Is Hijab Compulsory?

[Mairaj Shar]

"The Quran does not suggest that women should be veiled or they should be kept apart from the world of men. On the contrary, the Quran is insistent on the full participation of women in society and in the religious practices."
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". 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 recognized 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). The Quran does not suggest that women should be veiled or they should be kept apart from the world of men. On the contrary, the Quran is insistent on the full participation of women in society and in the religious practices. Morality of the self and cleanliness of conscience are far better than the morality of the purdah. No goodness can come from pretence. Imposing the veil on women is the ultimate proof that men suspect their mothers, daughters, wives and sisters of being potential traitors to them. How can Muslim men meet non-Muslim women who are not veiled and treat them respectfully, but not accord the same respectful treatment to Muslim women?
To wear the Hijaab is certainly NOT an Islamic obligatory on women. It is an innovation (Bid'ah) of men suffering from a piety complex who are so weak spiritually that they just cannot trust themselves! Muslim women remained in mixed company with men until the late sixth century (A.H.) or 11 the centuries (A.C.). 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, but in response to large demonstrations by women, he modified his position and agreed that while the chador is not obligatory, MODEST dress is

[Last Island]

Do you read before posting? Did you read what you have posted above and before?

[Cosmic_libertine]

Dear,
As last island pointed out, i couldnt figure out the purpose of your post. do u wanna ask some question or giving a statment. by the way whose translation is this??? i didnt read it the way u wrote. Its the clear cut aayah for purdah and it is observed by all muslim women because they believe in the Qur'aan that it is the word of Allah. if u are looking for some room or margin that women be exempted regarding purdah in such environments whre they r working head to shoulder with men, then yr this effort is futile my dear. The Qur'aan can not be interpretted according to our own wish and will. only an authorized person can include or exclude things from the explanation given to different ayaahs. im sure u are not a mufti or an authority to do so.. its a genuine sin to introduce any such thing in religion which is new. from new i mean self interpretation. Hazrat-e-AAisha Raziallah-o-ta'aalah anha said once that bid'at is a sin even if it is for a good cause unless the shoorah of muslim agree to this.

plz be clear about yr post what is yr purpose in that???

Regards,
Cosmic libertine

[Zoyee]

The Quran does not suggest that women should be veiled or they should be kept apart from the world of men.

@Mairaj Shar

Dear how can u say that their is no obligation of parda in Islam? Just read out Surah ahzab and Surah Noor..


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 Allah, that ye may attain Bliss. .” (Quran 24:31).


The philosophy behind the hijab for woman in Islam is that she should cover her body in her associations with men 'whom she is not related to according to the Divine Law' (na-mahram) and that she does not flaunt and display herself. The verses of the Holy Quran which refer to this issue affirm this and the edicts of the religious jurisprudence confirm it.

To wear the Hijaab is certainly NOT an Islamic obligatory on women. It is an innovation (Bid'ah) of men suffering from a piety complex who are so weak spiritually that they just cannot trust themselves! Muslim women remained in mixed company with men until the late sixth century (A.H.) or 11 the centuries (A.C.).

Dear fellow what do u mean that to wear Hijjab is innovation? How can we challenge words of Allah? Islam permits women to participate in all fields of life with men but having hijjab and the philosophy behind hijjab is mentioned above.

Please clarify that what do you want to say here? and why hijjab is bidah when we have clear statements of Lawgiver(Allah) in Quran?


Regards

[Last Island]

Read post no 30

http://www.cssforum.com.pk/general/d...success-3.html

[Zoyee]

@Mairaj Shar

See Syed Abul a’la Maududi 's article on veil:

http://muslim-canada.org/purdah.pdf



Regards