Muslim womens dress - Essay Example

Based on their writings, it is possible to argue that the Niqab and Hijab were incorporated into the Islamic code due to exceptional and temporal circumstances; and that their continued usage in modern times is subject to the demands of changed sensibilities. The following passages will offer evidence from the readings in support of this thesis. In the reading titled Is Wearing the Niqab Obligatory for Women, author Yusuf al-Qaradawi gives copious examples from the sacred texts to suggest that the covering of face is not part of the original holy decree.

He argues that in the early years of Islams assimilation into Arabic society, there are numerous references to men being attracted and fixated by a womans beauty and these occurrences would not have been documented had womens faces been obstructed by a Niqab. Complementing the inference of this observation is the fact that in a predominantly trade-oriented society at the time of Islams origins, it would be a big encumbrance for women to carry out everyday tasks such as receiving and giving merchandise, receiving and giving money, etc, if their hand was covered by clothing.

Furthermore, although a womans hand is considered to be an aspect of her beauty, there is no consensus as to whether it is classified as an awra. For example, from the following translation of Shīrāzī, the Shāfiʿī author of the Muhadhdhab, we learn that “As for a free women, all her body is her ʿawra, apart from her face and hands—Nawawī states, up to the wrists—because of the verse, (and let them not display their beauty (zīna) except what [usually] appears of it).9 Ibn ʿAbbās states that [what is excepted] refers to her face and her hands,10 because the Prophet r prohibited women in the state of iḥrām11 from wearing a niqāb and gloves.

12 If the face and hands were part of the ʿawra, it would not have been impermissible (ḥarām) to cover them, and [in addition,