Is Hijab necessary?

[Roshina]

Being confined is a horrible feeling. And the purpose of covering yourself in Islam is not to confine women.

However, if women do feel confined, then it is because there are flaws in the society. Because studying the life of women during the lifetime of the companions, we can see how women were in a very liberal position compared to the backward ignorant society we Pashtuns find ourselves in.

Our women are denied health-care because men give preference to Pashtunwali over Islam.

But that should not prevent our Muslim sisters from adhering to the legal ways of Islam.

If you want to rebel against ignorance and stupidity of our Pashtun society. Go ahead. I will help you.

But don't rebel against our religion. Because our religion is the ultimate truth.

You misunderstand the point. And it's not about rebelling against any religion or even culture. It's about UNDERSTANDING the guidelines from a historical, social, and textual context.

[Master Khan]

A muslim women have to wear a Hijab or a scaf
Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) says, when a girl reaches puberty, she cannot show any part of her body except her face and hands.

[Zari]

i agreeee...:D

[darkwitch]

By "hijab," do you mean headcovering? If so, I must say ... it may be liberating to you but don't assume it SHOULD be to everyone else, khorey because everyone's understanding and expression of liberation and opression are different from our own.

Let's call for choice. If someone wants to wear it, great -- if not, so be it.

So, Jodigul, I believe in choice. IF a woman wants to cover herself with a burqa, great for her. But we shouldn't tell all Pukhtun women that "it's a part of our Pukhtun identity; wear it." Advice is not the same as command.

What if a women has colored her hair a unique color for eg platinum blonde, red, burgundy etc
or has highlights we all die for..wont that attract attention to her?
you say you do believe in modesty. but that being modest does not mean you have to cover your hair..so what if your hair is atrracting attention..no one will like a bald girl .
or like in indian movies, when they are giving a description of a girl her hair is always in it...
yeh kaaalay kaalay zulfay...

A woman's hair plays a major role in attracting men.

[king-zazai]

What if a women has colored her hair a unique color for eg platinum blonde, red, burgundy etc
or has highlights we all die for..wont that attract attention to her?
you say you do believe in modesty. but that being modest does not mean you have to cover your hair..so what if your hair is atrracting attention..no one will like a bald girl .
or like in indian movies, when they are giving a description of a girl her hair is always in it...
yeh kaaalay kaalay zulfay...

A woman's hair plays a major role in attracting men.

yes true also like to add that wat takes the longest 4 a women 2 beautify herslef????? HAIR

and sceinctists say 80% of a womens beauty is in the hair

yes thier r many ways of doing hijab and diffrent styles....regarding the "afghan" style which they put in half of thier head this is not acceptable because after the talib regime this became kind of a tradtion and know every walks like this but atleast they put sumthing over thier head may allah reeward them and allah knows best

[IamDZJ]

...sOME NOVEL...

[inqilab]

If yes to what extent do you have to be covered?

Fully covered? Just head? None?

I've seen all 3 from Muslim women.

All voices can join. Thanks.

Hijab is definitely obligatory for believing women. Allah commands it in the Quran. No muslim disagrees on this.

Hijab is a full covering. It has two parts to it or it can be just one. The head covering is called khimar as Allah said in surah anur ayah 31,

"..wal yadribna bi khumurihinna ala juyubihinna..."

"..and to extend their head coverings to cover their bosoms..."

So khimar covers the head and chest of a woman.

In surah alahzab ayah 59,
"..yudnina alayhinna min jalabib hinna..."
"...draw their outer garments close to them..."

This is called an outer garment. Which in language would be called a jilbab. It covers the whole body.

So you have khimar that covers the head and chest. And you have a jilbab that covers the rest of the body. This is the main requirement. No one disputes this.

The differing comes in if the face is also part of hijab or not. This is for you to decide on your own. You can look at the evidences and see which you feel is correct. Since both sides have plenty of evidences.

[inqilab]

These are the full ayahs which i quoted. Surah anur ayah 31,
"And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed."

And surah alahzab ayah 59,
"O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful."

So muslim women have 7 commands in these 2 ayahs.

[inqilab]

1. "to lower their gazes"
2. "to guard their private parts"
3. "not to display their beauty except what is apparent of it"
4. "to extend their head coverings to cover their bosoms"
5. "not to display their beauty except to their husbands or their fathers..."
6. "not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide"
7. "to draw their outer garments close around themselves"