is this the real reason for the veil ?

Question

So, what is the real reason for Islamic veil? To know the truth, we need to go back 1500 years backward and look at the sanitary/toilet facilities of the poor Arabs during Muhammad’s time. If you are living in a modern environment then, of course, it will be difficult to imagine the sanitary condition of those old days of Islam. However, if you have come from a poverty stricken family from a poor country of Asia or Africa you may recall your childhood and find a great similarity of what you are about to read below.

After the death of Khadijah, Muhammad spent most of the wealth left by Khadijah. He became so poor that he had very little money to support himself. When he migrated to Medina, he and his followers were destitute. Under this dire poverty, Muhammad had to house his wives in places with very primitive or non-existent toilet/sanitary facilities. He had no choice but to ask his wives to go to an open field nearby and answer the call of nature. It is most likely that he himself did ease in this manner on many occasions. Here is what Sahih Bukhari says:

Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 4, Number 149:

Narrated 'Aisha:

The Prophet said to his wives, "You are allowed to go out to answer the call of nature."

The new converts of Islam were so haplessly poor that they even had no shelter and privacy to engage in sexual intercourse. The only place where they could satisfy this biological need was in the open sky. Thus, having sexual intercourse in open field was also common.

Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 203:

Narrated Muhammad bin 'Abbas bin Ja'far:

That he heard Ibn 'Abbas reciting: "No doubt! They fold up their breasts." (11.5) and asked him about its explanation. He said, "Some people used to hide themselves while answering the call of nature in an open space lest they be exposed to the sky, and also when they had sexual relation with their wives in an open space lest they be exposed to the sky, so the above revelation was sent down regarding them."

So Muhammad’s wives started to go to an open field only at night to answer the call of nature without any veil or proper attire. Hazrat Umor used to watch these ladies and was very uncomfortable and distressful to see them answering the call of nature in the open sky without much protection to their privacy. He requested Muhammad to cover his wives with veils whenever they went out to do their business in the open field at night.

At first, Muhammad ignored Umar’s plea. But when Umor kept on pestering him on this issue, he turned to Allah for His suggestion (since he did not have the pecuniary means to solve this toilet problem). Allah promptly sent down the verse on veil (33:59)

Muhammad's wives, daughters, and believing women are to wear outer garments

(hijab)…33:59 (chronological order 90)

033.059
YUSUFALI: 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.



Here are some ahadith that confirm those pathetic toilet facilities for Muhammad’s wives and Umor’s plea to veil them.

Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 4, Number 148:

Narrated 'Aisha:

The wives of the Prophet used to go to Al-Manasi, a vast open place (near Baqia at Medina) to answer the call of nature at night. 'Umar used to say to the Prophet "Let your wives be veiled," but Allah's Apostle did not do so. One night Sauda bint Zam'a the wife of the Prophet went out at 'Isha' time and she was a tall lady. 'Umar addressed her and said, "I have recognized you, O Sauda." He said so, as he desired eagerly that the verses of Al-Hijab (the observing of veils by the Muslim women) may be revealed. So Allah revealed the verses of "Al-Hijab" (A complete body cover excluding the eyes).

Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 8, Number 395:

(Please note that this hadith has been shortened to show the relevant part only)

Narrated 'Umar (bin Al-Khattab):

My Lord agreed with me in three things: --------

1. I said,"………………

2. And as regards the (verse of) the veiling of the women, I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! I wish you ordered your wives to cover themselves from the men because good and bad ones talk to them.' So the verse of the veiling of the women was revealed.

Sahih Muslim Book 026, Number 5397:

'A'isha reported that the wives of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to go out in the cover of night when they went to open fields (in the outskirts of Medina) for easing themselves. 'Umar b Khattab used to say: Allah's Messenger, ask your ladies to observe veil, but Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) did not do that. So there went out Sauda, daughter of Zama, the wife of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him), during one of the nights when it was dark. She was a tall statured lady. 'Umar called her saying: Sauda, we recognise you. (He did this with the hope that the verses pertaining to veil would be revealed.) 'A'isha said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, then revealed the verses pertaining to veil

After Allah took care of veiling Muhammad’s wife, Muhammad was relaxed. He did nothing to improve physically the toilet/sanitary facilities for them. In fact, he even developed the specifications of how to cleanse oneself with stones after defecating. His wives still continued to relieve themselves in the open field albeit with the hijab. Umar continued to monitor. When Sauda was caught red handed by Umar, she complained to Muhammad about Umar and asked about what to do with the business of easing oneself. Muhammad sought Allah’s help. Allah immediately revealed that she could continue with the old style (that is defecating in the open field).

Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 318:

Narrated Aisha:

Sauda (the wife of the Prophet) went out to answer the call of nature after it was made obligatory (for all the Muslims ladies) to observe the veil. She was a fat huge lady, and everybody who knew her before could recognize her. So 'Umar bin Al-Khattab saw her and said, "O Sauda! By Allah, you cannot hide yourself from us, so think of a way by which you should not be recognized on going out. Sauda returned while Allah's Apostle was in my house taking his supper and a bone covered with meat was in his hand. She entered and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I went out to answer the call of nature and 'Umar said to me so-and-so." Then Allah inspired him (the Prophet) and when the state of inspiration was over and the bone was still in his hand as he had not put in down, he said (to Sauda), "You (women) have been allowed to go out for your needs."



Sahih Muslim Book 026, Number 5395:

A'isha reported that Sauda (Allah he pleased with her) went out (in the fields) in order to answer the call of nature even after the time when veil had been prescribed for women. She had been a bulky lady, significant in height amongst the women, and she could not conceal herself from him who had known her. 'Umar b. Khattab saw her and said: Sauda, by Allah, you cannot conceal from us. Therefore, be careful when you go out. She ('A'isha) said: She turned back. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) was at that time in my house having his evening meal and there was a bone in his hand. She (Sauda) came and said: Allah's Messenger. I went out and 'Umar said to me so and so. She ('A'isha) reported: There came the revelation to him and then it was over; the bone was then in his hand and he had not thrown it and he said:" Permission has been granted to you that you may go out for your needs."



It is most likely that Muhammad was not very comfortable with the original style of veiling (complete cover except the eye-slit: somewhat like the Burqa so common in Afghanistan). After marrying Aisha (the child bride) and other younger women, he changed his mind on the veil issue. Allah now revealed the new specification of veiling:

Believing women are to draw their veils over their bosoms and they are not to display their beauty to unrelated men…24:31 (chronological order 102)

024.031


YUSUFALI: And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.



Although verse 33:59 (chronological order 90) is an earlier verse than 24:31 (chronological order 102) it is not clear which of the verses (i.e 33:59 or 24:31) is the appropriate verse for veiling of women. Nowhere does Qur’an say that one of them is the replacement of the other. When you watch the hapless Afghan women in TV in their mobile prisons (Burqa), you are probably seeing verse 33:59 in action in a pure Islamic Paradise. When you are walking through the streets of an infidel land and suddenly watch a hijab clad Muslim lady, you are probably seeing verse 24:31 in action in a Kufir land. It will be interesting to know amongst two groups who will be more in hell. After all, most of the inhabitants of hell are women (Sahih Bukhari 2.18.161).

It is quite clear that there is absolutely no compelling reason to impose the intolerable and ugly hijab on Muslim women. If there was any reason, it could reasonably be attributed to the prehistoric toilet facilities that Muhammad offered to his wives. Do today’s women still head towards the open fields to defecate or to ease themselves? It may be true that in some very backward Muslim countries in Africa and Asia the sanitary/toilet facilities may still be very primitive but it is definitely not like what it used to be during Muhammad’s time.

One interesting point comes into mind, though. How come Hazrat Umar was such a busybody to watch Muhammad’s wives easing themselves? Have you ever thought about this? After all, Islamists always say that Islam respects greatly the privacy, be that a man or a woman. Another interesting point is this: where did the male Muslims during prophet’s time used to go to defecate? I am sure that they did not have sanitary lavatory in their homes. Most likely, they also used to go in the open land to ease themselves (as well as for sexual intercourse, as we saw earlier). Why was prophet so discriminatory? Why did Allah have to veil women only? Why did He not ask for the veiling of men? Why did not prophet ask his male colleagues to taste how it is like wearing hijab or going inside a mobile prison (Burqa)? Is this the fairness of Islam? Is this gender equality?


The message is very clear, folks. All the inane arguments that the Islamists give in support of veiling of women are completely hollow and illogical. Now that we know the real reason for veiling, let our women assert their right to chose the attire that befits them. Why should they be imprisoned in ugly hijab and the unconscionable Burqa?

Answer 1

Maybe but I doubt it. Of course no one really knows the reason.

Answer 2

I am an American who just so happens to be a hijab wearing muslim women. As a feminist I would like to say, how dare you condem my freedom to chose to wear my hijab and then claim that it is for the good of women.
And I cant believe you accually have the gull to talk about sanitation when while muslims were washing themselves with water everyday 5 times a day and took showers regularly;although they lived in a desert; the Europeans took showers about on average once a month.And forget the chastity belts which resulted to the deaths of many many women.

Answer 3

You certainly did put a lot of work into that collection of falsehoods. I do not deny that those hadiths have been recorded - I deny your interpretation of them. It is very creative, however. Did you come up with that all on your own, or did you read it somewhere?

Modest attire is for the sake of modesty. Why does it bother you so much that Muslim women choose to dress modestly? Can you not bear to look at a woman without thinking of her sexuality? It is not unique to Muslims. Modesty, and in particular covering of the hair, is proscribed for Christian and Jewish women too. Would you propose they also had such an outlandish reason for modesty?

Answer 4

Orthodox Jewish women also wear a type of veil, or a wig to cover their hair. Amish, and Mennonite also cover their hair to varying degrees. It is in more than one religion/creed. Covering the hair and face is not as uncommon as some would think. Who are we to argue and say they are wrong? Why can't I do what is right for me, and you do what is right for you, and we both let others also do what is right for them as well? (I do not wear a veil or cover my hair for the record.)

Adding, it wasn't that long ago that the women of this country would not be seen in public without a hat and gloves. The beginning of the 20th century still had that cultural behavior. Back during the Colonial period of this country, a woman would not go out in public without a headcovering, and gloves (modestly attired, with her ankles covered) or she would be considered in a "state of undress" our equivalent of public nudity, but with graver consequences. The woman would not get just a slap on the wrist fine/jail time/public service/probation, she would likely be socially shunned and "ruined", an outcast from society. Who are we really, to judge then, when our recent ancestors did similar to stay within the bounds of propriety?

Answer 5

1. 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.

2. 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: 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.

6. 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’.

7. 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.

Answer 6

i presumed a pair of week in the past that Jack replaced into going for early retirement, yet i'm no longer so specific now. it could have been a planned ploy to get the priority into the debating chamber formerly the nationwide front could use it as a fashion of stirring up complication between diverse ethnic communities. or maybe he spoke back a question quite, ok i understand that the final one is slightly a techniques fetched yet, they say that certainty is stranger than fiction, or do they? who's that they?

Answer 7

its clear ahadith how u explain and illustrate it in wrong way ..
ur blind and deaf so u will never see the truth .. ask the god to forgive u coz u talk about a man that god love him and purify him
from ppl like u .

u Will never can show us that its false religion or not ..we are believe it and i will wear the veil until the death.
if ur insecure a bout ur religion don't show that by attacking Islam questions.

Answer 8

Other cultures use the veil. Slavic women and Sicilian women still do. I can remember women in church had to cover their heads. There is one positive fact , God makes no sartorial imperatives.

Answer 9

No comment on the false, misleading statements above but one question: what do you care if I am veiled or not? Isn't this a free world who advocates free will? I choose to be veiled; wrong? be it so! I believe it is wrong that you are not a muslim, but it is not my business, so, be it so.

Let go. There is no need for attacking each other. The whole case does not concern you if it is true or false. Let's better try to tolerate each other and respect our choices even if we do not approve them. Is this so impossible?

Answer 10

Don't you understand it's not related to the Islam it's cultur , customs in those countries.

Islam ALLOWS Women to wear what ever they want.

I'm a muslim from Syria and it's goes like this in here!!

Answer 11

Actually in today's world, it is because the veil is cheaper than electrolysis.