A Study of The Head Covering or Hijab in Islam -1

The issue of Head covering or Hijab is one of the most contentious issues facing the Muslim World today. Even though the Hijab is generally accepted by majority of Muslims as part of the ISLAMIC DRESS CODE, the argument continues. Some say that it has no basis in the Quran, while others contend that Women should be covered from head to toe or remain indoors so as to solve this problem (being seen by strangers - read "man" here). Here we examine the history and the bais for dress code for women as given in the Holy Quran, which is the best source.

While many Muslims call "Hijab", an Islamic dress code, they completely ignore the fact that, in reality "Hijab" existed in Jewish, Hindu, Christian and other religious traditions. Any student of religion or religious books will see that head cover for the woman, is encouraged by the religious leaders and priests. Today in many religions including Jewish, orthodox Christian and Hinduism, women still cover their heads most of the time and especially in the temples, weddings, and religious festivities.

"Hijab" or veil can be traced back to early civilisations. It can be found in early and late Roman and Greek art. The evidence can be seen in archeological discoveries whether in pottery fragments, paintings or recorded civil laws. In Greco-Roman culture, both women and men wore head covering in religious contexts. The tradition of wearing the veil (by women) and the head cover (by men) was adopted by the Jews then later by the Christians who also adopted the same.

Actually there is no direct command in the Torah mandating that women cover their heads, but this has been the continuing custom for thousands of years. Christian women cover their heads in many religious occasions while the nuns cover their heads all the time. This religious practice of covering the head was established from traditions thousands of years before the Muslim scholars claimed the Hijab as a Muslim dress code. St. Tertullian in his famous treatise 'On The Veiling Of Virgins' wrote, "Young women, you wear your veils out on the streets, so you should wear them in the church, you wear them when you are among strangers, then wear them among your brothers..." Among the Canon laws of the Catholic church today, there is a law that require women to cover their heads in church. Some Christian denominations, such as the Amish and the Mennonites for example, require their women to be veiled till today.

After the prophet Muhammad's death, the writers of the hadith books adopted and encouraged the ancient tradition of head covering.

DRESS CODE FOR WOMEN IN ISLAM

The first regulation of DRESS CODE for Muslim women is in 7:26, the second is in 24:31 and the third is in 33:59.

FIRST RULE

O ye Children of Adam, We have bestowed garment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. But the garment of righteousness (taqwa) - that is the best. (Al A'raf, 7:26)

It is clear from the above verses that the DRESS CODE for the Muslim women according to the Quran is righteousness and modesty. This is the BASIC rule of DRESS CODE in the Quran.

SECOND RULE

The second rule can be found in Quran Surah Al Nur 24:31: "And say to the believing women that the should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosom and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments."

Here, God asks the women to use their cover (khimar)(explanation given later) to cover their bosoms. The Arabic word for CHEST is "GAYB" which is in the verse (24:31), but the Arabic words for HEAD (RAAS) or HAIR (SHAAR) are NOT in the verse. The part of the verse (24:31) show us that the details of the body can be revealed or not revealed by the dress you wear, not by your head cover. Thus the clear commandment in the verse is to - COVER YOUR CHEST OR BOSOMS.

The last part of the verse (24:31) translates as, "They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies." The word "zeenatahunna" in this verse refers to the woman's body parts (beauty) that can be exaggerated by the movement of the body while walking and not to ornaments and decorations as some people interpret it or translate it. At the end of the verse, God told the women not to strike with their feet to show their "zeenatahunna". You do not need to strike your feet to show your ornaments but the way you strike your feet while walking can expose or shake certain parts of the body that do not need to be emphasised.

THIRD RULE

In Quran 33:59, "O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers that they shall LENGTHEN their garments. Thus, they will be recognised and avoid being insulted. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful."

Another translation, "O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies (when abroad) so that they should be known and not molested".

In 33:59, God sets the other regulation for the dress code for the Muslim women during the prophet's life. Although the verse is talking to the prophet which means this regulation applies to the time of the prophet, just like the order in Quran 49:2, the description fits the spirit of Islam, and is still applicable today.

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