The War of the Veils
By Dr. Mohiuddin Waseem
Modesto , CA
Generally speaking, Muslim women's veil (face covering) is seen as a symbol of oppression and servitude in the Western world. But for many Muslim women veiling oneself is an act of righteousness which brings them closer to the teachings of Islam.
This self-righteousness at times is boastful and assertive enough to generate a division even within the Muslim communities. The recent effort by the French government to impose a ban on the veil in the public sphere has stirred emotions in the Muslim world. However, many Western countries are expected to follow France’s example in the coming days and one could expect more charged discourses on this topic.
Though many contend that the choice of wearing a veil or not should be left to an individual, by imposing restrictions the French government is likely to violate women’s right of freedom. It also appears to overlook that many Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan rigidly impose the practice of wearing veil and burqa (cloak) on their female subjects. I once witnessed the enforcement of such harsh practices when a Muslim family was threatened by religious policemen “Mutawwa” in a market place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to either use a veil or go back to their country of origin. In the heat of the argument they asked the shop owner not to do business with the family, thus enforcing a kind of a social boycott!
Before we jump to the religiosity of veiling it will be enlightening to my readers to review the culture of the ancient Middle East which the Saudi Mutawwas proudly pointed to. History tells us that veiling of women is not an Islamic innovation which many mistakenly believe to be but was part of the prevailing culture of the ancient Middle East during the times of Prophet Mohammad. Islam too had to confront this issue in due course of time.
The earliest reference to the veil culture can be cited from Hammurabi’s Code which suggested veiling as a solution to the problem of distinguishing between "respectable" and "non-respectable" women. Though King Hammurabi of Babylon ( Iraq) promulgated those laws about 1800 years before Christ but researchers believe his laws related to veiling had far reaching implications, especially for subsequent Arab, Persian and Byzantine civilizations which practiced it widely. There is mention of this practice in Christian writings: Saint Paul wrote to the people of Corinth thus: “Any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame upon her head (husband), for it is one and the same thing as if she had had her head shaved…she should wear a veil” ( Holy Bible 1 Corinthians 11: 3-10). Precisely for this reason we see all depictions of Mary in ancient Christian paintings with her head covered (Hijab). Similarly, ancient Jews who evolved from the same Middle Eastern stock encouraged veiling by the women, some Rabbis even suggested that only one eye should remain exposed, which in their opinion, was sufficient for looking at things or people! A recent Fatwa (religious ruling) by Saudi clerics seeks similar practice of the veil. It is a common sight in Saudi Arabia that veiled female faces - even on advertisement billboards - have one eye painted black with graffiti.
During my student life I was always puzzled to see a difference in the outlook of religious prayers and practices between the followers of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, even though they originated from the same divine source. I now realize that the answer lies in the difference in culture and traditions of ancient Israelites of Sinai desert, Christians of Byzantium and Rome, and Muslims of Arabia which ultimately shaped the persona and outward appearance of these religions. Under cultural pressures all these religions had to make permissible certain norms of one period which in a subsequent era became unacceptable and repugnant.
Take for example the issue of slavery which was allowed in almost all ancient cultures and religions at one time or another, but in today’s world it is rightly considered the most devilish act. The same is true for female circumcision which ancient cultures in certain parts of the world practiced with religiosity but in today’s world it is considered nothing more than a disgustful act of mutilation.
Keeping these facts in mind one should ask exactly what the circumstance in Medina were when the Qur’anic verses relating to the veil were revealed, in other words, what went wrong should be the focus of our attention to understand this issue. Two references from Sahih Bukhari are worth citing at this juncture and both are self-explanatory.
1. Narrated Hazrat Umar: “I said to Allah's Apostle! Good and bad persons visit you, so I suggest that you order the mothers of the believers (i.e. your wives) to observe veils". Then Allah revealed the verses of Al-Hijab (Sahih Bukhari, Vol 6, number 313).
2. Narrated Hazrat Ayesha (the wife of the Prophet) “Umar bin Al-Khattab used to say to Allah's Apostle ‘Let your wives be veiled’ but he did not do so. The wives of the Prophet used to go out to answer the call of nature at night only at Al-Manasi (a wilderness outside Madina). Once Sauda (one of the wives of the Prophet), daughter of Zama, went out. She was a tall woman. Umar bin Al-Khattab saw her while he was in a gathering and said, "I have recognized you, O Sauda”! He (Umar) said so as he was anxious for some divine orders regarding the veil (the veiling of women.)”. So Allah revealed the verses of veiling (Sahih Bukhari, Vol 8, number 257).
It should be clear to readers that the prophet-hood of Hazrat Mohammad (SAW) created a channel of communication and negotiation between God and the Arabian society of his time and here Hazrat Umar’s suggestion found divine favor as his intention was to protect the Prophet’s family and the early Muslim community. When the Qur’anic verses were finally revealed in Surah Al Ahzab, they enjoined the Prophet to tell all believing women to draw their cloaks around them so that they could be “distinguished” in a crowd and not “harassed” ( Holy Qur’an 33: 59), endorsing not only Hazrat Umar’s suggestion but also complying to the principles of ancient Hammurabi’s code.
In conclusion, veiling was prescribed and practiced in early Islam as a method of protecting noble ladies from prying eyes and verbal assault: it served as a solution to a social problem of that time and should not be confused as a religious requirement. Modern-day Muslim scholars who see it as a religious obligation should revisit their position. I believe the veil, instead of exposing the full potential of Islam for the entire humanity, is seriously restricting it.
