Information About

Hijab




See Also: Islam and clothing



Hijab or '''ħijāb''' ('''''') is the Arabic term for "cover" (noun), based on the root حجب meaning "to veil, to cover (verb), to screen, to shelter"

In some Arabic-speaking countries and Western countries, the word ''hijab'' primarily refers to women's head and body covering, but in Islamic Scholarship , ''hijab'' is given the wider meaning of modesty, privacy, and morality.1, p.112 The word used in the Qur'an for a headscarf or veil is ''khimār'' ().

''Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World'' by Macmillan Reference states about hijab:''Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World'' (2003), p.721, New York : Macmillan Reference USA
The term hijab or veil is not used in the Qur'an to refer to an article of clothing for women or men, rather it refers to a spatial curtain that divides or provides privacy. The Qur'an instructs the male believers (Muslims) to talk to wives of Muhammad behind a hijab. This hijab was the responsibility of the men and not the wives of Muhammad. However, in later Muslim societies this instruction specific to the wives of Muhammad was generalized, leading to the segregation of the Muslim men and women. The modesty in Qur'an concerns both men's and women's gaze, gait, garments, and genitalia. The clothing for women involves khumūr over the necklines and jilbab (cloaks) in public so that they may be identified and not harmed. Guidelines for covering of the entire body except for the hands, the feet, and the face, are found in texts of fiqh and hadith that are developed later.


Despite the same Qur'anic obligations being issued for men and women, rules regarding dress developed so that men were to cover from their navels to their knees, whereas a women were to cover all their bodies except what was essential, that is, the hands and face.


TEXTS IMPLICATING THE VALUE AND PURPOSE TO THE USE OF HIJAB


Qur'an

The Qur'an instructs Muslims to dress in a "modest" fashion. The following verses are generally interpreted as applying to all Muslim men and women.

Surah an-Nur ayah 31 states:



  Those Who Harass Believing Men And Believing Women Unjustifiably Shall Bear The Guilt Of Slander And A Grievous Sin O Prophet! Enjoin Your Wives, Your Daughters, And The Wives Of True Believers To Draw Their Cloaks Over Them "when" class="copylinks" target="_blank">they go out That is more proper, so that they may be distinguished and not be harassed God is ever forgiving and merciful If the hypocrites and those who have the ailment jealousy in their hearts and the scandal mongers of Madinah do not desist, We will rouse you against them, and their days in that city will be numbered Cursed be they wherever found, they would be seized and put to death
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  Wives Of The Prophet, You Are Not Like Other Women So, If You Fear God, Do Not Be Too Complaisant In Your Speech, Lest The Lecherous-hearted Should Lust After You Talk With Such People In Plain And Simple Words Abide Still In Your Homes And Do Not Display Your Finery As Women Used To Do In The Days Of Ignorance Attend To Your Prayers, Give Alms And Obey God And His Messenger O Woman Of This House, The Almighty Wants To Cleanse You From The Filth "these" class="copylinks" target="_blank">hypocrites want to besmear you with and to fully purify you Communicate what is taught to you of the verses of God and the wisdom revealed by Him your visitors The Almighty is very discerning and all-knowing
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