Hijab Controversy: Why Do Muslim Women Wear Hijab And Niqab?

Is It Obligatory For Muslim Women To Wear The Hijab In Islam? Main Points: 1. Amid the Hijab Controversy, We’ll know what Hijab is and what Islam says about it, as well as other types of Islamic dress for women including Niqab, Burqa, Khimar, and Shayla. 2. In Islam, Allah the Almighty commands both males and females to lower their eyes in order to maintain a modest and dignified communal code of behaviour. 3. Muslim women are obligated to veil the concealable parts of their bodies (Satr-e-Aurat), which they do by wearing Hijab, Niqab, Khimar, or even Burqa, depending on their personal preference. 4. Hijab is a concept based on seeking Allah Almighty's pleasure via obedience to His holy orders, rather than patriarchal oppression or a man-made societal system. 5. Hijab is one of the obligatory acts of Islam, and it is widely observed as a mainstream Muslim practise all throughout the world. ------ By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 10 February 2022 Students wearing hijab and saffron shawls at MGM PU College in Udupi on Tuesday. ---- In the midst of a blazing controversy in Karnataka over the wearing of the 'Hijab' in educational institutions, students and internet users took to social media to voice their support for Muslim women who wear the hijab. #HijabisOurRight quickly became a trending topic on Twitter. After the principal denied access to hijab-clad girls, Muslim students in the state staged a protest outside the college campus. While Dalit students wore blue scarves to show sympathy with hijab-wearing girls, saffron scarves were worn by students in the state as a kind of counter-protest. The matter became a political football, with the political parties in the state indulging in mudslinging. While Congress supported the Muslim girls, claiming constitutional rights, the BJP opposed the wearing of the 'Hijab' in class, with its state president declaring that the state government will not accept the Talibanisation of the educational system. On the other hand, Congress MP said in Lok Sabha that Hijab for Muslims like Hindu's 'mangalsutra', Christian's crucifix, Sikh's turban. We’ll know what Hijab is and what Islam says about it, as well as other types of Islamic dress for women including Niqab, Burqa, Khimar, and Shayla. A headscarf that covers the hair and neck is known as a hijab. Niqab is a veil that covers the face and head but leaves the eyes open. Burqa is used to cover the entire body of a woman. It can be either a one-piece or a two-piece garment. Khimar is a long scarf that wraps the head, chest, and shoulders but leaves the face exposed. Shayla is a rectangular piece of cloth wrapped around the head and pinned in place. Sometimes it is worn in the form of a half Niqab with part of the face still appearing. In public or at home, Muslim women wear any of these gowns to cover their hair, face, and body in order to maintain modesty and privacy from unrelated males. However, the concept is not exclusive to Islam; it is also seen in other religions such as Judaism and Christianity. What is the Islamic Position on the Hijab? In Islam, Allah the Almighty commands both males and females to lower their eyes in order to maintain a modest and dignified communal code of behaviour. Both men and women must speak in a dignified tone, maintain proper demeanour, and dress modestly. Depending on the choice of matter, modest Muslim female apparel could be Hijab, Niqab, Khimar, or Burqa. (Photo: Flickr) ---- Muslim women are obligated to veil the concealable parts of their bodies (satr-e-aurat), which they do by wearing Hijab, Niqab, Khimar, or even Burqa, depending on their personal preference. The command to veil was given for the first time in Surah Al-Ahzab. Allah says in this verse: “...and when you ask the wives of the Prophet for anything to use, ask for it from behind a curtain [hijab]; this is purer for your hearts and for their hearts” (33:53). The word Hijab is used in this verse to refer to any curtain that covers the concealable parts of the body, and the rationale for this is that the veil can provide purity and modesty to the hearts. Following that, the Holy Qur'an revealed the command of Hijab (veiling) in verses 30 and 31 of Surah An-Noor. The males were addressed first, followed by the women. The following are the two verses: Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran, “Command the Muslim men to keep their gaze low and to protect their private organs; that is much purer for them; indeed Allah is Aware of their deeds.” (24:30) “And command the Muslim women to keep their gaze low and to protect their chastity, and they should not expose their adornment [Zeenat] except what is apparent, and to keep the cover wrapped over their bosoms; and not to reveal their adornment except to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or women of their religion, or the bondwomen they possess, or male servants provided they do not have manliness, or such children who do not know of women’s nakedness, and not to stamp their feet on the ground in order that their hidden adornment be known; and O Muslims, all of you turn in repentance together towards Allah, in the hope of attaining success.” (Quran 24:31) The Arabic word yaguddu is derived from ghadd, which means to draw down, lower, or keep one's eyes down, as enjoined in the verse, which means to turn one's gaze away from something that Islam forbids one from seeing. For men, concealable parts (satr) include all parts of the body from the navel to the knees, whereas for women, concealable parts include the entire body except the face and palms. The act of a man looking at a woman's satr or a woman looking at a man's Satr is strictly forbidden because it violates the Quranic verses' exhortation to ‘lower their gaze’. It is for this reason that Muslim women are obligated to cover themselves appropriately as prescribed by Islam. It is for this reason that some women wear veils like as the Niqab, Hijab, headscarves, or Abaya. Allah then says, “...and they should not expose their adornment [zeenat] except what is apparent”. According to Hazrat Abdullah bin Masud, this refers to a woman’s outer shawl. When a Muslim woman has to emerge from her house out of necessity, she should conceal her entire body. Non-Maharim individuals will only see her outer shawl at that point. The High Court requested the student community and public at large to maintain peace and tranquillity in Karnataka when the court is hearing legal arguments on the ban on wearing hijab in colleges. | Photo Credit: AP ----- Religious experts disagree on whether or not it is permitted to reveal one's face and palms in front of non-Mahrams. However, everyone agrees that if there is a possibility of fitna (i.e. bad intention) by staring at a woman's face and hands, then it should not be exposed, and women should not expose their faces and palms in that situation. Hijab has become synonymous with the well-known feminine headscarf, and it is sometimes referred to in English as a 'veil.' While scholars recognise various benefits of the Hijab, the primary reason for wearing it is to obey Allah, the Most High, who is the Lord of the Universe, and His lovely Prophet (peace be upon him). Hijab or veiling is a divine command given by Allah the Almighty to all believing Muslim women that they should wear it. It is compulsory for all female Muslims who have attained puberty. Meaning, if a Muslim woman chooses not to do it, she is believed to have gone into sin, in the same manner, that skipping prayers or not fasting during Ramadan is considered a sin. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Hijab versus Saffron Shawls Row in Karnataka: Mischief Galore --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Accordingly, the Hijab is a concept based on seeking Allah Almighty's pleasure via obedience to His holy orders, rather than patriarchal oppression or a man-made societal system. Hijab is one of the obligatory acts of Islam, and it is widely observed as a mainstream Muslim practise all throughout the world. Faith and trust in Allah Almighty, as well as a desire to please Him by observing modesty at all levels of public life, are at the heart of the societal design of Islam. Islam does not deny the human need to appreciate such beauty. Instead, it gives men and women a reasonable context in which to do so. Living one's life in accordance with divine direction might display personal empowerment and liberty. Several Hadiths make wearing Hijab or veil a necessary act for Muslim women, in accordance with Quranic scriptures. Only a few hadiths are provided here: It is narrated from Hazrat Ayesha said “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray Fajr and the believing women would attend (the prayer) with him, wrapped in their aprons, then they would go back to their houses and no one would recognize them. (Sahih Al-Bukhari) This hadith clearly indicates that when Muslim women went out of the house during the Prophet's time, they wrapped their entire body in a large chador. It is narrated from Hazrat Ayesha that a woman gave a letter to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) from behind the curtain, then he rolled up his hands and said: "I do not know whether it is a man's hand or a woman's hand". So this woman said that I am a woman. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: If you are a woman, apply henna on your nails so that there is a difference between a man and a woman. (Sunan Ibn Dawood) This hadith provides clear evidence that women in the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) used to wear hijab when they were in his service. Following these explicit verses and hadiths, Muslim women are obligated to cover the parts of their body by wearing Hijab, Niqab or any dress they like. Muslim ladies follow this divine practice in obedience to the Lord Almighty. ----- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. 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