Why do Muslim women cover their hair?
It is the commonly approved norm among the followers of Islam that a Muslim woman needs to cover-up her head and most part of her hair exposing just her face. This general norm is part of the general, accepted dress code and social practice norms which Islam preaches. This dress code suggestion is hence an integral fraction of the existing standard social system of Islam, and the materialization of significant common principles of Islam, that are applicable to all believers of Islam.
Precisely, a modern, well-educated Muslim woman follows the norm about covering her hair because she prefers to follow the prescribed guidance from Allah and the prophet Muhammad as instructed in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran has the vital information about the acceptable social practices and quotations about practices mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad. A translated meaning of an important verse (Avaat) of the Quran is as mentioned below. It gives a clear example of the allowed dress code in Islam.
Suraah 24 Al-Nuur or About The Light, Aayat - 31
“Tell to all the women who are believers that they need to draw the cloth that covers the head over the openings at the neck of the dress to be a true believer. They are not supposed to show their body accessories, ornaments or beauty to none other than their husband and their father or people equal in their place”. (islamic.org.uk)
Islamic practices use the word ‘hijab’ to explain the practice of covering part of head and hair. The most relevant reason for the use of the veil or ‘hijab’ is often considered as a strong symbol of modesty. By using ‘hijab’, a Muslim woman expects not to get unwanted interest towards her body and her presence from outsiders. Praises about beauty, body accessories, physical appearance, and even jealousy are the different types of attention that might fall on a woman. Sexual attraction from a male other than the husband is the most important reason Muslim woman prefers to wear a ‘hijab’. The Muslim belief system also restricts infatuations, sexual desires, emotions and relations to stay within the limitations of their marriage.
Analyzing these facts, it is clear that the ‘hijab’ is an embodiment of a further relevant social code in the faith of Islam, which emphasizes that social values and ethics are considered with higher priority than material and emotional desires which are momentous and temporary. As per Islam, a permanent benefit is a happy wedded life between two understanding people, who are ready to observe the values of Islam at its highest level in their life. They should learn from each other, and at the same time, teach each other, the lessons of modesty and ethical living. This type of relation carries the real content of the soul for perpetuity, by cleaning the soul and maintaining it in its unadulterated, pure, blissful state. ‘Hijab’, hence signifies a step towards eternal life by highlighting the dignity of modest living and submission to Allah. (islamic.org.uk)
Another school of thought explains that covering the hair actually emphasize the beauty of a woman by inviting the viewer’s attention to the woman’s face and distracts the attention towards the hair and most importantly, her the body. In most global cultures, a woman’s face is more prominent as an icon of attractiveness than the shape and characteristics of the body. In that context, the ‘Hijab’ helps to divert the attention of a male towards a woman’s face, her expression and talking style. This avoids attention towards her secondary sex characteristics and other body parts. This can thus be considered as an effort of a woman to distract off the viewer’s attention towards her sexuality. (Mir, 2009)
Islam preaches that the whole parts of a woman’s body, apart from her parts of hands and face should be fully covered during prayer time and also when going out in public. Certain religious leaders believe it as acceptable to uncover parts of hands and feet. Certain religious scholars even allow parts of the face to be uncovered; however, the norm of covering the hair remains unchanged.
There is a common consensus that women need to maintain their body and hair fully covered when they are around others, especially of the other gender. This rule should be strictly observed when others around are people who are not immediate family members. This practice is considered as a fundamental need of practicing Islam. (Usmani, 2010)
The ‘hijab’ is a clear identity of a woman as a vigilant Muslim to the non-Muslim community. It also helps to generate an impression of the lifestyle of a woman and her religious choice. They can avoid shaking hands with men without the latter getting offended, and can also refrain from consuming liquor in business parties. The ‘hijab’ gets highlighted as a visual icon about the social lifestyle of the person. The ‘hijab’ also work as a political identity to represent a Muslim existence in society. There are Muslim women who deem that headscarves are possibly the unique, efficient way to highlight of Muslim visibility in the practically mixed western societies. (Mir, 2009)
Many women also consider ‘hijab’ as an identity of a woman as one who follows the religion of Islam in front of fellow Muslims, which in turn helps for instantaneous fellowship and mutual switch over of salaams. This might be seen as a superficial and minor advantage, however in the modern diasporic societies, this instantaneous community building is psychologically priceless. A supplementary benefit is that ‘hijab’ helps find a religious girl from the same community to potential spouses. In the present day western Diaspora society, where Muslims might not be identified from among the members of a society, ‘hijab’ may be a big benefit when a prospective person is searching for a life partner.
Many modern Muslim women wear a ‘hijab’ to meet compliance to Muslim social and behavioral norms and possibly even to stay away from the stigma of being “exposed.” Pressure from the parents, elders and religious heads are now much less as concepts on women’s rights are topics of serious debate all over the world.
There is a widespread misconception that many Muslim women wear ‘hijab’ because others force them to wear it. The practice of wearing ‘hijab’ is an extremely a matter of a woman’s personal and self-determining choice, that emerges from accepting the knowledge fundamental to Allah’s authority and an honest wants to gratify Him. (Pervez, 2012)
Works Cited
"Why Do Muslim Women Have to Cover Their Heads?" Why Do Muslim Women Have to Cover Their Heads? Web. 09 Mar. 2016.
Mir, Shabana. "17 Reasons Why Women Wear Headscarves." Religion Dispatches. 03 July 2009. Web. 09 Mar. 2016.
Pervez, Saulat. "‘Hijab’: The Head Cover - Unveiled." WhyIslam. 1 Apr. 2012. Web. 09 Mar. 2016.
Usmani, Mufti Muhammad. "The Hijab of Women and Its Boundaries - Deoband.org." Deobandorg. 2010. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.
