Hijab

Note: The word "Hijab" is often used in news reports and common use, by both Muslims and non-Muslims, to refer to a form of headscarf. This specific use is also discussed below, and this article discusses the more general concept of modesty in Islam.

Hijab is the word used in the Islamic context for the practice of dressing modestly, which all practicing Muslims past the age of puberty are instructed to do in their holy book, the Qur'an.

No precise dress code for men or women is set out in the Qur'an (the most specific part being 33:59 mentioning that believers "draw their cloaks close round them (when they go out)", and various Islamic scholars have interpreted the meaning of hijab in different ways. The basic requirements are that when in the presence of someone of the opposite sex other than a "close family member" (Mahram), a woman should cover her body, and walk and dress in a way which does not draw sexual attention to her, and that a man should be covered from at least the navel to the knees, and similarly not wear figure-hugging clothes that draw sexual attention to him. Generally drawing sexual attention is only allowed between married couples—where it is highly encouraged—and they do not need to cover any part of their body in each other's presence (other Mahrams should hide at least their sexual organs from each other).

As a rule of Islam, "in the case of necessity, for example for saving lives or avoiding severe hardship, hijab rules are waived".

The way in which Muslims who practice hijab interpret the stated rules varies from country to country and even individual to individual. Specific cultural interpretations/practices include Purdah, Chadar aur chaardhiwaaree , and so on. Coverings associated with these practices include the Burqah, Chador, Khimar, Niqab, etc. See below and the article on External Hijab for more.

Contents

1 Current use of the word "hijab" in media and activism 2 How do people wear hijab? 3 Why do women wear hijab? 4 Notes 5 See also 6 External links

Current use of the word "hijab" in media and activism

The word "hijab" is frequently used specifically to mean a headscarf worn today (c. 2004) by many Muslim women around the world with various forms of dress, from jeans-and-shirts to shalwar-qameez and business suits. In this case, it most often refers to a square scarf which is folded diagonally and worn over the head to cover the hair, ears and throat, but not the face. The word used in the Qu'ran for a headscarf is "khimar", which might be better to use when referring to headscarves in general, as many people argue that this use of "hijab" is incorrect, and it can certainly lead to confusion. When used in news reports, for example the controversy over the French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools, this is the meaning in which the word is being used.

See also: veil for a general description of headscarves and veils worn by both Muslim and non-Muslim women; and list of hats and headgear for a list of all kinds of veils.

How do people wear hijab?

Opinions on what exactly constitutes hijab vary among Muslims. Perhaps the most accepted and common practice for women however is the covering of the body except for the face and hands (wrist to fingers), in a simple manner that does not attract sexual attention from men (by avoiding sheer fabrics or figure-hugging clothes for example). Some have said that both sexes should cover their heads, wrists, and ankles; others believe that women should cover their faces as well.

Some liberal Muslims in the West choose to follow hijab by dressing in a way that would be considered modest for the culture in which they find themselves—e.g. western business clothes.

See the external hijab page for some typical examples of the type of dress typically associated with hijab.

Why do women wear hijab?

Women have to maintain hijab because it is felt it has been ordained by Allah and His Messenger Muhammad. In the Qur'an 33:59, Allah says,

• "O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them. That will be better, so that they may be recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful." [33:59]

as well in 24:30-31,

• "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." [24:30]
• "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, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss." [24:31]

Muhammad said: "…when a girl reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this" and he pointed to her face and hands. (Recorded by Abu Dawud)

Hijab, say its supporters, provides women higher levels of sexual security, and encourages others to respect the woman for who she is and not for her body; in addition, the hijab is seen as a sign of modesty. Muslims often claim that Islamic countries have lower levels of sex crimes (although this remains unproven), compared to other countries with the same economic situation and GDP per capita. Others argue that the statistics are not directly comparable for many reasons, such as the fact that a few Muslim states are rentier states.

Many non-Muslims and some Islamic reformers believe that hijab is unfair and oppressive. On the other hand, many Muslim women, including many in western cultures, state that they prefer to follow hijab as a sign of their faith and submission to Allah (not to men), and so that all Muslim women are respected equally rather than for their appearance, and as a matter of social responsibility. Critics point to family and community pressure on Western Muslim women as undermining the ideal of hijab as personal choice. Some feminists have argued that the veiling of women to bring them respect undermines the sexual and personal freedoms of all women, regardless of religion or culture.

Notes

1. The word 'veil' is originally in Arabic word 'khimar' (خمر), other translation is head-covering, head-scarf in general as written in previous section.

See also

• French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools
• Veil
• List of hats and headgear

External links

• Hijab: Question and Answer
• Another introduction to hijab
• Styles of hijab
• A history of the Hijab
• Religion News Blog (Current and archived news items, from mostly secular sources, that mention the hijab)
• Islamic headgear is not essential