I just read today's The Star and happened to read a column by Zaid Ibrahim. He had write about how we need more moderate Muslim voices to defend the freedom of personal choices. I don't think he really understand what moderate Muslim meant.
He had discussed about hijab. About how the Bedouins have used the hijab as part of their cultural attire since pre-Islamic days and it is part of their cultural identity and there is nothing in Arab attire that is religious. He then stated that Islam demands that believers dress modestly and that's all there is to it.
I beg to differ Datuk Zaid.
It is clearly stated in the Quran that both muslim men and women have to adhere to certain limit of clothing. It is our choice to do it or not to but we should never interpret Quran as how we want it to be.
Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do.
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigor, or children who know naught of women’s nakedness.
And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.} (An-Nur 24: 30–31)
1. From the verse, it is a fact that the order to lower the gaze was given to men first. Many men conveniently forget that.
2. Many had questioned, “Where does it say to cover your hair?” If we look in a dictionary, as an example in Merriam-Webster 10th edition, and the American Heritage 2nd edition—it will tell us that veil is a cloth covering the head and shoulders, and sometimes the face. So if someone tell us to draw our veil over our bosom, it means that we already have something covering your hair.
It would be similar to telling someone in winter “pull your hat down over your ears.” It doesn’t mean that only the ears are covered, but there must be something on the head first. Or if we say, “Pull your socks up to the knees,” it doesn’t mean that only the shins are covered, but the feet must be covered, too.
The same is true of the Arabic text—which is the only text of the Qur’an. The Arabic uses the word khimar, which is a head covering. Scholars throughout the centuries have agreed that the Muslim woman is required to cover her hair. In addition, her clothes must be opaque and loose and long enough to hide the attractive parts of her body.
We are also told here not to attract attention by stamping our feet to reveal adornments. In the past women often wore anklets that would jingle if they walked a certain way. We perhaps don’t wear anklets nowadays, but we should also walk in a straight, dignified manner, not swinging the hips in an exaggerated way to gain men’s attention.
3. For muslims in non-muslims countries, people may stare at us because we look different from them. But better to be stared at for being different than for exposing some flesh for the sake of fashion. Elsewhere the Qur’an tells the believing women to wear an outer garment when they go out so that they will be recognized as such. Hijab is a mark of distinction, something we should wear proudly.
The Qur’an says what means:
{O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them [when they go abroad]. That will be better, that so they may be recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.} (Al-Ahzab 33:59)
4. We don’t have to wear a burqa. We can wear something that is closer to the clothing worn by others in our country, so long as our clothing meets the requirements of hijab.
