muslim women - why the full-covering outfit?

Question

please first understand this - i am in NO means trying to be insulting. i am a Christian, and i do dress modestly, and understand modesty, and not showing everything, but i still dont understand why u have to cover EVERYTHING. like ur neck, hair, ankles, whats wrong w/showing those parts of u? could u please explain, perhaps give some verses from the Koran. thanks!

Answer 1

One of my Muslimah friends says she does because then she is judged as a *person* and not a face and body. She works in a male dominated field and feels she is taken more seriously as a professional; she is judged by the content of her mind, not how she looks. It is very liberating in that sense.

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Answer 2

The idea is modesty, Muslim women (some) just take it to a different level than most Christian or other women do. There are some cases when women are forced into the wearing a hijab/niqab/burqa, but more often than not Muslim women are proud to wear whatever they choose to (especially in Western countries).

By covering the hair, neck, and chest, you're not only showing your submission and obedience to God, but you're respecting yourself. The point is to not show your form at all, as that might insight lustful thoughts in men. It's true that usually hair doesn't turn a man on, but it's also a symbol. It serves to remind men that you're a Muslim woman and shouldn't be looked at in a lustful way. It forces people to treat you based on your skills, intelligence, and personality instead of how you look.

In that way, it's liberating because it ensures that you won't be treated as an object and your opinions will be respected instead of someone just liking you because of how you look.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab#Qur.27an You can find verses from the Qur'an and hadiths on covering up (too long to cut and paste here).

Answer 3

Many Christians cover a lot up too, this is just another form of that. Check out meninites and amish people.

Different religions have strange pratices. Many Christians eat bread and wine on Sundays and some of them refuse to use electricity.

Answer 4

A beautiful video about it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNXMxaXClJI&mode=related&search=

They say, oh poor girl you're so beautiful you know,
It's a shame that you must cover up your beauty so
She just smiles and graciously responds reassuringly
This beauty that I have is just a simple part of me,
This body that I have no stranger has the right to see

These long clothes, the shawl I wear, ensure my modesty
Faith is more essential than fashion, wouldn't you agree
this hijab, This mark of piety
Is an act of faith a symbol for all the world to see?
A simple cloth to preserve her dignity
So lift the veil from your heart to see the heart of purity...
So lift the veil from your heart to see the heart of purity...

Answer 5

The basic requirements are that when in the presence of someone of the opposite sex (other than a close family member - mahram), a woman should cover her body, and walk and dress in a way which does not draw sexual attention to her.

Answer 6

That's to avoid any sexual urge arise from men who may have fetishism in the covered parts.

Personally, I see this as simply prevention and denial instead of tackling sexual problems head on and solve it once and for all instead of spending several millenium of time preventing something that's naturally occuring. I mean, how will we stop something and turn it to good if we choose to deny it? Buddhism never practice prevention and denial but tackle the sexual issue head on in the hope that the followers to gain mastery over such temptation.

My suggestion: Solve men's deluded, excessive and immoral sexual urges and abuses and everything will come to an end. Don't cover up because the core problem will still be there.

Answer 7

I think it's lame. I mean the guy should have to control his thoughts and not be such a pig! It shouldn't be the woman's responsibility to do that. And why should they be made to hide themselves because some men are pervs?? I mean that's the way God made us!

Now if some statistic came out about Muslim women never getting raped because of this, I might look into it. But I doubt that stops anyone anyways, because rape is not about sex or sex appeal. It's about being a sick and control.

Answer 8

The Qur’anic verse, “Say to believing women, that they cast down their eyes and guard their private parts, and reveal not their adornment save such as is outward; and let them drape their headcoverings over their bosoms, and not reveal their adornment . . .” (Qur’an 24:31) is a specific requirement for Muslim women to cover their hair.A Muslim woman who covers her head is making a statement about her identity. Anyone who sees her will know that she is a Muslim and has a good moral character. Many Muslim women who cover are filled with dignity and self esteem; they are pleased to be identified as a Muslim woman. As a chaste, modest, pure woman, she does not want her sexuality to enter into interactions with men in the smallest degree. A woman who covers herself is concealing her sexuality but allowing her femininity to be brought out.

Answer 9

"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]


" 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]



It's to guard their modesty. Islam is a religion of "Better safe than sorry", so....all these things can turn a man on, so....that's why it's covered.

Answer 10

I am a Muslim woman.. The reason we cover is because we dont want ppl to look at us and God asked us to.. We believe that it is also a way to abstain from fitnah.. however, we may not wear full-cover in front of various ppl.. to guard us, we use full-covering