Muslim Womens Observance of Hijab in America

Many American Muslims continue to wear the traditional Islamic dress and observe Hijab even though they do not live in a country that mandates it.

Why? Simple, because God told them to do so. You will also find that in the Bible, God told women to ear Hijab, they just don't.

1st Corinthians verses 3-16 discuss in great detail the covering of the hair and in fact say that you should cover it, or shave it off.

Verse 3 "Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4)Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5)And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head-it is just as though her head were shaved. 6)If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7)A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8)For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9)neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10)For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head."

11)In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12)For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13)Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14)Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15)but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice-nor do the churches of God.

You will not find any pictures of Mary, the mother of Jesus without her hair covered. She is the greatest woman of mankind, and thus Muslim women are taught to use her as an example in our worship, modesty, motherhood, sisterhood, etc.

There is an entire chapter of the Quran titled Maryam. There were no female prophets, but if there were anyone close , Mary (May God be please with her) is the closest.

In the Quran. God has told women in Surah An Nur , Ayah 31.

"And say to the faithful women to lower their gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to display their beauty except what is apparent of it, and to extend their head coverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms (jaybs), and not to display their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom the nakedness of women is not apparent, and not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments. And turn in repentance to Allah together, O you the faithful, in order that you are successful.

And in Surah Azab in Ayah 59 he states

"O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the faithful to draw their outer garments (jilbabs) close around themselves; that is better that they will be recognized and not annoyed. And God is ever Forgiving, Gentle."

Together these two Ayahs tell Muslim women exactly what Hijab is, and what one must do in order to observe Hijab. Hijab is not simply a scarf that a Muslim woman wears on her head. But yet it is the modesty that she, or any Muslim observes, men included. Not only women are taught to observe modesty.

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

Modesty is one of the great characterizes of Islam, and so American Muslim women observe Hijab in many ways that meet these requirements.

For many that have also studied Tafsiir and have knowledge about when and why these verses were revealed may cover their face as apart of their hijab. This is called niqab meaning to screen. In fact many Nuns of various orders were required to veil their faces as well. The observance of modesty is not a new thing, just simply a long forgotten thing.

Other women may simply wear looser, baggier clothing that is not see through, and is not showy.

Muslims that have emigrated from their home country often tend to continue the traditional dress of their country because it's comfortable for them, and meets the requirement of hijab.

Many youth and younger Muslims today, are combining the two. They are modernizing Hijab by incorporating traditional elements of the over garment known as Jilbab, by using modern fabrics used in America today, and the simplicity and of its contemporary design in comparison to the fanciness of traditional Islamic clothing with detailed embroidery and tassels, but yet keeping it loose, and modest in the design of the garment itself.

American and Muslim do not clash; they are not contradictory. Islam is not a backwards religion that forces women to veil. It suggests that they observe Hijab to protect their modesty just as Mary did, and Muslim women all over the world have made the choose to Observe Hijab , or not observe hijab in the way that they understand it to be observed.

And Allah knows best.