Hijab: Suppression or Liberation

Hijab: Suppression or Liberation
 
III&E Brochure
(published by The Institute of Islamic Information and
Education (III&E) and reproduced in electronic form by Islamic
Academy for Scientific Research with permission)
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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
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: (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 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 manner.
 
-- Mary C. Ali
 
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