|
||||||||||
|
|
Is covering
compulsory for Muslim women? August 19, 2009
9:49 AM · Sadia Raheem - Miami Muslim Women's Examiner
This
topic is one of which not only debated amongst the non-Muslim population
but also more-so the men and women of Islam. On a personal level, as a Muslim
Woman (converted) I support niqab. I do not however, view it as
obligatory. I know a lot of sister's who have chosen the niqab who are very
dear sisters to me so please don't think I am against them or their choice. I
also know a lot of muslim women who don't wear any head covering, whom I am
very close to. They are striving to cover and may Allah (swt) increase their
imaan and give them strength to overcome their personal struggle ameen. A
Muslimah who wears hijab is not better than one who wears niqab and vice versa.
Nobody is better than the next except in taqwah (piety, fear of Allah) Allah
Most High does not care about our wealth, our beauty or lack of it, etc. What
He cares about is what is in the heart such as niyyah (intention) and the
deeds. In Saheeh Muslim it is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him) said: “Allaah does not look at your outward appearance and
your wealth, rather He looks at your hearts and deeds.” (Hadith No. 4651) Every
Muslim woman will be judged on the Yawm Al-Qiyama (Day of Judgement) concerning
what they understood about the command of veiling. So let us leave the judgment
to Allah Most High, who is the best of judges.
One
of the verses in the Quran protects a woman's fundamental rights. Verse 59 of
Surah Al-Ahzaab reads: "O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters and the
believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons
(when outside) : so that they should be known (as such) and not molested". Although
Hijab and modesty are mandatory for Muslim women, as Muslim women we are
required to cover the shape of our body's and not expose our sexuality as to
protect us and portray our devotion to Islam. it is ultimately a
woman's choice to wear any garment beyond what is mandatory (such as
niqab or burqa etc..)and no one should make judgement on doing so or
not. This judgement is left to Allah swt alone. According
to the Quran, the reason why Muslim women should wear an outer garment when
going out of their homes is that they may be recognised as
"Believing" women and differentiated from streetwalkers for whom
sexual harassment is an occupational hazard. The purpose of this verse was not
to confine women to their homes, but to make it safe for them to go about their
daily business without attracting unsavory attention. Older
Muslim women who are past the prospect of marriage are not required to wear
"the outer garment". "Such elderly women as are past the
prospect of marriage, there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer)
garments, provided they make not wanton display of their beauty; but it is best
for them to be modest; and Allah is One Who sees and knows all things".
(24:60). Morality
of the self and cleanliness of conscience are far better than the morality of
the pardah (covering). No goodness can come from pretence. To say that men
impose covering on women is the same as saying that they suspect their mothers,
daughters, wives and sisters of being potential traitors to them. Muslim men
meet non-Muslim women often who are not veiled and treat them respectfully,
this has nothing to do with reasoning behind the choice to cover for Muslim
women. It remains a personal choice based upon their individual Imaan (belief,
faith) Muslim
women remained in mixed company with men until the late sixth century (A.H.) or
11 th century (CE). They received guests, held meetings and went to wars to
help their brothers and husbands, and they defended their castles and bastions. It
is part of the growing feeling on the part of Muslim men and women that they no
longer wish to identify with the West, and that reaffirmation of their identity
as Muslims requires the kind of visible sign that adoption of conservative
clothing implies. For
these women the issue is not that they have to dress conservatively, but that
they choose to. In lran, Imam Khomeini first insisted that women must wear the
veil and chador (full body covering), but in response to large demonstrations
by women, he modified his position and agreed that while the chador is not
obligatory, MODEST dress is. This has been adapted in most countries governed
by Islamic Law. There
is a poem that I hold very dear, I feel that it describes me as a Muslim Woman
very well; I
am a Muslim woman I
am a Muslim woman, Feel free to ask me why, When I walk, I
am a Muslim woman, So please don't pity me! For God has guided me to truth, And
now I'm finally free! (c)1999 Jenn Zaghloul Indeed,
all praises are due to Allah swt, we praise Him, seek His Aid and beg for His
Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil in our souls and from the
bad consequences of our deeds. Whomever Allah guides, no one can lead that
person astray and whomever Allah leads astray no one can guide that person. I
bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah Who is alone
and without any partners and I bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave
and final Prophet and Messenger sent to mankind. And certainly the most perfect
speech is the Speech of Allah and the finest guidance is the guidance of
Muhammad (saws). This
article is not meant to serve as a fatwa (legal opinion) as I am not qualified
to issue fatwas. I also need to make it clear that I don't follow a madhab
(Islamic school of thought) and I respect the four imams just as much as I
respect the scholars of today. I don't blindly follow the scholars, I follow
the Quran and Sunnah that they follow. Whatever I have written that is true is
from Allah alone while anything that is false is from myself and shaytan. May
Allah forgive me and have mercy on me, ameen. Copyright
2009 Examiner.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Author
Sadia Raheem is
an Examiner from Miami. You can see Sadia's articles at: "http://www.Examiner.com/x-20898-Miami-Muslim-Womens-Examiner"
http://www.examiner.com/x-20898-Miami-Muslim-Womens-Examiner~y2009m8d19-Is-covering-compulsory-for-Muslim-women |
|||||||||
