If Islam is so equal, then why do women have to cover up more than men do?

Question

Muslim men must cover from the navel to the knee. Muslim women must "throw their cloaks around themselves when out in public," effectively covering everything but their hands, feet and the oval of their face.

How is that fair? And why is it necessary in 2007? I understand the original purpose, the idea behind it (so that men do not get tempted by women) - but in Western society today, a woman dressed conservatively (long pants or skirt, long sleeves) is not stared at, thus making covering her hair unnecessary. Why then, the specific rules? Are the dictates of the Qur'an really for all time, or is it being interpreted incorrectly?

Answer 1

Well let me reverse the question. Why is it acceptable for men to be topless and women not? Also why do men make more (statistically) working the same jobs as women? Why did all civilizations treat their women like dirt for most of history? Why couldn't women vote until the 20th century? My point is I believe that all societies have inequality between the sexes. While muslim societies have a far greater inequality, it is undeniable that women are far from "equal" in western societies. I have not read the bible but I consistently get the idea from Christians that men are the natural head of household, and I'm pretty sure most other religious texts espouse the same notion. It could, and has, been argued that feminism (the notion that women are "equal) is heretical and contrary to God's will and that working women have lead to the decline of the American family. I could go on but the fact remains that in all societies, it is always expected that women dress more conservatively than their female counterparts.

Answer 2

Men and women are not considered the same in Islam, or anywhere in the world. They are biologically and anatomically different. The equality Islam proffesses is that on Judgement day they will be treated equally as the sin of a man is equal to the sin of a woman who commits the same act, as is the good thing they did, it will be classified the same. If a woman did a good thing and a man did the same thing they will be blessed from their Lord in equal measure.

The hijab thing should not be looked at as 'fair' or not, because you're thinking of it by looking at dressing. Ask a bigger and harder question like - is it fair that God created man and woman differently? Why?

The hijab is a duty written for women from God, so if you want to blame anyone for this ruling why don't you blame God?

Human nature doesn't really change, people are still raping and taking women's virginity outside of marriage today as they did since the beggining of mankind, so it doesn't mater if it's 2007BC or 2007AD, they are pretty much the same.

The hijab counts for more than just conservative dressing, it is a sign of faith and a sign for people who lack some morals to say 'back off', whereas conservative dressing alone just says I have some morals or my body is actually ugly and I don't want to show it off.

Answer 3

Yes Islam is so equal, all you need to know is just inf about why God ask just the women to wer wear Hijaab



Hijab' is an Arabic word that describes Muslim women's entire dress code, which includes a veil and whatever else is needed to cover everything except the face and hands. It is adopted at or before puberty- an age when Muslim children become fully accountable for their actions.



This essay will attempt to briefly enumerate the basic requirements regarding Muslim women’s dress (Hijab) as stipulated by the 'Sharee’ah' (Law) of Islam. The term 'Hijab' itself includes not only dress and covering the body, but methods of behavior before members of the same and/or opposite sex, promoting privacy for females and prohibiting loose intermingling between males and females, and thereby encouraging modesty, decency, and chastity.



The following requirements represent those agreed upon by the overwhelming majority of scholars and are all solidly backed by firm evidence taken from the Qur’an, the 'Sunnah' (Prophet's tradition) and the practice of the 'Sahaabah' (Prophet's companions):



Just try to read this articles



"Do you have to wear that thing on your head?"



http://www.thelastingmiracle.com/eng/article.aspx?id=121&cat=121



Defining Hijaab



http://www.thelastingmiracle.com/eng/article.aspx?id=122&cat=21



Just Try one time to read avout Islam you will not lose any thing



May god bless u

Answer 4

hijab is a woman's choice. The Holy Quran says for a woman to cover her head. This is for a reason and many Christian religions used to teach the same but Christianity changes constantly whereas Islam stays the same.

The hijab is really a good thing and it shows the woman's faith. Muslim women who truly follow Islam are very strong women indeed.

Just because you don't agree doesn't make it wrong.

you seem to like bashing Muslims. Does your husband know you feel this way? I doubt it

Answer 5

Islam is equal when it comes to justice.



You can't really rationalize that Islam doesn't treat men and women equal (in terms of justice) because of the amount of clothes that either group is suppose to wear, that is ridiculous.



The USA is a country that treats men and women equal, yet men can show thier breast in public and women cannot (for the most part). Is the USA now a sexist country, trying to limit the "rights" of women? I mean, "come on", this is 2007, why not allow a woman to show her breasts?



See, things are just different in nature. With so many intellectuals in this world, why can't the general public just acknowledge that?

Answer 6

I know of many Muslim women (including my husband's sister) who do not cover, and it is their choice. I have not heard one single Muslim woman complain about wearing hijab. Actually the ONLY people I do hear complaining are people who do not practice Islam and/or do not wish to accept the religion and its practices. I see plenty of valid explanations here for how men and women are told to cover and why. If that is not good enough then what exactly is the "proper answer"?

Answer 7

I don't understand what's the problem. Before Islam as we know today, the women covered their hair. Why not just continue tradition, if you're Muslim, or not. What's wrong with being modest?

Answer 8

if u are a practising person in your religion, u just follow what it says in the book..u dont question it..



..also, these days in the western society, (where i live, england..) a lotta people either dont have a religion, (i have tons of white mates but i dont think any of them are christian/jewish or anything else..) or if they do, they dont really follow it..same goes for some muslims..me, i'm muslim but i dont wear a headscarf and i dress in jeans n stuff..but some muslims wanna keep to their religion and dont care about peer pressure or what everyone else is doing..thats why they cover up..they wanna do the thing their religion is sayin..regardless of what the year is etc..

Answer 9

If a woman is wearing loose clothes, not skin tight clothes, then she doesn't have to wear the burqa (the long robe). But she has to cover her hair because hair is something that is very personal to a woman. She doesn't have to cover her hair in front of her family (brother, son, father, husband) but otherwise she should. This is because for the same reason, so that men don't get attracted to her (thru her hair).



Edit: Tupid, Muslim women are allowed to pray in mosques. It is preferable for them to pray at home but if they want to go to a mosque, then they can. Maybe you haven't seen the pictures of Masjid-e-Haram or Masjid-e-Nabawi in Makkah and Madinah. Muslim women go there and pray......

Answer 10

we are equivalent contained in the eyes of Allah It does not recommend our ROLES are equivalent. Is the function of the King and the function of a beggar the same ?? No, yet contained in the eyes of Allah, they're going to be judged both !! females conceal for secure practices from the adult males of the devils. for sure you dont favor masking, as no guy has ever appeared at you in that way - and so that you may want to be labeled among the elderly, the position their is not any requirement to conceal. YOUR grandmother didnt go away the homestead wihout masking up !!! - Its not our fault your society has morphed right into a Godless, superficial, sex and violence fuelled society Islam gave females resources rights 1400 years in the past. females had the right to vote only a one hundred years in the past contained in the west attempt getting slightly attitude.... "females are dealt with unjustly in those international places." - sure, no kinfolk contributors violence hostile to females the following !! Jeez - provide me power !!

Answer 11

1. Women are possessions and therefore not given equal status.



2. The idea that a man would be tempted beyond his control at the sight of a woman is an archaic belief that takes the responsibility for bad choices away from them and places it on the woman.



3. This is not true of all Muslim sects and countries.



PENNIE

Answer 12

Well, why can't women become priestesses in Catholicism?



Why are almost all the women in the Bible evil?



Why can't people eat certain foods because of the Bible?





- 17 yo Pagan

Answer 13

sounds like they're following thier book.



if women here followed the bible by the letter, they'd be filthy/unclean, worth fewer sheckles than men, be subservient to men, and they'd have to shut up in church --- and that's just for starters!

Answer 14

The next time you are in your church, take a look at the Virgin Mary and note that she covers her hair. The next time you see a nun, in habit, notice she covers her hair. Look at medieval woman, they covered their hair. If you study history you will see this is a common thing in the past. And is the past really all that horrible? After all, if it had not happened, we would not be here today.



The logic for these cover ups may be different, but the outcome is just the same. It shows women of decency. I will be honest. I would rather see a woman covered up than someone flaunting their wares in public. There is an expression that I have always loved, "Exposed meat draws blowflies and gives home to maggots."



You can go on and on about inequality but what purpose does it serve?



I wish to defend some of the values that the burka represents. The burka represents a woman's consecration to her husband and family. Only they see her. It affirms the privacy, exclusivity and importance of the domestic sphere. Her focus is her home, the nest where her children are born and reared. She is the taproot that sustains the spiritual life of the family, nurturing and training her children, providing refuge and support to her husband.



In contrast, the bikinied American beauty queen struts practically naked in front of millions on TV. A feminist, she belongs to herself. In practice, paradoxically, she is public property. She belongs to no one and everyone. She shows her body without discrimination. In America, the cultural measure of a woman's value is her sex appeal. As this asset depreciates quickly, she is neurotically obsessed with appearance and plagued by weight problems.



As an adolescent, her role model is Britney Spears, a singer whose act approximates a strip tease. From Britney, she learns that she will be loved only if she gives sex. Thus, she learns to hook up rather than demand patient courtship and true love. Dozens of men may know her before her husband does. She loses the innocence, which is a part of her charm.



The feminine personality is founded on the emotional relationship between mother and baby, nurturing and self-sacrifice. Masculine nature is founded on the relationship between hunter and prey. It is based on aggression and reason. Feminism teaches woman that her feminine nature has resulted in oppression and that she should convert to male behavior instead. The result: a confused and aggressive woman with a large chip on her shoulder, unfit to become an emotionally fulfilled wife or mother.



This, of course, is the goal of the social engineers at the NWO: undermine sexual identity and destroy the family, create social and personal dysfunction, and reduce population. In the "brave new world," women are not supposed to be nest makers, or progenitors of the race. They are meant to be neutered autonomous creatures that indulge in sex for physical pleasure, not for love or procreation.



The West would liberate them Middle Eastern women do do what exactly? To ape Britney Spears? To wear low-rise "see-my-thong" pants? To the mutual masturbation that passes for sexuality in America?



Parenthood is the pinnacle of human development where we graduate from self-indulgence and become God's surrogates: creating and nurturing new life. The New World Order does not want us to reach this level of maturity. Pornography is the replacement for marriage. We are to remain stunted: single, sex-starved and self-obsessed. We are not meant to have a permanent "private" life. We are to remain lonely and isolated, dependent on consumer products for our identity, in a state of perpetual courtship. I will take the Islamic alternative tyvm.



This is especially destructive for woman. Her sexual attraction is a function of her fertility. As fertility declines, so does her sex appeal. If a woman devotes her prime years to becoming independent, she is not likely to find a permanent mate. Her long-term personal fulfillment and happiness lies in making marriage and family her first priority.



Feminism is another cruel New World Order hoax that has debauched American women and despoiled Western civilization. It has ruined millions of lives and represents a lethal threat to Islam.



I am not advocating the burka but rather some of the values that it represents, specifically a woman's consecration to her future husband and family, and the modesty and dignity this entails. The burka and the bikini represent two extremes. The answer lies somewhere in the middle.



Realize too what might be worn or NOT worn under those burkas. The woman might be nude for all you know! In the meantime, please separate CULTURE and ISLAM when it comes to dress. Such attitudes are often from a culture and were in place before the arrival of Islam.



Think on this. A well covered Muslimah from Pakistan, in her lovely flowing shalmar kameez with its loose shawl would be arrested for public indecency in Saudi Arabia. It varies and it is as wrong to think all Muslims are the same as to think al lAmericans live in trailer parks.

Answer 15

All power lies in sex, in order to hold onto power it is necessary to reduce humans to nothing more than playthings of a divine being, which can only be contacted/appeased through the priests (i.e. those currently in power). If you control sex, you control the life and death of the species and thus retain power over others.



As seen from the results of it's 'wisdom', the q'ran is nothing but a steaming dog turd - I wouldn't wipe my **** with it's pages...but the same goes for all religious dogma, whatever source. PRAISE BE THE GODDESS. Death to tyrants!!!!



Worship the divinity within.

Answer 16

Coz women don't go around after men as much as men go around after women.

Answer 17

Muslim women are treated like garbage out of respect. If Christian men had as much respect for their women, they would treat them like garbage as well. Although it is well known that Christians in general treat women very badly, Muslims are definitely winning the war against women. They point to their tremendous respect for women as the primary reason for their ability to treat women like garbage.

Answer 18

I'm American, female, 33 years old and have first a Christian and then a Neopagan background as far as religion goes. I've been reading about Islam quite a lot lately and have actually been mulling over whether to revert. This is not a decision I want to rush into but of course, as a woman, hijab is something I must think about.



The Prophet (pbuh) did indeed prescribe modesty for both men and women, and there are indeed differences in the area that must be covered for men and for women. With men, as you stated, it's navel to knee; with women it's neck to knee. That said, those are the MINIMUM areas which must be covered in the presence of anyone but the spouse. Even Muslim men are required to wear shirts in public and around those not their relatives. (The term is "mahram" which basically connotes anyone you can't marry, hence people you can sort of let your hair down around because they won't take advantage of you.)



Muhammad (pbuh) himself, even though allowed to expose his legs below the knee, nevertheless was allegedly so modest that he would not show his lower legs to his male in-laws when he was sitting on the lip of a well or pond one day with them, cooling off in the water. He covered himself until they were sitting on either side of him, then bared his lower legs again and put them back into the water.



As for it being unfair that women have to cover more, I know that in theory there should be no difference between a woman's breasts and a man's. I've been a Goddess-worshipper, I'm savvy. In practice, be honest for a moment: Have you heard of ANY Western culture which has NOT sexualized a woman's breasts? How about any from the Middle East? Modesty has long been the norm in Asia. Even in Africa, where tribal women go around topless, there are strict taboos in place concerning women's sexual behavior. Topless does not equate with "free."



Nor does it in the West. I've done and seen a lot in my three decades of life and I can count on one hand the number of places I've been where the women could go around topless and not be molested, or at least where said harassment was extremely unlikely to happen. In one of those places there were too many people for me to see everything that went on, plus it got dark while I was there--something could have been happening and I missed it. In a second place there was no *blatant* harassment but there were still very sexist attitudes about women which were not often voiced because, I suspect, the men feared not getting lucky if their sexism became overt. In every other place I've seen women be nude or partially nude they were faced with disrespect from all sides. But it was supposed to be taken well because they were "making good money" and men were also complimenting them.



I do not blame the women themselves for what happened. The problem is that we do not have clear cues in Western culture for when it is permissable to be sexually active with another person. We have decided that requiring such social cues is oppression, for some odd reason. The end result is nobody knows what the rules are. Couple that with a misogynistic cultural attitude that never completely went away, and you find men looking for any excuse whatsoever to violate women's personal space.



There is therefore a serious loss of privacy in the West, with women's bodies becoming more and more cultural property rather than the private property of their selves. The most disappointing examples of this, to me, are the way some Western feminists and some liberals demand that Muslimahs be unveiled. You might as well demand that a Western woman go around in her underwear every day. It is unreasonable and, in my view, constitutes sexual assault.



Islam is considered a universalist religion but arises from Arab culture, in which shame is an important emotion equating with (and often being stronger than) the role of guilt in the West. A culture which emphasizes shame over guilt also emphasizes privacy to a great degree so as to avoid shame. This has spilled over into the larger Muslim community even though only about a quarter of the ummah is actually Arab in ethnicity. If you are going to be the big white rescuer of all those "poor ignorant oppressed" Muslim women, you might want to keep that in mind.



Personally, even if I do not revert to Islam, this whole issue has made me think seriously about boundaries between myself and other people, and I suspect my wardrobe will be evolving into something more modest in any case--perhaps not to cover my face or hair, but to make myself less of a target for the fantasies of some sexist guy with an overinflated sense of entitlement. I mean, when I can't even turn on my IMs without some guy trying to hook up with me who doesn't even know me, and when I am taken less seriously as a human being if I am no longer conventionally attractive, there is something seriously wrong with that. Why should I play into that dynamic if I don't have to? That doesn't make me less than a man, it makes me smart because I am looking out for myself.



Edited to add: I'm surprised none of the apparent Muslims who answered you have pointed out that Muhammad (pbuh) was actually quite a feminist for his day. Islam allows women to participate in politics, and there have been Muslimah heads of state, whereas in the U.S. we have yet to elect our first female President. Islam allows women to run businesses, to own their own property which their husbands cannot take away, to retain their maiden names after marriage, to receive dowry from their husbands when they wed, and to divorce (although it is easier for a man to divorce than for a woman, women can still exercise this right). Muhammad (pbuh) said that men and women are equal like teeth in a comb. Women do not have to restrict themselves to the private sphere as long as they take adequate care of any children they have.



I do need to point out to you, because I wasn't aware until a day ago, that about 80 percent of mosques in the U.S. are Wahabi-sponsored. This means you're going to get more of a conservative response to your question from many quarters of American Islam. Please bear in mind that the Wahabi sect does not represent mainstream Islam, that it in fact funds terrorism, and that it habitually violates Islamic precepts that are spelled out quite clearly in the Qur'an, which is the highest authority next to God in Islam. So if someone comes in here bleating about how women should be happy to be subjugated in all things, take their words with a huge grain of salt.

Answer 19

its not fair...i think dat they deserve the same rights..u no 1 thing..Muslim women r not allowed in their praying place..mosque..watever its called

dats not fair 4 dem...is it?

Answer 20

The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The ‘hijaab’ or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the ‘subjugation’ of women under Islamic law. Before we analyze the reasoning behind the religiously mandated ‘hijaab’, let us first study the status of women in societies before the advent of Islam





1. In the past women were degraded and used as objects of lust



The following examples from history amply illustrate the fact that the status of women in earlier civilizations was very low to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity:



Babylonian Civilization:

The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife was put to death.



Greek Civilization:

Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations. Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called ‘Pandora’ is the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity of women was precious, and women were held in high esteem, the Greeks were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitution became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.



Roman Civilization:

When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common amongst the Romans.



Egyptian Civilization:

The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.



Pre-Islamic Arabia:

Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and very often when a female child was born, she was buried alive.



2. Islam uplifted women and gave them equality and expects them to maintain their status.



Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.



Hijaab for men



People usually only discuss ‘hijaab’ in the context of women. However, in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijaab’ for men before ‘hijaab’ for the women. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Noor:



"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do."

[Al-Qur’an 24:30]



The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.



Hijaab for women.



The next verse of Surah Noor, says:



" 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 veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons..."

[Al-Qur’an 24:31]



3. Six criteria for Hijaab.



According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing hijaab:



Extent:



The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male is to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the extent of covering obligatory is to cover the complete body except the face and the hands upto the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body. Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands are part of the obligatory extent of ‘hijaab’.



All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.



The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.



The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see through them.



The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.



The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.



The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.



4. Hijaab includes conduct and behaviour among other things



Complete ‘hijaab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijaab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijaab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijaab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijaab’ of the eyes, ‘hijaab’ of the heart, ‘hijaab’ of thought and ‘hijaab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.



5. Hijaab prevents molestation



The reason why Hijaab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Qur’an in the following verses of Surah Al-Ahzab:



"O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

[Al-Qur’an 33:59]



The Qur’an says that Hijaab has been prescribed for the women so that they are recognized as modest women and this will also prevent them from being molested.





6. Example of twin sisters



Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down the street. One of them is attired in the Islamic hijaab i.e. the complete body is covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, a mini skirt or shorts. 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 Hijaab 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 Qur’an rightly says that hijaab prevents women from being molested.





7. Capital punishment for the rapists



Under the Islamic shariah, a man convicted of having raped a woman, is given capital punishment. Many are astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence. Some even say that Islam is a ruthless, barbaric religion! I have asked a simple question to hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose, God forbid, someone rapes your wife, your mother or your sister. You are made the judge and the rapist is brought in front of you. What punishment would you give him? All of them said they would put him to death. Some went to the extent of saying they would torture him to death. To them I ask, if someone rapes your wife or your mother you want to put him to death. But if the same crime is committed on somebody else’s wife or daughter you say capital punishment is barbaric. Why should there be double standards?



8. Western society falsely claims to have uplifted women



Western talk of women’s liberalization is nothing but a disguised form of exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honour. Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’ women. On the contrary it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers, hidden behind the colourful screen of ‘art’ and ‘culture’.





9. USA has one of the highest rates of rape





United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any country in the world. According to a FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average 1756 cases of rape were committed in U.S.A alone. Later another report said that on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes are committed in USA. The year was not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans got ‘bolder’ in the following years.



Consider a scenario where the Islamic hijaab is followed in America. Whenever a man looks at a woman and any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic hijaab, that is the complete body is covered except the face and the hands upto the wrist. After this if any man commits rape he is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such a scenario, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?





10. Implementation of Islamic Shariah will reduce the rate of rapes





Naturally as soon as Islamic Shariah is implemented positive results will be inevitable. If Islamic Shariah is implemented in any part of the world, whether it is America or Europe, society will breathe easier. Hijaab does not degrade a woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity.

Answer 21

thats why i dont consider islam as a religion. whatever they said and done is full of lies

Answer 22

Muslim women wear hijab—which is more than just a head cover—because God ordered them to do so in two places in the Qur’an, and because Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also ordered it. The Qur’an says in Surah 24, verses 30 - 31 what means:

*{Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do. 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, and not to reveal their adornment save 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 their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigor, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.}*



These verses tell us that our Islamic dress is not just a matter of covering the head alone, but also of covering the bosom, which is attractive to men, and of lowering the gaze and walking in a way that does not attract attention. Note that the order to lower the gaze was addressed first to men…



You can also read the other verse about the same point, which is verse number 59 in Surah 33. It may be translated:

*{O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them [when they go abroad]. That will be better, that so they may be recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.}*



This indicates that one of the reasons for hijab is to distinguish the believing woman from the non-believing. This relates to your second question concerning the logic behind hijab.





Ask yourself, or ask the next person who asks you that question, if a female judge walked into the courtroom wearing a tight miniskirt and low-cut blouse, would you take her seriously? Who would you respect more, a woman dressed like that or one dressed modestly? The Qur’an was revealed for all times, and though circumstances change, human nature does not. The fact is that men do like to look at women’s bodies, so a woman who covers herself is more likely to be respected as a person than looked upon as a piece of meat!



Up until the end of the nineteenth century, a Western woman who had any self respect covered her head—though perhaps not all her hair—in public. Your audience may argue that a woman who does not cover her hair is no longer looked upon as a loose woman. That may be true, but women still know that men look at them. Otherwise, why would they spend millions of dollars every year to style, color, and treat their hair?





It is true that men don’t have to cover their heads, but there is a dress code for them, as well, although it is not so widely publicized as the women’s dress code. Men must at least be covered from the navel to the knees with loose fitting clothing. The rules for men are different because women are less likely to ogle men than the other way around.





Do women feel hot in hijab? To be honest, sometimes, yes, so smart women wear cotton. But overall, loose dresses are much cooler and healthier than pants [trousers] or pantyhose.





Some women cover their faces either because they think it is required of them - only a minority of scholars say so - or because they think it is better for them to protect their modesty. Others do not think it is required, but they prefer to act as the wives of Prophet Muhammad did, for they take them as a model in their every day life. Those, believe that such act is a fadl, which would earn them more heavenly reward.





Does a head cover prevent a woman from practicing her daily activities? I don’t see how it could! A woman does not normally wear hijab in her own house, so it shouldn’t get in the way when she’s doing housework. If a long head covering would get in the way in her work or pose a danger to her—if the woman were working around machinery or in a laboratory, for example—she can wear a different style that doesn’t have dragging ends. Actually, hijab—perhaps loose trousers and a long shirt if her work requires her to bend, lift, or climb steps or ladders—gives a woman more freedom of movement while protecting her modesty than does a short dress.





Is hijab an oppression? Quite the contrary. Dr. Fatima Naseef, author of Women in Islam, sees hijab as a woman’s right to maintain her modesty and to be respected as a person. Please turn the question around to the asker: if one woman has the right to go half naked in public, why doesn’t another woman have the right to cover herself in public? Why is it looked upon as an oppression if she chooses to be modest?







What is Hijab?



Hijab is the dress that covers the adornment of the Muslim woman, on one condition that it won't be adornment by itself. In other words, the Islamic definition of hijab is the dress that covers whatever might arouse instincts. It is what would keep a woman safe, not only in her own society but wherever she goes. It should be noticed that the way it’s worn does not arouse the sexual appeal for both men and women.



Despite these points, hijab is not old fashioned as some might claim. On the contrary, a Muslim woman needs to be careful of her appearance. She needs not only to be neat, but very well dressed too.



Yet, hijab as a dress, does not have the same rank of importance as manners and behaviors have. It is crucially important for a Muslim woman to behave well when wearing her hijab, because her behavior will give an impression to the dress she is wearing on the one hand, and to the religion itself on the other.





The Legislation of Hijab:



The proof that would come to mind when talking about the obligation of hijab is the verses 30-31 in Surah 24 of the Holy Qur’an, which give the meaning of:

*{Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do. 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, and not to reveal their adornment save 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 their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigor, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.}*



These verses clearly reveal the idea that a Muslim woman should wear her hijab according to God’s commands. I need here to confirm a point that even that in the previous verses the word hijab was not spelled out in the first place, but Allah Almighty stated ‘good behaviors’ as a ‘prerequisite’ to hijab.



Christianity, as well as Islam, figured how important it is for a woman to wear hijab. We can easily see that the nuns are still wearing their own hijab and the society in large see this as a normal condition. Whereas, when it comes to Islam all voices come against the idea itself. It is quite obvious nowadays that hijab is been fought not only refused in some societies.





Why is it Heavenly Legislated to Wear Hijab?



In other words: does it have any effect on the society as a Whole?



When we are discussing hijab, it might come to one’s mind that it’s a kind of marginalization of women, who have to preserve their beauty away from the eyes of all the people except the woman’s husband or some chosen ones of her relatives. But is it really true that hijab causes women to be belittled or marginalized? To be able to answer this question we may look at the advantages of its wearing for both women and society.



Research shows that one of its most important advantages is ‘the security of the society’ that clears it from crimes, rape, incest, harassment in daily life, etc. The other important advantage is for the woman herself who is used to sell her body as if she is a kind of goods that have particular price, not as a woman who has enormous feelings, dignity, and special social status. So, looking only at these two advantages affirms the idea that by taking off their hijab, women become belittled and marginalized, and social crimes are really caused removing it. In other simple words, women have got rid of the cause of their safety.