I've read the Koran and it is no where mentioned that a woman should wear a viel. It does mention that a woman

Question

should cover up when she travels. Have I missed something? Where did the wearing of the veil come from?

Answer 1

The dress must cover the whole body except for the areas specifically exempted. The Qur'an states:

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.

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 husbands' 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 0 you believers! Turn all toward Allah that you may attain bliss.

Surat-un-Nur (24) 30-31


Muslims must wear the hijab because Allah(swt) ordered it. Muslims have two sources for guidance. The first and most important source is Qur'an, the revealed word of Allah(swt). They may then use Hadith which is the sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad(saw) who was chosen by Allah(swt) to be a role model for mankind.

Here are two passage from the Qur'an that order the hijab.


"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 annoyed..." (Qur'an 33:59)


“O you Children of Adam! We have bestowed on you raiment to cover your shame as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness, that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition.” (Quran 7:26)

Answer 2

The Koran says that a woman should cover her "bosom". Covering the hair and wearing the veil is totally cultural. It came from the beduoins in the desert when they had to cover against sand storms. Then it just evolved. Women did not cover ther face in the time of Mohammed. In one of the Hadiths, it mentions where Mohammed was talking to Khadiga and he "looked unto her face". Most of the Muslim countries are dominated by men at every level. Now the wearing of the veil is so that other "men will not look at the woman and desire her". It is just a way of keeping women under their thumbs. I have seen very old women wearing a veil, and I could not think of any man who would have desired them!!! People interpret the Koran to their own liking just a christians interpret the bible to suit their own wishes.

Answer 3

Sadly Islam is very like Christianity,it is open to interpretation and adjustment by those with power and to often an agenda.
You are correct ,there is nothing said about women wearing the veil.
It does say that women should cover their adornments (referring to their breasts) I was informed by a Sheik.
The veil has become more a matter of personal or family choice, in less fundamental Islamic societies like Egypt.Some girls I know there wear it only as a fashion statement,having no pressure from fathers ,mothers etc to do so.But taking it of to go to clubs etc.

Answer 4

It is true that it is never stated that a women wear a veil, but rather cover her body up, from what I'm aware. That's why it's interpreted differently - some wear abaya, some just wear the hijab while some don't wear one at all. The main rule is modesty.

Answer 5

You're correct; the actual wearing of a veil is not instructed in the Koran (you may have noticed that, for instance, Indonesian Muslims don't wear veils). Interestingly, the wearing of long, body-concealing garments and keeping women from being seen by men is a practice that originally came from Crete.

In fact, in ancient Greece, women were forbidden to leave their homes except for religious festivals. Thus modern day conservative Muslim cultures are practicing what was originally a European custom.

Answer 6

We Muslims have to understand that the main source of Islamic laws and guidelines are both Qur'an and Sunnah. Islamic scholars scrutinized both Qur'an and Sunnah to make the requirements of a woman's dress:

1. It should cover her whole body except face and hands.

2. It should be loose-fitting.

3. It should not be transparent or revealing.

4. It should not be an attire specifically worn by men only.

5. It should not be an attire exclusively worn by non-Muslims.

6. It should not have images or pictures of living beings.

To satisfy the conditions 1-5, veil works most perfect. This is why
pious Muslim women women wear veil. We also have to understand Qur'an and Hadth don't necessarily give a name of an attire, rather give us the requirements. Veil seems to fulfill them all.

Answer 7

Yeah it's about "dressing humbly -- or without showing off". I think I never found a veil mentioned in the book either.

Answer 8

You are correct. The Qur'an only calls upon women to dress modestly. Veils, hijabs, abayas, and other such insults to fashion arose later.

Answer 9

Middle eastern tradition.

Though in the past it's used to be only prostitutes that wear a dress that cover all of their bodies.

Answer 10

I believe the Hadith correct me if I am wrong. It may not be written in the Qur'an but it is mentioned in the "words" of the Prophet aka "traditions"