Jewish And Christian Ladies Are Also Hijabis - Read Our Analysis

Orthodox Christian Ladies Worshipping At A Russian Orthodox Church.

Source: The Orthodox Life

Orthodox Jewish Ladies. Source: Nationalpost.com

Who is an hijabi you might ask? An Hijabi is a Jewish, Christian, or Muslim lady who has to wear a headscarf or veil as part of her modest outfit whenever she has to go outside her home or when men who are not relations are in her home.

Our definition of an Hijabi includes Jewish and Christian ladies because of the following verses in the Qur'an:

Qur'an 3: 199

"Among the people of book (Jews and Christians) there are some who believe in GOD, in what has been sent down to you, and what was sent down to them, and who are humble before GOD. They do not sell GOD's signs for a paltry price. Such people will have their reward with their LORD, and GOD is swift at reckoning."

Qur'an 3:64:

"Say, people of the book! (Jews and Christians) come to a proposition which is the same for us and you - that we should worship none but GOD, and not associate any partners with him, and not take one another as Lords beside GOD. If they turn away, say, bear witness that we are Muslims."

The definition of a modest outfit as influenced by Islam is basically an outfit that leaves only your face, hands and feet uncovered, if you are thinking that means hijabis can only wear long sleeve maxi dresses, maxi skirts, long sleeve tops, t-shirts, blouses with long coats, you are correct! but it also means that the clothes have to be opaque as well as loose.

Modesty in Islam is known as haya, an Arabic word which encompasses restraint, decorum and piety. This concept is best described by the following verse in the Qur'an:

Qur'an 7: 26:

"O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments to cover your bodies and as an adornment. But the best garment is the garment of righteousness. These are some of GOD's signs that they may take heed."

Islam strongly emphasizes the concept of restraint and modesty in the interactions between members of the opposite sex, hence the following verse in the Qur'an:

Qur'an 24: 30:

"Say to the believing men that they should cast down their glances and guard their private parts (by being chaste). This is better for them."

The verse above is very similar to the teaching of Jesus (May GOD be pleased with him) in the Bible, Matthew 5: 27 -28 where he said:

"You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery,' but I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

A command similar to that given to men in the Qur'an was also given to the women in the next verse:

Qur'an 24: 31:

"Say to the believing women that they should cast down their glances and guard their private parts (by being chaste); that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their Khumur (veils) over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you believers, turn you all together towards GOD, that you may attain bliss."

From the verse above, there are two issues that require tafsir. What is tafsir? Tafsir, which means interpretation is the Arabic word for exegesis of the Qur'an. The word tafsir is derived from the Arabic root F-S-R which means to explain, to expound, to disclose. A Quranic tafsir will often explain content, context and provide places, times and scenarios not contained in the Qur'an. This definition includes:

• Defining unknown or otherwise less used words.
• The clarification of the meanings of verses.
• Explaining the underlying thoughts in metaphors or figurative speech.
• Reconciling verses that seem contradictory.
• Finding out the underlying meanings of parables.
• Extraction of laws and rulings. (Source: Wikipedia)

What is the meaning of Khumur as used in the verse above? Khumur is an Arabic word which is the plural of Khimar which means the veil covering the head. Al-munjid, which is the most popular dictionary in the Arab world defines Al-khimar as something with which a woman conceals her head. Majma'u 'l-Bahrayn (a dictionary of Quranic and hadith terms) defines Al-khimar as a scarf, and it is known as such because the head is covered with it. So, the word Khimar by definition means a piece of cloth that covers the head.

What does "draw their khumur over their bosoms" mean?

According to the commentators of the Qur'an, the women of Medina in the pre-Islamic era used to put their khumur (scarf) over the head with the two ends tucked behind and tied at the back of the neck, or with the ends thrown to the back, in the process exposing the ears and neck. By saying that "draw their khumur over their bosoms," Almighty GOD ordered the women to let the two ends of their head scarf extend to their bosoms so that it conceals their ears, neck and chest. 

This explanation is confirmed by the way the Muslim women of the Prophet's era understood this commandment of Almighty GOD. Aisha, the Prophet's wife (May GOD be pleased with her) is reported to have said:

"I have not seen women better than those of Al-ansar (the inhabitants of Medina, in Saudi Arabia), when this verse was revealed, all of them got hold of their aprons, tore them apart and used them to cover their heads."

This clarification is necessary because there are people who say that there are no verses in the Qur'an that stipulate wearing a head covering for believing women. It is ridiculous to believe that the Almighty GOD would use the word khumur (which by definition means clothes that cover the head) only to conceal the bosom without covering the head! It would be like saying, put on your skirt only around your thighs, and pull it around your legs, even though the waist is the ideal position for a skirt.

Other verses in the Qur'an that clearly stipulate modest clothing for women when outside the home are quoted below:

Qur'an 33: 59:

"O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when in public): that is most convenient, that they should be known and not molested. And GOD is oft forgiving, Most Merciful."

Qur'an 24: 60:

"And know that women advanced in years, who no longer feel any sexual desire incur no sin if they discard their thiyab (outer garments), provided they do not aim at a showy display of their zeenah (beauty). But it is better for them to abstain (from this); and GOD is all-hearing, all-knowing."

A number of hadiths also illustrate the details of modest clothing for believing women (an hadith is a narrated saying or tradition of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

It was narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"There are two types of the people of hell whom I have not seen: people having whips like the tails of cows with which they strike the people; and women who are clothed yet naked, inviting to evil, and they themselves would be inclined to it... they will not enter paradise nor smell its fragrance, and its fragrance may be detected from such and such distance."

"Women who are clothed yet naked" has been explained by Islamic scholars to mean women who wear the types of clothing that is considered the norm nowadays: form fitting clothing, transparent clothing and skimpy clothing.

It was narrated from Dhiyah bin Khalifah Al-Kalbi that he said: " Some pieces of qabati (fine Egyptian linen) were brought to the Prophet ( peace be upon him) and he gave me a piece of it and said: cut it into two and make a qamis with one, and give the other to your wife to cover herself with it." When he turned away, he said, "tell your wife to put a cloth under it so that it cannot be seen through."

Abu Dawud narrated that Aisha, the Prophet's wife told a story of when her sister (Asma) came to see the Prophet (peace be upon him): 

"Asma came to see the Prophet (peace be upon him), she was wearing a thin dress, the Prophet turned away from her and said to her: " O Asma, once a woman reaches the age of puberty, no part of her body should be uncovered except her face and hands."

Another hadith links the absence of modesty to a reckless lifestyle. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said:

"If you have no shame, do as you wish." (Al- Bukhari)

Another hadith connects modesty to faith. It was narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Faith consists of more than seventy branches, and haya (modesty) is a part of faith." (Al-Bukhari). 

It is very clear from all of the above that the guidelines for modest clothing for believing women (Jews, Christians and Muslims) includes a headscarf that is worn in such a way that it covers the ears, neck and bosom; in addition to opaque and loose garments that leaves only the face, hands and feet uncovered.

There is a fashion trend called genderless/ gender neutral/unisex clothing which is clothing that is not distinctly feminine nor masculine, and it is specifically designed so that it can be worn by a man or a woman. The following is the ruling in the Bible regarding this:

Deutronomy 22:5:

"A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing for the LORD your GOD detests anyone who does this."

It was narrated that the Prophet of GOD (peace be upon him) cursed the man who wears women's clothing and woman who wears men's clothing.

As clarified in the beginning, the modest clothing rules for believing women - Jewish, Christian and Muslim ladies are basically the same.