18) List: Hijab Pros and Cons

Can I just say that: I wear hijab because I read the Qur'an and Hadith and feel that Allah tells women to cover their head (i.e. head coverings) but, I don't make other people feel uncomfortable for feeling the opposite of me. And, I also wanna say that I did wear a low cut (well, keyhole cut at the bosom) top today that hid my Victoria's Secret-enhanced cleavage very well. :)

Perhaps it's easier just to say this, but don't let ppl get to u, either way, with or without ur hijaab, ppl will still judge u or hold an impression of u which u may or may not like. Ignore them n do ur stuff. I can relate to ur wishing u were inconspicous.....hey went to the lengths of even wearing the niqaab (but that's a long n complicated story), what's similar is that i'm not convinced of it's (the niqaab's) fard-ness, but still do it, except at hospital. Also faced big personal n social probs, but i guess for me the pros weigh down the cons. My decision to wear it is a part of my individuality, n i know that.

Khiladi I totally agree with your perspective. Nice to know there are men out there who can think:)

PROS AND CONS...MMMM ...OK PROS GOOD...CONS ARE GOOD TOO ...SO WHY ARE THEY CALLED CONS?

MARSHALLAH....

pros:

if you are balding, aint nobody gotta know about it

'not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof'- what is your interpretation of this?

The reason I brought this point up is, especially in this country, it is often argued that women wear the hijab so as to not be treated as a sex object, i.e. it serves as a symbol for others. If one closely examines the verse, it is related to male-female interraction and is directed PRIMARILY towards the individual. The CAUTION should lead to a moral transformation within the INDIVIDUAL.

1. The Quran first gives the directive to the man to lower his gaze and guard his private parts. Men often argue that women need to wear hijab so other's will not look at them, and they further spend their efforts to making sure females where hijab. I think they need to honestly ponder why men are mentioned first.

2. The Quran, in the verse quoted, is primarily discussing male-female interraction. The Quran is telling the woman to cover their HIDDEN ornaments, which include what is on their chests, but allows what is APPARENT. "And say to the believing women
that they restrain their looks and guard their private parts, and that they display not their beauty or their embellishment EXCEPT THAT WHICH IS APPARENT THEREOF, and that they draw their head-coverings over their bosoms..." Now it is obvious that hidden ornaments around the BOSOM draw attention to the BREATS, and further, ankle bracelets stamping against the ground have been used to incite passion in all countries. Thus, the Quran is not condoning beauty for women at all, but want's them to take care from exposing parts that induce sexual lust.

Thus, what is being spoken about is a very keen awareness of one's modesty when talking to another person of a different gender. All the hadeeth, such as women not wearing strong perfume, point to this phenomenon. That is why, in my opinion, the Prophet (S) allowed perfume for women that primarily COLOURED, i.e. makeup, but not strong scented one's as to draw attention int he same manner ankle bracelets would.

3. To argue the Quran is talking about a dress code misses the very nature of what the purpose it serves. But this problem infects Muslim thought in general, where the purpose of shareeah, what it wants to achieve, i.e moral transformation, is not taken into account, Thus religion becomes a form, a symbol, merely an identity. The Quran, whenever it gives an injucntion, alomst always gives the reason why, and further, if it does not, the answer becomes obvious from a study of the context.

Enough of the rant...

Khiladi: I agree and disagree. There are hadith and verses of the Quran that talk about not displaying one's ornaments, or not drawing attention to oneself. But at the same time, things like jewelry and perfume are mentioned in halaal contexts (with the caveat of the hadith that describes a woman wearing perfume walking in public being the same as an adultress). The verse of the Quran that is most specific in terms of modesty (and also used to support hijab) is: 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 thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves 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 ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss. (24.031 YusufAli)

Asalaamu alaykum...this is in response to Ladylawyer's entry on January 29, 2004 (I'm sure I'll be replying to other comments as well :P)...basically I just wanted to say that I agree with you on how some people think that before putting on the hijab, the sister needs to be perfect. A question that comes to mind is, do we say that we need to be perfect before we pray before Allah (swt) or fast during the month of Ramadan? No, rather those are commandments of Allah (swt) so we follow them because they are steps in becoming better followers of Islam. Hijab is just another commandment of Allah (swt) (the proof is found in the Qur'an, Sunnah, and Hadith...there is more than one example and insha'Allah I can post some references if anyone is interested) and it is just another step in being a better Muslim.

I do agree, that in the desi community I have not heard of prerequisites of wearing hijab, but I think Wael's comments overall hold true across cultures and reflect the general Muslim attitude towards hijab -- some details may differ between cultures, of course.