Woman's Head Cover in Judaism

In the Jewish tradition when a Jewish woman[1]did go out in public, she always went out with a head covering which also covered the whole face, leaving one eye free.

Going out without a head covering was considered so shameful that it was grounds not only for divorce by the husband, but divorce without the obligation to pay the Ketubah[2]. “
These are they that are put away without their Ketubah... if she goes out with her head uncovered.”
In fact, Rabbi Meir is quoted as saying that it is a duty for a husband to divorce a woman who goes out without her head covered.

In the Book of Daniel (written after 160 B.C.E.) there is a clear evidence that it was customary for women to cover their heads and faces in public.

"Now Susanna was a woman of great beauty and delicate feeling. She was closely veiled, but those scoundrels ordered her to be unveiled so that they might feast their eyes on her beauty."

A Jewish woman in Palestine before and after the Common Era[3], and probably also later in Babylonia , then always appeared in public with their head and face largely covered.[4]

In connection with the previous resources the Talmud[5] relates the following:

"Kimhit, the mother of seven sons who successively held the office of high priest, was once asked by what merit of hers she was so blessed in her sons.
Because, she said: the beams of my home have never seen my hair.” (Yoma 47a)


FACE COVER IN JUDAISM (VEIL)

Veil, a cover for the face, or a disguise, from the earliest times has been a sign of chastity and decency in married women.
As the sign of chastity they had to cover their faces with veils in the presence of strangers.
The putting on of the veil marked the transition from girlhood to womanhood. Rebekah, the bride, covered herself with a veil on meeting Issac, the groom, (Gen.xxiv.65).
A widow did not wear a veil (Gen. xxxviii.19).

In modern times the bride is covered with a veil in her chamber in the presence of the groom, just before they are led under the canopy.
This remaining tradition, resembles the idea that as if the groom is the first whose eyes could celebrate seeing the bride's face and hair.!


Notes:

1. By woman here is meant a married woman.
However, since the usual marriage age for a girl was 13, the distinction is not terribly significant.

2. A marriage contract, containing among other things the settlement on the wife of a certain amount payable at her husband's death or on her being divorced.
‘The Jewish Encyclopedia'1909 prepared by more than 600 scholars and specialists.

3. The period coinciding with the Christian era.

4. Leonard Swidler, women in Judaism, 1976 p.p. 121-123

5. The collection of ancient Rabbinic writings consisting of the Mishnah and the Gemara, constituting the basis of religious authority in Orthodox Judaism.

www.islamic-laws.com

Christianity and Woman's Head Cover

"If a woman does not wear a veil, let her hair be cut; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then let her wear a veil."

"Judge for yourselves. Is it becoming for a woman to worship God without covering for her head?
Does not nature itself teach you that long hair is disgraceful for a man but glorious for a woman?
For her hair is granted her for a covering.
In case, however, anyone seems anxious to dispute the matter, we do not observe such a practice, neither do the churches of God."

www.islamic-laws.com

Hijab in Ancient Iran

By Mahboubeh Gandom Abaadi (A Seminary Graduate and Lecturer)

Iranian women had coverings in different eras such as Median, Achaemenid, Parthian and Samanid periods.
The existing evidences indicate that in ancient Iran hijab was common, among the Jews and probably in India, and even it was stricter than what Islamic rules have prescribed.
Commenting on Jewish people, Will Durant says:

If a woman violated the Jewish rules; for instance, she went out among people without head cover or if she span thread on public roads or if she had chat with different classes of the society, or if her voice was so loud that her neighbors could hear her when she was talking at her home, her husband was allowed to divorce her without paying her dower (marriage portion).[1]

In Zoroastrianism, women had a very high status and they could cheerfully and freely come to public places.
But after Darius, woman’s status declined especially among the rich classes of the society.
Poor women, however, kept their freedom since they had to work in the society.
For other women, the seclusion during menstruation, which was necessary for them gradually continued till it overshadowed their whole social life.
The upper-class women were not allowed to come to public places unless being carried in their litter; they were even not allowed to visit their fathers and brothers since after marriage they were regarded as namahram (non-related men).
Thus, considering the survived historical reliefs of ancient Iran, there is not any face or sights of women.


Notes:

[1] Durant, Will (2001) Heroes of History: A Brief History of Civilization from Ancient Times to the Dawn of the Modern Age.
New York: Simon and Schuster.
Translated into Persian by Abu-AlQasim Mazaheri, Franklin and Iqbal Publishing Center: Tehran, the fourth book, Era of Faith, the third part: The Era of Greatness.

www.tebyan.net

The Philosophical Reason of Hijab

Social commentators have often presented their reasons for the appearance of the modest dress centered around the idea that even in the first principles of nature, no covering or veil has been made to come between males and females.
They say that there is no instance in nature where a curtain or veil appears between the male and female sex or for the female sex to be set aside behind a curtain and to wear a covering.

It would appear that there are five reasons given for the appearance of the modest dress.
The philosophical reason centers on the tendency towards asceticism and struggling with pleasures in an effort to subdue the ego.
The main source for this thought is perhaps India where a barrier was created between men and women through the pursuance of asceticism because a woman is the highest form of lustful pleasure giving.
If men were to mix freely with women, according to this idea, a man would mainly pursue this and his society would remain underdeveloped in other areas.
Therefore, he had to struggle to conquer his own soul by denying it enjoyment of sexual pleasures.

Other things which, like women, cause lust to arise within the human being are also struggled against such as the resistance towards cleanliness or encouragment of messiness and filth.
Do not think that some people chose this because of carelessness on their part or because of recklessness or lack of concern.
It was rooted in a philosophy which confirmed and even extended it.
As Bertrand Russell mentions in his book, Marriage and Ethics, in the early stages of Christianity, this kind of thinking developed through St. Paul when celibacy was encouraged and moved a large number of people towards the wilderness to destroy satan. Then, he says that the Church even rose in opposition to taking a bath because the body leads to sin.
The Church applauded uncleanliness and a smelly body took on the smell of sanctity.
According to St. Paul, cleanliness of the body opposed cleanliness of the spirit and lice come to be considered as 'pearls of God'.

Then it occurred to me that having long hair among the faqirs who, as you know, practiced asceticism and remained celibate from women, was for this very reason.
They say that in the past, whether or not it is true, whoso ever shortened or cut the hair of the body, that person's sexual instincts were strengthened.
Thus, with this reasoning, long hair would lessen sexual desires.

This idea existed in the past and perhaps it is true that if a person were to cut or shorten or shave all the hair on one's body, one would increase one's sexual desires.
Then the Indians and the Sikhs who forbid the cutting of their hair could have been for this very reason because they were practicing asceticism.

Some have said that the reason why the modest dress was found in the world, in an absolute sense, was because the idea of asceticism appeared.
Then they ask why asceticism was found or began to develop among people.
They have mentioned two reasons for this.

First, because among the deprived class, there were people who carried on with women, had beloveds and then their beloveds were taken away from them, a kind of hatred for women suddenly developed in them, in particular, where women themselves conspired against them.
Thus, a hatred developed against women.
They essentially began to seek celibacy and asceticism and would propagate to the extent possible against women.
This they developed as a philosophy of the priests.

The second reason given for the appearance of desire for asceticism is the opposite of the first.
Persons who were very extreme in their sexual practices, an extent which even exceeded the limits of nature and persons who turned to drugs or stimulators or things so that they were continuously stimulated in one way or another, would suddenly turn away from sex.
It can be seen in human nature that sometimes when one does something to an extreme limit, one then turns completely away from it, even if it were something pleasurable.
If something is imposed, a revulsion towards it can develop.
At the end of their lives, they develop a hatred for sexual activity.
History more or less confirms this in the lives of sultans who had spent their lives in carnal pleasures and harems. At the end of their lives, because of the extremity of their behavior, a hatred for it developed within them.
They say it produced immense exhaustion within them and created a sense of antagonism and rivalry against women.

At any rate, they say that the modest dress and the barrier between men and women was caused by the appearance of the idea of seeking asceticism. The materialists who wanted to justify asceticism and ascetic practices said that it was for one of these two reasons.

As to these two reasons, we do not say that none of these existed in the world.
They could have been and these causes might have had these effects but Islam, as we will mention later, established the modest dress. It did not exist during the Age of Ignorance in Arabia.
We have to see whether or not these causes have been mentioned in Islam and have been given as proof or other reasons have been given for it.
Does this precept conform with other Islamic precepts?
Does the Islamic spirit of asceticism conform with the concept of asceticism which we have mentioned?
We will see that Islam has never presented this point of view and, as a matter of fact, Islam has struggled greatly against this view.
Even non-Muslims agree that Islam never promoted asceticism and ascetic practices.
The concept that began among Hindus and extended to Christianity did not exist in Islam.

It is clear that whatever Islam brought to the concept of the modest dress this reason was not one of them.
Islam has emphasized cleanliness.
Rather than considering lice to be God's pearls, it said, "Cleanliness stems from faith."
The Holy Prophet saw a person whose hair was disheveled, whose clothes were dirty and he presented a bad appearance.
He said, "Pleasure and taking advantage of God's blessings is part of religion.”

The Holy Prophet said, "The worst servants of God are those who are dirty." Imam Ali, peace be upon him, said, "God is beautiful and He loves beauty."
Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, said, "God is beautiful and He loves His creatures to embellish themselves and reflect their beauty.
The reverse is also true.
He considers poverty and pseudo-poverty to be enemies.
If God has given you a blessing, the effect of that blessing must be shown in your life.
” They asked him, "How should the blessing of God be shown?"
He said, "By the clothes of a person being clean, smelling good, whitening their house with stucco, sweeping in front of their house and lighting their lamps before sunset which will add to its splendor of their home."

In the oldest books we have available such as Kafi, which has been used for one thousand years, there is a section called bab alziyye wa tajammul.
Here Islam has strongly emphasized combing the hair, keeping it short, making use of perfumes and oiling one's hair.

In order to perform their worship better and in order to gain greater spiritual pleasures, a group of Companions of the Holy Prophet left their wives and children.
They fasted during the day and performed worship at night.
As soon as the Holy Prophet learned of this, he prevented them from continuing, saying, "I, who am your leader, do not do this. I fast on some days and on others, I do not.
I worship a part of the night and I spend other parts of it with my wives."
This group then asked the Prophet's permission to castrate themselves.
The Holy Prophet did not give his permission.
He said that this was forbidden in Islam.

One day three women went to the Prophet.
They complained about their husbands.
One said that her husband did not eat meat.
Another said that her husband shunned perfume.
The third said that her husband distanced himself from her.
The Prophet of God suddenly became angry, threw down his cloak, left his house and went to the mosque.
He went upon the minbar and cried out, "What should be done with a group of my friends who put meat, perfume and women aside?
I myself eat meat.
I smell perfume and I receive pleasure from my wives.
Whoever objects to my methods is not from among me.

The command was given to shorten the length of dress because the custom among the Arabs was to wear dresses which were so long that they swept the streets.
Because of cleanliness, one of the first verses revealed to the Holy Prophet was, "And thy garments, keep free from stain." (74:4)

Also, the encouragement to wear white clothes is, first of all, because of beauty and secondly, because of cleanliness.
White clothes show off dirt sooner.
This has been indicated in the traditions.
When the Holy Prophet wanted to meet his Companions, he would first look in a mirror, comb his hair, and check his appearance.
He said, "God loves His servants who when they are going to see their friends make themselves ready and look nice."
That is:
Wear white clothes because they are more beautiful and cleaner.

The Holy Quran says that the creation of means of embellishment are among the kindnesses that God shows His creatures and it severely criticizes those who deny themselves the beauties of this world.
The Holy Quran says, "Who has forbidden the beautiful (gifts) of God which He has produced for His servants and the things, clean and pure, (which He has provided) for sustenance?" (7:32)

Islamic traditions say that the pure Imams consistently debated with the Sufis and referring to this very verse of the Holy Quran, invalidated their deeds.

The legitimate pleasures which spouses receive from each other are considered to be blessings in Islam, among the Divine rewards.
It is perhaps difficult for foreigners to understand this concept and perhaps they reflect to themselves, "How strange that they call this filthy act, a blessing, a spiritual reward!" It is surprising for a Hindu or a Christian to realize how much spiritual reward there is in performing the ritual bath (ghusl) after sexual intercourse and washing away the sweat which has been created by this act.

Islam has placed many limitations on the issues but within the area that has been limited, not only does it not forbid it, but it encourages it and it has even presented the kindness and compassion of women as being among the qualities upheld by God's Prophets.

There is a tradition which says, "Within the nature of the Prophets is their love of woman..."
The Holy Prophet straightaway forbids the seeking of asceticism and ascetic practices at the beginning of Islam, practices which may have been in imitation of monks.
What a great encouragement has been given to women.
In the same way that they are encouraged to limit their contacts with men who are not their husbands, they are encouraged to adorn themselves for their husbands.
A woman who does not do so is even cursed; a woman must make herself beautiful for her husband.
At the same time, husbands are encouraged to cleanliness.

Hasan ibn Jahm said, 'I went to see Musa ibn Jafar', peace be upon him, and saw that he has used (hair dye) on his hair. I said, 'Have you made use of henna?'
He said, 'Yes.
A man's use of henna and his dressing well increases the chastity of his wife.
Some women lose their chastity because their husbands do not dress well for them."

In another tradition of the Holy Prophet, one of the reasons he gives for Jewish women committing adultery was because their husbands were so filthy that their wives sought men who were clean and well-groomed."

Uthman ibn Maz'un was one of the recorders of the traditions of the Holy Prophet.
He wanted to put this world aside in imitation of the monks and forbid himself sexual pleasures.
His wife went to the Holy Prophet and said, "O Prophet of God, Uthman fasts every day and he gets up every night for prayer."
The Holy Prophet became angry and went to him. Uthman was performing his ritual prayer.
The Prophet waited until his ritual prayer had ended.
He then said, "O Uthman, God has not sent me to institute monasticism and asceticism. God has sent me to introduce the Divine Law which is primordial and simple and to tell people about the return to God.
I perform my ritual prayers.
I fast and I also have relations with my wives.
Whosoever loves religion which coincides with my primordial nature must follow what I do.
Marriage is one of my customs."

Clearly this philosophy of asceticism cannot be attributed to Islam.
This philosophy might have existed in some places in the world but it does not conform to Islam.

The Islamic Modest Dress , By Murtadha Mutahhari
www.ahlulbaytportal.com

The Perseverance of Society

Taking sexual desires from the bounds of the family environment to society has weakened society's capacity for work and activity.
Contrary to the opinion that 'the modest dress results in paralyzing half of the energy potential of the individuals of society', the lack of the modest dress and the gradual development of free relationships has caused the social force to fail.

That which has caused the paralysis of women's power and that which has imprisoned her talents is the lack of the modest dress.
In Islam, there is no question of the modest dress prohibiting a woman from participating in cultural, social or economic activities. Islam neither says that a woman cannot leave her home nor does it say that she cannot seek knowledge and learning.
Rather, men and women must both learn and seek knowledge.
There is no objection to women's economic activities in Islam.
Islam has never wanted women to be useless and unoccupied.
It has never desired that women bring up useless and indifferent children.
The covering of the body, except for the face and hands, is not to prevent any kind of cultural or social or economic activity.
That which paralyses the working force is the corruption of the work environment by the element of seeking the satisfaction of sexual pleasures.

If a boy and a girl study in a separate environment or in one environment where the girl covers her body and wears no makeup, do they not study better?
Do they not think better and listen to the words of the teacher better?
Or is it better when a boy sits beside a girl who has on make-up and is wearing a short skirt which barely reaches her knees?
Will men work better in an environment where the streets, offices, factories, etc., are continuously filled with women who are all wearing heavy make-up and are not covered or in an environment where these scenes do not exist?
Any company or office that is serious about its work and endeavors to produce good products or services, prevents these kinds of inter-mixings.
If you do not believe this, check it out yourself.

The truth is that the disgraceful lack of the modest dress in Iran (he is speaking before the victory of the Islamic Revolution) whereby we were even moving ahead of America, is a product of the corrupt Western capitalist societies.
It is one of the results of the worship of money and the pursuance of sexual fulfillment that is prevalent in Western capitalism.
It is one of the means they use to manipulate human society and stimulate them by this force to become consumers of their products.
If an Iranian woman only wants to put on make-up for her legal husband or only wants to get dressed up for gatherings with women, she will not be a consumer of Western products.
She will not be obliged to unconsciously corrupt the morals of young boys and girls, to weaken them so that they are no longer active members of society which is to the benefit of the exploiters.

by Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari, The Islamic Modest Dress
www.ahlulbaytportal.com

Hijab and Family Life

Allah (swt) has created human beings to act as His vicegerents on earth and, like all other forms of living beings, human beings cannot be complete unless they are in a pair.  

This is incomparable to Allah (swt) Who indeed has no need of a partner. 

Even the most perfect human being is in need of a partner. 

Allah (swt) says in the Holy Qur’an:

     

And of His Signs is that He created for you mates from your own selves that you may take comfort in them and He ordained affection and mercy between you. 

There are indeed signs in that for a people who reflect. (30:21)

    

One of the signs of Allah (swt)’s wise creation is that He has created spouses for us from ourselves. 

A man needs a woman to be complete and vice versa. Even when people go to Heaven, they need to be there with their spouse. 

When Adam (a) was asked by Allah (swt) to go to Heaven, Allah (swt) said:

   

.....O Adam, dwell with your mate in paradise..... (2:35)

    

Thus, the formation of a family, initially consisting of a man and a woman, is one of the fundamental elements in Allah (swt)’s design for human life. 

He (swt) blesses us even more by giving us children. 

Children can only be well protected and well brought up in the atmosphere of a family where there is a father and a mother who love each other and their children, and who regard their children as a gift from Allah (swt), bringing them even closer to one another.

    

    

Marriage: a sacred covenant

    

Given that the family is a crucial aspect of creation, marriage is considered as a sacred covenant between the husband and wife and Allah (swt) is the witness above them. 

Keeping their marriage and family ties strong is essential. 

In a well-known hadith, the Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying:

   

   

ما بنی فی الاسلام بناء احب الی الله عزوجل واعز من التزویج 

   

  

No construction has been built in Islam more beloved in the sight of Allah (swt) than marriage.

On the other hand, divorce is considered as the most disliked permissible act. 

The Prophet Muhammad said:

  

   

ما من شی ء ابغض الی الله عزوجل من بیت یخرب فی الاسلام بالفرقة

   

   

There is nothing more disliked by God than a house which is destroyed by separation.

    

Hence, marriage is a sacred unity on which we need to build society and needs to be very strong. 

To establish and strengthen this unity, Allah (swt) has observed certain aspects in His creation and others observed in His legislation. 

These two are very much in harmony with each other.

      

Ref: Hijab and Family Life, by: Mohammad Ali Shomali.

www.ahlulbaytportal.com

The Word hijab (Modest Dress)

We believe in a particular philosophy in Islam for woman's hijab or modest dress which forms our intellectual point of view and in regard to analysis, it can be called the basis for the Islamic modest dress.
Before we begin our discussion, it is necessary to look at the meaning of the word hijab which is used in our age to refer to a woman's covering.
This word gives the sense of 'covering' because it refers to a veil or a means of 'covering' .
Perhaps it can be said that because of the origin of the word, not every covering is hijab.
That 'covering' which is referred to as a hijab is that which appears behind a curtain.
The Holy Quran describes the setting of the sun in the story of the Prophet Solomon, "...until the sun was covered (bil hijab) and time for the afternoon ritual prayer was over." (38:32) The diaphragm separating the heart from the stomach is also called 'hijab'.

In the advice given by Imam Ali to Malik Ashtar, he states, " ... prolong not your seclusion (hijab) from your subjects, for a ruler's seclusion from his subjects is a kind of constraint and (results in) a lack of knowledge of affairs.
Seclusion from them cuts rulers off from the knowledge of that from which they have been secluded.

Ibn Khaldun says in the Muqaddimah, "Governments do not consider a separation to exist between themselves and the people at the beginning of their formation but little by little, the separation and distance between the ruler and the people grows and finally it causes unpleasant results." Ibn Khaldun used the word hijab in the sense of meaning 'curtain' and 'separation' and not 'covering'.

The use of the word satr, in the sense of 'covering' was used instead of hijab, especially by the religious jurisprudents.
The religious jurisprudents, whether in the section on the ritual prayers or inthe section on marriage, refer to this issue and use the word satr and not hijab.

It would have been best if the word had not been changed and we had continued to use the word 'covering' or satr because, as we have said, the prevalent meaning of the word hijab is veil.
If it is to be used in the sense of 'covering', it gives the idea of a woman being placed behind a curtain.
This very thing has caused a great number of people to think that Islam has wanted women to always remain behind a curtain, to be imprisoned in the house and not to leave it.

The duty for covering, which has been established for women in Islam, does not necessarily mean that they should not leave their homes.
It is not the intention of Islam to imprison women. We may find such ideas in the ancient, pre-Islamic past of some countries like Iran or India but no such thing exists in Islam.

The philosophy behind the hijab for woman in Islam is that she should cover her body in her associations with men 'whom she is not related to according to the Divine Law' (na-mahram) and that she does not flaunt and display herself.
The verses of the Holy Quran which refer to this issue affirm this and the edicts of the religious jurisprudents confirm it.
We will refer to the extent of this covering by using the Quran and the Sunnah as sources.
The relevant verses do not refer to the word hijab. Verses which refer to this issue, whether in Surah Nur (Chapter 24) or Surah Ahzab (Chapter 33), have mentioned the extent of the covering and contacts between men and women without using the word hijab.
The verse in which the word hijab is used refers to the wives of the Holy Prophet of Islam.

We know that in the Holy Quran there are special commands about the Prophet's wives. The first verse addressed to them begins, "O wives of the Prophet! You are not as other women..." (33:32).
Islam held the special relationship of the wives of the Prophet in such a great esteem that they were to remain at home for basically political and social reasons during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet and after his death.
The Holy Quran says directly to the wives of the Prophet, "Remain in your houses." (33:33). Islam desired that the honor and respect of these 'Mothers of the Believers', who were held in great respect by the Muslims, not be misused and that they do not become a political and social tool for selfish and ambitious men.

I think that the reason why the wives of the Prophet were forbidden to marry after the Prophet's death was for this very reason.
That is, a husband after the Holy Prophet might misuse the dignity and respect of his wife.
Therefore, if commands are more emphatic and severe in regard to the wives of the Prophet, it is because of this.

At any rate, the verse in which the word hijab is used is, "...and when you ask his wives for any object, ask them from behind a curtain (hijab)..." (33:53).
According to history and Islamic tradition, when ever you see the 'verse of hijab' referred to, for instance, "such and such was the case before the revelation of 'the verse of hijab" " or "such and such was the case after the revelation of 'the verse of hijab"", it refers to this verse which relates to the wives of the Prophet and not the verses of Surah Nur which states, "Say to the believing men that they cast down their glance and guard their private parts.
That is purer for them. Surely God is Aware of what they do.
And say to the believing women that they cast down their glance..." (24:3S31). Or the verse of Surah Ahzab which states, "O Prophet! Say to thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they draw their outer garments (jilabib) close to them .
So it is more likely that they will be known and not hurt. God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate." (33:59)

But there is a question as to why, in the recent era, the current expression of the religious jurisprudents, that is, satr, did not become prevalent instead of hijab?
The reason is unknown to me.
Perhaps they mistook the Islamic hijab for the hijab which is traditional in other countries.
We will give further explanation about this later.

by Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari, The Islamic Modest Dress
www.ahlulbaytportal.com

What Is The Philosophy Of Hijaab?

Undoubtedly, in this age of ours - which some have named as the ‘age of nudity and sexual freedom’ and in which, West-stricken individuals regard wantonness of women as being part of this freedom - the mention of hijaab is very disconcerting for this group and at times is even looked upon as a myth associated with the ancient times!

However, the innumerable evils and the ever-increasing problems arising out of this unconditioned freedom have gradually resulted in this concept being viewed with a greater interest.

Of course, in the Islamic and religious environments - especially in Iran after the revolution - a great number of issues have been clarified and sufficient and satisfactory answers to most of these questions have been provided, practically; nevertheless, the significance of the topic demands this issue to be discussed more comprehensively.

The issue under discussion is:
Should women (with due apologies) be placed at the disposal of all men for the purpose of being exploited by them by way of sight, hearing and touch (excepting sexual intercourse), or should these benefits be the sole prerogative of their respective husbands?

The point of debate is that should women continue to remain entangled in a never-ending competition in flaunting their bodies and stirring up the physical and carnal desires of men, or should these issues be uprooted from the social environment and restricted to the familial and matrimonial milieu?

Islam advocates the second plan and hijaab can be looked upon as a part of this agenda, whereas the Westerners and the licentious West-stricken ones support the first program!

Islam avers that all physical pleasures - sexual intercourse and those derived by means of sight, hearing and touch - are specific to the husbands, and anything beyond this is a sin and leads to pollution and impurity within the society.


The philosophy behind hijaab is not something that is hidden and concealed since:

1. Nudity of women, which is quite naturally accompanied by adornment and coquettishness, puts men, especially the youths, in a state of perpetual stimulation - a stimulation which affects their nerves, generates within them pathological nervous excitement and at times even brings about psychological disorders.
There is a limit to the burden of excitement which the human nerves can endure.
Don’t all the psychologists caution that perpetual excitement leads to disorders and diseases?

Especially in view of the fact that the sexual impulse is the strongest and the most profound of all impulses within man and, all through the ages, has been the cause of destructive events and horrendous offenses, to the extent that people have gone on to say:
You shall not come across any important event (in history), except that a woman has played a part in it!

Is the continuous provocation of this impulse by means of nudity, and intensifying it, not tantamount to playing with fire?
Is this act wise and prudent?

Islam desires that the Muslim men and women should possess a soul that is calm, nerves that are composed, and eyes and ears that are pure, and this is one of the philosophies of hijaab.

2. Substantiated and conclusive statistics reveal that with the rise in nudity, the world has correspondingly witnessed a continuous rise in divorces and matrimonial separations.
This is because “whatever the eyes see, the heart covets”; and whatever the heart (which here means the errant and wild desires) covets, it seeks to obtain it, whatever be the cost.
And so, every new day the heart gets attracted to one and bids adieu to another.

In an environment where hijaab is prevalent (together with adherence to the other Islamic conditions), the husband and wife belong to each other and their sentiments, love and feelings are exclusively for one another.

But in the ‘free market of nudity’ wherein women have been practically transformed into a commodity of mutual use - (at least in issues other than sexual intercourse) - the sanctity of a matrimonial alliance becomes meaningless, and families, similar to a spider’s web, swiftly break apart and the children are left without guardians.

3. The increase in indecency and obscenity, and the escalation in the number of illegitimate children are the most painful consequences of non-observance of hijaab – a fact which, in our opinion, does not require any figures and statistics; and the reasons for this, especially in the Western society, are so very apparent so as to eliminate the need for any mention.

We do not say that that non-observance of hijaab is the sole and fundamental cause for obscenities and illegitimate children, nor do we say that ignoble colonialism and destructive political issues have not had any contribution in it; rather, what we wish to state is that the issue of nudity and non-observance of hijaab is as one of the instrumental and effective factors for those evils.

And in view of the fact that ‘indecency’, and worse than this, the ‘illegitimate children’ were, and are, the sources of various crimes in human societies, the dangerous dimension of this issue becomes all the more lucid.

When we hear that, according to statistics, in the United Kingdom five hundred thousand illegitimate children are born every year and then when we hear that a group of British intellectuals have issued a warning to those in the echelons of power with respect to this ongoing trend - not motivated out of ethical and religious concerns but rather out of concern for the dangers these illegitimate children pose to the safety and security of the society, to the extent that their involvement is observed in numerous of the criminal dossiers - we completely perceive the gravity of the issue.
We (also) come to realize that even those, who possess scant respect for religion or ethical issues, consider the issue of spread of indecency to be catastrophic.
Thus, every thing that serves to increase the sphere of physical immorality in human societies is a threat for their safety and security, and the consequences – in whatever manner we may compute them - shall always be to their detriment.

Studies on the part of educative scholars reveal that reduction of work, backwardness and lack of responsibility are most noticeably perceived in schools, which are co-educational in nature and centers, where males and females work together in an ambience of licentiousness and free abandon.

4. The issue of ‘obscenity of women’ and ‘humiliation of their personalities’ also possesses great importance and which requires no statistics to prove.
When a society desires a woman with a bare body, it is quite obvious that day by day, it would demand increased beautification and augmented ostentation from her.
In a society wherein a woman, due to her physical attraction, is utilized for promotion and publicity of products, as an ornamentation for the reception rooms, a tool for attracting the tourists and the like, her personality is reduced to that of a doll or a trivial and insignificant item, and her lofty human values are totally thrust into oblivion; ultimately, her only distinction and glory lies in her youth, beauty and self-exhibition.

Thus, she is transformed into a tool for satisfying the carnal desires of a handful of individuals, who are polluted, deceptive and possess satanic attributes!

In such a society how is it possible for a woman to manifest herself in the light of her knowledge, awareness, sagacity and moral traits, and come to occupy a lofty rank and status?

It is indeed painful that in the Western and the West-stricken countries, and in our country (too) before the Islamic Revolution, the maximum prominence, fame, repute, money, income and standing had been for the polluted and promiscuous women, who had come to acquire renown as ‘artists and performers’. Wherever they would go, the management of this polluted environment would scramble after them to welcome their presence!

Praise be to God that the entire apparatus was annihilated and the female sex emerged from her previous triteness and her erstwhile standing as a cultural doll and an insignificant item, and salvaged her personality.
She took for herself the veil without being secluded and isolated, presenting herself in every expedient and constructive arena of the society - even the battlefield - with the same veil and hijaab.

by Grand Ayatullah Makarem Shirazi
www.ahlulbaytportal.com

Hijab - My View

I probably do not fit into the preconceived notion of a "rebel." I have no visible tattoos and minimal piercings. I do not possess a leather jacket. In fact, when most people look at me, their first thought usually is something along the lines of "oppressed female."

The brave individuals who have mustered the courage to ask me about the way I dress usually have questions like: "Do your parents make you wear that?" Or "Don't you find that really unfair?"

A while back, a couple of girls in Montreal were kicked out of school for dressing like I do. It seems strange that a little piece of cloth would make for such controversy. Perhaps the fear is that I am harbouring an Uzi underneath it. You never can tell with those Muslim fundamentalists.

Of course, the issue at hand is more than a mere piece of cloth. I am a Muslim woman who, like millions of other Muslim women across the globe, chooses to wear the hijab. There are many different ways to wear it, but in essence, what we do is cover our entire bodies except for our hands and faces. If you're the kind of person who has watched a lot of popular movies, you'd probably think of harem girls and belly-dancers, women who are kept in seclusion except for the private pleasure of their male masters. In the true Islamic faith, nothing could be further from the truth. And the concept of the hijab, contrary to popular opinion, is actually one of the most fundamental aspects of female empowerment. When I cover myself, I make it virtually impossible for people to judge me according to the way I look. I cannot be categorized because of my attractiveness or lack thereof. Compare this to life in today's society: We are constantly sizing one another up on the basis of our clothing, jewellery, hair and make-up. What kind of depth can there be in a world like this?

Yes, I have a body, a physical manifestation upon this Earth. But it is the vessel of an intelligent mind and a strong spirit. It is not for the beholder to leer at or to use in advertisements to sell everything from beer to cars. Because of the superficiality of the world in which we live, external appearances are so stressed that the value of the individual counts for almost nothing. It is a myth that women in today's society are liberated. What kind of freedom can there be when a woman cannot walk down the street without every aspect of her physical self being "checked out"? When I wear the hijab I feel safe from all of this. I can rest assured that no one is looking at me and making assumptions about my character from the length of my skirt. There is a barrier between me and those who would exploit me. I am first and foremost a human being, equal to any man, and not vulnerable because of my sexuality. One of the saddest truths of our time is the question of the beauty myth and female self-image. Reading popular teenage magazines, you can instantly find out what kind of body image is "in" or "out." And if you have the "wrong" body type, well, then, you're just going to have to change it, aren't you? After all, there is no way that you can be overweight and still be beautiful.

Look at any advertisement. Is a woman being used to sell the product? How old is she? How attractive is she? What is she wearing? More often than not, that woman will be no older than her early 20s, taller, slimmer and more attractive than average, dressed in skimpy clothing. Why do we allow ourselves to be manipulated like this? Whether the '90s woman wishes to believe it or not, she is being forced into a mould. She is being coerced into selling herself, into compromising herself. This is why we have 13-year-old girls sticking their fingers down their throats and overweight adolescents hanging themselves .

When people ask me if I feel oppressed, I can honestly say no. I made this decision out of my own free will. I like the fact that I am taking control of the way other people perceive me. I enjoy the fact that I don't give anyone anything to look at and that I have released myself from the bondage of the swinging pendulum of the fashion industry and other institutions that exploit females.

My body is my own business. Nobody can tell me how I should look or whether or not I am beautiful. I know that there is more to me than that. I am also able to say no comfortably when people ask me if I feel as though my sexuality is being repressed. I have taken control of my sexuality.

I am thankful I will never have to suffer the fate of trying to lose/gain weight or trying to find the exact lipstick shade that will go with my skin colour. I have made choices about what my priorities are and these are not among them.

So next time you see me, don't look at me sympathetically. I am not under duress or a male-worshipping female captive from those barbarous Arabic deserts. I've been liberated. I am a W O M A N.....Yes a MUSLIM WOMAN.

A True follower of Hadhrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.) & Hadhrat Zainab (s.a.).


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Ref: Friday Journal : 20th November 1998, Sultana Yusufali
www.ahlulbaytportal.com

History of Hijab or Head Covering

Introduction:

In this section we will be pondering over the history of Head covering or Hijab as general, particularly looking at the ancient times. Our focus would be:

Whether in past history of civilizations Hijab used to exists or not?

Whether the concept of Head covering or Hijab is purely coming from Islam Prospective?

Hijab in Past civilizations Before Islam:

According to Ancient civilizations, Head covering or Hijab used to be part of their customs.
This custom can be found both in Ancient Iran, Jew and Hindus.

According to a famous American Historian Will Durant:

“If a Jew lady lacks in following the rules like for example she would go without covering her head in street or in front of other men, or even her voice get heard by other men or neighbours. In this case her husband has the right to divorce her without giving her dowry.”

From above text it is apparent that the head covering rules in Jew was rather HARD comparing to that of Islam.

Will Durant further refers to the ancient Persian Civilization, Volume 1 History of Civilization pg 552:

“After Daruish the status of woman particularly women from high social background, decline in their freedom came into existence. The women from lower social background somehow could manage to keep their freedom.
This was mainly because they had to leave their homes to be in society to earn money and to survive.
But women in other economical or financial level were not allowed to leave their homes while in the state of menstrual.”
These types of customs took continuation and becoame more and tougher for women.
The women from high social background couldn’t dare to go out except in the stretcher (special carrier made out of wood, with four men, each man holding one side of the stretcher) which was totally covered from all four sides with curtains.
The women didn’t have even the permission to openly talk to any man.
Ladies who were married were not allowed to see any man, even their own father and brothers.

Whether the concept of Head covering or Hijab is purely coming from Islam Prospective?

Will Durant Further states: The Hijab during Ancient Persian times brought the concept of Hijab to Arab world and in particularly in Muslim nation.

We know that Hijab in Islam has nothing to do with the customs and rules of Hijab during Ancient Persian or in Jew.
In Islam woman is only not allowed to do her obligatory prayers and fasting and she is not allowed to sleep with her legal partner during the time of her menstrual.
Other than this she is completely free to go out in the society or associate with public.
The concept of “prison yourself at home” during menstrual time doesn’t exist in Islam at all.

If will Durant is trying to convince us that the whole concept of Hijab was transfer to Muslim world through other civilizations like Ancient Iran or Jew.
Again such statement is wrong since Verses of Quran relating Hijab were revealed before Iranian became Muslim.

Arab society according to Will Durant:

“Arabs women during the first century didn’t use to were Hijab, Men and women used to see and talked to each other, in street they used to walk side by side.
In Mosques they use to pray together.
Prophet though had made wearing of loose clothes prohibited but the Arab would take this rule as unseen.
Arab women use to wear colourful loose clothes mostly half covered.
They use to put a shinning belt around the waist.
The hair used to be opened and not covered.”
Will Durant Explanation about an Arab woman before Islam is no doubt true, but his opinion about the end of first century and beginning of the second century after Islam is doubtful.
He talks as if during prophet time there wasn’t a smallest concept of Hijab in Arab and an Arab woman would freely go around with no Hijab or head covering.
The History proof this is wrong to us, Islam did brought a lot of changes to the dress code of a woman.
Most of Arab ladies used to dress according to the Islamic dress code as explained in the Quranic verses.
This fact can be verified by the tradition of Prophet’s Wife like Ayesha.

In one of the writing by Jawahir Lal Nehru the first minister of India, also believed that emergence of Hijab in an Arab nation is from other non Muslim civilization like Iran and Rome. In his book “A look into the history of world” Vol1 pg 328: after praising the Islamic civilization, He talks about the afterward changes in Islam by other civilization.

“One big change that slowly took place in Arab society was in woman sect. In Arabia for woman there was no custom of head covering or Hijab.
Arab women wouldn’t be separated in society from men.
Rather an Arab woman would have public appearance, attend speeches etc.
Arab nation after Islam copied different customs from empire like ancient Iran and Rome.
Arab conquered empire Rome and Iran but adopt their customs and etiquettes. Therefore the custom of Hijab has come from other civilizations.”
What Jawahir says doesn’t match with history of Islam.
We can say that the relationship between Arab Muslim and Non Arab Muslim did add some different types of customs in practising Hijab or made it more strict comparing to Prophet Mohammad time, but saying that Hijab was a concept totally introduce in Islamic world by other civilizations, is incorrect.

Conclusion:

At the end what is apparent is that Hijab as a custom and practice was present in other civilisations.
Islam didn’t bring this concept of Hijab as a whole new practice. Islam did make the concept of Hijab easier and took the harsh law which used to be practice by other culture and traditions.
For example customs like: woman not associating with man in society, woman get prisoner at homes while in the state of menstrual, women voice couldn’t be heard by any man, woman not allowed even to see their own brothers and father and many more.

Of course we can prove this by the history, Prophet Mohammad daughter like Hazrat Fatima and granddaughter Like Hazrat Zainab had gone in front of public and had given hard speeches to the ruler of that time.

The question which arise here is about the in depth philosophy of Hijab.
The philosophy and reasons of Hijab in Islam is same as the philosophy in other ancient civilization.
We shall discuss in the later articles.
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