Essentially, this is my reply to someone who commented on my ikan-ikan article.
So, my point is - in the Quran, there are many ayats about veil, mostly veil of the heart, but veil as in covering over the head is not said, only the bosom. So you will say, if not clear in the Quran, refer to the hadis, and you will quote some I am sure.
Ouch… May I do just that, quote a hadith? Just for brevity…
So, it is the consensus of the majority of the jurists that women should wear the hijab and cover their hair, based on this hadith: “…if the woman reaches the age of puberty, no (part of her body) should be seen but this - and he pointed to his face and hands.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 1902). That is how the ayat (Qur’an 24:30-31) that you mentioned is interpreted by the majority of the jurists - past and present. If your basis of contention is that wearing hijab is a new innovation in Islam and not part of the religion, then you are going against something that is being agreed upon by the majority of the ummah.
So that is the tradition, and I would rather stick to the tradition, rather than accepting something that suddenly sprang out in the 20th century and accepted only by the minority as part of the religion. So I really don’t mind “just mimicking and copying wholesale” or whatever, it just seems to make more sense to me that something that is agreed upon since the period of the first generation of this ummah is the authentic thing.
I would like to remind you that over and over again, studies have shown that people set out on a cognitive mission to bring back reasons to support their preferred action. And because we are usually successful in this mission, we end up with the illusion of objectivity. So really, are you convinced that hijab is not part of Islam or are you trying to convince yourself? But most probably you are not even bothered about this whole issue of tradition or innovation, and I am just kind of talking to myself here… Like whatever, I just don’t want to wear tudung…
But I am not convinced that this is my priority in life. I would rather concentrate on lifting the veils of my heart rather than be too concern about covering my head… I mean, what is Islamic Identity? If I don’t wear a veil (cover on my head) does that make me without Islamic Identity?
Anyway, it’s good to know that you are interested in lifting the veil of your heart – I am interested in that too. It’s interesting too that you brought up this issue of ‘Islamic identity’, because I just attended a talk yesterday at my university, with the title “Fabricating the Muslim Subject: Faith, Identity and Cultural Consumption.” Essentially it’s a feminist discourse on the topic: Muslim women identity in this post-9-11 age. As usual, much emphasis was put on the veil - you know post 9-11 is quite a big thing over here at North America.
Dr. Reina Lewis from London College of Fashion put a discourse on marketing Muslim lifestyle and hijab fasion. It was pretty interesting that the speaker pointed out, for example, some lifestyle Muslim magazines such as Emel, show models with cut-off head in order to avoid the contentious hijab issue. I think what really happen is they want to be in compliance with the command of lowering the gaze, but the speaker was a non-Muslim, so she wouldn’t understand that. Well, I am not a big fan of popular culture, but since most of us are blind consumers of this culture, so it’s a step forward I guess to have the Islamic alternative to these things. My personal opinion would be, just do away with this lifestyle nonsense, if we are serious about lifestyle at all, let’s talk about the lifestyle of the sahabah and the salafus soleh. Now that is hard to follow…
Okay, I am female. I see the point why I should cover my breast and thighs yah, but I don’t see the point about covering my hair.
And there are also other magazines in the middle east, such as Alif that puts up models wearing the hijab and also not wearing the hijab, but they try to restrict their fashion to ‘modest’ clothing – meaning… just like your self-made up definition of aurat, not showing the thighs, the bosom, and nothing too body-hugging. Unsurprisingly, Alif is criticized by some of its readers for showing fashions that are not in accordance with the proper dress-code set in Islam. Unsurprisingly too, the editor replied back something along the line: We try to represent all, we try to represent the muslim identity, some of us wear the hijab and some of us don’t.
To me, since we are talking in different languages, there is no end to this kind of debate. One side is interested in adhering to the proper teachings of Islam, while the other side is not interested in doing so. What happen is, the other side sets out on a cognitive mission to bring back reasons to support their preferred action by harping on superficial issues such as identity, is hijab is even mandatory in Islam, etcetera etcetera.
Do guys get excited about my hair? It’s not sunsilk model type okay?
There is no point either in engaging in dialectical reasoning behind the commandment of wearing the Hijab, because again, there will be no end to it. You know, you will say your hair is not like Sunsilk model or even glowing gold blonde, then I will say but I am still attracted to it and it makes me go crazy, and so on and so forth. So in the end it’s a ruling in Islam that Muslim women should wear the hijab, it’s a commandment by God and we submit to it. There are good reasons behind this ruling, it’s part of modesty and piety and so on and so forth, we can discuss about the higher objectives - the maqasid - of the ruling if we want. But the ruling of wearing the hijab that conceals women’s hair in public is mandatory in Islam, whoever does not adhere to it is considered as breaking the rule – as simple as that.
Another paper was entitled “Manufacturing Muslim Women”, presented by Dr. Jasmin Zine (Wilfrid Laurier University). This one is pretty interesting too, but I didn’t get exactly what was the point that the speaker wanted to convey – really. Maybe I needed a dictionary in my hand to listen to this talk, because the jargons they use seems to come from some other language other than English – it’s not C++ or FPGA or Assembly either, or else I would have known too. So the paper is about the sartorial aspects of identity and representation of Muslim women as fashioned within the ideologically diverse sites of this cultural industry.
She said that the lives of contemporary Muslim women have become modern day “harems” that western cultural producers including feminists and academic seek to enter and “unveil” their difference for western audiences. She added, similarly, Islamist constructions of Muslim women as pious subjects also authorize an archetypal discourse that fashions the Muslim woman through scripts of piety, honour and moral regulation. She elaborated on how the dialectical dynamics of these discursive terrains operate to produce particular kinds of gendered female subjects.
So, she doesn’t agree with banning the Hijab like the French government does or the Turkish government, but at the same time, she doesn’t agree with what the Mullahs do too – so to speak. So, I guess she wants Muslim women to be given their own space of discursive authority and individual autonomy regarding ‘her body’ – the typical stress on individualism in modern thought. I guess nothing much to say, except one needs to have a certain degree of humility and humbleness to be a Muslim, because one has to submit to the will of God and let go of the narcistic “me,me and me” attitude. Yes, your body belongs to God, so follow His rules.
In the end, I think the speakers did not put up a substantive discourse on Muslim women identity, as most of the speakers touch on superficial issues like the hijab, modern lifestyle, etc. Well, I guess if one wants to hear anything ‘real’ about Muslim women identity, then one has to hear from Muslims who have real concern about Islam and of course the women of this ummah. I don’t really follow Muslim feminists, so I don’t really know who they are, but Dr. Umar Faruq Abdullah did a good treatise on this topic in his series of lectures entitled Famous Women in Islam.
By the way Miss Got It, don’t be so sensitive about the holier-than-thou issue. If our intention is clear for Allah, it doesn’t really matter what others think - whether they are judgmental about certain issues or whatever. And I hope I don’t offend you by quoting your comments over here and replying you in a post instead of posting just a comment, because you got me going to write something this long today and I feel like sharing it in a post rather than a comment.
Lastly, why not, one concentrates on lifting the veil from one’s heart and at the same time putting the veil on the other part, as in covering one’s head? I personally can’t see any contradiction between these two efforts; in fact, they seem to complement with each other, if both are done for the right intention.
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6 responses so far ↓
blacqrose // Mar 1, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Dear Taufik,
I applaud your efforts in even trying to conjoin the concepts of hijab, muslim identity and feminism in one sphere. Nonetheless, trying to be as diplomatic as i can i beg to differ mainly on the tone of your article.
First of all, let me verify my position. I am a feminist and i am a muslimah. There is no contradiction and i firmly believe there is none. Therefore i do believe that wearing hijab is compulsory in Islam and it does suppress me in any way. However when doing da’wa and being a dai’ by spreading the word of Islam i believe that the approach is crucial. As a women i fully understand the issue of hijab is very2 difficult. So maybe as a man it is easy for you to say ‘hijab that conceals women’s hair in public is mandatory in Islam, whoever does not adhere to it is considered as breaking the rule – as simple as that. ‘ It is not simple if you don’t even understand why you are doing it. Sacrifices require willingness to let go and that requires understanding.
I think the main issue here, is to make me people understand first of all why we are Muslims? Why do we believe in the Oneness of Allah? Why do we believe in HIS authority? Why then do we submit to him??
Basically once we have yaqin and complete submission to Allah the other problems of trying to deviate from his instruction will not even arise. There need not be a discussion about wearing hijab does not necessarily prove piety. Because deep in the women’s heart, she knows, that she is submitting fully to Allah due to the enormity of HIS powers, yaqin towards HIS presence, the truth of Islam and the straight path to Him includes wearing a hijab. All the doubts about what ppl think, identity or not, will automatically disappear.
It is not simple, but it will be easier as long as we address the rights issues and ask the right questions.
Taufik // Mar 1, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Dear blacqrose,
Thanks for the pointers. I certainly agree with what you say. It must certainly sounds harsh, especially to women huh? Well, this time around is hmm, one of the rare times I avoid being my usually apologetic self.
I have respect for the ’struggle’ that some women have to face with this issue and my life is surrounded by muslimah too. I mean, I have close relatives who don’t wear the hijab too, I do converse with them, ask them questions, talk to them, I do emphatise them, I know it’s not that easy, etcetera etcetera. Plus a woman who is the closest to me in this life was someone who didn’t wear the hijab in the past and now she does. But yeah, in the end I am only ‘the other’ on this issue, I won’t be able to understand fully.
My point is, maybe I sounded so straight-forward in this piece of writing, but if we have an exchanges of arguments maybe you can get to know my stance better and I certainly don’t just say “you are just breaking the rule” to random muslimah who don’t wear the tudung… I do undersatnd - to a certain extend - the complexity of the problem… You get what I mean, right?
One thing that you might want to try and understand is the reason as to why I write this article, and the supposed target audience. Sometimes I just get fedup with certain people who you know, on the supposed basis of intellecualism is debating about the ruling of hijab… As though it is sophisticated and enlightening to be thinking and debating about these things, and just accepting is sort of a dumbing-down of our own selves.
So sometimes I feel like saying what I have said. There is nothing stupid about just following the rule and submitting to the Law… If you don’t want to follow, then fine, I pray you will change in the future, but there is nothing smart or empowering in doing so.
But at least we get a discussion going on… I really don’t mean to sound chauvinistic, although I admit such strong words will only get strong replies… Hopefully kakis can readers who can invoke the self - in other words, if you are a female - on this topic will be willing to respond and add up.
ans // Mar 2, 2008 at 6:00 pm
maybe the wise words of Ustad Hamza Yusuf could shed some light on the matter of Hijab. It is the obligation for the women to protect themselves, but it is also the obligation for the men to lower their gaze. It is one mutual obligation.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yEiJqHePcC8
Umi Kalthum Ngah // Mar 4, 2008 at 11:38 am
Assalamualaikum warahmatullah,
Sometimes, we would need to ‘tidy up’ certain aspects of understanding for someone who is ‘new’. Perhaps, more emphasis on Aqeedah first..the ‘whole process’ would then proceed naturally…that includes putting on the hijab..
For Malaysians/Indonesians, try getting hold of the book, “Bagaimana Akhirnya Saya Bertudung” a compilation of short essays on past experiences of ladies and young girls (of which two were my contributions) compiled by Ir. Hajjah Endok Sempo Tahir, published by PTS Publications, KL, Malaysia..
That would certainly widen up our scope of looking at things…
Wallahualam,
Wasalam,
Associate Professor Dr. Umi Kalthum Ngah
School of E & E Engineering
USM Engineering Campus
Nibong Tebal
Penang, Malaysia
Taufik // Mar 5, 2008 at 3:27 am
Wa’alaikumsalam warahmatullah,
Thanks for sharing. Since we are on book recommendation spree, I personally enjoyed reading Naima B. Robert’s “From My Sisters’ Lips” – light reading, pop book. At first glance, sister Naima’s book seems to be one of those stereotypical convert stories: From rock rebel to niqabi. But somehow, her narration about the process of considerable changes in her thinking is intimately inspiring, and I think anyone can relate to it or learn from it even if you are not a woman or a non-Muslim or even if you don’t subscribe to her version of understanding of what it means to be a Muslim woman – let’s say you don’t wear the niqab.
I certainly agree with Syaikh Hamza that it is the obligation for the women to protect themselves, but it is also the obligation for the men to lower their gaze. From my own conversation with muslimah, I find that some of them don’t like the idea that they are observing the hijab for the reason that men are unable to lower their gaze from looking at ‘them.’ I mean, like, “I wear the hijab for the sake of God, not because of these people’s failing.” Certainly that should be the case, because for example, if one lives at where I am living right now, one has to learn to lower the gaze without expecting the women to dress ‘properly.’ In fact, these people feel proud if you stare at them… So, yeah, it’s a mutual obligation.
But people usually complain that there is a double standard that is going on. For example, even if a daughter of a family does something bad, it becomes such a big fuss, it brings shame to the family, etcetera, but if a son does something bad people tend to over look it. This is not something that is culturally new, just look at honour killing, it has been there since early human civilization. Talking about Syaikh Hamza, he has an interesting theory regarding this issue. His theory is that, perhaps this tendency is in part due to the metaphysical interiority of the feminine, which is largely hidden and not understood properly.
Syaikh Hamza’s comment “ Allah s.a.w. says in a hadith Qudsi, “I am Ar-Rahman, I have created the Rahim (womb), and I have derived a name for it, from My Name (Ar-Rahman)… - (hadith Qudsi)” Woman is a man with a womb; men are at a disadvantage, they don’t have wombs! The womb is the source of Rahmah (Mercy) on this earth, men don’t have the source of Rahmah, the source of rahmah in world is the womb, and the thing closest to Allah is Rahmah.”
“When the Prophet says he loved women, what he’s saying is that he loved the qualities that women possessed. Women by their nature possess qualities that are beloved to Allah, while as men they have to learn those qualities and they are difficult to learn. One of them is Rahmah (mercy) most women have Rahmah and the womb is the source of Rahmah according to the hadith, in this world. So women by nature have Rahmah while as a man it’s something that he has to really strive and work on to get.”
So the humanistic quality of mankind is mainly from women rather than men - men tend to be more beast-like. Women are the source of rahmah, so maybe because of this metaphysical reality that we tend to value the honour of women really high. He said something along that line at RIS 7 – I hope I get it right. Just a theory…
WHY HIJAB? | Kakiblog.com // Apr 13, 2008 at 2:44 am
[…] I’ve always felt that I should say something for this post from our esteemed Taufik, but so far hadn’t found the right contents to deliver. Alhamdulillah, I guess watching a video and later discussing it with another friend has provided me with enough inspiration to write here. To save me from constantly making reminders in the following text, until I denounce the association, I emphasize here that by HIJAB I’m talking about the headscarf per se, not the demand to cover the awrah in general. After all it is the regions above the neck that are most subject to disputes, right? […]
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