International Women's Day : 'burqa' or 'hijab' are not Quranic terms; both are part of Muslim culture and not part of Quranic commandments.
Here's the truth behind the veil:
The burqa is not a part of Islam but an element of Muslim culture and the distinction is important, says Farida Khanam, Associate Professor, Dept. of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi .
These days the burqa, or purdah, is in the news. It is generally looked upon as an integral part of Islam, but this is not so. In reality, the burqa is a part of Muslim culture and not a part of Islamic teaching. There is a great difference between Muslims and Islam. If it is claimed that the burqa, or purdah, is a part of Muslim culture, then I would say yes to that, but if it is claimed that the wearing of it is a part of Quranic teaching, then I would say no. The source of Islam is the Quran rather than Muslim culture. Muslim culture is a social phenomenon, while the Quran is the Book of God as revealed to the Prophet of Islam.
According to linguistic history, the word 'burqa' was in use in Arabia before the advent of Islam in the first quarter of the seventh century. At that time the word 'burqa' meant a piece of clothing that was used as a protection, especially in winters. The well-known Arabic dictionary Lisan al-Arab gives us two examples of its use during the pre-Islamic period: the first, as a cover for animals during the winter season and the second, as a covering chaadar, like a shawl for village women. Although the word 'burqa' existed in the Arabic vocabulary at that time, the Quran did not use the word 'burqa' for women's purdah.
History shows that the present veil or burqa first came into vogue in Persia. When Islam entered Persia, a complete civilisation was already in existence there. Many things were introduced into Islamic culture from the Persian culture. For instance, the word Khuda instead of Allah, the word Namaz instead of Salat. Similarly under the influence of Iranian culture burqa was adopted by Muslims. Gradually it was Islamised and became a part of Muslim culture.
At present Muslims use the term 'hijab' as equivalent to 'burqa' but the word 'hijab' is likewise not used in the Quran in this sense. 'Hijab' literally means curtain. 'Hijab' is used in the Quran seven times, but not in the sense that is prevalent among the Muslims today, that is, it is used in its literal sense of 'curtain' .
Regarding women's purdah, two words have been used in the Quran: jilbab (33:59) and khimar (24:31). But again these words are not used in their present connotation. It is a fact that both words have a similar meaning, that is, chaadar or duppatta, that covers the body of a woman and not her face. So it is very clear that the present 'burqa' or 'hijab' are not Quranic terms; both are part of Muslim culture and not part of Quranic commandments.
According to the Hanafi and Maaliki School of fiqh, three parts of a woman are exempted from satr (body covering ). These three are wajh, kaffain, and qadmain. That is, face, hands and feet. According to the Shariah, women are required to cover their body with clothing which is not tight fitting and not meant to attract others. (Chapter 24, verse 31, Tafsir Usmani)
It is noteworthy that the well-known Arab scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Naasiruddin al-Albani , clearly endorses the above-mentioned position of the Shariah in his book on this subject, Hijab al-Mar'ah al-Muslimah fil Kitab was-Sunnah (The Veil of a Muslim Woman). He goes on to say that it is clear from the Quran, the Hadith and the practice of the companions and the tabiun (companions of the Prophet's companions) that, whenever a woman steps out of her home, it is incumbent upon her to cover herself completely so as not to show any part of her body except the face and the hands.
The religion of Islam focuses on spirit rather than on form. It lays emphasis on pious thinking and value-based character. According to Islam, Muslims must purify themselves in terms of ethics. Muslim women must develop themselves in terms of spirituality; they must develop their own feminine personality rather than imitate men and must play a constructive role in society rather than become objects of entertainment.
During the Prophet's time, Muslim women were active in different fields, such as agriculture, horticulture and social work. But at the same time, they constantly preserved their feminine character. In the early history of Islam there are many such incidents which show that a woman has equal freedom as that of man. In this respect there is no difference between the two. A woman enjoys the same freedom as a man in Islam . Islamic literature mentions some pious women who have played a highly creative role in their society, like Hajira , the wife of the Prophet Abraham; Mariam, the mother of Jesus Christ; Khadija, the wife of the Prophet of Islam; Aishah, the wife of the Prophet of Islam. These women, accepted as models in the society of believers, are good examples for the women of today.
In conclusion, I would like to add two relevant references: One from the Quran and the second from the Hadith (the sayings of the Prophet). The Quran refers to men and women in these words: "You are members one of another" (3:195). This means that men and women, although created different in gender, are complementary to each other. Let us take the other reference. The Prophet of Islam said: "Men and women are two equal halves of a single unit." (Musnad Ahmad) This is the best expression of gender equality.
To understand the prevalence of Hijab in Muslim society in the present times it is necessary to keep in mind that there is a difference between Islam and Muslims. Islam is a name of an ideology while Muslims are a community which has its own culture, which keeps changing owing to various circumstances.
In such a situation Muslim tradition will be judged in the light of the original teachings of Islam instead of regarding this culture as Islam itself.
The writer is Associate Professor, Dept. of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
'..the religion(Islam) was later hijacked by the men...? Excerpt from
The New York Times Bestseller
A HISTORY OF GOD
by Karen Armstrong
Unfortunately, as in Christianity, the religion was later hijacked by the men, who interpreted texts in a way that was negative for Muslim women.
Muhammad encouraged women to play an active role in the affairs of the ummah, and they expressed their views forthrightly, confident that they would be heard. On one occasion, for example, the women of Medina had complained to the Prophet that the men were outstripping them in the study of the Quran and asked him to help them catch up. This He did. One of their most important questions was why the Quran addressed men only when women had also made their surrender to God. The result was a revelation that addressed women as well as men and emphasized the absolute moral and spiritual equality of the sexes. Thereafter the Quran quite frequently addressed women explicitly, something that rarely happens in either the Jewish or Christian scriptures.
The Quran does not prescribe the veil (Niqab) for all women but only for Muhammad's wives, as a mark of their status. Once Islam had taken its place in the civilized world, however,Muslim adopted those customs of the Oikumene which relegated women to second-class status. They adopted the customs of veiling women and secluding them in harems from Persia and Christian Byzantium, where women had long been marginalized in this way. By the time of the Abbasid caliphate (750-1258), the position of Muslim women was as bad as that of their sisters in Jewish and Christian society. Today Muslim feminists urge their menfolk to return to the original spirit of the Quran.
This reminds us that, like any other faith, Islam could be interpreted in a number of different ways; consequently it evolved its own sects and divisions:...
...During Muhammad's lifetime,this had included the equality of the sexes. Today it is common in the west to depict Islam as an inherently misogynistic religion, but, like Christianity, the religion of Allah was originally positive for women.Women had been among Muhammad's earliest converts, and their emancipation was a project that was dear to his heart.The Quran strictly forbade the killing of female children and rebuked the Arabs for their dismay when a girl was born. It also gave women legal rights of inheritance and divorce: most Western women had nothing comparable until the nineteenth century. "
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{Excerpt from ,Islamic Thoughts ,Author Shamsul Alam
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh,Published 1986
Page 316: " } .....Many of us who are unknowingly fanatic about a particular form and style of Parda do forget that the word Parda is not Quranic in origin. Al Quran mentions of Al Hijab i.e. household privacy and decorum, Jilbab i.e. outer garments. Al Hijab and Jilbab are not identical with Parda system. It existed among the Persian for centuries before the advent of our Prophet.
During the time of our Prophet(s) the present form of
Burqa did not exist. ... The covering of the face was uncommon.
The Persians had the custom of veiling head, face and the body of the women. .......
When the Muslims came to Persia, they could not ignore the long-standing customs of the Persians.............."
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[ইত্তেফাক - মার্চ ১০,২০২১]ঃ- সম্পূর্ণ মুখ ঢাকা পোশাকে জনসম্মুখে বেরোনোর উপরে নিষেধাজ্ঞা জারি হলো সুইজারল্যান্ডে। রবিবার এই বিষয়ে গণভোট দিয়েছিলেন দেশের সাধারণ মানুষ। ফল প্রকাশিত হওয়ার পরে দেখা গিয়েছে, ৫১.২ শতাংশ দেশবাসী ভোট দিয়েছেন এই ধরনের পোশাকের বিরোধিতা করে।
কাতার ভিত্তিক সংবাদ মাধ্যম আল-জাজিরার বরাতে জানা যায়, গণভোটের ফল প্রকাশিত হওয়ার পরেই জনসমক্ষে সম্পূর্ণ মুখ ঢাকা পোশাকের উপর নিষেধাজ্ঞা ঘোষণা করে সরকার। নির্দেশিকায় ‘বোরকা’ বা ‘নিকাব’ শব্দগুলোর উল্লেখ না-থাকলেও স্পষ্ট, এই ধরনের পোশাককে নিষিদ্ধ করা হচ্ছে। তবে ধর্মীয় অনুষ্ঠানে এই নিষেধাজ্ঞা বহাল থাকবে না। নিরাপত্তার কারণে বা কোনও চিকিৎসার প্রয়োজনেও সম্পূর্ণ মুখ ঢাকা পোশাকে বাইরে বেরোনো যাবে বলে নির্দেশিকায় জানানো হয়েছে। প্রসঙ্গত, করোনার প্রকোপ রুখতে এ দেশে এখনও মাস্ক পরা বাধ্যতামূলক।
কয়েক বছর ধরে ইউরোপে একাধিক আইএস হামলার পরে বোরখার বিরুদ্ধে সরব হয়েছে বহু দেশ। এর আগেই ফ্রান্স, জার্মানি, অস্ট্রিয়া, ডেনমার্ক, বুলগেরিয়া, বেলজিয়াম ও ল্যাটভিয়া— ইউরোপের এই সাতটি দেশে বোরখা নিষিদ্ধ করা হয়েছিল। সুইজাল্যান্ডও সে পথেই হাঁটল।
তবে এ দেশে ‘বোরকা’ নিষিদ্ধ করার লড়াইটা বেশ হাড্ডাহাড্ডি হয়েছে। সুইজারল্যান্ডের নিয়ম অনুযায়ী, কেউ যদি কোনও প্রস্তাবের পক্ষে অন্তত ১ লক্ষ ভোট সংগ্রহ করতে পারেন, তা হলেই গণভোট করা হবে। প্রতি তিন মাস অন্তর এই ধরনের নানা বিষয়ে গণভোট দেন দেশের ৮৬ লক্ষ নাগরিক। বোরকা বিষয়ক গণভোটে গতকাল ভোট দিতে এসেছিলেন মাত্র ৫০.৮ শতাংশ দেশবাসী।
ইত্তেফাক/এএইচপি
During the time of our Prophet(s) the present form of
Burqa did not exist. ... The covering of the face was uncommon.
