Shelby Caruso

Dr. Hadia Mubarak

REL-3000-06 & WGST 3050-006

11 December 2016

Muslim Women and the Hijab

The hijab is an important symbol of religion for the Muslim woman. The hijab

represents a submission to Allah. The hijab in its simplest definition is a symbol of

modesty and dignity that faithful female Muslims choose to wear. Although many people

from different religious backgrounds find the hijab to be a symbol of oppression, it is not.

It is a symbol of a woman’s devotion to Allah. The same type of practice is done in

many other religions as well but none are as scrutinized as the Muslim woman and the

hijab.

The Quran contains verses that do describe how women should dress, but there

is nothing that specifically states that Muslim women must cover their heads or hair. An

example of this is verse 24:31 it states: to the believing women that they

And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their
adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and
not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands'
fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or
sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigor, or
children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so
as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O
believers, in order that ye may succeed (The Quranic Arabic Corpus- Translation).

This verse does not explicitly state that women should wear any type of specific

clothing, only to dress modestly.

This same instruction for modesty can be found in the bible. In Timothy 2:9-10,

the verse states: “…also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and

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propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or

expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship

God” (The Bible). This bible verse not only speaks to modesty in dress but also telling

women to avoid lavish clothing. This is slightly different than the verse in the Quran.

Verse 24:31 in the Quran is specifically telling women not to show certain parts of their

body to men “who lack vigor.”

Discrimination in Europe against Muslim women is not a new phenomenon but

with the most recent string of attacks from the Radical group ISIS, Muslim women are

facing an increase in discrimination. Because Muslim women wear recognizable

clothing, they are often harassed. Muslim women have the choice to wear three

different types of covering. The most common is called the hijab, which is a headscarf

Muslim women wear to cover their hair and neck. The niqab is a veil that covers the

entire face, head and neck but leaves a slit so the eyes are still exposed. The burqa is a

veil that covers the entire face and body. It leaves a mesh screen so the women can

see and still remain fully covered.

Europe has had many laws and ordinances passed that discriminate against

Muslim women. In Germany, there have been discussions about banning the full-face

veil, but there have not been laws passed. In France, a ban was passed in 2011 to ban

the full-face veil, which includes the niqab and the burqa. “President Nicolas Sarkozy,

whose administration brought in the ban, said that veils oppress women and were ‘not

welcome’ in France (The Islamic Veil across Europe).” President Sarkozy also has

stated that he would like to prevent Muslim women from wearing a veil at Universities

(Daley, Rubin). The irony of this ban is that it, in turn, is oppressing Muslim women. This

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also marginalizes a minority group even further by singling out the religious garments of

a particular group. Wearing a hijab, niqab and burqa are choices; by banning them,

France is creating its own oppression and discrimination. In 2016, France banned the

burkini. The burkini is a name given to the bathing suit that was created for Muslim

women to wear at the beach. The burkini covers the whole body and head leaving the

face, hands and feet exposed. This bathing suit was banned at beaches along the

French Riviera but the ban was later lifted. In Great Britain, there are no bans currently

but there have been discussions of implementing bans similar to those in France and

Germany. There is a region in Russia that has gone as far as banning the hijab as well

as full-face coverings (The Islamic Veil Across Europe).

In a video clip of a debate over the niqab, three British Muslim women debated

whether or not they should be allowed to wear the niqab. One woman from the group

was the director of a group called The Seeds of Change, the largest Muslim Women’s

Conference in Europe. A remark was made from the reporter that said that the niqab

made him and others feel uncomfortable. She responded by saying that not wearing the

niqab made her feel uncomfortable. The question of comfort came up quite a bit in this

interview (Niqab Debate UK (Muslim Face Veil)). One of the women that work with

children said that she takes off her veil when talking with them. Whose comfort is more

important in this argument? The issue with women covering their faces is a problem of

lack of information, which is creating discomfort. A Muslim woman that has made the

choice to wear a veil over her face should not be marginalized by a society that is

diverse in religion and culture.

Discrimination is not isolated to Europe. The United States does not have bans

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against Muslim women but that does not mean that the discrimination against Muslim

Women is non-existent. “According to a Pew Research Center analysis of new hate

crimes statistics from the FBI, there were 91 reported aggravated or simple assaults

motivated by anti-Muslim bias in 2015, just two shy of the 93 reported in 2001” (Kishi).

This research may be a reflection of our most recent election where anti Muslim rhetoric

was a constant talking point for President Elect Donald Trump. There have also been

many lone-wolf attacks done by Radical Muslims. These attacks, that in no way

represent the religion of Islam as a whole, led to Muslim men and especially women

falling victim to a new rash of discrimination.

An example of discrimination facing Muslim’s in America is a recent case that led

to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Samantha Elauf, who is a Muslim woman, was denied a

job at Abercrombie & Fitch. Samantha Elauf did not fit the clothing retailer’s look policy

because of her hijab. The manager admitted to lowering her hiring score, because she

claimed the hijab violated Abercrombie & Fitch’s company policy. The U.S. Supreme

Court fairly ruled in favor of Samantha Elauf (Singh). This act of discrimination against

this young Muslim woman was a direct violation of religious freedom. The article brings

up an important part of the diversity of the United States. It states, “As the religious

composition of our nation becomes increasingly diverse, the decision impacts how we

account for these differences and how guarantees of religious freedom extend to our

places of work” (Singh). Every time a new minority group comes to America, their

religion and culture are challenged. This court case solidified a Muslim woman’s right to

have religious freedom in the work place.

Extensive research has been done that shows how ignorant people are to the

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religion of Islam. “Survey found that almost half of American adults (49%) think at least

“some” Muslims in the U.S. are anti-American, including 11% who think “most” or

“almost all” are anti-American. Another survey from about the same time (December

2015) found that 46% of Americans thought Islam was more likely than other religions to

encourage violence (Kishi).” This statistic is interesting and shows the ignorance of the

American population. Many religions have smaller radical populations. The Klu Klux

Klan is a radical Christian group. They use religious symbols such as a cross, which

they burn, in one of their rituals. They have a long history of terrorizing minority groups

in America. Their height was after the Civil War and during the Civil Rights era but they

still exist today. The entire religion of Christianity was not blamed when they killed four

little girls in Birmingham (History.com Staff). Dylan Roof is also an example of this. He

killed nine members of the Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina

(Siemazko). When a Christian white man commits a crime all Christians are not blamed

for a crime or asked to defend their religion. The same is not done when a Muslim

commits an act of terror. None of these horrific acts can be justified but to ask an entire

religion to be responsible is marginalizing an entire group of people and ignoring the

many other religions that have radical groups.

Many other religious groups have specific clothing for their members. For all of

these groups, this helps them build a greater connection to their own personal

spirituality or religion. For the women, the practices were often born out of a call for

modesty from its female members but today represent a deeper more personal devotion

to the religion that they practice. Sikhs, Jews, Catholics, and Mormons, all have

different beliefs that require dress to express devotion.

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 Sikh men wear a turban called a dastaar. The dastaar is mandatory for all men of

the religion to wear. Some women have started to wear it as well but it is not mandatory

for them. It is also a requirement for Sikh men to not cut their hair. The turban for the

Sikh is much more than an article of clothing; the turban becomes a part of them and

has intense spiritual meaning. Sikh men are often mistaken for Muslim men, who

contrary to popular belief are not required by their faith to wear turbans. “The

symbolisms of wearing a turban are many from it being regarded as a symbol of

sovereignty, dedication, self-respect, courage and piety, but the reason all practicing

Sikhs wear the turban is just one - out of love and obedience to the wishes of the

founders of their faith” (Sikh Theology-Why Sikhs Wear A Turban).

Orthodox Jewish women wear wigs, hats or scarves in order to cover their real

hair. These coverings are called sheitels (Salzberg). The Talmud is the civil and

ceremonial law commentary of the Torah. It states that a woman’s hair is sexually erotic

and it is a distraction for the men to pray in front of (Salzberg). Today, most women only

cover their hair when praying in the temple, but there are still many Jewish women who

cover their natural hair when out in public.

Mormon women have a modest code of dress. Women are told to wear shirts

that are not revealing. They must cover their shoulders and shorts, skirts and dresses

should fall below the knee (Sterbenz). Mormons also have special garments that they

wear under their clothes. “These garments are symbolic for members of The Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Temple garments are worn by adult members of the

Church who have made sacred promises of fidelity to God’s commandments and the

gospel of Jesus Christ in temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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(Temple Garments).” This commitment to God is the same type of commitment that

Muslim women make when they decide to wear the hijab, niqab or burqa. There are

many misconceptions about the Mormon’s temple garments as with the hijab. The

biggest difference though is that Muslim women visibly wear their religion wherever they

go. Jewish and Mormon women easily can blend in.

Although lay Catholic women are not required to wear any type of religious

garment, nuns who are part of a religious order in a Catholic church do have

requirements for dress. The clothing a nun wears is a reflection of her modest lifestyle

(LaPoint). A priest blesses each item of clothing the nun wears and each item has a

meaning. The belt that is worn around the waist to signify that Christ wore chains, and

the veil signifies that you belong to God. Nuns also cover their hair to abolish any form

of vanity (LaPoint). A nun’s habit is strikingly similar to a Muslim woman’s hijab. It is

interesting that one is so widely accepted into society whereas one is constantly being

discriminated against. When Christianity creates modest clothing and garments to

represent a bond with God, there is not the same discrimination that surrounds the

hijab.

The hijab is a choice for the majority of Muslim women around the world. It

carries the same meaning as many other religious practices and symbols for other

religions yet is often judged as a means of oppression. Muslim women in the United

States and in Europe face discrimination for their religion, simply because they are

visibly representing their religion. Christianity is the prominent religion in both the United

States and Europe and therefore makes the Muslim faith a minority group. The Muslim

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faith is constantly trying to convince the world that they are a religion that practices

peace.

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 Works Cited

Birmingham Church Bombing, A+E Networks, 2010, www.history.com/topics/black-

history/birmingham-church-bombing. Accessed 8 Dec. 2016.

Britton, Bianca. "Why are the burqa and burkini being banned?" CNN, 19 Aug. 2016.

Accessed 8 Dec. 2016. www.cnn.com/2016/08/19/europe/burqa-burkini-bans/.

Daley, Suzanne, and Alissa Rubin. "French Muslims Say Veil Bans Give Cover to

Bias." The New York Times, 26 May 2015. Accessed 9 Dec. 2016.

www.nytimes.com/2015/05/27/world/europe/muslim-frenchwomen-struggle-with-

discrimination-as-bans-on-veils-expand.html?_r=0.

Kishi, Katayoun. Anti-Muslim assaults reach 9/11-era levels, FBI data show Nov. 2016,

www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/21/anti-muslim-assaults-reach-911-era-

levels-fbi-data-show/#comments. Accessed 10 Dec. 2016.

LaPoint, Nissa. Each garment a sign, a statement, a reminder, Denver Catholic,

denvercatholic.org/garment-sign-statement-reminder/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2016.

Moss, Aron. The Meaning of Hair Covering, Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center,

www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/336035/jewish/The-Meaning-

of-Hair-Covering.htm. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016.

"Niqab Debate UK (Muslim Face Veil)." YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHS5auJm7pg. Accessed 7 Dec. 2016.

Nomani, Asra Q., and Hala Arafa. "As Muslim women, we actually ask you not to wear

the hijab in the name of interfaith solidarity." Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2015.

Accessed 7 Dec. 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-

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 faith/wp/2015/12/21/as-muslim-women-we-actually-ask-you-not-to-wear-the-

hijab-in-the-name-of-interfaith-solidarity/?utm_term=.4d2e5edd004a.

Salzberg, Alieza. Hair Coverings for Married Women

www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hair-coverings-for-married-women/. Accessed

11 Dec. 2016.

Siemazko, Corky. "Dylann Roof's Videotaped Confession Stuns Courtroom." NBC, 9

Dec. 2016. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dylann-

roof-s-videotaped-confessions-stuns-courtroom-n694036.

Sikh Theology-Why Sikhs Wear a Turban, The Sikh Coalition.

www.sikhcoalition.org/sikh-theology-why-sikhs-wear-a-turban. Accessed 8 Dec.

2016.

Singh, Simran J. "A Muslim woman beat Abercrombie & Fitch. Why her Supreme Court

victory is a win for all Americans." The Washington Post, June 2015. Accessed

11 Dec. 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-

faith/wp/2015/06/01/a-muslim-woman-beat-abercrombie-fitch-why-her-supreme-

court-victory-is-a-win-for-all-americans/?utm_term=.8d34c09b8e65.

Sterbenz, Christina. "Here's How Mormons Are Supposed To Dress." Business Insider,

3 Mar. 2014. Accessed 8 Dec. 2016. www.businessinsider.com/mormon-dress-

code-2014-3.

Temple Garments, Intellectual Reserve, Inc, www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/temple-

garments. Accessed 9 Dec. 2016.

The Bible. Authorized King James Version, Oxford UP, 1998.

"The Islamic veil across Europe." BBC News, 6 Dec. 2016. Accessed 9 Dec. 2016.

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 www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-13038095.

The Qur’an and Hijab, Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project, https://www.al-

islam.org/hijab-muslim-womens-dress-islamic-or-cultural-sayyid-muhammad-

rizvi/quran-and-hijab. Accessed 9 Dec. 2016.

The Quranic Arabic Corpus- Translation.

corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=24&verse=31. Accessed 11 Dec.

2016.

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