Say [O Muhammad]: "Who forbids the nice things God has created for His creatures, and the good provisions?" Say: "Such provisions are to be enjoyed in this life by those who believe. Moreover, the good provisions will be exclusively theirs on the Day of Resurrection." We thus explain the revelations for people who know. [Quran 7:32]
INTRODUCTION
If you haven't read Part I, it can be read here. The above verse was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), with God ordering him to "say", in response to something that he was facing at that time, as seen with the context. It was most likely similar to things that Jews forbid when Jesus came to them with clear signs. So why do many Muslims keep forbidding hair, the filamentous biomaterial that grows from follicles found in the dermis? Why do they treat the head like a private part, when really it is no different (in attractiveness) than their face, or many would say it doesn't even come close to being more attractive than the face! And even if hair was to be covered, why would this include ears?
If you haven't read Part I, it can be read here. The above verse was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), with God ordering him to "say", in response to something that he was facing at that time, as seen with the context. It was most likely similar to things that Jews forbid when Jesus came to them with clear signs. So why do many Muslims keep forbidding hair, the filamentous biomaterial that grows from follicles found in the dermis? Why do they treat the head like a private part, when really it is no different (in attractiveness) than their face, or many would say it doesn't even come close to being more attractive than the face! And even if hair was to be covered, why would this include ears?
OTHER SCHOLARLY INTERPRETATIONS
There are people who attest that khimar does not mean head-cover, and they are definitely not alone in questioning this notion. Check out scholars of Indonesia, Turkey, Libya, and Iraq; or see works by Khaled Abou El Fadl, Amina Wadud, Fatima Mernissi, Leila Ahmed, Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed (President of Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc). Majority of salafi/wahhabi scholars and their translators insist that khimar means head-cover, only because they resort to ahadith which possibly imply that the women (culture and norms of that time) did cover their heads (but as did men also). Perhaps it is orthodox vs un-orthodox? However, this is a poor way to translate the Qur'an. We should not fall into this trap, because khā mīm rā (خ م ر) or khimar (in Quran, 24:31) is also mentioned in reference to wine and intoxicants, describing them as "covering" the intellect. Therefore, khimar or khā mīm rā (خ م ر) should be properly translated as cover. If you have not read our previous blog post, please read it here.
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| "If you think the difference between heaven and hell is 45 inches of material, boy will you be surprised..." [Amina Wadud] |
Sahih International (the Saudi Mullah version) translates khimar as head cover; Muhsin Khan even goes to a further biased extreme, suggesting it means face cover. These people have their own religious agenda and interpretations. On the contrary, other scholars such as Yusuf Ali, Pickthall, and Dr.Ghali have chosen to use the word "veil". Since a veil's purpose is to cover, khimar should simply be translated as "cover". Even if we were to believe that it means head cover, which it does not, we can look at some historical context. One respected scholar and translator, Muhammad Asad (in reference to Quran, 24:31), states:
"The noun khimar (of which khumur is plural) denotes the head-covering customarily used by Arabian women before and after the advent of Islam. According to most of the classical commentators, it was worn in pre-Islamic times more or less as an ornament and was let down loosely over the wearer's back; and since, in accordance with the fashion prevalent at the time, the upper part of a woman's tunic had a wide opening in the front, her breasts were left bare. Hence, the injunction to cover the bosom by means of a khimar (a term so familiar to the contemporaries of the Prophet) does not necessarily relate to the use of a khimar as such but is, rather, meant to make it clear that a woman's breasts are not included in the concept of "what may decently be apparent" of her body and [bosoms] should not, therefore, be displayed."
So why are we stressing on covering hair when Allah is stressing on covering bosoms in 24:31. The bosom, jayb (جَيْب), is mentioned by name, but not the hair or face. Furthermore, the word 'hijab' is used several times throughout the Qur'an, but there is no use of the word 'hijab' in terms of women's dress code or head scarf. One may only begin to wonder what other teachings have been made a part of our deen which have no basis in Islam or that which was revealed unto Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
CULTURAL CONFUSION
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| Culture vs Religion |
"The veil was first introduced by the Assyrian kings in the near east. The practice of hiding ones face was also prevalent in classical Greece, in Persia, and in the byzantine Christian world. Later on, Islam embraced these regional practices of covering ones face and in the second Islamic century the veil became common. It was considered as a status symbol as it signified power and was first used among rich women. Around the 10th century the veil appeared as a common rule and in the Middle Ages various laws were enacted regarding the wearing of the veil. Some urged strictness in veiling and forced women to remain inside the four walls of their homes. It became known as the attire of the oppression among women."
ALLAH BRINGS YOU EASE
ALLAH BRINGS YOU EASE
Let us not forget how hard it is for women to have their heads suffocated all day, and with the head being a major source of heat loss, that's a lot of trapped heat! Along with not being able to air out her tightly squeezed head, her hair follicles (if she has bangs) are being pulled back with great pressure. This kind of practice promotes headaches and itchy scalp syndrome. But Allah reminds us:
He desires not hardship for you . . . you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure you may be thankful. [Quran, 2:185]
And strive for Allah with the endeavor which is His right. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship; the faith of your father Abraham. He has named you Muslims of old time and in this (Scripture) ... [Quran 22:78]
And again Allah reminds us that those who forbid what God has made lawful invent a lie against Allah. This appears to be very common in our communities, and should also include the forbidding of a women's head:
"And do not speak lies for what your tongues describe: "This is HALAL and that is HARAM, to forge a lie against Allah." [Quran 16:116]
Is this not interesting? How many imams and conservatives do you hear yelling haram and halal ? By telling people lawful things are haram, they are stating that God says so, and since it is not true, this is (unintentionally) forging a lie against Allah. Yusuf Ali similarly translates the last part as "ascribe false things to Allah", because one is making people believe God said something when He (in fact) did not. This is a perfect example for those who forbid the head of women, making their exposed hair strands seem haram. It is as though Allah knew future Muslims would fall into this very thinking that the "righteous" Jews of Jesus' time did, when really it is they who were inventing what was haram and what was halal (and not God). Furthermore, in response to our hijab debates today, our Lord instructs us about dress code:
O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed garment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. But the garment of righteousness - that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition (7:26)
Another instance where Allah could have chose to mention the garment covering of the head as a religious requirement, but He did not.
WHAT ABOUT THE HIJAB HADITH?
There is not one statement in the hadith literature where the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have directly instructed women to cover their heads. The closest we can find that I am aware of is in Abu Dawud. Keep in mind that this hadith I am about to show you is compiled by Abu Dawud, in order to please his teacher Imam Ahmad. It was not written down by the Prophet or his disciples (i.e. his sahaba). The hadith was not even written down by Aisha. This hadith has only been ascribed to Aisha, passed down through the many narrators from generation to generation. So, even to say that Aisha surely said this, can be doubtful:
Aisha said, "Asma (Aishia's sister), daughter of Abu Bakr, entered upon the Apostle of God (pbuh) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of God turned his attention from her and said, "O Asma, when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her except that she displays parts of her body except this and this," and he pointed to her face and hands. (Sunan Abu Dawud)
Keep in mind that Asma was wearing thin or little clothes, depending on who translated this. If the Prophet was telling her to cover up and not display parts of her body, it would make more sense that she was wearing little coverage. Also keep in mind that the observer (Aishia) said he is pointing towards her facial area, which can also include the head. If I pointed towards your face, it can imply that part of the body, meaning the head also, could it not? If I pointed to the bosom, would that imply center chest only, or back area and breasts also? Should we really be so literal when interpreting one's speech? In the end, it's all merely interpretation. This hadith is found only in the hadith collection of Abu Dawud (no. 4095). According to Abu Dawud, it is considered weak (da'if) because the narrator who transmitted it from Aisha is not known (mursal).This hadith, which may most likely be untrue, has been the sole reason why Muslim female have to wear the hijab (headscarves). Many Muslim scholars of Morocco have decreed that hijab is NOT mandated by Islam.
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| What do you know about Bukhari? |
HOW ACCURATE ARE HADITHS?
Now a little background information about the compiler of the above hadith would be useful for the devout Muslim. That hadith which you read was compiled by Abu Dawud, more than 200 years after the Prophet's departure. Here is a short biography of him:
"Imam Abu Dawud heard hadith from 300 persons who were his teachers. Some were: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ishaq ibn Rahawaiy, Abu Thaur, Yahya ibn Ma'in. For one to grasp his elevated status, he narrated hadith to the teachers of Imam Ahmad. He completed its compilation at Bagdad in 241 A.H. He presented the completed compilation to his beloved teacher Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, who was greatly pleased at this collection."
It's interesting how many times you hear the mention of Imam Ahmad. It sounds very similar to how the Gospels were written. Here is one example from the writer of Luke, presenting his hadith work to his beloved leader: "...it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent The-oph'ilus". An example of how people can use ahadith to mislead the masses:
Abu Ya’la narrated in his Musnad from Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Prophet said: “The bonds of Islam and the bases of religion are three, on which Islam was founded. Whoever gives up one of them becomes a kaafir thereby and it is permissible to shed his blood: the testimony that there is no god but Allah, the prescribed prayers and fasting Ramadan.”
This hadeeth was classed as Sahih (true) by al-Dhahabi, and as hasan (sound) by al-Haythami in Majma’ al-Zawaa’id, 1/48, and by al-Mundhiri in al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb, no. 805, 1486. However, it was classed as da’eef (weak) by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah, no. 94. Shaikh Muhammad Nasir-ud-deen Al-Albaani, the famous Muhaddith and Faqeeh of our century, found over 5,000 "Weak, Spurious and Fabricated Hadeeths" that "Islam absolves" today. You can read more about this here. It is also fascinating that Allah has chosen to use the word hadith throughout the Quran, and informs us:
And there are among men those who purchase ridiculous hadiths, without knowledge, misleading (men) from the Path of Allah and throw ridicule (on the Path) (Quran, 31:6)
And one may wonder how many false hadiths have indeed mislead mankind from the path of Allah, and these are merely only a handful in the ocean of fabrications.
Let us not forget that the Jews also made their own laws (hadiths) and went astray from the teachings of Moses. This happened when they created their book of hadiths, the Talmud. Jesus told them, "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” (Mark 7:9-13)
CONCLUSION
As a final proof of assurance, one may go to the Quran.com search engine and search for the word "head". There are numerous results returned which use or reference the word "head", yet none of these verses tell women to cover their heads. The triliteral root rā hamza sīn (ر أ س) occurs 18 times in the Quran as the noun ras (رَأْس), the word used for head. Out of these verses, Allah speaks about how we bow our heads (2:43), wash our heads (in ablution or wudu, 5:6), shave our heads (2:196), hold our heads (7:163), carry bread on one's head (12:36), birds eating off one's head (12:41), raising one's head (14:43), nodding our heads (17:51), and even the grey hair on our heads when we become old (19:4 and 30:54). But none of these verses mention the covering of a woman's head.
If a head cover was so mandatory for a woman, why would Allah not have mentioned covering her head? If our Lord could mention eating birds off one's head, why not simply for a woman to cover her head? It is simple logic--simply because Allah does not require a headscarf for women. It is a shame there are those who try to place words in God's mouth. If covering a woman's head was mandatory, our Lord would have said so, just as He instructs her to wash her head before prayer (5:6). Hair is not forbidden in the Qur'an, and women need not be bashed for refusing to censor their hair. A woman can still have faith and practice Islam without a head scarf. Furthermore, Allah does speak about hair in the Qur'an, and there is no mention of banning women's hair.
If a head cover was so mandatory for a woman, why would Allah not have mentioned covering her head? If our Lord could mention eating birds off one's head, why not simply for a woman to cover her head? It is simple logic--simply because Allah does not require a headscarf for women. It is a shame there are those who try to place words in God's mouth. If covering a woman's head was mandatory, our Lord would have said so, just as He instructs her to wash her head before prayer (5:6). Hair is not forbidden in the Qur'an, and women need not be bashed for refusing to censor their hair. A woman can still have faith and practice Islam without a head scarf. Furthermore, Allah does speak about hair in the Qur'an, and there is no mention of banning women's hair.
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| "Having faith without a headscarf" |
