A question for Muslims and Catholics?

Question

Have you ever realized that the Mary mother of Jesus wears hijab, the traditional headcovering worn by Muslim women? Why do you think that is?

In all paintings and sculptures, she wears hijab. That should tell you something.

Answer 1

it tells me that was the fashion at that time, WHICH WAS OVER 2,000 YEARS AGO!!!

Answer 2

Hopefully you realize that the Renaissance era paintings to which you refer are not historically accurate. For example, none of them picture the earlocks or the prayer shawls which were an essential part of Jewish culture and dress at the time of Christ. Nor are the skin colors, hair, eyes, etc correct in most of those paintings. Rather they are shown as white europeans, not as middle east Jews and Arabs.

As for why Mary is normally depict with a head covering, the only Middle Eastern people the painters know were the Muslim who lived in the Middle East at that time. So they assumed that the Bible people would have worn the same fashions that they saw in those countries at the time. So depicted the woman wearing hijab like outfits.

But there is no historical evidence that the women of that time would have actually worn hajibs. Mary lived nearly 600 years before the time of Mohammed and the fashions of his day that would become the "official garb" of Islam.

If your reasons is correct (and it is not) then since the painters did NOT show Jesus in a turban, then Islamic men should not wear them.

Basing your theology on paintings made hundreds of years later half a world away is poor theology.

Answer 3

Women, when Christianity was born, had to dress modestly as well, believe it or not. However, many of the Christians of the time found it to be restrictive and did not like it, and thus they were weaker in their faith. The authors who had revised the Bible changed God's word so that it would fit their followers needs, not God's, by allowing them to wear clothing they preferred instead, and overall dressing much less modestly. The author had to do this in order to preserve the Christian faith so that many of its followers wouldn't convert to another religion or lose faith, so they revised it with a lie.. I'd call that pretty corrupt..

Dewcoons, are you saying that many of tha paintings you see of the Christian women wearing Hijab were done by Muslim painters? Thats not even possible. Or you said something like "they only knew of women wearing Hijab in the Middle East, so they painted the Christian women that way." Umm, Islam was not around in the Middle East, so how could most of the women there be wearing Hijab, thus influencing these painters? These "Muslims painters in the Middle East" wouldn't paint pictures of Mary anyway, as that is against Islam (idolatry)! Wow, you truly are ignorant! It just doesn't flow. Read what you wrote, and think about the time periods of what you claimed. Its not even possible, thus what you said is invalid! ----->Norcalislam please let me know with Additional Details or something if you understood what I meant in this paragrpah or if it was too wordy. What dewcoons said does not..CANNOT even make sense..

Wow, please watch these 2 videos from youtube. They aren't that long, and should answer your question quite well!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=F4jQi0Gjy3M
http://youtube.com/watch?v=82GNdLhtFCM

Answer 4

Mary, in Christian theology the Theotokos or God Bearer , was a woman of her time. It therefore makes perfect sense that she wore clothing appropriate for her time and culture.

The question (implied here) for folks today is should women feel obligated to wear veils of hijab. I'm sure some would pose a modesty argument. But, modesty is carried on one's heart and mind and not in one's manner of dress.

I often wonder why men feel so threatened by a woman's hair or face or body. What about the modesty of men? Are they so licentious that the mere sight of a woman drives them into a sexual frenzy. Why should it be a woman's fault if men are so crude.

Answer 5

I bring this up all the time...I can understand when some people may think that was just 'fashion' back then (they don't know better), but honestly, denying it completely the way SOME do is DISGUSTING! Thanks for bringing it up --but ALL Christians should think about it!

Although I agree that the paintings are not 100% accurate, jewish women are also told in the bible to cover their hair --and many still do today.

Here is a site for them to buy modest clothing: http://www.tznius.com/

Also, my mom is Orthodox Christian and at least covers her hair in church like the new testament says. She also has to wear long skirts and long sleeves--the priest even said the men have to wear long pants and long sleeves all year round. And he used to the painting of saints as examples! -Not all paintings are only from the renaissance.

Answer 6

People are saying that was many years ago, a "fashion" of that time, so what the nuns wear today, would you consider that fashion?

By the way Christians are supposed to be wearing that too, unfortunately they have the new testament, which is everything they want to do.

Women are supposed to cover, be modest. End of Story.

Answer 7

It wasnt fashion, women actually chose to wear the Hijab, as women choose to wear it still this day, of course the teachings are simmilar, thats why God brought down Islam through the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) to restore the original Abrahamaic faith, its not copied but to preserve the original faith, to remind people of God's laws, but the non-Muslim who is weak will say oh nooooo it was copied bla bla, lol, they dont know about faith , they have been brought up by the faith which has changed during the centuries by man. Peace be with you.

Answer 8

Cause she Muslim! The problem with our society is that we get upset about words that we have no idea of their meaning! Because of the current situation of the world the word Islam and Muslim causes fear or hostility in most of us. Muslim: the only meaning of this word is One who follows and submits his/her will to God! Now my statement that Mary was a Muslim is going to get all types of negative responses because once again all people are going to do is see the words and not look at the meaning. In the Bible it says that when Mary was alone and being taken care of by her Uncle that his servants would go to take her food but she was already taken care of no one understood how she never went without. She told her Uncle when he asked about her provisions and how she obtained them, that they were from the One True God and that He blesses all of His faithful the same. Seems to me like she had surrendered and submitted herself to the will of God. Now if you follow Jesus or Abraham or Ishmael and there teachings like it or not you are a MUSLIM!!! When the wind blows the trees bend and so does the grass and the sun and the moon rises and falls in submission to the will of God... there are Muslims! The "so called" devil prays everyday in submission to God because he knows who God is! Now get at me! And prove me wrong!

Answer 9

Well, since Islam did not evolve until hundreds of years after the death of Christ, that doesn't mean anything to me. The Virgin Mary could wear a motorcycle helmet for all I care. I don't take an artist rendition of her to be evidence that the Virgin Mary endorses Islam.

Answer 10

Catholic women are still "technically" supposed to cover their hair, at least when they attend mass. Most don't, and probably most of them do not even know this. The requirement for women to wear veils still stands in Catholic doctrine, though it isn't emphasized. Research it, if you think I am mistaken. Jewish women, too, are supposed to cover their hair if they are married.

Answer 11

exactly. But nowadays when muslims dress modestly people take it the wrong way but that is probably a lot to do with the media, the way they always exxagerate about Islam.