Why do Muslim women wear veils?

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Just been really curious about this for a long while now: Why do muslim women wear veils?

There are many different types of veils, which are also worn in different ways. But why do muslim women wear veils?
Is it a mandatory part of their religion, or something that is just socially encouraged?
Do muslim women have real choice over whether to wear or not wear a veil?
Does a muslim woman have to wear a veil to be considered a good muslim?
Why don't muslim men wear veils?
Why are there so many different types of veils- how come there is so much variation concerning veils?
Where does it say in the koran that muslim women should/have to wear veils? How did muslim women wearing veils come about?


If someone could answer these questions for me i would really appreciate it .

 

[The Dunadan]

As far as I know, the Koran doesn't mention that women have to wear veils. The custom of women wearing veils seems to originate with older Near Eastern traditions, such as those of Persia, Babylonia, Assyria, and whatnot.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

As far as I know, the Koran doesn't mention that women have to wear veils. The custom of women wearing veils seems to originate with older Near Eastern traditions, such as those of Persia, Babylonia, Assyria, and whatnot.

So its a cultural/traditional thing and not a religious thing?

 

[The Dunadan]

So its a cultural/traditional thing and not a religious thing?

Yes. I've perused the Koran and I've never seen any mention of veils in it. Like all moral teachers, Muhammad just enjoined women to be chaste and loyal spouses. Muhammad, like Jesus, had lots of women followers because he had far more respect for women than was usual for the time period. Centuries later, cretins came along, in Christianity and Islam, and this is where you get the general understanding that Christianity and Islam are inately misogynistic and want women to be seen and not heard.

The core beliefs of the founders were lost amid the later orthodoxy of the Christian and Islamic clerics and cultural tradition, and the founders themselves are recast as villians or scoundrels (i.e. Jesus was gay or a bigamist who was married to Mary and Martha at the same time, these being the sisters of Lazarus; Muhammad was a pedophile; ad naseum).

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yes. I've perused the Koran and I've never seen any mention of veils in it. Like all moral teachers, Muhammad just enjoined women to be chaste and loyal spouses. Muhammad, like Jesus, had lots of women followers because he had far more respect for women than was usual for the time period.

Really? Wow thats quite something. So women don't have to wear a veil to be a good muslim anymore than christians have to wear a cross/crucifix to be a good christian?

 

[The Dunadan]

Really? Wow thats quite something. So women don't have to wear a veil to be a good muslim anymore than christians have to wear a cross/crucifix to be a good christian?

Not that I know of, but it's strongly-rooted in Islamic tradition. I've got a friend from Lebanon, and she's told me she thinks wearing the hijab is a useless custom.

I'm not a Christian, but I own a crucifix. A cross, like a hijab, is just an accessory. Plenty of rotten people wear crosses, afterall...

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

^ Cool thanks for the info !

 

[The Dunadan]

^ Cool thanks for the info !

No problem.

It's easy to fall into the trap of believing this and that about a religion because of the activities of cretins, but it's better to think for oneself and examine the actual sources instead of just accepting what people, a lot of them ill-informed, tell you. This is why I'm a doubter about organized religions. :? A lot of what's passed off as religious doctrine is just cultural baggage that's applied to some moralist or, worse yet, said to be the doctrine of God himself. Muhammad seems to have been a respectable enough fellow who tried to raise the level of culture and morality in ancient Arabia, lots has been said about him, but, to me, he's just another name in a long list of names like Jesus, Moses, Socrates, Zoroaster, etc. who can rightly be called gifted.

 

[JasonS]

If you have the patience to read through all of the posts, there was an earlier thread in which veils were discussed to some extent.

Not sure if my link will work correctly. If not, search the forum for "veil"; you should be able to find it.

N

Thread 'Doubts On Islam'

7 Jan 2010

Religions is one of my interests. Islam came to my interests in knowing their faith or doctrines. I have heard from media about the radical islam which threats freedom by these fanatical muslim group. Then, i started to read and learn how people especially on women were governed in Islamic countries which is theocratic/tyrannical governnment. I search on net and watching videos on youtube. I see anti-islam websites(i.e www.faithfreedom.org) as a violent religion and political ideology that enforce slavery in all aspects of human life. Knowing more about islamic faith and increase...

• Nichiren
• Replies: 201
• Forum: Serious Topics & Chit Chat

 

[The Dunadan]

If you have the patience to read through all of the posts, there was an earlier thread in which veils were discussed to some extent.
Not sure if my link will work correctly. If not, search the forum for "veil"; you should be able to find it.
Doubts On Islam

That looks like quite a thread to get through.

 

[JasonS]

That looks like quite a thread to get through.

Sure is. Was pretty contentious too, at least when it started out.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

If you have the patience to read through all of the posts, there was an earlier thread in which veils were discussed to some extent.
Not sure if my link will work correctly. If not, search the forum for "veil"; you should be able to find it.
Doubts On Islam

I'm afraid i really don't have enough time to go through all of that thread in any decent period of time (see me back in a month lol!), is there anyway you can summerise the threads conclusion on the debate on veils please ^_^ ?

 

[The Dunadan]

Sure is. Was pretty contentious too, at least when it started out.

Faction vs. faction fights are always contentious affairs.

 

[Tsuyoiko]

Although the Qur'an doesn't explicitly tell women to wear a veil over their heads, there are sura which can be seen as implying it. The fact that these verses are open to interpretation might explain the wide variety of beliefs regarding hijab within Islam.

Sura 24:30-31

And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their khimar* over their bosoms and not display their beauty

*veil or headscarf

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

^ Do you know what the full context of that paragraph is taken from (like the story or whatever it was written in)? Looks quite interesting ^_^b .

 

[The Dunadan]

IIRC, I believe Paul had some similar things to say in his epistles.

 

[Tsuyoiko]

^ Do you know what the full context of that paragraph is taken from (like the story or whatever it was written in)? Looks quite interesting ^_^b .

From here: An-Nur - Wikipedia. It's mainly a chapter on family law.

 

[Zahra]

Almost right, KORAN never mention to Veil, it is tradition one, but most people(i mean Muslim one)think that a Good Muslim women has to wear it.it can be right & wrong,too.right because Veil (Chadour in Persian) cover quitely where is VAJEB for women's muslim to cover them,* Muslim's women have to cover all body except Face & wrist (there is doubt about talus).& wrong because it shouldn't mean that if a women wears it is Good Muslim (I mean Just because of wear it),There are many things which are more needed for Muslims.(male & female)

Then important thing is that : Women Just should cover those bodies in front of
NA MAHRAM* Men,Not All men,Also Not other women.
*Vajeb= Which a muslim have to do them,if not,shouldn't call himself/Herself Muslim woman/man.Eg: Praying SALLAH for 5 times aday,....
*Na Mahram=means men who woman can get married with them.
Father,Brother,Husband,Father in law(Husband's father),...... is MAHRAM,so muslim woman are allowed to don't cover Head,.....
Then in Koran mention that: God is beautiful & Love Beauty. So HIJAB is not sth for quench the beauty........

Other thing is that clothes for Muslim women should be How that Don't attempt men.and colour can be any colour,
my opinion is that it depends on..........if need know more,PLZ tell me.

I am Muslim woman,if you have question can ask me......But should know .that my English is Not excellent & i Know how such that a Muslim has to know Not More.......


Be success.

 

[Hezam]

ho~ !
Tsuyoiko is Shiekh !!
we done hun ^^

 

[Tsuyoiko]

ho~ !
Tsuyoiko is Shiekh !!
we done hun ^^

Haha, thanks! I just read a biography of the first Caliphs, so it's topical for me right now ^_^

 

[Hezam]

Just to clear it up,this fashions :

These fashions of "Abayah" are Bedouins made,The Islamic Hijab is this one :

 

[The Dunadan]

Good lord, the second picture looks like the woman is wearing a fire-retardant suit of some kind.

 

[JasonS]

I'm afraid i really don't have enough time to go through all of that thread in any decent period of time (see me back in a month lol!), is there anyway you can summarise the threads conclusion on the debate on veils please ^_^ ?

Sorry for the delay (work got busy... hate when real life gets in the way of other stuff). I don't have time to go back and refresh my memory of that whole thread either.

I think the consensus was basically what The Dunadan said. Or at least how I interpreted what he said. The veil seems to pre-date Islam, but has been adopted by Islam. I trust Hezam will correct me if I'm wrong. I think he was involved in the earlier thread.

Here's a very recent news article (from Monday) about Syria banning full veils at universities. Interesting that there are different views from women in Syria. Some view wearing the veil as a religious obligation, while others see it as a personal choice.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100719/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_syria_islamic_veils

 

[Hezam]

Good lord, the second picture looks like the woman is wearing a fire-retardant suit of some kind.

Lol
I was pretty sure someone gonna comment ...
She is in a mission to mars

The veil seems to pre-date Islam, but has been adopted by Islam. I trust Hezam will correct me if I'm wrong. I think he was involved in the earlier thread.

you are true.

 

[The Dunadan]

Lol
I was pretty sure someone gonna comment ...
She is in a mission to mars
you are true.

Actually, that's something a female Darth Vader might wear.