Should Muslim Woman Wear the Full Veil, Covering the Face?

Question

The Qur'an does not stipulate veiling or seclusion; on the contrary, it tends to emphasize the participation of religious responsibility of both men and women in society. So is wearing the veil real part of the Muslim religion or is it an interpretation of what the Qur'an says. (Interestingly the tradition of veiling and seclusion of women in early Islam were assimilated from the conquered Persian and Byzantine societies and then later on they were viewed as appropriate expressions of Quranic norms and values)

Answer 1

They should do whatever they feel led to do.

Answer 2

Personally I find the wearing of the veil sinister and rude and would much prefer it if they didn't wear it. But I also find the wearing of very little at all provocative and rude and can understand objections to that too.

I hope this debate eventually leads on to the far more important issue of the indoctrination of innocent children into deluded religious beliefs. I recently attended a harvest festival celebration at my sons' school where a vicar told all the children that "God made all the little frogs and the cows and Adam and Eve and every one of us". It appalled me.

I fear that those Islamic women who wear the full veil are often the very same little girls who were indoctrinated into chanting the Qur’an as soon as they could walk, and the daughters of men who went through the same process. It is part of their identity because that is the way they have been programmed and what they have grown up believing. The veil is, as Jack Straw has said, a clear statement of separation and difference which, in almost every case, is a function of religion itself. It is the role of religion and it's propagation that should be examined and restrained here, not just Moslem women in particular or Islam in general.

We are all children of an evolutionary process, not a supreme being and, as an atheist humanist, I am sick of being caught in the crossfire between warring religious groups. I have the deepest compassion for anyone who has been indoctrinated before they had the maturity and intelligence to work things out for themselves and I hope, eventually, they will see the light (which comes from the Sun and not a God).

Answer 3

The veil is a cultural tradition, not a religious one. Many European women in the countryside used to wear veils because it was deemed modest and appropriate to do so (eg the original spanish mantilla). In the times of Mohammed any women not wearing the veil outside could be mistaken for slaves. It has nothing to do with true religion but an outdated universal culture that saw women as objects, the property of their fathers or husbands.

Besides even if Mohammed had stood on top of a mountain and proclaimed that women should wear the hiyab does that mean we should? Like the Bible the Qur'an was written a long time ago. It's a product of its times, are people not allowed to think for themselves and still love God?

Answer 4

I dont agree with women covering their face because of sexual persecution which is their arguement, but the wearing of the veil is a defeatist arguement. It means you have given in, surely if you dont feel like humans and are not treated with respect and given the same rights as men, then you should be more outspoken and not hide away.

I personaly believe that all the controversy surrounding the wearing of the veil at present as nothing to do with religous or human rights, but is statement of defianace felt amongst muslim women against the west's persecution of Islamic people around the world, I support their right to wear the veil, but I also think it is becoming counter productive, in the case of the teacher who lost an unfair dismissal case surrounding the fact she was not allowed to wear her veil in class. I also think it is selfish & rude to believe that you have the right to cover your face when communicatiing with someone face to face.

I would also like to make this point, I believe the debate surrounding this issue has rascist overtones, in the same vein if non muslims feel that wearing the veil has no defence, why are sikh men allowed not to wear a crash helmet, surely that has more serious moral consequences.

I am not a muslim or of any other religous faith.

Answer 5

Well in Islam its recommended and not forced to wear the veil(which we refer it to a hijab) so that it can lower the sexual thoughts of men and their sexual desires. A Niqab (full cover of the face) is not really mandatory just some Muslim women grow up wearing them and get used to them. While some just cover the head and put on normal clothes. Its not forced just blame the Muslim countries for totally misinterpreting the Quran itself.. n makin Islam seem forceful to everything.. cus its not true

Answer 6

When I gained too much weight, I thought that whole outfit was a great idea! When my family became controlling and cruel, I realized you can do all kinds of things under that outfit without supervision. One thing is certain: People inside the veil, or who force others to be inside the veil, are creating a movable, private space for that individual, cutting them off from the outside. I say the rest of us should just acknowledge that and ignore them. Until they do something violent (which they haven't yet, eh?). When they do, I suppose it will be really big, because they'll only have one chance.

Answer 7

No they shouldn't be allowed to, especially in British society. In the current climate, with terrorist risks everywhere they shouldn't be able to cover their faces for security reasons.
I couldn't give a flying toss what it says in the Qur'an, as its not even relevant to modern society (neither is the bible).
British society is about being able to communicate face to face (when in person). I would feel very uncomfortable about someone obscuring their face. Just because they follow a religion, there shouldn't be any exceptions!

Answer 8

I'm not Muslim but I think its horrible,

I think its hard for western Christians like me to understand. In our culture, the face is how the person presents themselves to the world. Concealing your face is linked with duplicity, deceit, being untrustworthy, having something to hide. Theives and robbers cover their faces, not honest people.

Face to face communication is important to us. When a doctor is explaining to you what is wrong with you and how you will be treated you want to see her face, see her facial expressions. You want to take reassurance from a smile or a sympathetic look. You want to see sincerity in her expression.

When the face is covered by a veil this is not possible,

For this reason i would hate to be treated by a veiled doctor, or have my child taught by a veiled teacher or plead my case to a veiled judge. I wouldn't be able to do it,

Sue me - I'm a product of my culture which values face to face communication. Covering the face = untrustworthy in our culture.

Besides I see nothing "immodest" about a woman showing her face. As long as the rest of her body is covered why does she need to cover her face.

Answer 9

it's not up to me (seeing as I am an infidel) to tell a Muslim how they should dress, but I won't foreigners of all ilks to integrate when they come to live in the UK. I don't want them to change how this country looks or is run. I think all religion is cods-wallop, and I am convinced the increasing popularity of women wearing veils is in some cases is to intimidate non-Muslims

Answer 10

None of the Muslim women I know cover everything except the eyes. The most they do is wear the head covering that goes to their shoulders and wear normal clothes--as everyday wear. And that is for the devout ones, otherwise they don't even do that and just wear normal clothes. Only during prayer do they change to the full covering, and then the whole face is exposed. I think it's a matter of personal preference and personal expressions of piety.

Answer 11

I think it's rude and disrespectful, so I don't think they should wear them, but on the other hand we can't very well arrest them for doing it, so to be honest I don't know what the answer is. I would prefer it if they would take responsibility for their actions and not wear the veil, so we didn't have the issue at all.