A Study of The Head Covering or Hijab in Islam -2

THE WORD "HIJAB" AND "KHIMAR"IN THE QURAN

Let us review some crucial words that are always mentioned with this topic, namely "Hijab" and "Khimar". We need to differentiate between the two even though many scholars use them interchangeably with emphasis being given on "Hijab" even when "Khimar" or a variation of the word is used.

"Hijab" is the term used by many Muslims women to describe their head cover that may or may not include covering their face except their eyes, and sometimes covering also one eye. The Arabic word "Hijab" can be translated into veil or yashmak. Other meanings for the word "Hijab" include, screen, cover (ing), mantle, curtain, drapes, partition, division, divider. The word "Hijab" appears in the Quran seven times, five of them as "Hijab" and two times as "Hijaban". (See Quran 7:46, 33:53, 38:32, 41:5, 42:51, 17:45 and 19:17). None of these "Hijab" words are used in the Quran in reference to what the traditional Muslims call today (Hijab) as a dress code for the Muslim woman.

"Khimar" on the other hand is an Arabic word that means, cover, any cover, for example a table cloth that covers the top of a table is a Khimar. The word KHAMRA also used for intoxicant in Arabic and has the same root with Khimar, because both covers, the Khimar covers (a window, a body, a table, etc.) while KHAMRA covers the state of mind. "Khimar" is an Arabic word that can be found in the Quran in 24:31.

Some Muslim scholars quote verse 31 of sura 24 pointing to the word, khomoorehenna, (from Khimar) and translating it as Hijab or head cover, forgetting that God already used the word Hijab, several times in the Quran. Those who quote this verse usually add (Head cover) after the word Khomoorehenna. So here is one place where scholars trend to disagree.

In 24:31; "And tell the believing women to subdue their eyes, and maintain their chastity. They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies, except that which is necessary. They shall cover their chests, (with their Khimar) and shall not relax this code in the presence of other than their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, the sons of their husbands, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, other women, the male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been nullified, or the children who have not reached puberty. They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies. All of you shall repent to GOD, O you believers, that you may succeed." 24:31 (Khalifa)

Here is Yusuf Ali's translation, but the word KHIMAR was put back in place instead of (veils), so the verse would look as it should have been before adding Ali's own interpretation:
"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments ... that they should draw their KHIMAR over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands.."

RELAXING THE DRESS CODE

In the family setting, God put no hardship on the women, and permitted them to relax their dress code. If you reflect on the verses, 33:35 and 24:60, you will see that God did not give details of what this relaxation is, because every situation is different.

[33:55] "The women may relax (their dress code) around their fathers, their sons, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, the other women, and their (female) servants. They shall reverence GOD. GOD witnesses all things."

[24:60] "The elderly women who do not expect to get married commit nothing wrong by relaxing their dress code, provided they do not reveal too much of their bodies. To maintain modesty is better for them. GOD is Hearer, Knower."

OTHER VERSES WHICH ARE RARELY MENTIONED

O Children of Adam, wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: but waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters. (Al A'raf, 7:31)

Coercion is contrary to the spirit of the Qur'an which states that there is no compulsion in religion (al Baqarah, 2:256; Yunus, 10:99-100; al Ghashiyah, 88:22).

Let there be no compulsion in Religion: Truth stands out Clear from Error: whoever rejects Evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy handhold, that never breaks. (Al Baqarah, 2: 256)

WHAT ABOUT MEN

Why do we focus too much on the Women? Women have to do this, do that. One verse, which is rarely mentioned (to my surprise):

Say to the believing men 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. (Al Nur, 24:30).

It is clear from the above verses that the DRESS CODE for the Muslim women according to the Quran is righteousness and modesty. God knows that this modesty will be understood differently in different communities and that is why He left it open to us to decide for ourselves. Decide, after righteousness what is modesty. Women who follow the basic rule number one i.e. righteousness, will have no problem making the right decision to reveal only which is necessary. Also if any man cannot stand seeing the open hair of a lady and feels evil in his heart, something is definitely wrong with him.

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