Hijab question for women (men can answer too)?

Question

Why do you think a woman should wear the Hijab? Why not? How many of you are aware of the verses that discuss the Hijab and what do you understand from it or how do you interpret it? What are some reasons you choose to wear the Hijab? What are some reasons you choose not to wear the Hijab? How many of you believe that the Hijab is a must?

I am asking these questions because I know a lot of people differ in their opinions and I want to understand why. Please answer if you don't mind :) Thanks!

May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.

Answer 1

>>>Women are not the only ones who are required to wear a Hijab. Allah SWT first speaks of men's Hijab. That is from the naval to the knee<<<    >>>Women are required to cover their body except their face and wrists<<<

I have yet to meet a man who would want to walk around in public exposed from the navel to the knee so this is no “requirement” at all!!  The two cannot be compared at all. Just because this c**p is repeated over and over doesn’t mean anyone believes it.

>>> two twin sisters, one wearing a Hijab and the other wearing western clothes. If they both are walking on the streets and there is a man who has bad intentions, who will the man target<<<

He would target the one wearing the Hijab as she was raised to be dependant on men, subservient to men, with little self-esteem and unable to take care of herself. Targeting the one wearing western clothes could get him hurt and any man who would attack a woman is a coward who is afraid of that.

>>> she is beautiful and this is going to affect how people treat her , barbie doll , or a person<<<

Yes it does affect how people treat you and personally I have found it to be a big plus. There are well document studies that show attractive people are treated better and are paid more than unattractive people. If someone is stupid enough to treat me like a “Barbie doll” for whatever reason, so what? It’s their problem not mine.

>>> as for some communities that are degrading to women. islam got nothing to do with that <<<

Unfortunately Islam, or the men who made up these ridiculous rules, is all about that it is designed to make women powerless and dependant on men so that you can treat them like property and there is no respect in that.

EDIT: Blaming the media for how badly you are portrayed or for people misunderstanding you are another common excuse I see here. My opinions have nothing to do with the media they are based the answers I see here by Muslims themselves. I don’t need to study anything. I go to the websites recommended by the Muslims here to understand what their beliefs are and read as much as I can take.

I understand women's roles in Islam and there is nothing equal about them as demonstrated in my answer above.

2nd EDIT: I think I do understand your point; equal does not mean two equal halves, each with 50% favor and each with 50% responsibility. Sometimes you have more, sometimes you have less. Human relationships are give and take, this is equal.

You are correct I do not ask many questions. I have answered over 900 questions, but only asked 1 and that was in this section. I do pay attention though. Sometimes I read and say nothing, sometimes my answers are not at all confrontational and other times, well you know what they are like.

So do I still not understand? Are the websites I have been referred to not good websites?

Sites Muslims Have Referred Me To:

http://www.globalwebpost.com/farooqm/my_...

http://www.searchtruth.com/search.php

http://www.islamtomorrow.com/

http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/13245/hija...

Best Answers I Got In the Ramadan Section:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

My Only Question (someone I know and admire)

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 2

women should wear the Hijab so they obey what Allah (swt) ordered them to do for a certain wisdom, which is inhibiting 'Fitna' and avoid it:

"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (jalabib) close around themselves; that is better that they are recognized and not annoyed. And God is Most Forgiving, Merciful"

Surah Al-Ahzaab, Verse 59

the jilbab at the time of revelation of this ayah did cover the face as well.

Edit: if there was a text in the Qur'an imposes wearing Hijab upon men, i would blindly obey.

Answer 3

I don't believe it is a must, and many women are good Muslims who adhere to their prayers, perform good deeds, and so on, all without hijab, while others wear hijab and maybe that's it. So I don't think that wearing hijab necessarily means that one is more pious than another. Some cultures require women to wear hijab, and it doesn't really relate to her personal relationship with Allah (swt).

I believe that different life circumstances, such as where one lives, may contribute to whether or not one chooses to cover. For example, when I travel to some rural areas of the US, I don't wear a typical "Muslim" style hijab, and I know many sisters who live in rural areas where there are few Muslims who do the same. Though I do still maintain modest dress,  wear my hair up, and often wear a tube scarf, bandanna or other kerchief.  The same is true for the other rural Muslims I know. We're not ready to be any body's martyr, you know?

I have worn hijab on and off throughout my life (I think I'm a bit older than many posters in this section), at times for different reasons -- formal cultural occasions, to please others, to blend in, to be different, etc., or depending on the strength of my faith, marital status, or place of residence.

I currently wear hijab full-time, but typically with dresses or slacks/skirts/jeans and long sleeved blouses, rather than jilba or abaya. Sine I'm a stay-at-home-mom, my typical daily wear is jeans with a funky ethnic or bohemian shirt or tunic, maybe a button down blouse. For dressier occasions, slacks with a more stylish blouse or a long dress.

There are many reasons, but they include:

1. A promise I made to Allah while my husband was near death in the hospital and I was pregnant.

2. As an outward sign of my faith and who I am.

3. To be a good role-model to my daughter and other youth in my community.

4. To crash barriers by showing non-Muslims that we're just like them - only in a scarf!

5. To give my husband status and regard among his peers, so they see he has a loving, faithful wife who takes care of him, our home and our family.

6. To feel closer to my community.

7. To be treated with respect by Muslim men. When in a scarf, you are called "sister," helped out with groceries and children, and they don't get all handsy when giving you your change, lol. Unfortunately, many non-Muslim men don't know the rules, hehe.

Answer 4

I think the hijab is meant so men don`t love a girl the wrong way, like just for her appearance. They could love her just for her appearance which is not right. I think women should wear the hijab because its important to love someone for the right reasons especially in islam. its a way to hide a womens beauty so its not the main focus in a relationship. I choose to wear it inshahalah, some day.

Answer 5

I believe that at the time of the Prophet it was a cultural norm for women to wear the hijab. As you may know, many people were against the Prophet and attempted to kill him (and these very people became Muslims). Anyways, I think the idea of the hijab was incorporated into the religion as a way to appease the Arabs who resisted the Prophet and Islam.

Now, many people well mention it is in the Qu'ran. Okay, the Qu'ran has many layers of meanings, one for the material world and one for the spiritual and it is up to the individual to interpert his or her faith.

I am against women wearing the hijab in public but if they choose to wear it in the mosque then it is fine, if they don't then it's up to them. I think women chould be able to choose if they want to wear it or not and NO ONE should FORCE it upon another person.

*Thanks for the thumbs down people!*

Answer 6

1) Ibn al-Qayyim has a chapter in his I'laam al Muwaqi'een called:

الإفتاء في دين الله بغير علم

((Giving a Fatwa in the religion without knowledge))

He mentions this Ayah:

وأن تقولوا على الله ما لا تعلمون

((And that you say about Allaah, that which you do not know))

'Alee radhiallaahu anhu said: ((The people narrate from that which they do not know, do you wish to lie upon Allaah and His Messenger?))

The Messenger of Allaah salallaahu alaihi wa salam said:

من أفتي بفتيا غير ثبت فإنما إثمه على من أفتاه

((Whoever gives a fatawa which is not affirmed, then he receives the sins of those who follow his fatwa)) - Sunan ibn Maajah, number 53 in the Muqaddimah

2)

To say the Hijaab is cultural and not a command from Allaah is denying the orders of Allaah in the Qur'aan.

There is no doubt in the wujoob of the Hijaab upon the women. The Ulemaa of the Qur'aan, such as Ibn Katheer, at-Tabaree, al-Qurtubee and other than them from the mufassiroon have unanimously agreed on the Hijaab being a part of the deen and the covering of the hair to be from the Hijaab.

So now an ignoramus comes along and tries to make a ruling based on an english translation...? Who's statements do you take??

The Language of the Qur'aan is clear, and those who try to play games with the language of the Qur'aan by mistranslating and saying "well this word means..." are making Tahreef of the meaning of the Qur'aan and this is a serious sin.

The word خمر Khumur, is defined by the Ulemaa of the language such as Al-Fayrabaadee and Ibn Mandhoor and as-Seebawayh and others. If one were to open Leesaanul 'Arab you can see the statements of the lughawiyyeen which affirm that the Khimaar is a head covering.

Allaah says in Surah an-Noor, Verse 31:

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَـتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَـرِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلاَ يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except that which is apparent, and to draw their veils all over their Juyub"

Lets first look at this word: بِخُمُرِهِنَّ which is the plural of خمار

This word refers to a covering. The scholars of the Quraan from amongst the sahaabah have said that this covering refers to a covering of the body and the head. This is why it is said: أختمر نفسهن "To cover their heads and bodies"

So to claim that there is no verse with implies Hijaab is a lie without a doubt. And there are more proofs of this in the Quraan and Sunnah.

Answer 7

wa alaykum asalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

the reason why a women should wear the full hijab is clear and simple: coz it is a commandment and an obligation from Allah, He created us so surely He knows what is best for us,

Allah says in the Glorious Qur'an;

Surah an-Nur, ayah 31 says:

    Wa qul li al-mu'minat yaghdudna min absarihinna wa yahfazna furujahunna wa laa yubdina zenatahunna illa maa zahara min haa wal-yadribna bi khumurihinna ala juyubihinna; wa laa yubdina zenatahunna illa li bu'ulatihinna aw aba'ihinna aw aba'i bu'ulatihinna aw abna'ihinna aw abna'i bu'ulatihinna aw ikhwanihinna aw bani ikhwanihinna aw bani akhawatihinna aw nisa'ihinna aw maa malakat aymanu hunna aw at-tabi'ina ghayri ulu'l-irbat min ar-rijal aw at-tifl alladhina lam yazharu ala awrat an-nisa wa laa yadribna bi arjulihinna li yu'lama maa yukhfina min zenatahinna. Wa tubu ilaAllahi jami'an, ayyuha al-mu'minun la'allakum tuflihun

    And say to the faithful women to lower their gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to display their beauty except what is apparent of it, and to extend their headcoverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms (jaybs), and not to display their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom the nakedness of women is not apparent, and not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments. And turn in repentance to Allah together, O you the faithful, in order that you are successful

Surah al-Ahzab, ayah 59 says:

    Ya ayyuha an-Nabiyy qul li azwajika wa banatika wa nisa al-mu'minin yudnina alayhinna min jalabib hinna; dhalika adna an yu'rafna fa laa yu'dhayn. Wa kana Allahu Ghafur Rahim

    O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the faithful to draw their outergarments (jilbabs) close around themselves; that is better that they will be recognized and not annoyed. And God is ever Forgiving, Gentle.

these verses are not to be interpreted in the way that we desire but rather the way that the scholars of Islam have interpreted them, as they are the people of ilm and know better than us..this is why we have the tafsir of the Qur'an.

in short Allah is commanding us women to wear the hijab so that we are recognised as being respectable women and so we dont get attacked by men, sexually, verbally etc. there is a wisdom behind everything that Allah has decreed. the verse also makes it clear that as muslim women we are not to display ourselves uncovered infront of the non mahram men..nor are we to sit alone with them or talk to them etc without having a mahram there and with a valid reason.

Allah knows best.

i wear the hijab coz i am a muslim and i am obeying Allah's commands and i believe with full certainty that the hijab is a must and that all muslim women should wear it inshaAllah.

Answer 8

I don't believe it's compulsory. The reason I believe that is because of the meaning of the word ''khimar'' in the so-called hijab verse.

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

http://www.mostmerciful.com/Hijab.htm

It's a long read, I know, but ... :)

By the way, in the first link you can find the proof that the Hadith describing what parts of body a woman should cover is not a strong Hadith, therefore shouldn't be followed.

Answer 9

Read this

"Hijabi,rape has nothing to do with what you do or don't wear except maybe to Muslim men. Rape in the west is about power and not s*x or lust.I find that muslims have very little understanding of western culture,and compare it to their own culture.

Western converts to Islam have next to no understanding of Christian theology, otherwise those that convert to wear hijab would know that it is perfectly acceptable in Christianity too.

There are Christian women who do believe we are to cover ourselves too, and the women I know who veil themselves outside of church do so as a way to remain humble before God and help them to remember that they belong to God and not the world. Modesty, as far as not exposing themselves, figures in only slightly in their thinking. It is mainly about God.

When modesty is mentioned it is about privacy and not causing men to stumble. We're talking normal males (who either learn to tune out all the sexual stimuli we bombard them with, or they try hard not to stare at the cleavage on display)not psychos who can't control themselves. The psychos salivate over niqabis.

Nuns cover as a sign that they are dead to the world. Dressing in this manner helps them to turn their attention to God and away from their bodies and looks. Orthodox Christian nuns look like muslim hijabis dressed in black,and are often treated rather badly.Ordinarily, only the abbess wears a pectoral cross, but some nuns' bishops have given them permission to wear crosses regardless of their status just to help them avoid being attacked in public.

Christian women don't cover for all the same reasons as jewish and muslim women. Jewish and Muslim women also cite piety and closeness to God, but it is more about modesty and keeping their bodies for their husbands. In Islam, older women don't have to cover as much because they're past childbearing and I guess less attractive. There's more of a chance of Jewish and Muslim women falling into the vanity trap...I'm so beautiful I must cover.

Many older women cover because it is habit, and also, remember, Western clothes are not kind to older women at all. Covering actually preserves their dignity much better,so that sagging necks, baggy arms, wobbly knees, varicose veins,disappearing waistlines,etc don't have to be on public display. You'll understand when it starts happening to you.

Christian women cover mainly out of obedience to God, or rather to help them learn to be obedient and humble before God. Age has nothing to do with that.

Yes, covering had various functions in ancient Greece, but the early Church fathers distinguished quite quickly that Christian women were to cover out of modesty in part to preserve the reputation of Christian women in a world hostile to Christianity, and also out of humility and obedience to God. Now, some argue that we don't have to follow what was said centuries ago. Culturally, that's true, religiously, nothing's changed. However, now it is left up to a Christian woman's conscious, and most women don't because the culture doesn't. And frankly, not all uncovered women dress immodestly, so modesty is not a reason to cover.

The women I know who cover do so because they were called to"

Any comments??

Answer 10

Women are not the only ones who are required to wear a Hijab. Allah SWT first speaks of men's Hijab. That is from the naval to the knee, and furthermore, we must not look at woman with a bad eye and must keep our gaze low. Women are required to cover their body except their face and wrists. There is a very simple explanation for this. For example, if there are two twin sisters, one wearing a Hijab and the other wearing western clothes. If they both are walking on the streets and there is a man who has bad intentions, who will the man target, the one with the Hijab or the one with the short clothes? The answer is definite. And yes, for both men and women, the clothes must not be body fitting as it shows the entire shape of your body, thus enabling people to imagine what your body would be like and get bad feelings.

Answer 11

Salam sis,

I do not wear hijab. I do not believe it is an obligation to cover my head. This is my view on it all:

Let me start with saying Hijab would not only be  the hair covering, but acting and dressing modest totally. Men have hijab too! They are adressed first:

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do. "(4:31)

Then the verse about women follows:

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms..."(4:32 in part)

This verse that many use to proof it is mandatory, can be interpreted differently: no covering of hair, covering of the hair, some even say it means covering the face also.

I do not wear hijab (yet) myself. I do want to say though, that i dress more modest than many hijabi's i see walking in the streets here: they do wear a headscarf, but have tons of makeup on their faces, wear skimpy tshirts and clingy jeans with high heels. Is that better than not wearing a headscarf but wearing non revealing clothes?

Hijab or veil can be traced back to early civilizations. It can be found in early and late Roman and Greek art. The evidence can be seen in archeological discoveries whether in pottery fragments, paintings or recorded civil laws. In Greco-Roman culture, both women and men wore head covering in religious contexts. The tradition of wearing the veil (by women) and the headcover (by men) was then adopted by the Jews who wrote it in the Talmud (Talmud equals the Hadiths and Sunna) then the Christians adopted the same. A well respected Rabbi once explained to a group of Jewish young women, "We do not find a direct command in the Torah mandating that women cover their heads, but we do know that this has been the continuing custom for thousands of years."

Any student of the Jewish traditions or religious books will see that head cover for the Jewish woman (and men) has been encouraged by the Rabbis and religious leaders. Observant Jewish women still cover their heads most of the time and specially in the synagogues, weddings, and religious festivities.

Christian women cover their heads in many religious occasions while the nuns cover their heads all the time.

As we can expect the traditional Arabs, of all religions, Jews, Christians and Muslims used to wear head cover, or "Hijab," not because of Islam, but because of tradition. In Saudi Arabia, up to this day most of the men cover their heads , not because of Islam but because of tradition.

North Africa is known for its Tribe (Tuareg) that have the Muslim men wearing "Hijab" instead of women. Here the tradition has the hijab in reverse. If wearing Hijab is the sign of the pious and righteous Muslim woman, Mother Teresa would have been the first woman to be counted.

So in my belief it is not a tradition and one that does not  stems from Islam. I do not think it is an obligation. I might start wearing it though, because it defines me to the outside world as Muslimah. Something i am proud of!

Answer 12

I'm a Muslim Alhumdulillah and I have been studying Islam for a long time now. Hijab is indeed an obligation upon a Muslim woman. It has got nothing to do with your choice or preference of wearing it or not. Hijab is, infact, an honor to Muslim women. Its barrier between them and alien men.

Allah says (meanings in English) {and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc} [24:31]

It is prohibited for a woman, who believes in Allah and the Last Day, to uncover a little part of her body to alien men (those to whom marriage is permissible).

Hijab should meet the following conditions:

1- It should cover woman’s whole body.

2- It should be thick enough.

3- It should not be transparent.

4- It should be loose.

5- It should not be decorated as to attract lookers.

Allah says: {O Prophet! Tell your wives and the woman of the believers to draw their cloak (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is ever oft- forgiving,Most Merciful} [33:58]

Allah also says:“{…And not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils all over their bodies, and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their husband’s fathers, their sons, their husband’s sons, their brothers or their brother’s sons or their sister’s sons, or their women or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of s*x}.[24:30]

Alhumdulillah I wear Hijab and I'm Proud to be a Muslim Woman~!

Answer 13

Hijab is the good way to stop men from staring at them...... and they are safe under Hijab

Answer 14

yeah, i think a woman should wear hijab, but its entirely her choice. in the quran, it says a woman should dress  modestly, and to me hijab is a form of modesty. i wear hijab because i dont feel comfortable going out without it.

Answer 15

i know that there is a hadith that states what means that a muslim woman should show only the face and hands.

why? personnaly , i think it's for several reasons , one of them is for women to be treated regardless her beauty , like a person not just a barbie doll . the second is to keep virtue in the community by making men and women at peace with themselves and not estimulated any where they go and in the street (is it is hapenning)

salafis (or sunnis) say that niqab is a must , and they qout some verse in the qur'an , but a lot of people disagree with them about the meaning of the verse

hijab is a must , covering all the body but the face and the hand , anything more than that is a plus . and some girls are just too beautiful they should wear niqab . the prophet (yusof) used to cover his face

men also are compelled to follow sort of dressing code , covering from the belly button the the knee , wearing clothes that don't 'describe' anything in your body

women are beautiful , men are not . the hair DON'T turn men on at all , but it's all about the concept itself , she is beautiful and this is going to affect how people treat her , barbie doll , or a person

as for some communities that are degrading to women. islam got nothing to do with that

in fact christianity is most degrading to women since it states that women are "the source of all evel"

and that Eve picked up the forbidden fruit , whil it was Adam who did it

Answer 16

I don't.

Let me put it this way: before Christian missionaries entered black Africa, they were happy in their skirt wraps and didn't think exposing more of your skin made you unchaste. It didn't matter to men, because everybody was like this and women's upper bodies was just a feature of them, just like their noses or eyes.

Then entered Christian missionaries, told them that they had to cover their upper bodies, too, that it is unchaste to expose their b*****s, and devote Christian women sewed ugly blouses and skirts for them to wear as a good deed, and suddenly African women started to find naked bodies unchaste.

If someone comes forward to say a woman's nose turns men on, you'll get Taliban style veils. If another one comes forward to say the thought of a woman is enough to provoke him, who knows what will happen to women in those societies?

It is a person's own responsibility to control his thoughts and deeds. You have no right to impose them unto other people and put restrictions.

Answer 17

well for #1 reason.. if you believe in your faith and believe in your God.. you will do everything to please him.. right?

so #1 if God asks us women to cover, we do out of obediance. not any oppression from humanly ideals

#2.. then we are instructed to gain knowledge and study the Quran and Islam. so we learn why God instructed us to do this

#3 God doesnt just throw out a rule without any reason, why?

We all know that men are more sexually driven than women.. (sure you will say not all, but generally they are)... Men think about s*x 99% of the day.. They look at womens curves, shape, soft flowing hair, soft skin, etc etc and get thoughts..

God is aware of this... Although he chose to make us women attractive (generally speaking, dont say some women are ugly).. If men dont have faith and wonder about, they will act like animals fornicating, sodomy, rape, adutery etc... Look at some non religious countries and cultures.. .. divorce rates are up past 60%, rapes, sexual murders, adultery is common place,  teens are having s*x and getting pregnant as early as 10, 11years old.. s*x in schools is so common as if shaking hands.. There are s*x clubs where you hook up with opposites just to get your jollies off, no strings attached.. Some families have children from several fathers, not knowing who the father is... the list is endless..

So God requires women to protect themselves from these vises.. he actually honors women.. its not oppression, its honoring them... men will see this women is a women of faith and not bother her.. he will not be inclinded to see her body, so he wont have indecent thoughts... It protects his wife also in the sense that she knows her husband wont look at other women cause they are covered from his views, so her marriage is safe... and the list goes on and so forth...