Today WLBOTT present the first in a series about women’s head coverings. First we’ll look at the various head covering in the Muslim community.
In the Islamic tradition, head coverings have deep cultural, religious, and historical significance, varying widely in interpretation and practice. The concept of modesty, or hijab, goes beyond just head coverings and includes principles for both men and women about dressing and behaving modestly.
These coverings stem from interpretations of the Quran and Hadiths (prophetic sayings) encouraging modesty, and views on them vary. For some, these coverings are personal choices tied to faith, while for others, societal, cultural, and legal factors influence wearing them.
The following quotes from the Quran provide the basis the adaptation of head coverings.
Surah An-Nur (24:31): “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their chests and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands…”
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59): “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves part of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
Elder G suggests that there are five main types of Islamic coverings:
Hijab
Khimar
Niqab
Chador
Burqa
Hijab
Commonly, hijab refers to a headscarf that covers the hair, neck, and often the shoulders, leaving the face visible. It’s the most commonly worn form of head covering and is sometimes adapted to fit local styles and personal preferences.
Khimar
This is a longer, cape-like veil that drapes over the shoulders, covering the chest but leaving the face exposed. It’s worn in various styles, often flowing and elegant, by women who prefer fuller coverage.
Khimar / Niqab
The niqab covers the face, leaving only the eyes visible. It is often worn with a headscarf or additional covering that fully conceals the body, typically in more conservative regions or contexts. For some, wearing the niqab is a religious expression, while for others, it may be part of cultural or societal expectations.
Chador
The chador is a full-body cloak, leaving only the face visible, and is traditionally worn in Iran. Unlike some other coverings, it doesn’t involve fasteners and is draped to cover the entire body.
Burqa
Most comprehensive of all, the burqa covers the entire body and face, with a mesh screen over the eyes to allow for vision. It is often associated with Afghan culture but can be seen in other parts of South Asia as well.
Western Controversy
In France, the wearing of the hijab has been a contentious issue, intertwining debates on secularism, religious freedom, and national identity. The French principle of laïcité (secularism) emphasizes the separation of religion from public life, aiming to maintain state neutrality in religious matters. This principle has led to several legislative measures affecting the visibility of religious symbols, particularly the hijab.
Canada has not escaped this controversy.
The removal of a Canadian teacher for wearing a hijab in the classroom has sparked widespread condemnation of a controversial law in the province of Quebec, which critics say unfairly targets ethnic minorities under the pretext of secularism.
Fatemeh Anvari, a third-grade teacher in the town of Chelsea, was told earlier this month that she would no longer be allowed to continue in the role because her headwear ran afoul of Bill 21, a law passed in 2019.
Under the measure, public servants in “positions of authority” – including police officers, lawyers, judges and teachers – are barred from publicly wearing religious symbols while carrying out their work; items such as turbans, kippahs, hijabs and crosses are affected.
But the law has an outsized impact on Muslim women and in schools in the province, where 74.5% of teachers are women.
Certainly, the hijab is a complex and multifaceted issue, and people have differing perspectives on it based on cultural, religious, personal, and social contexts. Here are arguments from both sides:
Arguments in Favor of Wearing the Hijab
1. Religious Obligation and Devotion: For many Muslim women, wearing the hijab is a spiritual commitment and an expression of faith. The Quran and Hadith are interpreted by some as calling for modesty, which they fulfill through the hijab.
2. Identity and Empowerment: Some women view the hijab as a symbol of empowerment, allowing them to express their identity and assert control over their appearance. Wearing it can be a powerful statement of independence and pride in their cultural and religious heritage.
3. Personal Choice and Freedom: Many women who wear the hijab do so by personal choice, rather than coercion. In this sense, wearing the hijab aligns with individual freedom and autonomy, embodying the right to dress according to one’s beliefs and values.
4. Respect and Modesty: The hijab is often associated with modesty and can be seen as a way to avoid objectification. Some women feel it shifts focus away from physical appearance, creating a space where they are valued for their character, intellect, and skills.
5. Solidarity and Community: The hijab can foster a sense of unity among Muslim women and the broader Muslim community. It acts as a shared symbol that transcends cultural and national boundaries, creating bonds of mutual support.
Arguments Against Wearing the Hijab
1. Perceived Lack of Freedom: Some argue that the hijab can symbolize gender inequality, believing that requiring women to cover up is a way of controlling them and limiting their freedom, especially when men are not held to similar standards.
2. Social Pressure and Coercion: In certain contexts, some women may feel pressure from family, community, or society to wear the hijab, regardless of their personal choice. For them, the hijab may feel more like an obligation than an expression of faith, creating a conflict with personal autonomy.
3. Gender Discrimination: Critics argue that the hijab perpetuates gender norms by suggesting that women need to be “protected” from the gaze of men or that women should be responsible for how men perceive them. This reinforces patriarchal ideas that women should be modest to avoid attracting attention.
4. Restrictions on Self-Expression: Some women feel that the hijab limits their ability to express themselves freely. They may wish to express their individuality, style, or beliefs in ways that aren’t aligned with the hijab and feel that wearing it would inhibit these aspects.
5. Association with Extremism and Stereotyping: In some places, wearing the hijab may unintentionally reinforce stereotypes or link women to religious extremism, which can lead to discrimination, prejudice, and negative treatment in society.
