Note: This post has been revised in a later post here. To get the bigger pictures one might want to read this one first, and then the revision.
Ayah number 4 God says" Fa Waylon lil mossaleen" "فويل للمصلين " [ Woe to those who worship/pray ] . This ayah taken out of context simply means be careful not to pray. One would think that God doesn't like those who pray. Which we know contradicts many other versus in the Quran stressing the importance of praying. But if we put this back in context the meaning becomes more sensible and in accordance with the rest of the book. I will talk more about context in another post.
Let us get back to the topic at hand. The Hijab or head scarf in particular. As I know there are three main verses which traditional Muslim scholars use to argue that Hijab is obligated by God. One is in soorat al Noor (24) Ayah/verse 31. The other two are in Soorat Al-Ahzaab. The first one is Ayah/verse 33 which specifically talks to the Prophets wives, and the second one is Ayah/verse 59.
I shall discuss Ayah 31 of soorat Al-Noor first and quickly. The English translation according to www.al-islam.com is :
[31] 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 except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands.
For this arguments purpose I shall not get into details about the English translation, but the text in question is highlighted above. God only commands women to hide their bosom or Chest area. The word in Arabic used was Jaib. Jaib is commonly referred to nowadays as the pocket. Which I believe was still the name for pockets back in the old days. Only pockets were commonly placed in the chest area versus the pants or jacket for example. The argument to support this claim is the Quran itself uses the word Jaib in two other versus. Both referring to Moses (PBUH) and one of the Miracles God taught him when he was sent to the pharaoh. God asked Moses (PBUH) to insert his hand into his pocket (which the Bible refers to as the chest area as well) and then take it out to perform the Miracle.
Therefore this Ayah (31:24) clearly is asking Muslim women to cover their bosoms and not referring to covering the hair.
Now as to Ayah 33 in Soorat/Chapter Al-Ahzaab clearly is referring to the Prophets wives only. Proof of that is stated in the verse just before it when God says: " يانساء النبي لستن كأحدٍ من النساء" "Oh women of the prophet , ye are not like any other women." Therefore, these versus clearly cannot be used as an argument to tell other women what they should or should not do.
Finally Ayah 59 of soorat Al-Ahzaab, which probably both traditional scholars and I both agree to be the Ayah were Hijab is most clearly stated in. However, below you will find a point of view not many people talk about. It had occurred to me while reading the Quran and trying to understand it. I think most Muslims have a bad habit with reading the Quran in passing. Not really trying to figure out the message. They simply rely on what old school of thought (or ignorance) tells them.
Little do they know that when God is judging us, they will bare responsibility for their actions and not the scholars. As the Quran clearly states in so many places.
Back to the point of view I mentioned. Let us look at the context of this Ayah and in fact the whole Soorah. This Soorah is clearly Madaniyah ( Revealed in Madinah). The title means the parties or Allies. This is a well known battle that Muslims were attacked by Quraish and other Allies in Madinah. It also talks about the Jews of Banu- Qaynuqaa and their betrayal of the treaty. It talks
about the Monafiqoon (hypocrites) whom were hiding their disbelief. It also talks about some social aspects in Madinah. Moreover, there are some versus specifically talking to the Prophet PBUH.Then we come to the versus in question. Namely, 57, 58, 59, and 60. All are displayed in the figure on the right of this text.
We begin with Ayah 57 which serves as a transition between talking about the Prophet PBUH to talking about those who hurt the believers. Which brings us to ayah 58 loosely translates into : "And those who hurt the believers unjustly will bear responsibility for their actions and sins" " ".
Finally Ayah 59
" يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا " "Oh Prophet instruct your wives, daughters and women believers to cover themselves up with their outer garments so that they shall not be known and thus hurt, and God is Forgiving and Merciful" . Here we note the words so that they shall not be known (identified) and thus hurt. Therefore, God has stated a reason for the cover. Further investigation and pondering of this Ayah reveals the meaning well. I was puzzled when I read this Ayah at first. I thought: OK if all women covered up they will not be identifiable however, won't those who wish to hurt them still know that they are Muslims? It then becomes apparent that for the Muslim women not to be harassed they need to blend in. They need to dress up like other women and therefore not be subject to harassment. How was that possible? It is simple, they would dress like other women in Madinah namely like Jewish women. If one examines the Jewish women's dress code historically and in modern times. It is easy to see that specifically from portraits of Mary the mother of Jesus and other women from her time. Therefore, wearing like other Jewish women in Madinah would help Muslim women blend in and therefore not be subject to harassment.
In conclusion, this means that once Muslim women live in their own society where Muslims are the majority there will no longer be a need for them to cover up their hair. It is a practice that God commanded and has given us the reason. Now that the reason has passed I see no point in covering the hair. Of course if women wish to cover up let them feel free to do so. It is their prerogative. However, this comes to the matter where Muslim women live in the west. Especially in the post 9/11 world. If a Muslim woman feels threat or harassment for wearing a veil and being a Muslim then this is going against the logic behind Ayah 59. God clearly makes protecting women from harm the priority. Therefore, in my opinion women should try to blend in. Of course not bearing skin, showing their bosoms and wearing provocative clothes. As long as it doesn't go against the other commands from God in other versus.
This of course is my humble opinion and I would love to hear some comments.
10 comments:
The logic is incorrect and the interpretations are wrong. The first verse doesn’t mean to cover the bossom. What actually happened was the women who were sitting down when the prophet told them this verse took a piece of cloth from the bottom of their dress, ripped it off and covered their hair and their bossoms. If that wasn’t what the prophet meant, I think he would have clarified himself at that instant, but there is no hadeeth to back that up. The second verse…the writer’s argument is that it was the prophets wives…I think what applies to the prophet’s wives should apply to all muslim women…just as whatever the prophet does, we should be doing…i.e. the Sunnah. The third verse is being twisted around a little. That ‘so that they should not get hurt’ was talking about being sexually hurt…i.e. raped, attacked, molested, or abused. A woman will always look and be known as a ‘woman’ no matter what she’s wearing…but the revealing clothes make it more clearer and possibly an easier bait than one that’s not revealing much. I don’t think it had any relevance to being attacked as a ‘human’ as the writer is saying. These are just my quick thoughts,
Dear Anonymous,
I expect this kind of objection from most Muslims. As change is not welcomed at all. I would also like to remind you that when the Prophet PBUH delivered his message to Quraish he was met with resistance because it was seen as change. The Quran is full of ayat to support this point. I can provide some upon request.
Now to address your objections.
A- You are using Hadeeth to explain the Quran. The hadeeth being written by man 200 years after the prophet died and passed along through many people. Therefore the margin of error is very high. The Quran (as all Muslims believe) is from God and divine and the margin of error is supposed to be zero.
B- The text of the Quran for the first ayah says "Joyoob" there is no mention of the hair. Therefore, it does mean precisely that .. To cover the bossom, Unless you can prove to me that Bossom means hair.
C- Have you questions the Hadeeth you just narrated to me? Do you think that the Rasool actually would tear another woman's dress from the bottom in front of all people? Assuming he did that in a decent manner. I ask you this, take a group of 5 women with different sizes. Have them all wear long dresses up to their ankles. Then take their dresses and rip enough material (Rip and don't use scissors) to cover their hair and bossom. See how much dress you have left. If you are lucky it will be to their knees. In that respect women should be able to show their legs according to your hadeeth.
D- As for the 2nd Ayah it CLEARLY says "ya nisaa alnabi lastonna ka ahadin min al-nisaa'" Oh women of the prophet you are NOT like other women". So please refer to the Quran again.
E- As for the word "hurt" in arabic "yo'thayin", does not specify what sort of hurt. What ever it was the point is still valid. They were to dress up like the people in Madinah or at least a group of them so that they won't be "recognized" in arabic "yo'rafna" and therefore hurt. By the way reading the versus before and after would provide clarity. So please pay attention to the context.
This is my humble opinion.
Firstly there is no objection….it is simply the fact that your argument is not valid, I’m not the kind of person to block an argument if it doesn’t suit what I’ve believed in all my life, so if it makes sense, I’ll be open to it.
Now – reply to your addresses:
A – My dear friend….Hadeeth is essence of many Islamic actions and values. I definitely agree that hadeeth may partly have errors in it, but to put it bluntly and honestly, its all we’ve got. The Quran and Hadeeth. Tell me, when you pray…how do u pray? What do u say when u pray? What are your physical actions? when you make ablution, how do u make it? When u fast ramandan, what and when is it that you eat? When you go to pilgrimage…what do u do?? And how do u do it? Excuse me, but my religion has two parts to it: Islam and Iman….Islam is my actions and iman is my faith…and I’m sorry to break your bubble, but Hadeeth is playing a very big part of your life and every other practicing muslim.
B – I’m not silly enough to try and prove that bossom means hair (although parts of your post are up to that level). I will need to check up myself on this verse as its been a while since I’ve even thought or discussed it.
C – uhhh, the rasool NEVER did anything to the women or even touched them. According to a noble hadeeth, it was the women who reacted in that way. The rasool didn’t disagree with it. And the technicalities of whether scissors or ripping was used is irrelevant, although I highly think that they ripped the clothes. Also women those days used to wear many layers and very long clothes….and I DON’T think the rasool would be okay if other parts of their body were to show.
D – ofcourse the wives of the rasool are not like any other woman. What I was referring to was the ‘practices’ of women.
E – I think you’ve just disproved yourself….in that case, men should cover themselves so that they’re not recognized either and hence get hurt.
Firstly there is no objection….it is simply the fact that your argument is not valid,
To make such a claim you need to provide logical proof. If your logical proof is that Hadeeth says so, then please re-examine your logic after you read what I say below about Hadeeth. Since my premise
states that Hadeeth is prone to error. Hence anytime you use Hadeeth to try to convince me of something I can negate it by questioning the validity of your initial premise.
I’m not the kind of person to block an argument if it doesn’t suit what I’ve believed in all my life, so if it makes sense, I’ll be open to it.
Good to know, then I hope and suggest that you adopt the following attitude:
Either discuss this matter with the hope that you convince me logically of your point of view, or be open to the fact that I might just have a point myself and if I am able to convince you logically then you should accept it. Otherwise, if you are just arguing to prove me wrong, then thank you for comments, they are noted here and you keep your beliefs and I will keep mine.
Now a counter argument for each of your points:
A – My dear friend….Hadeeth is essence of many Islamic actions and values. I definitely agree that hadeeth may partly have errors in it, but to put it bluntly and honestly, its all we’ve got. The Quran and Hadeeth.
You last statement means that Quran has no value. I suggest you rephrase that or re-think your argument. Quran is what God has given us and not Hadeeth.
Unless you mean both and I do refer to Hadeeth sometimes too. Only I try to minimize that as much as possible. For the simple reason that Hadeeth is prone to error and Quran is not. Quran is the word of God and Hadeeth is the word of many men.
When the Quran is clear with regards of what women should cover "Joyoobihonna" "Bossom" , then by what authority are you saying that that includes more than the bossom?
I read your Hadeeth. I think you should read it too. It is narrated by Aisha, and there is no mention of the Prophet ever suggesting that. In fact here is one version of the Hadeeth since there are many:
"حدثنا أبو نعيم حدثنا إبراهيم بن نافع عن الحسن بن مسلم عن صفية بنت شيبة أن عائشة رضي الله عنها كانت تقول لما نزلت هذه الآية وليضربن بخمرهن على جيوبهن أخذن أزرهن فشققنها من قبل الحواشي فاختمرن بها"
Notice how there is no mention of covering the hair. Even the hadeeth says they covered themselves "Ikhtamarna".
Tell me, when you pray…how do u pray? What do u say when u pray? What are your physical actions?
As for how to pray, can you please refer to the Hadeeth that gives me details on how to pray? It may come as a surprise to you, but that Hadeeth doesn't exist. Maybe you have more detail. But not complete detail. There is also some disagreement on how one should pray even between Muslims from the same sect.
when you make ablution, how do u make it?
If you read the Quran more often you would know that it tells us exactly how to perform that. In both soorat Al-maa'idah-6 and Al-Nisaa'-43
When u fast ramandan, what and when is it that you eat?
Again you can find details in soorat Al-Baqara, I can't remember which ayah.
When you go to pilgrimage…what do u do??
And how do u do it? Excuse me, but my religion has two parts to it: Islam and Iman….Islam is my actions and iman is my faith…and
I’m sorry to break your bubble, but Hadeeth is playing a very big part of your life and every other practicing muslim.
The thing that plays the biggest part of my life is actually my brain. I will be no different that the cattle if I listen blindely to someone who lived 1200 years ago telling me about Islam and Mohammad.
Just like my argument suggests that Hadeeth maybe be prone to errors it does also entail that in contains some truth. Therefore, from this argument the next follows.
Anytime Hadeeth tells me something, I refer to the Quran. If I see something in the Quran negating it or contradicting it, then it is automatically dropped from any consideration. If I need more clarity
and need to learn about the "HOW" then I might refer to the Hadeeth at the same time using my mind to scrutinize it.
B – I’m not silly enough to try and prove that bossom means hair (although parts of your post are up to that level).
What do you mean by my post are up to that level? Do you mean to suggest that my posts steep to a low level or argument? If so, please provide quotes and
why you think so. IT seems to me that there is some animosity towards me from your words. It is a shame that you might do that, especially since I so clearly suggest that this is an
opinion and that you are welcome to comment.
I will need to check up myself on this verse as its been a while since I’ve even thought or discussed it.
Shouldn't that have been your first action? However, you chose to react emotionally and argue just because my point of view is not conservative and questions the norms.
Typically, before you argue about something , you need to at least form a solid opinion based on research and facts. However, you decided to comment before doing the research part.
C – uhhh, the rasool NEVER did anything to the women or even touched them. According to a noble hadeeth, it was the women who reacted in that way. The rasool didn’t disagree with it. And the technicalities of whether scissors or ripping was used is irrelevant, although I highly think that they ripped the clothes. Also women those days used to wear many layers and very long clothes….and I DON’T think the rasool would be okay if other parts of their body were to show.
I was just commenting on what you had written. Please check our first comment. You narrated the Hadeeth errouneously as you had imagined it. Now think of how someone else back in the old days might have made the
same mistake you did. Thus adding a word or two, or leaving a word or two out and how that would affect the meaning. As for what women wore at the time, can you please provide some proof? Rememeber this is before the Hijab as the Hadeeth suggests.
Also note that I would imagine that they didn't wear more layers unless it was winter.
D – ofcourse the wives of the rasool are not like any other woman. What I was referring to was the ‘practices’ of women.
Please read Ayah 30-34 from soorat Al-Ahzaab to learn more about what God is telling the prophet's wives and only the prophet's wives.
E – I think you’ve just disproved yourself….in that case, men should cover themselves so that they’re not recognized either and hence get hurt.
Again go read the Ayah I refer to it SPECIFICALLY addresses women, and not men. Therefore no I didn't disprove myself. Women being physically smaller and weaker than men are more susceptible to abuse.
Finally, if you wish to defend your point of view, please feel free to do so. Only it would be great if you can do it with an open mind. In other words, only if you are prepared to MAYBE learn something from me, or to teach me something using logic. If the whole point it to prove me wrong in any way shape or form just because this is a new idea, then I might as well just stop thinking.
If you wish to discuss Hadeeth versus Quran further, please feel free to do so in the previous post.
Salam
Your interpretation of the issue of hijab in the Koran is clearly valid.
However, I am going to talk about my personal experience – which may help – shed some light on an issue you touched on in relation to freedom of wearing al hijab. ; which I would like to deem: "bridging the gap to al sarat al mustakeem".
Recently – in a conversation you explained –how vanity – or excessive grooming tends to reduce people.
By the same token, I once contemplated wearing a veil – in reaction to this reduction of the self. I wanted to get closer to God as I breathed, walked and sat. How?
Have you ever felt one with god? I am not being blasphemous … but it is a “neshwa” – in the pure sense. When u feel – completely enveloped in his grace – as if u are in a stupor – but u are fully conscious & awake.
It happens for a moment – or two – sometimes longer – if you are lucky – a minute – or a few minutes in a lifetime –intermittently or in sequence- where your spirit sours so high – you feel one with the universe u feel intense love – peace and complete surrender.
This is perhaps what saints – and prophets experience most of their living time. This is what serious yogis feel in heir practice. They are “zahdeen”. For saints & prophets it comes naturally. For the rest of us all I believe it requires dedication.
For me that is the essence of Islam and tawheed – this is why we pray 5 times a day – this is why we fast, this is why we try to stay away from alcohol – zena – and all al maharem. And this is even why we go to Hajj – to experience first hand a mind boggling spiritual experience. To remain unified and whole with god’s grace – completely surrender to his will – and hence merge with his love.
Obviously all our practices – are done for multiple reasons – many of them practical - nothing in life is reduced to one factor… But the essence – is the tawheed – Oness - unifying your heart, mind, soul, spirit and body – with the love of the almighty.
I am not saying we have to become saints – and we need to be in this stupor 100% of the time. But this Oness – should be our only ambition as we live Bi l Duniya. Because it is this single awareness – that keeps us “good” people. Having reached such love & joy – we are able to deeply sense our connection with the universe and all beings and be of service to them all.
So where am I going with this? For me hijab – is being able to transcend daily drudgery – of the state of our appearance – in order to be fully present outside of ourselves and in surrender to the greater things in life…God, (call it tsouf – Sufism whatever …)
If I am walking down the street and I am wearing a tight fit pants… The eyes that are gazing at me – are invading my personal space – energetically – and creating – psychic pollution – to stand between me and this surrender to God. It takes a great effort to focus away from – their attention and stay 3la al sarat al moustakeem in thought. So what do pants have to do with hijab? – first – its not the hair that will turn most men on, although it is a sensual and feminine aspect. The hijab is a way for a woman to guarantee – that she will not transgress in this manner and focus on that aspect of her personality. (Never mind today there are many mouhajabat – who were extremely shapely clothes, that is another issue).
Ultimately - it is a symbol – that’s all - to stay on the path – a daily reminder to not wear that which will put your mind and others where it is not supposed to be. How tight the hijab fits around the face and under or over the chin these are all what we call “beda3” in Lebanon – or popularized ideologies.
so what is the path? or sarat al mustakeem - other than what we know in practicality?
Have you ever meditated?
There is a stream lining of spiritual consciousness in meditation – a flow – that is also experienced in prayer (if done correctly) – … unfortunately – in our parisitic life styles – we are continually cut off from – experiencing spiritual consciousness in a stream line. We have to apply great effort and descipline to reach these states - that may have come naturally to people before us or those ho lived simpler lives - environemntally and culturally.
So to make the long story short. The hijab – with the right attitude can help in this manner tremendously; to simplify our lives and in turn stream line spiritual consciousness and connection. So yes, the hijab is not Islam as the scripture says. (Islam is practical and the hijab was in protection of the prophets wives )– And its not the reason many people wear it – consciously. But for me at least – it is a way to finally achieve this Oness with god – more frequently during the day … so I can be of better service to humanity. So I can be more intelligently present in his grace.
Knowing me, – you may be asking yourself– why am I such a hypocrite – and I am not wearing it?
Because – a) I wanted to reach there – without the aid of a crutch; the hijab. b) I want to blend in – in order to be of better service in my community.
for my first point I would add, I want to be able to feel graced by god – every moment of everyday – regardless of – my attire.
It is very challenging… and thru it I am dealing and being faced with my own – lapses – mind tricks – tangents from the path – I set out on 4 years ago. But it is beautiful to experience myself – by sheer will – brining myself back – daily – to the sarat al mustakeem.
And the bottom line is – I have dedicated my life to service humanity -
the veil – does create – a “hajeb”” or hajez between me and people….. My apologies to al who wear it – but it has a ”I am holier than thou” attitude.
In an ideal world – we would either all take it off – or all wear it – also in an ideal world we don’t need a hijab – because we would be spiritually present every moment of every day. I would like to ask the scholars – if they think “”hor al 3yeen”” wears a hijab.
The hijab – at the moment, needs to be a personal philosophy – applied in discretion with life circumstances and personal goals.
Many women feel the way I do, i.e wear it to stop being obsessed with their appearance. I kow this because in my search for my choice, I started shooting a documentary about the issue 2 years ago. Other women wear the hijab for conscious or unconscious reasons – dealing with family, doctrine, practicality, fashion, politics etc…
So yes, the Koran is very important guide and should not be falsely dictated. So let it be clear – that it is a matter of choice and not faith. The Koran was brought forth in protection of the self and to bridge the gap to God. As I am sure – u agree – and stated yourself in other blogs- we need to use our discretion – our mind and thought- from the wealth of our experience. Hence, if covering more would – bring peace and grace, so be it. If over covering would bring a sense of persecution and interfere with being an active functioning part of the community then by all means – leave oneself with less cover.
To come to tackle or comment on any serious issue in life – one needs to take his time – and treat the subject as an object of multi dimensions. Each day, stop and gaze at a front. Like the surface of the water – first you will see an impression of yourself mirrored, until the pebbles underneath that shaped the direction of the water appear in form and substance. Only after examining each pebble, you can consider yourself to have come to tackle the subject beyond your own self.
The hijab – is perhaps one of the most pertinent issues in Islam at this time. First for me as a woman, and second, for us all as an ouma eager to make Islam appealing to the “other”. Since the woman (and in extension her body) is known (in sociological terms) to be the representative or embassador of her particular culture, hence her dress, appearance, and behavior is a great indicator of that culture’s condition. This also is not foreign to Islam where a woman is “3red al rajol”, or “honor of the man”. Hence how in popular Islamic culture the tradition of honor killings is justified.
These two images of “ones own impression in the water” and “women as being representatives of culture” are not in passing. They are aimed particularly to the first commentator – who I believe commented in reaction to seeing his own image. An image of oneself not in isolation, but as an amalgamation or byproduct of different entities be it cultural, social, psychological, and other. Hence, on this premise when one sees his own image – he naturally responds to himself from a place and in commentary with these sources; speaking at them or in defense of them. In this regard, I believe, the commentator is speaking clearly in defense of his/her own image. Therefore he felt his/her own image as being threatened in correlation to the female body.
This fact is pertinent to my argument today, for and not against the content of the Blog. But I will take a slightly different bend as I believe the text is in fact crytal clear and any further attempt would be a repetition of what has already been explained in the blog.
I will first take, Surat Al- Ahzab, Aya 59. The subject is the prophets wives and other women believers of the time. First, I would like to respond to the commentator response regarding our need to model the prophet as the “Sunnah” has it. If we are indeed to compare ourselves to the prophet and hence model ourselves accordingly, then God would have allowed men to have a throng of nine wives. In addition, the commentator missed to remember Ayah 33, in sorat al Ahzab – to remind people not to compare themselves to the women of the prophet. Which is the indicator that he indeed did not take the time necessary to investigate the subject/Blog.
Also might I add, the commentator – spoke of an incident where the prophets wives took a piece of cloth from their skirts and covered their hair. I do not want to reduce this incident into a comedy – but can you invision the drama? And lets say it is true, the act may have been an impulse. And impulses are locked usually in a moment in time. Nor laws nor decrees can be executed due to an impulse. And since when are the actions of the women of the prophet made into laws. And would the prophet have sat with the women at that time and in that moment to adjust the garment for them and give them the exact dimension.
I am always fascinated in fact by the dimensions used for the hijab, and how from country to country, city to city, even between neighborhoods it changes. How much of the sides of the face is covered, if the Hijab comes over the chin or under the chin. If the uppermost corner of the forhead is showing or not. I must say the elasticity of such a supposedly essential part to many Moslem women is mind boggling and makes me question – what is behind it all?
Second, the choice of words that it is “so that they will not be known or hurt”, the Arabic choice is “ﻻﻳﺅﺫﻳﻥ”, clearly indicates the threat of physical action against the women of the prophet as mentioned in the blog. Hence the hijab is independent of faith, as it is conceived today. Hence not wearing the hijab would be a physical violation rather than an ideological one, or that of “3red” honor.
I could see however, how the Ayat can be indeed misleading, because “beauty” which in this context is for the bosom, is interpreted as all the possible beautiful features of a woman. The face can indeed be beautiful, in fact that this how universally beauty is gauged. Perhaps that is why the custom in Saudi Arabia to cover womens faces. But in Islamic culture the face is seen by the brother, father and uncles. So, if we are to cover beauty we would cover the face first. Then can we not create something to cover the face and leave the hair. Would the hair separately be appealing if it didn’t frame a face? It would be as appealing as a wig standing on a mantle. It is quiet flattering that a woman’s beauty is beyond her bosom and it has now encompassed in practice all her details including the bones of her wrists and ankles. (Many veiled women today wear socks or stockings – that may be sheer or opaque to veil their ankles – which have become beautiful.) Where am I getting at with this mental exercise? To show that there is no mention of hair. And that we have turned “beauty” in the context of the bosom to be extremely elastic.
When we say not to display beauty except to their husbands. Here I believe beauty is the context of all that is sexual – such as bosom –and the pubic area– both abscent in a man and sought after in a woman. So, if it were the hair indeed, where did the custom of allowing the father, brother, and uncle to see one’s hair come? And if it were the hair, wouldn’t the father, brother, and uncle be mentioned in the Aya as well as the husband? The fact that there is consideration to leave something for the husband – then it would be that which only a husband can investigate, all that is sexual from the bosom down rather than the neck up.
To cover themselves up with their outer garments. If we are to speak in fashion. The outer garment during the 7th century A.D is illustrated in books as a large scarf over the shoulders. It is like what is known as “pishna” today in women’s fashion. Indeed if does hold over the head but it does so loosely. Showing intermittenetly as a woman adjusts herself while walking and moving possibly more than just the hair from the sides and the front, but the neck from the front, the arms if the sleeves are shorter than the wrists. Hence if we are to take everything literarly, and we are to follow absolutely everything as the prophet and his wives did we would continue today to wear the same fashion, and we would continue to show the same aspects and hide in the same aspect. Or does this not apply because we are speaking of something as mundane as fashion? But ultimately – when we speak of hijab – as a garment with certain dimensions and even preferred colors – like black in Saudi Arabia and Iran, we are ultimately speaking about fashion or are we not? It is custom and fashion. So is the hijab a custom or a sunnah? But we were indeed never told of fashion in the Koran. We were told only to draw over our heads in a context of war, danger to be known and political turmoil. The scholars who have examined this Aya have seen only their impression in the in the water and reflected from their own culture. Historically, the desert has had both men and women cover their faces, mouths, noses and head in protection of desert storms.
Dear Faisal,
Thank you for spreading the truth and I wholeheartedly agree with the interpretation and the content of your article.
As you stated most muslims do not welcome change but view change as contradiction to islam and deviation.
But you know better than to listen to these who clearly feel their interpretation and rather liberal translation of quranic verses to state "head garment" or even "veil" is under attack.
It is about power and quite frankly you are not alone. I have reached the same conclusion years before even reading your article.
But strangely we live in a society where one can claim hijab to be islamic (although it is not) and be respected and applauded, but saying the contrary will unleash hell.
Even the prophet faced opposition and attacks. But it is important to stand by what one truly believes in.
All the best wishes
SubhanAllah, You did good explaining the truth.
Allah Says, Quran is complete, but still majority of Muslims consider it incomplete and follow external sources which have nothing to do with Quran or Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Dear Brother Faisal,
I am thankful for this post and interesting discussion however, I am still confused as to if the muslim girl/woman should cover her hair.
Salam
Salam Anisa,
First of all thank you for your comments. I have abandoned blogging on here a 5 years ago , and I did not expect any comments. Please also note that this blog has been revisited on this blog once more to make a correction. Either case, it is not really meant to be a source of religious legislation. However just a venue for me to contribute to bringing Islam back on track. Since 2005 I have stumbled upon many people who's opinion is worthy of respect, for example:
- Adnan Ibrahim (if you understand Arabic)
- Bassam Jarrar (Also Arabic speaking)
- Tariq Ramadhan (French, English, and some Arabic)
- Hamza Yusuf (English and Arabic).
Those people although I do not completely agree with their beliefs (for example in quoting Hadeeth), I still believe they are more knowledgable thank I am. I also think they are sincere in their words and beliefs.
My personal opinion about Hijab is still the same. In the Quran it is meant to serve a purpose which has nothing to do with sexuality or female modesty. Rather for protection as the verses above clearly state.
With that said, I want to make sure the point I make is a matter of opinion and nothing more. What you decide to do , is your own choice and you will be asked by God one day about your actions ... No one who tells you what to do will bare any burden of yours unless their intention was to deceive.
The Quran states on many occasions that those who are lead astray bare the burden just as those who lead them astray. The reason for this is choice. Making the choice to lead someone is also a choice and having someone else tell you how to think or what to do is a choice most often the wrong one.
This is not to say not to ask for other people's opinions. That is a wise idea, just make sure you ask for more than one and eventually make up your own decision as to what makes most sense.
Finally, I apologize for writing too much, I believe with sincerity comes the right answer. So if you are searching for truth and your intentions are pure and have the sincerity in wanting to know the RIGHT answer as opposed to what you are inclined towards, you may find what you seek.
May God guide you to the righteous path.
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