THE QUESTION OF HIJAB: SUPPRESSION ORLIBERATION?

"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 itis 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 andthe 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 likesex 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 willknow
that she is a Muslimand 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
somewho 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 hijabis the
modest covering ofa Muslim woman. The question now is what is the
extent of the covering? The Qur'an says:
"Say to the believing manthat they should lower their gaze and guard
their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah
is wellacquainted 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 coverthe hair, the neck
and the bosom.
Islam has no fixed standard as to the style ofdress 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 guidanceand 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 thatAsmaa 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 outergarment is not
necessary.Thickness is the third requirement. The clothing must be
thick enough so as not to showthe 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) Anotherrequirement is
an over-all dignified appearance. The clothingshould 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 Westerndress 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.