The Veil

[ayoub]

The Qur'anic evidence supporting the veil is held in the following verse (three translations for comparison):

033.059
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.
SHAKIR: O Prophet! say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they let down upon them their over-garments; this will be more proper, that they may be known, and thus they will not be given trouble; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Some people seem to feel that to draw their cloaks around them means to cover the face too, and that's a very tenuous link.

The word veil is used in the Qur'an, but in the context of "drawing a veil over your thoughts", and directed at men.

When considering “veils = Niqab” covering the face, we have to go back to Islamic rules:

1. Allah does not place on a soul a burden greater than it can bear (Quran 2/233, 2/286, 6/152, 7/42 and 23/62.


2. The “Khimaar” that was mentioned in Quran Anoor 24/31 is the head cover that should cover the neck and bosoms (jeyoobihin)


3. The ward “Jilbab” that was mentioned in the Quran Ahzab 33/59 meant the dress that covers all the body apart from the head (according Ibn Abbas & Ibn Masood in Kurtobi’ book).


4. “Jilbab” could be used as a head and body cover. To use it to cover the face is a stretch of its meaning.


5. If there is no order from Allah (SW) or Muhammad (pbuh) to women to cover their faces; Covering the face is a burden greater than what women can bear.


6. Covering the face has always been requested by some scholars who want to avoid tribulation “fitnah”


7. There is no direct or indirect order from Allah (SW) or His prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to women to cover their faces.


8. When Al-Fadel Ibn Al-Abbas looked at a pretty woman in Hajj, Prophet Muhammad turned Al-Fadel’s face twice and did not ask the lady to cover her face.


9. Prophet Muhammad told Asma’a daughter of Abu Baker that once a lady reaches puberty age, only her face and hands could be left without cover.


10. Those who say that the face should be covered, they stretch the meaning of “Jilbab” by saying it is used to covers the face accept the left eye without being backed by a Quran verse, a Hadith nor supported by the meaning of Jilbab in Arabic Dictionaries.


11. In al-mawred dictionary: ِJilbab = gown, loose garment


12. In Al-Faeq dictionary: Jilbab = Dress


13. In Lisaan Al-Arab dictionary: Jilbab = Dress


14. The Muslim Ladies who were asked to cover their faces were the wives of prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
    
    The wives of Prophet Muhammad have a special set of rules like:




• Wives of the prophets are not like any other women: Quran, Ahzab 33/32


• Wives of the prophets will be rewarded twice or punished twice as much as other people: Quran, Azab 33/30-31


• Wives of the prophets should stay at their homes: Quran, Ahzab 33/33


• Wives of the prophets should never marry after the death of the prophet: Quran, Ahzab 33/53


• Wives of the prophets should be asked from before a screen: Quran, Ahzab 33/53


• Wives of the prophets must recite what is rehearsed to them in their homes Quran 33/34

In addition:

Shahi Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 65, Number 375:

Narrated Anas:

I know (about) the Hijab (the order of veiling of women) more than anybody else. Ubai bin Ka'b used to ask me about it. Allah's Apostle became the bridegroom of Zainab bint Jahsh whom he married at Medina. After the sun had risen high in the sky, the Prophet invited the people to a meal. Allah's Apostle remained sitting and some people remained sitting with him after the other guests had left. Then Allah's Apostle got up and went away, and I too, followed him till he reached the door of 'Aisha's room. Then he thought that the people must have left the place by then, so he returned and I also returned with him. Behold, the people were still sitting at their places. So he went back again for the second time, and I went along with him too. When we reached the door of 'Aisha's room, he returned and I also returned with him to see that the people had left. Thereupon the Prophet hung a curtain between me and him and the Verse regarding the order for (veiling of women) Hijab was revealed.

Reading this tells me that the prophet Mupammed (p.b.u.h) only drew the veil when alone with a woman, and not when in the presence of others, and you'll note the method of the veil was not to be draped around the woman, but drawn between them.

Ultimately, the veil is a device used by men to hide women because they can't draw a veil on their own thoughts... I think the whole thing is demeaning and disrespectful to women, frankly, and women who use it as a badge of honour are, in my view, similar to slaves who wear shackles as a badge of honour when they have the key to their freedom in their hands.

Comments

[sabriel007.livejournal.com]

this isn't really relevant to the whole politics of it,

but I think it's actually kind of empowering to women to think that the sight of us can make them so crazy they believe all women should have to be completely covered at all times. ;)

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

True... But when people tell me it's Islamic law that women should be veiled, I like to have these facts handy :)

It's choice, not a requirement of faith...

Oh yeah... women make me so very crazy :P

[the-ravyn.livejournal.com]

Something my grandmother once said:

"The word of God in the hands of men can sometimes turn flowers into daggers and rose petals into chains."

She was right...and I'm not saying that just because she was my Grandma.

Great post, Ayoub.  I learned something today. :)

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Wise words indeed...

Thank you Sis :)

[donnickcottage.livejournal.com]

Ditto your conclusion. Great post.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Thank you, my friend...

[mysticpickle.livejournal.com]

The only consistant thing in this world is change. People generally fear change rather than accept it. While it may appear to many that all these women have a choice, it simply is not the case. What are facts on paper and what society demands are rarely the same. I have several Muslim friends who tell tales of horror about these women who "choose" not to be veiled. And while they do have the "choice" not to be veiled they don't have a choice to make everyone around them agree it is right. Generally most people would rather "not rock the boat" than do what they choose is right for them in their hearts. While I personally disagree with blindly following along and say lets rock the damn boat, there are many people who would rather go with the flow to avoid any repercussions from society. It is simply the easier choice.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

I feel that when making important decisions like taking on a veil, people should do full research...

Thank you...

[mysticpickle.livejournal.com]

I agree totally with that. Way to often people make rash decissions without the full knowledge of the issue at hand and it goes terribly wrong. I hate it when someone tries to argue a point with me and I know they are either only half right or wrong and they have no facts to support their side of the arguement.

[cherish-in.livejournal.com]

Thank you.. .I learned something today too.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

That makes me happy :D

[xavierism.vox.com (from livejournal.com)]

Mother is Muslim and would agree with you. She holds my father on a leash...so she definitely agrees with you.

*CHEERS*

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

*CHEERS*

[shafuq.livejournal.com]

Totally agree with your conclusion.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Glad you agree :)

[fayruz.livejournal.com]

I agree. No one should have to wear the veil, I don't even think women should have to wear a hijab either but that's another story.

I am completely disgusted with that niqab-wearing teacher - she's free to wear what she wants but she has to accept that her choice of clothes is completely inappropriate for this particular profession.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

I agree... and then stating that it's religious just makes me mad...

[f-l-i-r-t.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this. I had done some reasearch myself, but had no background knowledge of any of this, so wasn't sure if what I was reading was true or not, afterall we can't believe everything we read on the internet.

I find the veil offensive and on some level intimiadating. I also find women who vehemently argue for it, saying that by wearing it, people see them as the person, and not just their womanly features first. In actuallity, people see the veil first, make assumptions and then if they bother try and get to know you, but the veil puts up a wall and does not allow one to get very close on any level, so I would think.

Thanks for this, very interesting.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

I agree... it was initially a bedouin tradition, adopted by people who rose to power as a way of keeping women subjugated by twisting the laws...

I hate the bloody things...