appears by
uncontrolled factors such as the wind blowing her clothes, and
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 reported that Asmaa the daughter of Abu Bakr
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:
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)
Women should not dress in a way similar to the unbelievers.
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