February 2008: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Safar 1429

Volume 24 No 2


In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Submitters Perspective

Monthly Bulletin of the International Community of Submitters Published by Masjid Tucson

The Truth is VeiledWomen in hijab

God Almighty reminds in the Quran that He has placed no hardship on us, men and women both, in practicing our religion:

"You shall strive for the cause of God as you should strive for His cause. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship on you in practicing your religion - the religion of your father Abraham..." (22:78) 

The Quran gives us a clue that women, during the Prophet's time, were not placed in hardship and were not veiled (hijab): 

"Beyond the categories described to you, you are enjoined from marrying any other women, nor can you substitute a new wife (from the prohibited categories), no matter how much you admire their beauty.  You must be content with those already made lawful to you. God is watchful over all things." (33:52) 

Clearly, you cannot admire their beauty if they were veiled.  Is it not a historical fact that the prophet's wife Ayesha took command of the army against Caliph Ali!? How could she perform that job if she was in veil!?

According to the Quran, the best garment is the "garment of righteousness" and not the "veil" (hijab) as we understand from the following verse:

O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments to cover your bodies, as well as for luxury.  But the best garment is the garment of righteousness.  These are some of God's signs, that they may take heed." (7:26) 

Obviously, the “Islamic scholars” do not take heed from the Quran. They consider "hijab" as the best garment even though we will show, God willing, later in this article that the word "hijab" has nothing to do with the dress code for women.

Women shal cover their chest (bosom) and not the face or hair based on verse 24:31 in the Quran:

"And tell the believing women to subdue their eyes, and maintain their chastity. They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies, except that which is necessary.  They shall cover (khimar in Arabic) their chests, and shall not relax this code in the presence of other than their

husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, the sons of their husbands, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, other women, the male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been nullified, or the children who have not reached puberty.  They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal details of their bodies.  All of you shall repent to God, O you believers, that you may succeed." (24:31)

The Arabic word "Khimar" (not Hijab) in the above verse 24:31 means any “cover.”  Most of the traditional translations are obviously influenced by so called hadith attributed to the prophet and take the word "Khimar" as "Hijab" (veil)!  One of the popular English translations of the Quran used by the traditional Muslims is by A. Yusuf Ali, Mr. Yusuf Ali translated the above verse of 24:31 as "...they should draw their "veils" over their bosoms...". The distortion is obvious; the Arabic word for veil" is hijab" and not "khimar"!

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