Hijab Q&A
When was the hijab first introduced?
The hijab was first introduced by Allah SWT to Adam and his wife Hawraa (Eve) after the event that led them to be sent to Earth. The two of them realised that being in a naked state is humiliating so they used tree leaves to cover their private parts. This is mentioned in the Holy Quran (7:22) … “their shame became visible to them, and both began to cover themselves with leaves from the Garden.”
Does the Quran specifically tell women to cover their hair?
• It is stated in Surat Noor, Ayah 31 “And they shall draw their head scarves all over their necks and chests.” This is an imperative verb and hence it means it is obligatory.
“Khimar” here means to cover one’s head. In Arabic a similar word “khamr” is also used to describe how alcohol conceals the intellect of a drunk person due to its effects on the brain.
• Surat Noor Ayah 31 “…And they shall not show off their beauty” again a strong command.
What is the male hijab?
The male hijab is that he should lower his gaze (Al Quran 24:30) and guard his private parts. He must respect women and not look at them in a lustful way.
Why do some Muslim girls wear a headscarf but tight clothes and makeup, doesn’t that defeat the purpose?
Islamically, the physical hijab is not limited to the headscarf. Clothing should not cling to the figure and makeup should not be worn to draw attention to one’s beauty. Although an individual may not be fulfilling all the requirements of the physical hijab, it is understood that they are on their own journey and that the concept of hijab is not compromised by the choices of individuals.
Why must women cover up more than men?
Men and women are physically different. Generally, women are more physically attractive than men. Look at the marketing world, the common phrase “sex sells” mainly refers to the media using a woman’s body to attract consumers. I.E. Music industry, perfume industry, fashion industry, sports industry (ring girls, grid girls etc). You cannot produce the same result using a man’s body.
Is it not unfair to make a woman cover her body?
Islam instructs women to cover their body, not because men have a favourable status or to give them a “free pass.” In fact, in the view of Allah swt, being a male or female is negligible as the soul does not have a gender. However, on Earth we are told how best to respect the bodies we have been given, our bodies which were created physically different to fulfil different roles. The physical hijab represents a woman setting her personal boundaries in front of the world regarding her body. It prevents the rest of society from misrepresenting her. By covering the body, a Muslim woman is challenging society to value her mind over her physical beauty.
What is the hijab?
The hijab in Islam does not simply refer to a headscarf. It has a broader meaning that encompasses the entire concept of modesty. The hijab is to be therefore maintained by both males and females. The physical hijab is only part of maintaining modesty. Social hijab is also very important. This is how a person is expected to conduct themselves throughout their daily life. Women and men should be respectful towards each other and towards their environment.
Are women who wear the hijab better than women who don’t?
Humans are judged by Allah swt according to their good deeds. Only Allah swt knows a person’s good deeds entirely. As hijab is both physical and social, perhaps someone who does not wear a physical hijab represents the social hijab better than someone who does. Only Allah swt can determine a person’s afterlife. However, it only makes sense that if you believe in Allah and his message that you would follow his advice to strive for the best possible outcome, which is to maintain both physical and social hijab.
Other than their private parts, what else should a man cover?
There isn’t an obligation upon men to cover their bodies (other than their private parts) as they are physically different. However, it is good ethics for a man to dress respectfully and not draw attention to his physical beauty. For example, men should not draw attention to their muscular physique by wearing a tight shirt. Moreover, when entering a mosque, they should wear trousers and t-shirt rather than shorts and a vest (for example) as they are metaphorically “meeting God” and should present themselves in the best way possible.
It is also forbidden in Islam for men to dress in certain clothing or wear certain things. This is not for the purposes of hijab, but for other reasons, for example, men are not allowed to wear gold as some suggest it can have negative effects on their health. There are studies that show it can affect male fertility. So, you see, it is not only women who are advised not to dress in certain ways.
Shouldn’t we embrace our bodies?
Our bodies are personal to ourselves, we should embrace our bodies privately without the need to show that to the rest of society. Throughout history, people have understood that physical modesty should be maintained as a form of respect. It is not only Islam that imposes this upon Muslims.
Maintaining modesty has been taught in the Torah and The Gospel, it can be seen in both the New Testament and the Old Testament.
- Genesis 24:65 – Rebekah covers herself with a veil when a man walks towards her.
- Genesis 38:18 – Another reference to covering with a veil
- The New Testament, Paul – women would cover when with strangers, and uncover whenalone in the house.See depictions of Lady Mary & the way nun’s dress.Even in Ancient Greek, Roman and Persian societies women dressed modestly and are often depicted wearing a veil over their hair.Even in British society, historically, women are depicted with their hair covered.
The full wisdom behind the hijab is only known by Allah swt. We have many reasons but cannot say X is the reason or Y is the reason for some reasons cannot be comprehended by the human mind. Quranic verses and traditions relayed from the time of the Prophet pbuh validate the hijab, however, if you believe in the existence of God, you must also have faith that God would not tell you do to something which is not for your benefit.
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