Disclaimer: this is from the following site: http://www.islam101.com/women/hijabfaq.html. i have chosen this site because it explains some basics about the head cover also known as hijab or khimar in Arabic. In no way do i condemn/condone anyone that wears or doesnt wear hijab. its meant to give a brief idea of the requirements set forth in Islam. Based on personal experience, I started hijab around the age of 11, and i personally (thank God) have had absolutely no problems anywhere because of it. Im a full time student, a part time employee etc and of course just doing errand etc, and in my experience noone has given be problems about it. For me, its an accessory! Since I dont show my hair, i make up by wearing pretty scarves and long necklaces, belts etc which still looks nice. and as far as clothing is concerned, my clothes are all fitted properly yet loose. I never want to leave the house giving a bad impression of myself, yet i want to remain in clothing that is proper as well. it takes years of practice, but Im glad I did. If anyone has any questions, feel free to post them here!
Hijab is the Arabic word for "curtain / cover" (noun), based on the root 'hajab' meaning "to cover, to veil, to shelter". In popular use, hijab means "head cover and modest dress for women" among Muslims, which most Islamic legal systems define as covering everything except the face, feet and hands in public.According to Islamic scholarship, hijab is given the wider meaning of modesty, privacy, and morality.
Q. What are the requirements for Muslim women's dress?
A: Rules regarding Muslim women's (and men's) attire are derived from the Quran, Islam's revealed text, and the traditions (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In the Quran, God states: "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and adornments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers...(a list of exceptions)"
[Chapter 24, verses 30-31] Also, "O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons...that they should be known and not molested." [Chapter 33, verse 59]
In one tradition, the Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying: "...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."
From these and other references, the vast majority of Muslim scholars and jurists, past and present, have determined the minimum requirements for Muslim women's dress: 1) Clothing must cover the entire body, with the exception of the face and the hands. 2) The attire should not be form fitting, sheer or so eye-catching as to attract undue attention or reveal the shape of the body.
There are similar, yet less obvious requirements for a Muslim male's attire. 1) A Muslim man must always be covered from the navel to the knees. 2) A Muslim man should similarly not wear tight, sheer, revealing, or eye-catching clothing. In addition, a Muslim man is prohibited from wearing silk clothing (except for medical reasons) or gold jewelry. A Muslim woman may wear silk or gold.
(References: "The Muslim Woman's Dress," Dr. Jamal Badawi, Ta-Ha
Publishers; "Hijab in Islam," Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, Al-Risala Books;
"The Islamic Ruling Regarding Women's Dress," Abu Bilal Mustafa
Al-Kanadi, Abul-Qasim Publishing; "Islamic Dress," Muslim Women of Minnesota; "Your Hijab and U.S. Law," North American Council for Muslim Women)
Q. Is Islamic dress appropriate for modern times?
A: Islamic dress is modern and practical. Muslim women wearing Islamic dress work and study without any problems or constraints.
Q. Does Islamic dress imply that women are submissive or inferior to men?
A: Islamic dress is one of many rights granted to Islamic women. Modest clothing is worn in obedience to God and has nothing to do with submissiveness to men. Muslim men and women have similar rights and obligations and both submit to God.
Q. But aren't there Muslim women who do not wear Islamic Dress, or hijab?
A: Some Muslim women choose not to wear hijab. Some may want to wear it but believe they cannot get a job wearing a head scarf. Others may not be aware of the requirement or are under the mistaken impression that wearing hijab is an indication of inferior status.
Q. Why is Islamic dress becoming an issue for personnel managers and supervisors?
A: The Muslim community in American is growing rapidly. Growth factors include conversions to Islam, immigration from Muslim countries and high birth rates for Muslim families. As the community grows, more Muslim women will enter the work force. In many cases, these women wish both to work and to maintain their religious convictions. It should be possible to fulfill both goals.
Q. What issues do Muslim women face in the workplace?
A: Muslim women report that the issue of attire comes up most often in the initial interview for a job. Some interviewers will ask if the prospective employee plans to wear the scarf to work. Others may inappropriately inquire about religious practices or beliefs. Sometimes the prospective employee, feeling pressure to earn a living, will take off the scarf for the interview and then put it on when hired for the job. Modest dress should not be equated with incompetence. Other issues include unwanted touching or pulling on scarves by other employees, verbal harassment or subtle ostracism and denial of promotion. Many Muslims also object to being pressured to attend celebrations of other religious traditions or to attend employer-sponsored celebrations at which alcohol is served.
Q. What can an employer reasonably require of a woman wearing hijab?
A: An employer can ask that an employee's attire not pose a danger to that employee or to others. For example, a Muslim woman who wears her head scarf so that loose ends are exposed should not be operating a drill press or similar machinery. That employee could be asked to arrange her hijab so that the loose ends are tucked in. An employer can ask that the hijab be neat and clean and in a color that does not clash with a company uniform.
Urban Outfitters
pharm_chick you said: "Many Muslims also object to being pressured to attend celebrations of other religious traditions or to attend employer-sponsored celebrations at which alcohol is served."
The only "celebration" I can think of would be an annual Christmas party, virtually every work place has at some point the week before Christmas. In all the Christmas parties. (and they have been a WHOLE lot). I have never seen a religious reference, and Christmas has become a secular national holiday.. It has become a social event, and one of the very few (often the only) that allows informal interaction between employees and various levels of management. There many who attend those parties that do not drink, and I have never heard a comment on the fact. Often you will find that promotional opportunities has as much, some times more, on "networking", along with competence. The higher you go, the more important that networking becomes. It is human nature to want to associate with people you are most comfortable with. As far as unwanted touching, any supervisor who touches a female employee is risking "sexual harassment" charges. Many mangers are even careful not to be in a room alone with female employee, because of the possibility of a sexual harassment charge. The charge is easy to make, and expensive as well as virtually impossible to defend against. Being convicted of sexual harassment is a death sentence for a manager as far as future employment, let alone advancement.
1By the way it works the same way for a female who charges "sexual harrasment". No one wants her in is office, or under his supervision, out of fear of charges being filed again.
your right grandpa,i dont think i looked very carefully at the article before editing; i liked certain concepts about it.as for other religious related parties, i have attended them, yet not 'partaken' in the religious parts. its a nice way to hang out and meet with people. and your right about managers and how they are careful about avoiding harrasment suits of all kinds. my next post will be better edited:-)
2Thanks for this pharm - my muslim relatives and friends almost exclusive do NOT wear hijab. I think I know about 3 women who do. I do have one friend at work who is a recent convert and she seems to wear it sporadically. I had always been told that taking the hijab was a serious commitment, and that it wasn't something to just do when you felt like it. Any ideas about if it is ok for her to do that or not?
3thanks for bringing some diversity to teamsugar pharmchick
good post.
4martini, in my own opinion, and by no means can it be taken for fact, i think that when you start, it should be done at all times. its up to the person on when they want to start and can commit to it fully. my friend's mom didnt start till she was in her almost early 40s, after she had 5 kids. but she does it all the time, and thats how i would feel one should do it. you should feel ready and not feel obligated by your family/culture, since you're doing it for God, and no one else.
sun_sun thanks! if theres any other topic you would like to know more about do comment here, and one of us will be sure to post some info about it
5Some interesting comparisons up until the Second Vatican Council ended in 1965, going back 2,000 years women were required to where head cover upon entering a church, and a male had to remove any head cover. The rational for the women's head cover was much the same as indicated above. The ladies hair was supposed to be a distraction, and therefor the covering. That ended in 1965, it was the same with nuns and priests. Nuns wore habits, that were black and shapeless, leaving only the hands and face exposed. Priests wore a cassock outside, which was a black (for the most part)which was a long black robe. There were seperate orders of priests and nuns that wore brown or white rather then black.
6Pharm Chick - Thank you for the detailed explanation. From time to time, I do see Muslim-observant women dressed like this. I have been curious, but I have always refrained from asking them why they dress like that. I did not want them to feel "on the spot". This helps the non-Muslim person understand a little bit better.
Grandpa - Thank you for the post above which mentioned Catholic doctrine for covering.
7Great post! very informative. Although, besides the traditional modesty, I would like to add there is Islamic Feminism movement that makes the argument that Islam requires the hijab because Islam addresses the practical, unfair, and sometimes rough real world - where sexism is far too prevalent. The act of covering herself, the Muslim woman is making the statement that she will not be viewed as a sex object and will not have you checking out her behind instead of listening to her presentation, for example.
I found that argument really powerful and it made a lot of sense to me, personally.
8The type of person who would be so distracted by a female form, that he would not listen to what she had to say, is probably not worth all that much to begin with. Yes, a guy is going to "check out" any female, and in his mind rate her on some form of "attractive scale". That process is completed in seconds, not minutes unless he is some form of "neanderthal". There is a saying "familiarity breeds contempt". In essence your mind adjusts very quickly to what is common. The first time anyone goes to a beach where women are topless, or even nude, the "shock" factor disappears in a remarkably short period of time. Why do women wear sexy lingerie? Because men are more 'aroused' by what is suggested then the actual bare skin. That is not to say their are not sexual predators out there, nor am I suggesting women wear less as opposed to more.
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