I'm just wondering but why do muslims?

Question

I've been wondering this my whole life and I don't want it taken to offense but why do the Muslim women and also some children wear a "hijab" I believe it's called that to the point where they cover their whole bodies and only let their eyes show if the are living in America? I mean why don't they enjoy their freedom to be able to leave the house without having to be covered? Isn't this why they come to America? I mean if they like to be coverd from head to toe then why not just live in the Middle East?

I have just been wondering this for a long time and I just want to learn and understand so please don't take it to offense.

To Nana: Thank you for answering my question and now I will answer yours... I am a Catholic and I see this as a lack of freedom because I have family in Iraq and where they live 9 I'm not sure what part) they are not allowed to leave the house without being covered. It's very hard for them because they are Catholic but from your point of view, I now understand how you feel. Thank you :-)

Answer 1

In the Quran Surah al-Ahzab ayah 59 says:

"O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the faithful to draw their outergarments close around themselves; that is better that they will be recognized (as muslims) and not annoyed. And God is ever Forgiving, Gentle.

This is the basic premise for covering ones head. Wearing the veil is meant to distinguish that you are indeed a muslim woman and to protect your modesty. Covering yourself allows you be judged for your intelect and personality as opposed to your physical beauty. The amount that should be covered is determined from the hadith not the Quran. The hadith are the sayings of the Prophet Mohamed and how he lived his life. Muslims are told to model their lives after that of the prophet and so they try to do things the same way the prohpet anmd his wives did. One hadith tells of the prophet Mohamed explaining what should be covered and what should not. However, even this reference is slightly vague. It says that the prophet told a woman that you should cover everything except for this (gesturing to the hands) and this (gesturing to the face). Based on this hadith, women cover their bodies except for their hands and face. The face veil (niqaab) is not necessary and is optional for most women, although it has been forced by some people. The long full covering which covers body, face, and even eyes (burqa) is also not required by Islam and is optional for most although has been forced in places such as Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban. As a side note i'd like to point out that the middle east is a very arid dusty place and that having spent plenty of time there I can see the appeal of both Niqaab and burqa because you get less dust flying into your nose, eyes, mouth, etc... As for coming to the us for freedom...
Muslims can come to the US and gain freedom from oppression that forces them to wear niqaab or burqa but they cannot escapes the word of Allah (God) who has commanded them to cover themselves. They could choose to wear just a veil that covers their hair and neck whic is fine but not wearing any veil is going against their religious beliefs. Muslims feel more free when they are covered because they are free from the burden of being sexual objects. However some may still choose to continue wearing niqaab and burqa even after they are no longer being forced for many reasons. For one thing if they had been forced to do it all their life it has become a comfort issue for them. It would be like someone who wore pants all their life switching to wearing a skirt. It would feel strange and uncomfortable. Many women may feel naked without it. It may be a comfortable habit for others. Yet, especially in cases where it has been forced it may be a psychological issue which prevents them from wearing just a standard hijab. Some women may associate beatings with not wearing a niqab or burqa and as such will always be afraid to go without theirs even when they know they will not be punished.
As for children wearing hijab it is not required until a girl reaches puberty. Many Arab families have the custom of their daughters not covering until they are engaged or married. However, girls who cover on their own should be a very logical and easy to understand concept because children like to imitate their parents. If a girl sees her mother always wearing hijab when she goes out the girl will want to wear it too so she can be like mom. Just like when girls wnat to play dress up or wear mom's perfume, make-up, jewelry, shoes, etc... they want to be like mom. Again some may be forced to wear it if they were under pressure from extremist groups but it's also important to note that most Muslims are not under the influence of extremeist groups. Muslims do not come to America to escape hijab they come for many reasons including jobs, physical safety, emotional well being, financial opportunities, refuge, etc...

Answer 2

Hijab the way you have described .. show only the eyes is partly Arab culture.

As per Islam both men and women should dress modestly.
Both will then be evaluated for intelligence and skills instead of looks and sexuality.
This was the case in all religions. See the attire of the Nuns for instance. Look at any European pictures of the past, you will see the women and men are well covered and they used to always where a hat, some with a thin veil.

When you talk of freedom its a different matter.
In the name of freedom Women in recent times have been used as objects. If you see the media, to sell a Shaving Razor to Cars you will see women with "sexy" cloths.

Answer 3

1- Wearing Hijab is not related to some countries, so why should women living in Arab countries (Middle East) have the right to wear it and not in America, isn't she the country of freedom?

2- Freedom is not in going out of house with your body exposed to every one to watch for free.

3- Your information is not accurate, Muslim women have to cover all their body except their face and hands, not just eyes as you claimed.

I hope I have helped you now to learn and understand.

Answer 4

A woman's entire body is considered awrah, or a private part in Islam. The way we regard our crotches, they regard the whole female form. To be succinct, that is your answer. Beginning (usually) at menarche, a female Muslim is now a custodian of chastity, and that requires her to cover her self to varying degrees.

I don't believe in Islam either but I can knock my mind down a few pegs to understand the basis and "reason" for this practice.

Men in Islam supposedly have a hijab as well, but the whole of a man is not considered a private part. Therefore, you don't see the male Muslim governed by a set of clothing rules that are as stringent as that of the Muslim female.

Answer 5

I am not offended at all and in fact am glad you asked. I am a muslim woman born and raised here in the U.S. I converted to Islam in my early 20s so this is not just a matter of following my family and/or culture. I wear hijab regardless of where I am in the world. Choosing to dress the way we do is enjoying the freedom that everyone claims to exsist in this country. Wearing hijab doesn't prevent me from living a full life. I am a full-time student as well as being employed in social services.

Like one poster said, a christian doesn't become buddhist simply by living in China. The same is said for muslims living in non-muslim countries.

I do have one question for you though. Why is it that you see wearing hijab as a lack of freedom? Feel free to reply to me personally or here.

Answer 6

Burkha is the thing that covers the whole body...and the "children" are girl children who wear it...

They don't have to, but it's just a sign of modesty...personally I think it would be EXTREMELY hot and if I were a muslim girl, I would not wear it...

Answer 7

i dont know - i guess its the same reason nuns wear (or used to wear habits and priest wear their collars round the wrong way and jews wear the little hat thingies, I guess the muslims must have come to america for other reasons rather than dress code. maybe it was the general freedom - not just about the clothes -

Answer 8

It's nothing to do with the country--Muslim women cover their bodies so men aren't tempted. But I'm sure you can get a better answer from a Muslim woman.

Answer 9

When there is snow storm and rain,you cover your body and head properly to avoide harmfull exposure to harsh weather.

Same way woman and man also got advice from religion to take cover from sick and evil eyes to avoide potential harm from sick and evil mind people.

Most studies of rape cases shows the motivation or stimulation was due to unnecceary exposure of human body specially from woman, and nude and vulger films and photographs.

Get some details in this regards you will get your answer.

Answer 10

Updated:Kindly see at the end.

My dear sister/daughter/child:

Check all Holy Scriptures,you will find:
Every believer adult woman has to wear proper coverings because it is intruction of The God Almighty.

Religion gives solutions to avoide problem before it happened, not only post problems. Religion gives very dynamic advices which are true for any age or place.

They wear Hijab or any kind of covering in tradition of Mother of Prophet Jesus, Mother of Moses, Wives of Abraham, Wife of Moses, Wives of Muhammad, as even today in Christianity Nuns wear Hijab ( Proper covering).

Niqab ( Covering Face is choice of woman, if she feel comfertable to hide her face from men, to keep sick and evil lusts away).

Check this out, Headship and Head Coverings (1 Cor. 11:3-16)
This divinely ordained distinction between men and women is to be maintained in a very specific way. At certain times, the woman is to have her head covered, while the man is to have his head uncovered. This distinction is important to God, and to Paul, and thus it should be important to us as well. I believe this distinction is to be observed today, most likely in the very same way Paul instructed the Corinthians to observe it in his day. If you think these words have little to do with Christians today, I must warn you this is not the case. Let us listen carefully to what the Spirit of God has to say to Christians today about maintaining male-female distinctions.

Think about it and also check Old Testaments as well, you will be surprised to find what God expect from believer men and woman.

Do not think it is just in Islam, Islam is a continuety of teachings of all the Prophets and in fact they also taught Islam.

Kindly check my other answers aswell.

UpDated:

This is also iteresting to see.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvR2k4R8AaLJn_TZq3GWWbbsy6IX?qid=20070803081321AAAEJvm&show=7#profile-info-U88oSU0Iaa


Mr. Slick of U.K. if you are Christian why don't you follow Bible:
1-Cor. 11:3-16, and more. If Christians not following word of God (according to them today’s Bible is also word of God), you are denying God and what would you call, denying God?