The Religious Debate on Muslim Women Wearing the Hijab

1180 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Women rights islam

Should Muslim women be required to wear the traditional hijab is a religious debate I was never aware existed, I just always believed it was mandatory to wear the veil and that was that. There are many that say the hijab is a symbol of their religion but they are being challenged by the view that it is a personal choice. The Islam religion has five fundamental requirements: Ramadan fasting, believing that the only God is Allah and that Prophet Mohammed is Allah's messenger, praying five times daily, giving to charity, and making a pilgrimage to Mecca if possible. Is the covering of a women's head a personal choice or mandatory? That is one of the most frequently asked questions concerning Muslim women.

I never found out the answer to that question while doing my research. There are so many different opinions when the issue of the hijab comes up. There are people who feel very strongly that a Muslim woman should cover her head in public, and there are many that disagree.

The word "hijab" comes from the Arabic word "hijaba". Hijaba means to hide from view or conceal. Even though the wearing of the hijab is not one of the five fundamental requirements for the Islamic religion, many Muslim women say they wear the hijab because Allah has told them to do so.

"O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw

their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That

is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims) and not be annoyed…"

(Qur'an 33:59)

Another reason for the hijab is the issue of modesty. The women want to be known for their skills and intelligence as opposed to being evaluated by their looks and sexuality. An Iranian schoolgirl once stated that, "W...

... middle of paper ...

...cover their faces so that men would not think of them in sexual terms since they were the "Mothers of the Believers." They feel that this requirement wasn't intended to be extended onto other women.

There are not passages in the Koran that say a women should not cover up with the hijab and the passages that say a women should are argued about the true meaning. Both sides of the issue argue strong points and that is why people believe strongly that the hijab should be worn and why others believe it should be the women's choice. Manal Omar said it the best when he said "Though I strongly believe it's (the hijab) required, I would hate to see our community overemphasizing this, especially since it's a women's choice." The wearing of the hijab has been a controversial issue for many years and many Muslim's believe the issue will continue on for many more years.

Show More
Related

  • Dhu L Nun Ayyoub's From Behind The Veil

    578 Words  | 2 Pages

    In From Behind the Veil, Siham is forced to cover her body and this causes her to rebel against her family's beliefs. Siham's society in the Middle East wears niqabs to preserve their virginity and honor

    Read More

  • Veiled Intentions: Don T Judge A Muslim Girl

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    She goes on to explain that covering her hair wasn’t initially motivated by “a desire to be different, to honor tradition, or to make a political statement” (413). Haydar wanted to wear a hijab at the age of twelve, because that meant she could get the board game Girl Talk. Now, at the age of twenty-five, Haydar admits that her reasoning for choosing to veil was shallow and contrasting to what veiling was really supposed to represent.

    Read More

  • Native Americans, Bradbury and the Scorn of the FBI

    1573 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...spects, as manifest destiny attitudes could spur conflict. Similar to the conflicts of instating leaders into other countries, adoption of American and Western culture has become a mandate for any country seeking further economic progress. France has recently had issues with the banning of wearing a full face veil, religious headwear for women in Islam, while on in public (Erlanger 1). While in the West there are outcries of sexism and discrimination, for the women wearing the hijab, it is an essential part of their religion and taking it away from them diminishes their chances of an afterlife. While the institution of Islam may be sexist, that should be left to the followers. With the tools to make the decision for themselves, removing the hijab can be a possibility, as long as the Western World does not try to make them “see” when so blind to the culture of Islam.

    Read More

  • The Hijab Essay

    1387 Words  | 3 Pages

    The veil illustrates a women’s love for god, their modesty, and to show Muslim identity. The veil itself is not bad and even today is looked as a women’s choice to wear such clothing. The symbolism behind the hijab is very powerful and beautiful to show love for god and self-identity. The hijab gives women power and choice; Although, many women adopted the hijab since they will be treated better in their society. In the article “Reinventing the Veil” by Leila Ahmed, she wrote, “Changing dress sometimes empowered them in relation to their parents… expanded job and marriage possibilities… and ability to move freely in public space.” The idea that women must wear the hijab to be equal to men to demining to women. Some parts of the Islam society look as women differently depending on whether they wear the hijab, but the hijab should only be the woman’s choice and not something women have to wear to be able to walk freely and acquire jobs that men have. The western world looks at this and instantly looks down on the Islam world even when the whole society doesn’t look down on women for their choice on wearing the

    Read More

  • Scarfing It Down Analysis

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    The author of this essay thinks it is ridiculous that women cannot wear their hijab in certain places around the world. Many people think the hijab is not necessary. However, it is part of what Muslim women believe. She explains in her essay, "So next time you hear about a hijab ban think about your best pair of jeans or your faded t-shirt with the logo of your favorite band" (Fakhraie 461). A hijab is just like every other piece of clothing that covers up the body. It can be part of their religion, or they can wear a hijab just because they like how it

    Read More

  • My Body Is My Own Business Summary

    1096 Words  | 3 Pages

    Humans are born curious, it is normal for them to know the purpose of every simple and complex things that surrounds them. One of the things that intrigues humans when they walk on streets is the scarf-like covering that hides the entire head, neck and throat of a Muslim woman called the hijab. What is the purpose of a hijab? For young Muslim woman they wear hijab because it is part of their culture without knowing the deeper meaning behind the hijab. On the other hand, according to a well educated, Canadian born and raised, named Naheed Mustafa who has written the article My Body is My own Business.

    Read More

  • What Is The Role Of Women In A Thousand Splendid Suns?

    1822 Words  | 4 Pages

    By wearing a hijab women do not have to worry about “gray hairs, and can focus on other parts of their lives. Although this seems like a trivial improvement, women in the West spend inestimable amounts of money on beauty products and a surfeit amount of time on their daily regimen. Even though the burqa is therapeutic in helping women with their appearance, it can be physically restricting, “Mariam had never before worn a burqa. The padded headpiece felt tight and heavy on her skull. The loss of peripheral vision was unnerving, and she did not like the suffocating way the pleated cloth kept pressing against her mouth” (72).

    Read More

  • Islam: The Oppression Of Women In Islam

    2805 Words  | 6 Pages

    ... middle of paper ... ... The Qur’an does not say that a woman should be encased in a heavy garment from head to toe, but that both men and women alike should dress modestly. The burqa ban is a violation of religious freedom, limiting the expression of Muslims in France.

    Read More

  • Veiling the Truth: A Look at How the Hijab is used as a tool of Oppression and Resistance in Iran With Comparisons to Indonesia

    2582 Words  | 6 Pages

    As I sat in an airport one day, I noticed a family approaching the same waiting area as mine. This family was not the same as your ordinary family; the mother was completely covered, with only her eyes and hands showing. I immediately found myself wondering, being in America, the land of the free, did she choose to wear that or is it mandatory for her due to her religion. I also wondered if she knew that people were looking at her, possibly with the same question as my own.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On The Veil

    1609 Words  | 4 Pages

    In recent years, a small piece of cloth has managed to cause quite a stir. The scarf, or hijab, that Muslim women wear on their heads is making headlines around the world. Hijab is banned in French public schools and other European countries have adopted or are thinking about a similar legislation. In Australia, a radio presenter triggered both debate and outrage when he called for the face veil (niqab) to be banned from banks and post offices. In Canada on the other hand, it is allowed to be worn freely unless in places such as airports for security reasons. Even some Muslim countries such as Turkey and Tunisia ban the hijab in certain government buildings. When a small piece of fabric causes such controversy and conflict, wouldn’t it be easier to remove it? Why then, under such circumstances, do Muslim women wear scarves?

    Read More

  • The Veil is not Mandatory in Islam

    954 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hijab is a choice that some women or girls make for their own security, for more privacy, or because it makes them feel comfortable and confident about themselves. It should be a choice though, and as it is not proven to us that it is obligatory, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Pakistan should remove their laws that insist every girl puts the veil on. Freedom of choice should be given in these countries. It is not required in Islam so it shouldn’t be forced on anyone anywhere. In addition to this, Islam’s beauty is it’s freedom, the choice it provides you with, let it not be ruined.

    Read More

  • Muslim Women´s Hijab

    2095 Words  | 5 Pages

    The headscarf has a role in Islam. It derives its significance from the Qur’an. Qur’an is God’s command to Muslims and the word taught to Prophet Mohammad by Allah. Muslim women wear headscarves to cover themselves. It’s a kind of modesty, and a way that women cover their beauty. They should not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands ‘fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, or their brothers’ sons or their sisters’ sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hand possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no senses of the shame of sex and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments.

    Read More

  • Islam Our Choice Summary

    752 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...not mean if I am wearing hijab and niqab I would have to just stay at home and does not mingle with other people. I realize that during Prophet Muhammad era, he encourages woman to go out of house and seek knowledge as seeking knowledge is compulsory in Islam. Prophet Muhammad also appreciates those women who come forward and ask question that making them feel confuse as the only references that they had is a men and those women does not feel shy to know the truth.

    Read More

  • Muslim Women Rights and Requirements

    649 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Qur’an, God speaks directly to all Muslim women and says “.guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment (The Qur’an 24:31)”. Muslim women have to wear a hijab, or a head covering, when they are in public places and when they are around men who are not close relatives. In fact, countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have a mandatory dress code enforced. Muslim women in these countries have to wear a hijab and an abaya, or a full-length, loose fitting garment on top of their clothes. Although God requires Muslim women to dress modestly and Saudi Arabia and Qatar have a dress code, it is entirely their choice on what they would like to wear.

    Read More

  • Women Rights in Islam

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Women’s rights in Islam” is great controversial topic going on nowadays. The world is colored with different cultures and religions. Most people come up with different thoughts for other religion’s people by just having one look on them. Veil is obsession for some people, whereas, being bald is freedom in some people’s point of view. There are lots of misconceptions about women’s rights in Islam among non muslims. If women are covering their body or if they like to stay at home, people think that they don’t have any freedom in this religion and women are obsessed. But this is not reality. A person cannot point out anything wrong and blame other’s religion just because of his own confusion. He needs to study thoroughly and then come up with opposing viewpoints. Therefore, the misconception about women’s rights in Islam should be removed because women have equal rights, veil is for their protection, and they have freedom of speech and expression.

    Read More

More about The Religious Debate on Muslim Women Wearing the Hijab

Open Document