Are Muslim women required to wear the hijab?

Question

Please use examples from the Quran and authenticated hadiths.

Answer 1

The Quran doesn't say that you should cover your hair, I don't know about the hadith... The Verse in the Quran is always translated differently than what it actually says (I know that because I can read the Actual Quran in Arabic). The verse that is translated as:

that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty

actually says :

shall cover their chests, with their Khimar ("Khimar" is an Arabic word that means, cover, any cover, a curtain is a Khimar, a dress is a Khimar, a table cloth that covers the top of a table is a Khimar, a blanket can be used as a Khimar..etc.)


I'm not saying that the Hijab is unislamic, I'm actually not too sure about that myself. But I'm certain that this verse makes No mention of hair or covering your head.

Ahmed A, why the hell would you convert the Aya to make it fit into what you like??? now let me copy paste an authentic translation of what it actually says, remember Ahmed, God does not need you to complete his Word for him :

(Two different Translations, 33:59)

YUSUFALI: O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

PICKTHAL: O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

Changing the Words of God, that you can't do.

Answer 2

Hi as far as i know there is no close in the Quran the states women should wear hijab. The wearing of hijabs was started long ago , according to me, for several purposes: arabs had to travel in the hot sun in deserts, so it would protect them; earlier when kingdoms were widespread in that region kings & princes would at times take away pretty girls, hence this was to hide their faces; another point is that wearing hijab prevents one's skin from being exposed to the sun & sun rays do contain rays that help destroy microbes living on the skin, hence the hijab deprives the wearers from this benefit.
Hijab wearing is now obsolete & serves no purpose. I respect the women wearing them but i'm sorry to say that in many parts of the world this had turned into fanaticism. They say that this is worn because of tradition & respect for religion. But i wonder if it's necessary to wear the hijab to be a muslim? This is my opinion formed from what i've read; i do not intend to hurt anyone. Every one had the right to express his/her views.

Answer 3

For those who answered that
" I think there governments are asking to wear Hijab"
For your kind information sir, In Turkey, Government actually punished who were wearing Hijab, but I salute those who gave First priority to the commands of God Almighty, and accepted punishment and continue wearing Hijab.

Even Christian Bible advice woman to cover hair, but unfortunately they are not following their own Bible, that does not means they are right and God Almighty is wrong (May God forgive me saying these words).

Answer 4

YES, proof from Quran:

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Answer 5

Qur’an.
24:31 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 husband’s 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 O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards God, that ye may attain Bliss.

33:59 O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And God is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.

The commands of verses of Qur’an are very clear do not need any further explanation.

Bible Refernce : 1 Corinthians, chapter 11
4: Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
5: but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head — it is the same as if her head were shaven.

6: For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil.

Reason :
7: For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
8: (For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.

9: Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.) 10: That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels.

The purpose of above verses from Bible is to show where this head covering religious beliefs become the mandatory part of Muslim faith not to criticise their religious beliefs.

A common misconception is that Muslim women are the only ones who cover their hair. It may be true that Islam is the only religion in which most women follow its directives to cover the hair, but it is not the only religion to have such directives.

It is particularly interesting to look at the case of Christianity, since Christianity is the predominant religion in the West, and it is Westerners, including observant Christians, who are often the first to criticize Islam because of the hijab (modest dress, including headcovering).




http://www.answering-christianity.com/woman.htm

Peace:)

Answer 6

I believe that they were asked by the government of muslim countries to wear them, as to ascertain their identity as muslim women. Not completely sure though.

Answer 7

im pretty sure they arent.
its encouraged but not required.
the prophet's wives wore hijabs, and while following them is sunnah its not required.
however Muslim women should still dress conservativley.

Answer 8

I will give one example for those who are taking Qura'n words just as words, and not getting its meanings.

If a doctor tells you to save your skin from cold and snow.
So what you will do, you will cover your body with snow coat or jacket.
You will not say doctor did not tell me to cover body.
Same way God Almighty told in Qura'n, " protect your blossoms and buty ", that means all potential targets from Evil and sick minded people and evil eyes, should be covered to get protection from sick and evil eyes.

Now you can judge your self in woman's body what parts can get more attraction of evil and sick eyes.

Very simple, hair, face, chest, back, thies, etc...

It is now your intelligence how and what you want to do for optimum safety.

It is up to you, if you want to make your self a hot cake for hungry evil people or testy piece of flash for hungry wolves?

Your choice, you want to understand Qura'n or just make arguments to avoid guidelines from God Almighty.

Answer 9

the Quran tells women to wear the veil for purposes of recognition, safety and honor!

Why did Allah Almighty order women to cover up in Islam?

Allah Almighty created us in a beautiful form, and had put in us desires and emotions to make the journey of life more meaningful and to help us be more faithful to our spouses.

Allah Almighty created sexual desires in both men and women to help them live their marital lives together until death separates them. Otherwise, life would get too boring for the couples very quickly. He did also create ways for both men and women to increase their sexual desires:

1- For men, the eye is what increases their sexual desires. That's why it's common for men in the west to look lustfully at western women (who dress inappropriately by exposing 60% of their bodies and up).

2- For women, the feeling of a touch is what increases their sexual desires. That is why it is not common among women to look at men lustfully (as much as men do look at women) in the western societies where open sexuality is common among people. It is generally the men who seek the women and look at them lustfully. The vise versa is not true!.

Knowing the above facts, it is important for us as good Muslims or good followers of Allah Almighty to reduce wickedness in our society to the very minimum. For these reasons, Allah Almighty ordered women to cover up so that they don't look sexually intimidating, and He ordered men not to touch women whom those men are not their "mahram" (guardians). In other words, a man can touch his daughter on the shoulder for instance, or his mother. But he can't go around and touch stranger women, because depending on the woman, this could raise her sexual desires to lead her to commit fornication or adultery.

Men and women in Islam are not also allowed to talk too openly in public together, so no wickedness can take place among them. Women are encouraged to talk in a low voice and to not hit the ground with their heels too loud when they walk.

These types of teachings keep the society in a healthy mental state. If you look at the Western World's Grade Schools and High Schools where they have mixed genders, then you would easily see how teenage males (boys) get disturbed and lose focus in their studies because they would be thinking too much about sex with other classmate girls.

This sexual atmosphere creates nothing but psychological and emotional difficulties and insecurities among the teenage boys, who will then grow up to be sexually insecure.

In Islam, teenage boys and girls are prohibited to attend the same school. Girls must go to girls schools and boys must go to boys schools. In Universities its a different case, even though some Muslims still believe that there should be Women-only universities and Men-only universities. But I personally agree with the Muslims that don't have a problem with mixed genders universities as long as the men and women dress modestly and Islamicly, because in college, men and women are a lot more mature and responsible than the teenage kids. Plus it is an opportunity for Muslim men and women to get to know each others for marital purposes, since they are all old enough for marriage

Answer 10

Most of them that I know are proud to wear them, it's their identity, their covering. They don't mind it.
It's the burka,,the one with the tiny holes to see through that their government makes them wear.