why do Muslim wear hijab?

[sunmonkey]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this board and would like some clarification.

Why do many muslims around the world believe that they must wear a hijab?

Here are several verses related to this matter, the most compelling of which is the last verse:

“O you Children of Adam! We have bestowed on you raiment to cover your shame as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness, that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition.” (Quran 7:26)


“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 therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants 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 you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (Quran 33:59)

I am not sure how millions of muslims interpret this to mean that women must wear a hijab. There is no mention of covering the hair or neck at all. Mostly just vague statements that are open to a wide range of interpretations regarding what you must cover and what you must not cover.

Can someone explain this to me?

Thanks.

 

[Ummu Sufyaan]

why not? :shade:
......

 

[Italianguy]

Same reason some Christians do,

1.) It is written
2.) Modesty
3.) Because they want to!

Why is it such a big problem for everyone, especially atheists?

 

[Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн]

Give the OP the benefit of the doubt lol inshaAllah. I know we've been asked this a lot..on and off this forum but...still

And I would say because this is what God ordered us to do, for modesty purposes as for safety and because at a personal level, its a feeling of liberation. We don't need to conform to the standards of society...and it makes us stand out as MUSLIM women. Men have a hijab too , which would be their beard and covering from navel to knee

Btw, one of the verses you posted gives a somewhat of an answer. I'll leave you to find it there.

 

[Malaikah]

Hi,

Just quickly, you seem to be under the impression that the Quran is the only source of legislation for Muslims. It isn't. We also have a collection of text referred to as 'hadith', meaning narrations. They are basically collections of things the Prophet said or did as witnessed by his companions. It is from the hadith that we derive the specific requirement of wearing hijab.

In many cases you will find that the Quran only mentions things generally (like dress in this case) but it is in the hadith that you find out what the specifics are.

In this case, there is a hadith that mentions that when a Muslim woman becomes mature in age, it is not appropriate for her to show anything other than her hands and face (to men she isn't related to).

 

[sunmonkey]

Give the OP the benefit of the doubt lol inshaAllah. I know we've been asked this a lot..on and off this forum but...still

Thank you for your positive response!

And I would say because this is what God ordered us to do, for modesty purposes as for safety and because at a personal level, its a feeling of liberation. We don't need to conform to the standards of society...and it makes us stand out as MUSLIM women. Men have a hijab too , which would be their beard and covering from navel to knee

Btw, one of the verses you posted gives a somewhat of an answer. I'll leave you to find it there.

I see several points in your post.

1. Personal connection to God. All I can say is that you shouldn't need to dress a certain way to have a connection with your God, but for some, that makes them feel closer.

2. Modesty. So part of the reason is modesty. I get being modest, but does a woman really have to cover herself from head to toe?

3. The mention of the cloak. A cloak does not really cover your entire hair and nor does it cover the neck.

4. Men's Hijab. To this I have a question. Are Muslim men obliged to wear a beard?

Thanks again.

 

[sunmonkey]

Hi,

Just quickly, you seem to be under the impression that the Quran is the only source of legislation for Muslims. It isn't. We also have a collection of text referred to as 'hadith', meaning narrations. They are basically collections of things the Prophet said or did as witnessed by his companions. It is from the hadith that we derive the specific requirement of wearing hijab.

In many cases you will find that the Quran only mentions things generally (like dress in this case) but it is in the hadith that you find out what the specifics are.

In this case, there is a hadith that mentions that when a Muslim woman becomes mature in age, it is not appropriate for her to show anything other than her hands and face (to men she isn't related to).

You're right. I was under the impression that everything comes from the Quran.

Can you explain what a hadith is and how it comes to being?

Also can you please reference for me the hadith that talks about the specifics with regards to Hijab.

Thanks a bunch.

 

[Predator]

Thank you for your positive response!



I see several points in your post.

1. Personal connection to God. All I can say is that you shouldn't need to dress a certain way to have a connection with your God, but for some, that makes them feel closer.

2. Modesty. So part of the reason is modesty. I get being modest, but does a woman really have to cover herself from head to toe?

3. The mention of the cloak. A cloak does not really cover your entire hair and nor does it cover the neck.

Thanks again.

Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down the street. One of them is attired in the Islamic hijab i.e. the whole body is covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, a skirt or a mini. Just around the corner there is a hooligan or ruffian who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? The girl wearing the Islamic Hijab or the girl wearing the skirt or the mini? Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt or the mini. Such dresses are an indirect invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. The hijab prevents the women from being molested.

 

[sur]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this board and would like some clarification.

Why do many muslims around the world believe that they must wear a hijab?

Here are several verses related to this matter, the most compelling of which is the last verse:

“O you Children of Adam! We have bestowed on you raiment to cover your shame as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness, that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition.” (Quran 7:26)


“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 therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants 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 you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (Quran 33:59)

I am not sure how millions of muslims interpret this to mean that women must wear a hijab. There is no mention of covering the hair or neck at all. Mostly just vague statements that are open to a wide range of interpretations regarding what you must cover and what you must not cover.

Can someone explain this to me?

Thanks.

in "west" most of so-called, curves-revealing, face-enhancing hijab u see has nothing to do with commandments in Quran & sunnah.... That kind of westrinized-hijab makes those ladies even more "starable" target... Purpose of hijab is the opposite.... Quran asks women to "wrap" وَلۡيَضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ their trunks with an outer covering "Chaadar"چادر & stretch a part of it over themselves(over their heads)يُدۡنِينَ عَلَيۡہِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّۚ .


& if this question was asked by some lady... my reply would be, Transfer into a males body, if u could, for some time to get knowhow of his psycho-physiology, then go back in woman's , if u r modest, u'll start taking "chaader"چادر without anyone telling u...

 

[Italianguy]

I have to agree, here in the US, most of the Muslimah's I see, wear form fitting designer hijab's that although stand for modesty in their meaning, don't do much for cover when they are coupled with tight jeans, a tight shirt and high heel shoes. As far as a man picking the "western" dressed woman to pick on as supposed to a woman wearing hijab, i would say most of the Muslimahs I see don't look much different than the westerner in the way they are dressed................Personally.......some of the the Muslim women I see look more attractive with their hijabs on:embarrass:shade:

 

[World Peace]

Hello

welcome to the forum

Regarding modesty and the hijab, I would like to share with you the following.

Humility
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/1693/

Modesty: An overview
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/21/

Modesty: Stories on Modesty
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/398/

The veil
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/285/

The hijab can also be found in previous scriptures:

"[1 Corinthians 11:5-7] "But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame upon her head, for it is one and the same thing as if she had had her head shaved. For if a woman does not have her head veiled, she may as well have her hair cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should wear a veil.""

"So Islam didn’t invent the veil, it merely endorsed it. However, while Paul presented the veil as a sign of man’s authority, Islam clarifies that it is simply a sign of faith, modesty and chastity which serves to protect the devout from molestation." Ben Adams, http://www.islamreligion.com

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Fisabilillah Publications
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Discover the truth about Islam
www.theradiantlight.blogspot.com

 

[Darth Ultor]

Same reason some Christians do,

1.) It is written
2.) Modesty
3.) Because they want to!

Why is it such a big problem for everyone, especially atheists?

I guess some westerners see it as a symbol of oppression (e.g the Taliban or Saudi Royals who force women to wear it) rather than something of their own free will. The orthodox Jews keep their heads covered, but the women don't until they are married. Decency and modesty comes from the heart, though.

 

[huan]

I see no problem with the hijab or the full veil if women want to wear it of their own accord, I don't think the main problem will be about whether women are being forced to wear it in the western world, this could be so in the Middle east/Asia. After all it is their freedom to wear what they want. But I do see a problem for e.g. security reasons at an airport or certain jobs that would not be deemed suitable to cover your face. It would also be inappropriate to see them go around fighting for their rights and saying they're being discriminated for what they wear. Surely you cannot receive special treatment because your wearing a hijab and therefore be immune to such things, everyone needs to be treated equally. So if you want a job teaching in a school then you cannot wear such things as it's going to be a communication barrier between the teacher and students.

 

[Lynx]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this board and would like some clarification.

Why do many muslims around the world believe that they must wear a hijab?

Here are several verses related to this matter, the most compelling of which is the last verse:

“O you Children of Adam! We have bestowed on you raiment to cover your shame as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness, that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition.” (Quran 7:26)


“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 therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants 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 you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (Quran 33:59)

I am not sure how millions of muslims interpret this to mean that women must wear a hijab. There is no mention of covering the hair or neck at all. Mostly just vague statements that are open to a wide range of interpretations regarding what you must cover and what you must not cover.

Can someone explain this to me?

Thanks.

The Sunnah is meant to put into practice what the Quran commands of Muslims so there is a practical rather than a just a theoretical work. So if it says 'pray at x time of the day' one can look at the Sunnah to see how that prayer at x time of day is meant to be carried out based on what Muhammad did. Afterall since he is the prophet of the religion how he does Islam is probably the best way to do Islam.

As for Hijab, well most people tend to agree that people running around naked is not modest behavior. Other people find mini skirts, revealing tops, etc, to be non-modest attire. Muslims just have a different threshold of what counts as 'decent and modest'.

 

[Al-Indunisiy]

4. Men's Hijab. To this I have a question. Are Muslim men obliged to wear a beard?

Depending upon to whom do you ask the question. Some say it is sunnah, some say it is wajib.

I personally go with the later.

 

[Ummu Sufyaan]

I have to agree, here in the US, most of the Muslimah's I see, wear form fitting designer hijab's that although stand for modesty in their meaning, don't do much for cover when they are coupled with tight jeans, a tight shirt and high heel shoes. As far as a man picking the "western" dressed woman to pick on as supposed to a woman wearing hijab, i would say most of the Muslimahs I see don't look much different than the westerner in the way they are dressed................Personally.......some of the the Muslim women I see look more attractive with their hijabs on:embarrass:shade:

dont you have a wife?

 

[CosmicPathos]

I have to agree, here in the US, most of the Muslimah's I see, wear form fitting designer hijab's that although stand for modesty in their meaning, don't do much for cover when they are coupled with tight jeans, a tight shirt and high heel shoes. As far as a man picking the "western" dressed woman to pick on as supposed to a woman wearing hijab, i would say most of the Muslimahs I see don't look much different than the westerner in the way they are dressed................Personally.......some of the the Muslim women I see look more attractive with their hijabs on:embarrass:shade:

You stole words from my mouth!

After seeing such sights, I find it more Islamic to marry a hijabless Muslimah than a hypocritical hijabi! At least she is being honest in showing that she does not wear hijab. Its all about balancing pros and cons.

 

[transition?]

The veil is only one part of modesty/haya.
Hijab means "to cover oneself."
The most accurate description of hijab is khimaar (headscarf) + jilbaab (cloak, abaya, purdah) + tabarruj (blending in)
But also there are certain conducts one must follow, too, such 1) speaking with a firm voice with men 2) a certain quality of shyness 3) not shaking hands with the opposite sex.

 

[transition?]

You stole words from my mouth!

After seeing such sights, I find it more Islamic to marry a hijabless Muslimah than a hypocritical hijabi! At least she is being honest in showing that she does not wear hijab. Its all about balancing pros and cons.

If both are wearing tight clothes/showing off their figure or nudity in some way...then there really would be no difference..
It would be ridiculous to call one a hypocrite over the other. Both are inappropriately dressed and one just is covering her hair... she is not making any statement about her faith being perfect, is she? Both are openly sinning and calling themselves Muslims. Sinning does not make you hypocrite, we all will sin. The definition of a hypocrite of belief/character is specific. A fasiq is an open sinner. Muslims must seek to help them first and if they continue, dissociate with them. So I might say, don't be too judgemental of that "hijabi" because both are mistaken. But Islam is a state of becoming. We all do as much as we can to follow our faith. :] Rather seek to correct it with both by giving them dawah?

 

[huan]

If both are wearing tight clothes/showing off their figure or nudity in some way...then there really would be no difference..
It would be ridiculous to call one a hypocrite over the other. Both are inappropriately dressed and one just is covering her hair... she is not making any statement about her faith being perfect, is she? Both are openly sinning and calling themselves Muslims. Sinning does not make you hypocrite, we all will sin. The definition of a hypocrite of belief/character is specific. A fasiq is an open sinner. Muslims must seek to help them first and if they continue, dissociate with them. So I might say, don't be too judgemental of that "hijabi" because both are mistaken. But Islam is a state of becoming. We all do as much as we can to follow our faith. :] Rather seek to correct it with both by giving them dawah?

But why wear it if it's going to defeat the actual purpose of it. That is called hypocrisy isn't it, if not what is it ? At least this other women you are comparing isn't trying to show she is any religious, hence why I do not agree with the bit in bold. Unless she is going around proclaiming it, you wouldn't know otherwise from the 'western' clothing.