A rather contentious piece of cloth

One of the most mis-understood and mis-represented segment of Islam by the “west”, is probably the veiling of Muslim women. This has led to much controversy and stereotyping.

THE BACKGROUND

Women covering their hair and heads is evident in many cultures, from way back in the past and also present in many countries and cultures today. As the saying goes:
Islam did not invent head covering for women: however, Islam did endorse it!

One can trace the origins of veiling in Islam to the teachings of their Prophet. It was suggested by many of the travelling seekers, who came to hear the Prophet teach, that perhaps his wives should be kept “hidden” from the many travellers and seekers who were being taught in the courtyard below.
The word “hijab” means:
• to separate (with a curtain)
• to divide
• to partition
• to cover
In later revelations, we read verses that all women (those having reached puberty) should be veiled: modesty being the key principle. In fact, modest dress is viewed as protection, and the veil a sign of that modesty.

The wives of the Prophet were totally/completely covered (including hands), and some chose to follow this practice. The Quran stipulate that the hair, neck and ‘chest’ should be covered modestly with a loose cloth, and that the rest of the clothing should not be such that attracts attention. Only your hands and face should be visible to the general public. However a woman is able to let her hair down (literally) at home, in presence of her husband, father, brothers or cousins. But to other men, not ever!

RELIGIOUS RULES

Following many teachings on the writings of the prophet, it appears that the modesty requirements of women’s clothing might be summarized as follows:
* it should not be tight: loose and wide is the better option
* nothing should highlight the shape of the body
* nothing should be transparent
* no perfumes
* no sounds as they walk (clip-clop shoes, bells around ankles)
* no make-up
* no decorations
* no nail polish
By her choice of her clothing, there should be nothing to draw attention to a woman. It is “haraam” (punishable by gaining negative points from your blessings) to draw attention to your body shape. This is because the woman is viewed as the ‘queen of desire’, so should guard herself carefully!

FORMS

The ‘veil’ can take many forms.
1. The Hijab: Although this is the term for all the required conditions of dress, it is generally used to refer to a head-covering which covers the head and the neck, leaving the face uncovered. These head coverings come in many shapes, colours and styles but the objective is to cover the hair completely, and be draped over the chest area.
2. Niqaab is generally understood as clothing that covers the face as well as the head, with only the eyes showing.
3. The Burqa is a veil which covers the head, face and body of a woman from head to toe, allowing her to see through a gauze like material over the eye area.

TODAY

On the streets of busy Cairo and Alexandria, you will see the whole spectrum of dress options. Many women say that which form of veil/dress you wear is your personal choice. However, sometimes the father or the husband might have the final say. But on any busy sidewalk you will see the young women in bright, trendy veils, in fun styles, with matching handbags and shoes, often walking next to a mother or aunt fully veiled in billowing black. Yet as they walk side by side, there seems to be total harmony!
Currently in Egypt, there is no law stipulating dress specifications, so there is still room for some debate and discussion as to exactly where one is to draw the modesty line. In the past there were furious debates as to whether women should wear trousers of any kind, as this was traditionally men’s clothing. The Prophet speaks out against women wearing men’s clothes. But today, on the streets, you will find jeans of all shapes and colours, although many still prefer dresses (the traditional Abeya is popular) or long, wide skirts.
So when you come to visit, take time to have a look at all the various colours, styles and shapes of veils. As a woman, you will need to buy at least one to cover your hair when you visit the mosques. Ask some of the women you meet about how they choose their veils, how they put them on, how long it takes them to put on a vei and even how they choose the pins that hold the veils together! It will open your mind to a whole new level of shopping!