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Hijab… a Must, Not a Choice
My question is about
hijab. The usual question is whether or not it is obligatory. My question is a
bit more basic. What Qur’anic verse or authentic hadith suggests that wearing
the head cover is the compulsory?
The most popular Qur’anic quotation relating to hijab, which is often quoted is
An-Nur 24:31,
which doesn't explicitly say that the head should be covered.
I would like to know all material —Qur’anic verses and authentic (not weak, not
fabricated) hadith— on which the head cover ruling is based.
If the ruling on head cover is a mere interpretation by scholars of the above
Qur’anic verse, then I don't find it so convincing. To my understanding, this
Qur’anic verse merely asks women to dress decently, to cover their bosoms fully,
and not display any temptation in that way.
If scholars were to say that showing the hair is a temptation, then what about
the face and hands? If that is the yardstick used, then not a single portion of
a woman should be visible. Please reply to my question, as a lot of people would
benefit from it. Wa salam.
Answer
This answer was kindly provided by Sister Sahar El-Nadi, a member of Ask About
Islam Editorial Staff.
Salam,
Shakir.
Thank you for your question. As you suggested, it is hoped that the answer would
benefit many Muslims and non-Muslims who may have some misconceptions about
hijab.
Before providing you with Qur’anic proof and wisdom behind the religiously
mandated hijab, let us first define some Arabic terms related to your question:
Islam, hijab, and khimar.
Arabic Words Have Many Meanings
Arabic is a language very rich in shades of meaning for every word; translations
often fail to do justice to Arabic verses for lack of appropriate vocabulary.
Consequently, it is necessary, when addressing controversial issues, to look
closely at the meaning of the Arabic words used in the original context. Let’s
start from the meaning of the name of this religion: Islam.
Meaning of the Arabic Word Islam and How Muslims Regard Islamic Rules
Islam means total submission to Allah—in mind, heart, body, and soul—total
acceptance of His laws and rules without doubts or arguments, total obedience to
Him and His Messenger, and total refusal of shirk (associating anyone with
Allah) in all its forms. The Qur’an states what means:
*{It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have
decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever
disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain error}*
(Al-Ahzab 33:36).
Muslims should not argue the commands, rules, or laws of Allah and His Prophet
(peace be upon him). They do not need proof from Allah for everything He asks of
them. Their obedience is the mark of their true faith. In addition, Islam is a
complete way of life that should be wholly adhered to by its followers. Thus,
Muslims are not supposed to worship selectively, picking out whatever rules or
rituals appeal to them and leaving the rest. Denying a basic Islamic rule or
ritual is a serious sin.
Meaning of the Arabic Word Hijab
Hijab in Arabic means “barrier” or “screen” and thus it appears in various
Qur’anic verses, referring to many things besides the woman’s head cover. For
example:
Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an that He only talks to humans from behind a
hijab. The Qur’an says what means:
*{It is not given to any human being that Allah should speak to him unless [it
be] by revelation, or from behind a veil}* (Ash-Shura 42:51).
The Virgin Mary worshipped behind a hijab:
*{She placed a screen [to screen herself] from them}* (Maryam 19:17).
And, on Judgment Day there will be a hijab between the residents of Paradise and
the residents of Hell:
*{And between them will be a [barrier] screen}* (Al-A`raf 7:51).
In all these verses, the Arabic word hijab was used to mean different things. In
this light, let’s ponder the logic of hijab.
The Qur’an teaches us to look around us with open eyes and minds, to think,
rationalize, and reach logical conclusions. If we look at the universe, from the
tiny atom to the huge celestial bodies, don’t we see how everything important or
precious is protected and concealed with a cover? Think of the skin to the human
body, the womb to the baby, the plasma wall to the cell, the bark to the tree
trunks, the shell to the egg, even the entire planet we live on is enjoying the
protection of a “hijab”—which we call the atmosphere—against the dangers of
asteroids and harmful cosmic rays. Think how other planets—Mars for example—
deprived of their “hijab” have suffered much harm.
Meaning of the Word Khimar in Arabic
The Arabic word khimar means “top-cover” and it also applies to many things
besides women’s head covers. For example, it applies to the top covering a pot
or jar, to any head cover worn by people even men. Notably, that’s where liquor
and narcotics got their Arabic name khamr because they “cover” the reasoning
when a person is intoxicated.
Khimar is the word used to prescribe the head cover of Muslim women in the verse
you referred to. The Qur’an says what means:
*{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 veils over their
bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers,
their husbands’ fathers, their sons...}* (An-Nur 24:31).
The meaning apparent to the Arabic reader is that in the presence of men who are
not mahrams to a Muslim women, she should wear a head cover that extends long
enough to cover the bosom, not that only the bosom is covered. Another verse in
Surat Al-Ahzab clarifies this further. The Qur’an says what means:
*{O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they
should cast their outer garments over their persons [when abroad]; that is most
convenient, that they should be known [as such] and not molested. And Allah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful}* (Al-Ahzab 33:59).
The Arabic word used here to indicate the cover is the plural of jilbab. Ibn
Taymiyyah stated in Majmu` Al-Fatawa 22:110-111: “The jilbab is a cover which is
large enough to cover the woman’s head and the rest of her body hanging from the
top of her head.”
Further, the Qur’an instructs the Prophet’s Companions in words that mean:
*{And when you ask [the Prophet’s wives] for anything you want, ask them from
behind a screen}* (Al-Ahzab 33:53).
The meaning of hijab in this verse is any object that conceals a woman such as a
wall, a door, or clothes. The ruling of the verse, even though it was revealed
concerning the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him), generally encompasses
all Muslim women. This is because the wisdom behind the ruling is specified in
the remainder of the verse. It says what means:
*{that makes for greater purity for your hearts and theirs}* (Al-Ahzab 33:53).
This wisdom is general among all men and women. Therefore the generality of the
wisdom also indicates the general application of the rule as apparent in surah
33, verse 59 above.
Islam uplifted women, gave them equality, and expects them to maintain their
status. The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the
secular media. The hijab or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of
the “subjugation” of women under Islamic law. Yet, the truth is that 1400 years
ago, Islam recognized women’s rights in a way that grants them the utmost
protection and respect as well, a combination other systems fail to offer. Islam
granted them freedom of expression, political participation, business and
financial rights, and asked the rest of society to hold them in high esteem and
offer them due respect as mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters.
In the Qur’an, Allah Almighty first mentions lowering the gaze for men before
lowering the gaze and wearing hijab for women. The Qur’an teaches us what means:
*{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}* (An-Nur 24:30).
The moment a man looks at a woman with any brazen or unashamed thought in mind,
he should lower his gaze. The next verse of Surat An-Nur is the one commanding
believing women to wear the hijab.
Islam expects women to maintain their status by following Allah’s rules designed
for their advantage. Hijab is one such rule.
Six Criteria for Hijab
According to the Qur’an and Sunnah, there are basically six criteria for
observing hijab:
1. It is obligatory for males to cover at least from the navel to the knees. For
women, it is obligatory to cover the complete body except the face and the hands
up to the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body.
Some scholars insist that the face and the hands are part of the obligatory
extent of hijab, especially if temptation (fitna) is feared in times and places
where Islamic rules are not prevalent or if security is scarce.
All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women:
2. The clothes should be loose and should not reveal the figure.
3. The clothes should not be transparent or see-through.
4. The clothes should not be so glamorous as to attract attention.
5. The clothes should not resemble those of the opposite sex.
6. The clothes should not resemble those of the unbelievers, that is, clothes
that identify or are symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.
Hijab Includes Conduct
Complete hijab, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the
moral conduct, behavior, attitude, and intention of the individual. A person
only fulfilling the criteria of hijab of the clothes is observing hijab in a
limited sense. Hijab of the clothes should be accompanied by hijab of the eyes,
the heart, the thought, and the intention. It also includes the way a person
walks, talks, and behaves. Therefore, the hypocritical use of hijab is not a
good example of Muslim conduct.
Hijab Prevents Molestation
The Qur’an says that hijab enables women to be recognized as modest women and
this will also protect them from being molested. Suppose there is a hooligan who
is waiting to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? a girl wearing hijab, or one
wearing a mini skirt or shorts? Hijab does not degrade a woman but uplifts a
woman and protects her modesty and chastity.
Lifting the Veil Will Not Uplift Women
Woman’s liberalization mostly disguises exploitation of her body, degradation of
her soul, and deprivation of her honor. Non-Muslim societies claim to have
uplifted women via allowing them to expose their bodies, but on the contrary,
this has actually degraded them to mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers
and sex marketers, hidden behind the colorful screen of “art” and “culture.”
Muslim women should be well aware of these facts. They should be aware that
hijab protects them from evil glances and evil desires of those who are sick in
the heart, as described in the Qur’an. Muslim women must adhere to Allah’s rules
and not be persuaded or tempted by the media that opposes hijab or belittles its
significance, as those who spread these ideas only desire evil for her. The
Qur’an warns by saying what means:
*{But the wish of those who follow their lusts is that you should deviate away
[from the right path], -far, far away}* (An-Nisaa’ 4:27).
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