Veil Face

This Thing veil

Recently, Roqai'a Al-Gassra of Bahrain took part in the Beijing Olympic Games using a headscarf and the lower wear. I was surprised that her running gear did not occasion more comment. But if wearing a modest track suit allows him to compete in a sport that is not otherwise feel comfortable competing, I think it's wonderful. I've seen ads from several Muslim women cheering her spirit of solidarity and empathy I. But I've been a little stunned, because in all the whole Muslim veils debates, I often see a black hole open.

And that is the question of whether head covering is required first. Although Muslims rightly celebrate al-Gassra demonstrated that adherence to religious dress is not an obstacle to the Olympic dream, they assume that the head Al-Gassra cover is an Islamic requirement. How wonderful, they say that Islamic dress did not prevent Al-Gassra to be an Olympic champion!

But what is Islamic dress? And covering your head? Muslims and non-Muslims in recent years means that a clear edict. Add to this requirement Iran and Saudi Arabia State bound hat, and the question becomes a matter of personal faith to a political liability.

When raised in Southern California, mosque attended was simply a group of families meeting in the garage of someone to teach their children some basic aspects of religion. Gradually, as more families joined, rented a community center. Finally, we bought our own building, with parking. Women who came to our mosque, were almost all immigrants of different nationalities. But very few covered their hair. Those who have said that Islam does not need it and headgear was a choice staff.

I myself do not cover the hair, but - like all Muslim women - in prayer. However, even not as absolute as we have learned to think, some scholars cite evidence showing that in early Islam, women, even asked bareheaded.

Recently, when I enrolled my children in classes at the local mosque, told me that my daughter and I had to cover her hair (in fact, that only the face and hands and feet may), just so he could attending classes. When the objection that hat was not the unanimity required by Islam, and certainly not required for girls aged 8 years, I was unequivocally said yes it was, was very clear in this respect: neither I nor my daughter could come to Sunday school without covering their hair. We did not last long in this mosque.

What happened in the meantime?

Since the end of 1970 Saudi-style Islam - called Wahhabi or Salafi - began to deliberately influence in the Muslim world for the funding of Wahhabi mosques with imams and the granting of benefits to which they promoted their brand of Islam. Wahhabism, founded in the 18th century, has always been considered extreme in their theology, and was rejected by Islamic scholars in general years. Never been described as one of the schools of Islamic thought which recognize each other as valid.

The Saudis, although they represent less than 2 per cent of Muslims around the world have influenced practice disproportionately Muslims (and not the perception of Muslims in Islam), for several reasons: they have more wealth than any other Muslim nation and control of the holy cities Mecca and Medina, and have Western allies. The Saudi-style Islam - even if presented as the true form of Islam - is mixed with the conservative patriarchal Arab culture. Religious authorities in Saudi Arabia to interpret Islam so that women are not allowed to drive, vote, show their hair, either alone or with strangers to them. But this philosophy is not in contact with 90 percent of the Muslim world.

Muhammad, the prophet of Islam never forced women to cover their heads. Muhammad always included women in political debates and society. It has been designated at least one woman as the imam of his dismissal. Even in the early days of Islam, a woman could be a qadi or judge. Women may be muftis, or qualified religious scholars. For the seventh century, it was feminist thought progressive.

Last year, a radio with an American convert to Islam, wearing the niqab or face veil. (I've never seen one of these to twenty-eight years and moved to London, where many Arab women on vacation.) insisted that the niqab is "recommended" and I must admit that I felt - despite my views of defense - very angry. Face-veils, even in early Islam was "recommended" by a very small minority of men.

The Koran requires only modest men and women, and this, in language almost the same for men and women. The Qur'an also urges women to "take their garments more closely to themselves. "But even the early Muslim scholars disagreed on what constitutes modesty, in line with these verses. All agreed that the legs above the knees, which should be covered and chest. Most but not all, said he only faces, hands and feet to display. Very, very little consideration to be covered faces. Therefore, as the chest and legs above the knees are covered, there is room for personal use, interpretation valid Islamic modesty.

However, it is interpreted, most scholars agree that the modest goal was to avoid the harm to women do not have much power at the moment and headscarves or veils which is intended to convey a protected status.

In addition, the 7th century, Islam spread in the Peninsula Arabian and Persian and Byzantine empires, where many women cover their hair or wear the veil as a sign of high social status (women working in the fields could not afford afford to be so charged). Since governed more Arab cultures often have absorbed the customs and practices of these cultures. Muslim scholars have been the development of Islamic doctrine simultaneously with the expansion of Islam, and could not avoid being influenced by cultural norms.

But that's okay! The Islamic debate clothing first took into account established practices and cultural norms. Significantly, this appears to be missing in today's debates about the hijab.

A woman should be able to dress as she wants. Of course there are limits to U.S. also not only religious but cultural: for example, do not allow people appear naked in public, and demand - for public safety - driver's license must show their faces. However, the headscarf ban is both a violation of individual freedom they require. In Turkey and France, where women are not allowed to wear headscarves in public institutions, dozens of women have unfortunately been be denied the opportunity to attend school or find employment.

It is wonderful that al-Roqai'a Ghassra participated in the Olympics because her dress was the hijab is a choice, and not in "religious clothing", or oppression. This is a decision about modesty, the same as wearing long sleeves instead of neck short or tall in place to dive one. His election is not the same as mine - but should not be under Islam.

Author Bio
Sumbul Karamali Ali grew up in California, often difficult to answer questions about Islam and its practices posed by friends, colleagues and neighbors. ( "What means you can not go the prom because of your religion? ") Holds a BA from Stanford University and a JD from the University of California at Davis, and earned a graduate degree in Islamic law at the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies. She served as teaching assistant in the Islamic Law at SOAS and a research associate of the Center for Middle Eastern and Islamic law in London. His book, "The Muslim Next Door, is available in White Cloud Press.

About the Author

Please visit www.muslimnextdoor.com

Pierce The Veil-Yea Boy & Doll Face