Question for sisters who cover their heads

[shahrazad]

Be careful that you don't slip into the Qur'an-only heresy. Allah (swt) did not just throw the book down and say "Memorize this, you'll have a test on it all next Friday." No, He revealed it over a 23 year period to the Prophet Muhammad (saws) who was our teacher. This teacher taught us how to best apply this book, and we find his lessons in the hadith. The female sahaba covered their hair because that is what the Prophet (saws) taught them.

The path of Allah (swt) has been well trodden by millions over the last 14 centuries. Why not walk that path first before you go off to places that are less well known?

you're right, I have been focusing on the Qur'an maybe a little too much... it's just that I read a few things claiming that there are some hadith that are not to be trusted, the chains of transmission too weak. I figured the Qur'an is protected by Allah and will never be distorted... so I've been relying on that. but of course there are some truths in the hadith...I will have to look into it more...

 

[shahrazad]

Here is where you are kind of wrong. It isn't just any interpretation. For, if we practiced Islam selectivly on interpretations - disregarding its authority, accuracy or integrity - then everyone will have a very different Islam to everyone else.

Hence, you must go for the more authentic, interpretations. Infact, you have chosen to follow a very very very minute minority, the interpretation is seen as void by all past respectable scholars. You have disregarded interpretations, of those who are seen as the best muslims to exist - but took the interpretation of average Joe.

When you do this, you can get interpretations to permit homosexuality - fornication - freemixing and so fourth. This isn't hypothetical, it exists today.

So in the end, on this issue itself, I have to give my stance that, you have taken a wrong interpretation. It contradicts all reliable and authentic interpretations and ignores the sunnah.

I am not going to, bother you if you wear it or not, or judge you on the issue. But, whether you choose to wear it or not - thats 1 thing - but you should not take a very innaccurate, unauthentic interpretation - then deem that covering head is not islamic - because your opinion, which holds no water, says so. If that makes sense?

Kind of like, if a muslim wants to be gay, its none of my business. But, its only a problem, when the guy starts going around telling people Islam accepts homosexuality - based on dodgy interpretations by X and Y.

I understand, maybe you are not ready to wear the hijaab, but it isn't the smartest thing to start to get into a debate with muslims if hijaab is compulsory. Those who deem it to be, hold the upper hand greatly - if you just look at the scholars backing them up. Not just an opinion sister, its a consensus.

hold the phone!! I never said I had chosen to agree with the interpretation of those who say hijab doesn't involve covering the head. I was just drawing attention to the fact that there are different opinions on the matter. I think I've emphasised that I'm a newbie to Islam, still trying to understand all the reasoning behind this practice, and just looking for some input.

everything is interpretation, isn't it? what you call authentic interpretation may be different to the next person's idea of authentic interpretation. and no, I have not chosen to agree with any interpretation of any average Joe (although the people I mentioned were not average Joes...). you see their interpretations as wrong, that is fine. that is YOUR opinion and belief, shared by many, and no one was trying to take it away from you. I am not even taking sides, I may end up agreeing with you, but currently I am undecided on the matter.

I am not debating anything. like I said in my earlier post, I really didn't intend for this to become an argument about interpretation of the Qur'an. I just brought up these alternative points of view so that I could get some alternative answers to my question "why do Muslim women wear headcoverings?"...ie. rather than just "because Allah tells us to", sisters could explain to me their personal experiences of how wearing it gave them more faith or strength and how that came about....

the aggression in your reply has upset me. if you had read my posts more carefully, you'd see that I'm not trying to defend any particular point of view, nor to debate anything, let alone to say that wearing hijab is un-Islamic... I thought I made it clear that I was looking for any personal reasons sisters may have for covering their heads, it was not some kind of attack on those who do, I apologise if it came across like that

 

[SixTen]

My post, was trying to be as far away from being offensive/aggressive - sorry if it came out that way. I hoped it went better with you, as I did state I am neither having a go at you for not wearing it, nor am I judging you negativly not for.

However, I cannot accept that wearing hijaab is JUST an opinion, it is a great consensus of opinions of too many great muslims - that your opinion is very weak in comparison. No matter what you or I think, will not change this fact.

Its a bit like, even though I may prefer - that their is no stoning to death in Islam - I cannot just take X and Y's opinion (you can find people who say stoning is not in Islam), which I find more adhering to my morale, and then ignore all the stronger evidence for it - even though I find it hard to take the concept as to why people have to be stoned to death. Do you understand what I am saying sister?

I may also wish that their was tolerance to homosexuals, or I myself may not agree say that woman have to be fully covered - but it still is wrong - if I was to take an opinion which would fit my morale - You have to go for that which has most evidence.


Basically, what I am saying is - stay away from opiniating on rulings based on your own morale - base it on authenticity. Do you know, just how many important muslims of the past you have to disregard to keep your view?

In short, do you have evidence that your view is stronger than that of the consensus? If not, why stick to it. That is the reason, sisters wear it - they see it as a command from God. Whether they feel secure, or otherwise - is irrelevant on the issue of wearing. Even if they hated to wear it, was uncomfortable, etc, they would still be required to wear it under their belief.

Hope that clears things up.

 

[julie sarri]

I am a revert and i really love wearing the hijab i wear the khimar which is long and doesn't need to be pined in place i prefer it because it covers more of me i read up on islam for about 6 months maybe more before reverting i researchd all the hadiths i could fine on hijab most of them have been mentioned already and they all strong good hadiths the Quran the sunnah and the hadiths all work together and back each other up.the longer you study islam you will learn which compilers of hadiths are good i always like bukhari or Muslim but thats just me i found the more my Eemaan became stronger i felt the need to wear the khimar the women at the time of the prophet i.e his wives did cover and they were very righteous and Allah [swt] was pleased with there fore i like to copy there ways so insha'Allah Allah may be pleased with me also

 

[Nawal89]

Sis please take your time with hijab inshaAllah. I mentioned already before in another thread, hijab comes with Iman.

I wear my hijab because I believe thats What Allah commanded the believing women to do. Allah sent down the verse of hijab, and the sahaabiyyat, who had the best understanding of Islam, covered their heads.

May Allah guide you and Bless you sis. Ameen.