


A 'fashion accessory' from Koranic times?





Misogyny by Islamic scholars


Koran (photo: fotolia/lapas 77)



No political symbol



Lamya Kaddor © Goethe-Institut 2011


Editor: Lewis Gropp/Qantara.de

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i just have one question for u... can u offer salah without wearing a hijab or in other words, without covering ur head ??? why cant u ???
dont be so ignorant... u know the truth but u just dont wanna believe it ...

ghuraba11.06.2014 | 12:27 Uhr

I was a bit disappointed in most of the responses, but ... it is what it is. Some people actually questioned this woman because she used only the Qu'ran for proof. How could you.. they wailed. Although Islam expressly forbids idolatry, that is exactly what your reverence of Hadith is. If what you believe to be God's Word does not address an issue, then that issue is left to the devices of man, and no man's or woman's opinion is more holy than another.

Shareef Ali Rashada11.06.2014 | 13:30 Uhr

Fashion accesssory from Quranic Times? Please dont make Christian Nuns ashamed my dear...

Nun11.06.2014 | 15:21 Uhr

This article is really weak. I think it's better to just state the obvious- you've decided to not wear it so own that fact and try not to minimize the importance of the headscarf. I disagree that men today do not look at women as objects if their hair is not covered. Women obsess over their hair, it completes the package. You cover your hair and yup, you don't look as pretty as if your hair was super styled and falling oh so glamorously. I commend the woman that do cover up because hey, why not? If they want to take the extra step to be modest, they should go for it. Who are you, or anyone else, to tell them not to? It's between them, their faith and their lord.

Shazia11.06.2014 | 21:33 Uhr

The world has evolved since the time of The Prophet, we now have computers, internet and new means of entertainment and communication. Now me being a Muslim I don't have an issue weather women want to wear the hijab or not. But there are so many people who believe that the hijab is a must. But where in the Quran does it state word for word that we as women have to wear the hijab? The Quran has passages that are vague and left for us to interpret, but it doesn't force anything on us, does it? No it does not.

Other than the fact that the Quran does not anywhere legitimately state that women should wear the hijab, the world has revolutionized. We are influenced by many aspects of media and leisurely travels. Certainly with the evolution of human kind and the world men are able to restrain themselves and not be tempted by the mere sight of a woman.

Women are everywhere. they are political leaders, they're movie stars, they walk among the rest of society, and some women are the most powerful beings on the planet. Men are able to restrain themselves and with what we have today, why is it so wrong to show yourself a bit?

Logically speaking with the evolution in today's world there should be no one demanding that women should not be able or able to do something they want. Women all around the world fought for their freedom- to be equals. Why is it that people who interpret the Quran think that men have more justified power than women?

The Quran is about freedom- equality and correct morals. Women are demeaned and are forced to do things by men in the name of Allah.

How is making a man wear anything he wants while making a woman cover herself completely equal? What if a woman doesn't want to wear the hijab, and you force her. How is that justified?

And why is thought to believe that the hijab is meant to obscure women's beauty? My mother wears the hijab and she is always complimented on her natural beauty even though she wears the hijab.

Everybody should think. The Quran is centuries years old. Times have changed, some of the things in the Quran don't relate to our world anymore. Evolution and globalization have changed the world. The Quran doesn't state anything for the future of the world and its evolution in every aspect. Where does it state that in the future implications of evolution where the world is used to seeing women wear whatever they want, used to seeing women everywhere to roam freely that they should be restrained by an interpretation centuries before their births?

People need to interpret the Quran to our time today, that includes globalization and Evolution.To also remember that the Quran said that women should be modest and cover themselves to shield themselves from men's sexual desire. Women should cover up to be conservative and leave themselves to their husbands.

Since when was a person's head sexual. How does showing your hair make you sexually more appealing. Women should cover themselves up in normal conservative clothing which could be a baggy long sleeve shirt and jeans. It covers everything up. How will a man see through your clothes.

Men are used to seeing women bare themselves. Go watch a movie, a music video anything that modernly implies with women. Look out our teenage generation. We have girls twerking in nothing but bra's and panties, we have Rhianna in a sheer nipple bearing dress. The world has evolved to the point that when we see people like this, we wave them off and don't care. We might think they're sluts, but it is somewhat a cultural norm in our world.

Honestly wearing the hijab today, just brings unwanted attention to people. People are so used to seeing a woman in normal clothing a t-shrit and jeans, that wearing the hijab brings attention to them. People will look and stare, because it's not something people are use to seeing. So think about it. The tables have turned.

I'm a Muslim,(a teenager) but even I can see that with the world's evolution things change. People should be logical and rational. The cultural norm changes and we have to adapt to changes, we can't firmly hold onto the past and not let go.This is just my logical and rational opinion.

I may not be a scholar and I may be young, but I have the rationality that appeals our societal world today and people need to understand that the world has changed.

Nada 11.06.2014 | 22:47 Uhr

I am not a scholar of Islam, but I have taken a number of courses and read a number of books of Usool-al fiqh. What the author expresses, even though many people seem to disagree, is actually a very sound argument based on the established rules of fiqh.
Let me summarize: There is a thing known as an "illa" which means the cause for a certain ruling. If this illa exists in the text of the Qur'an, then the ruling will change depending on whether the cause is present or not. The most common example of this is when Allah allowed the eating of pork if the person is in danger of starving.

In the case of hijab, an illa is mentioned, and the author referenced this directly. The purpose of hijab was to protect women from being "annoyed" or "molested.". As she rightly pointed out, wearing hijab in western countries can often lead her to be discriminated against. In this situation, it is entirely feasible that the strict use of hijab should be lifted as long as the spirit of modesty is maintained and the woman's intent is not to provoke undue sexual attention.

I think it is really important to understand how our scholars actually derive rulings from the texts. Before we judge a persons faith, as many of the commentators have done, we should really seek to understand his/her reasoning. Allah and his Prophet know best

Mike12.06.2014 | 02:31 Uhr

I am a hijabi living in the US (specifically the South), but I started almost 2 years ago without force or peer pressure from my family or Muslim community. The hijab is not a sign of oppression or minimizing my humanity, rather it helps me discern those who want me for 'me' or for my looks. Hijab is not just a covering over the head, but is a physical embodiment of being a Muslimah. We have even more reasons to strive to be a better Muslim in our daily life and to dress modestly as we are taught. In high school I was close to my male friends (in fact I used to hug them all the time), but now as a hijabi, we still talk, but they respect what my hijab implies-- I am practicing all parts of my faith including the tenant that states men and women who are non-mahram cannot be close. Islam also tells us to lower our gaze and that our physical beauty is for our mahram (most importantly our husbands). Why should we encourage non-mahram to keep their eyes glued to our faces and figure? They are no longer interested in knowing you as an intellectual, rather a piece of eye candy.
My hijab stops people from looking at me in lust (if they continue to look because of hate or curiosity that is not my fault). I have not enticed a person of theopposite sex to keep staring because of how 'hot' my body is and how soft or silky my hair looks.
As a proclaimed 'Muslim scholar' you should know a few things:
1. The Prophet (saw) was sent to all mankind until the Day of Judgement.
2. This means the Quran is complete and is applicable for ALL times. Once you claim the concept of hijab us insolete or outdated, you are opening doors for others to label other parts of Islam as optional or unnecessary abd unapplicable.
3. You proudly state that you are a scholar of Islam, but you are obviously lacking in the details of the Quran and Sunnah. Take a full Tafseer class and Seerah class to truly understand what Islam is about.
4. It is true that women at the time of revelation covered their head, but they didn't cover their chest. The Quran states that women should cover their bosoms so as to complete their cover. You need to understand the history of that time to realize why the Quran doesn't mention the head.....because that part was already covered.
5. Hijab is a perfect way to initiate Dawah. The educated people who see me will ask questions about my religion and how I choose to practice it. The narrow-minded, uneducated, gullible individual will harass me, but that is a test. Are you firm in your faith to stand up for what you believe in and will you stop people from disrespecting your Prophet (saw) and our religion? This struggle is a Jihad which is better than resorting to the commonly known physical definition of Jihad. I feel that if I am murdered for wearing my hijab, then I have died as a martyr for the sake of Allah.
I live in a first world country with freedoms and police officers. They cannot stop the perverted thoughts men have of women because of their clothes. It is up to the Muslimah to stop the opposite sex from thinking about her all day and talking to his friends about the 'fine and sexy lasy' they saw at the market. It stops men from thinking they can ask me out on a date or inappropriately flirt with me.
My hijab stops people from crossing the line so I don't need the police and justice system to step in once I have been sexually harassed or assaulted. Allah (swt) keeps me safe. Why do I need anyone else to step in for my defense.
I am sorry that you don't fully understand the beauty, simplicity, and freedom that Islam offers, even with your specialized degree. I am sorry that you need the justice system to feel safe and confident to walk outside among the rest of mankind.
I am also afraid of what you may have taught to other Muslims about Islam and what you have told non-Muslims who ask questions about our religion.

I disagree with...12.06.2014 | 07:43 Uhr

I guess to each their own, GOD will be the ultimate judge here. So interpret, analyse, examine, contemplate, speculate all you want. On the day of Kiyaama, you are welcome to put that argument forward. Just one question, what if you are wrong? And the risk you run that everyone that has been mislead by you, their transgressions lie on your shoulders.

muaath12.06.2014 | 10:45 Uhr

It's just a piece of towel u wear on ur head without any decors....as a religious obligation......if u're a muslim, one's defined to follow the qur'an that was written by illiterate muhammed, thus gotta do what muhammed said so. It's funny one would follow d qur'an but not the author itself. So to speak, u believe in a person's book, but not in himself.....well, that's like saying u believe in the bible, but not jesus.

Religion aside, books don't exist out of thin air.

P.s. do simplify this, i'm grammatically retarded.

rofl8512.06.2014 | 11:36 Uhr

Interesting that most of the comments made about Muslim women and requirement to wear hijab comes from Muslim men. Don't forget that Mohammed's words and Koran was and is interpreted by men. Therefore, the authors voice is one of the females. Her freedom does not come from a clothing, her freedom comes from within (whether that would be religion, or the secular government granting freedom through the law).

Why men are not required to wear hijab if women are? This is ridiculous. It is a woman's choice to wear it and her interpretation of God's word and no one else's.

Liberate yourselves, men, by wearing hijab. Women will choose their own way of liberation.

Ruta Vilkaite12.06.2014 | 15:34 Uhr