The
Hijab Controversy
By Navid S. Zaidi
Joplin, MO
There is a debate going on
among different scholars in your paper on ‘Hijab
as a Symbol of American Muslims’. The scholars
appear to be caught in a web of various definitions
of a part of women’s dress in the sixth
century Arabia. They seem to be getting frustrated
to the point of aiming personal attacks at each
other. In the process they have lost focus on
the deeper meaning and purpose of the Qur’an’s
verses related to modesty addressed to both men
and women equally.
Islam’s messages are practical and natural.
The Qur’an invites us to strive for inner
perfection and both physical and emotional modesty.
‘Tell the believing men to lower their gaze
and be mindful of their chastity: this will be
most conducive to their purity (and) verily, God
is aware of all they do.
‘And tell the believing women to lower their
gaze and be mindful of their chastity and not
to display their charms (in public) beyond what
may (decently) be apparent thereof.’
We need to recognize that the crucial phrase in
the particular passage of Surah Al-Nur is illa
ma zahara minha i.e.’what may (decently)
be apparent thereof’. The word ‘decently’
reflects that which a human being may openly show
in accordance with the prevailing customs. These
may vary at different times and in different cultures.
That is the likely reason why the phrase in Surah
Al-Nur has been left vague deliberately to allow
for all the changes that are bound to occur over
time; changes that are necessary for the moral
and social growth of mankind.
The pivotal clause in the particular passages
of Surah Al-Nur addressed to both men and women
(as is usual in Qur’an whenever it elaborates
issues bearing upon our conduct and manners) is
‘to lower the gaze and be mindful of chastity’.
This is what is the standard of ‘decent’
or ‘indecent’ in a person’s
outward appearance.
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