format_quote Originally Posted by
nurofislam
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. 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.
Peace, Nor of Islam.
Anyone can dress the part, but just because you wear a head-covering doesn't make you a good person. There are many people who wear it because they want to
appear as such, not because they are.
format_quote Originally Posted by
nurofislam
The Holy Qur'an says: " Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and protect their private parts. That will make for greater purity for them. Verily, Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And tell the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not to display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof and to draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands..." (Holy Qur'an, 24:30-31)
1. A woman should not show her beauty or adornments except what appears by uncontrolled factors such as the wind blowing her clothes.
2. The head covers should be drawn so as to cover the hair, the neck and the bosom.
I disagree with your interpretation of the words. What is actually said? That translation - which is comparatively close to the Arabic - says the following:
- men and women should both cover their private parts
- women should cover their jayb (pl. juyûb), or cleavage, with their khimar.
Now, in these days and times, it is understood that this orders believing women to wear a head-veil, which is what a khimar was in ancient times. The khimar was worn by women
and by men; it was an outer garment worn to protect the head from the hot sun.
This verse does not order the Believers to
wear khimar; it orders us to
cover our jayb - with the commonly-worn piece of clothing of the day, a large piece of cloth to protect the head from the sun. If we are not wearing a
khimar, we can cover the
jayb with something else. The issue here, for
men and women alike, is modesty, and the words of the Qur'ân indicate that for women, the breasts are also to be covered in public, just like the genitals are.
format_quote Originally Posted by
nurofislam
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.
I disagree again. Ask my grandmother about trying to work while dressed in those outfits - this is why working women adopted jeans and pants and the like, because traditional clothing was impractical, designed to highlight their sexual attractiveness rather than enabling work and very, very uncomfortable.
format_quote Originally Posted by
nurofislam
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.
I agree! Modesty (rather than the limiting term
hijab, which is not a Qur'ânic term for modesty but for a sheet or curtain) is about dress and action - and is for both sexes. I choose not to cover my head, but I am a respectful person who dresses modestly. I wear jeans, because they are plain, loose, practical and not sexualised - they are plain clothing, tough, cheap and egalitarian. I speak with respect to others and I do not treat others as sexual objects, nor do I present myself as one. This is the heart of the commandment to modesty.