Is Wearing Hijab Mandatory For a Muslim Woman?

Forcing Muslim women to wear hijab is now a part of religious propaganda conducted by various organisations which are backed by conservative political parties. I had witnessed an incident in which a man claimed divorce from his wife because she refused to wear burqa and niqab. As an educated youth belonging to Islamic society it is my duty to enlighten my brothers and sisters about the Islamic rules regarding wearing hijab. Before I start I would like to quote Quran verses about how men and women should dress.

Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.                                                                                                                            Al-Quran 24:30                                                                                                                                                             

 And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband’s fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments.  Al-Quran 24:31                

The above verses from Quran clearly explains how men and women should dress and the above verses does not state anything about wearing hijabs. However some conservative Islamic scholars argue that according to Surah Al Ahzaab, the believing women were instructed to cover all the parts of their body except face and hands. The following is the Surah Al Ahzaab.

O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.   Al-Quran 33:59

                                                                                

The above quote instructs the believing women to cover their body with help of an outer garment (burqa and hijab) while going out of their homes. This was recommended to prevent women from getting molested and sexually assaulted. But the above statement clearly explains that it is not compulsory to wear burqa. The Islamic Research Foundation issued a statement in their website, explaining Surah Al Ahzaab as:

The reason behind recommending Muslim women to wear hijab and burqa is to differentiate the believing women from street walkers. Sexual harassment and molestation were common among non- believers during 8^th and 9^th century. The purpose of Surah Al Ahzaab was to protect believing women from sexual harassments. Islam never forces women to confine in their homes rather it insists women to take part in religious and society practices. Confining women from the world of men is strictly prohibited in Islam.

Some people claim that wearing burqa and hijab gives woman a clean conscience. Have you ever witnessed a person in your life; who have clean conscience just because they wear a certain kind of dress? I think people who argue about wearing burqa giving clean conscience; should find themselves a therapist. Forcing a woman to wear a burqa or hijab is a proof that her husband or brother is dubious about her character which is a great insult for an innocent woman. If you are arguing that only women who are veiled will get respect, then you are implying that non-muslim women who are not veiled are treated with disrespect in society.   

The verses from Quran and explanation from Islamic Research Foundation will reveal that wearing burqa or hijab is not compulsory according to the Islamic laws. But most Arabic countries consider wearing burqa and hijab as part of their culture. In today’s world, I have seen many women wearing burqa which reveal their body shape it is better to wear ordinary dress than wearing these kinds of burqas. By wearing indecent and decorated burqas, women attract unwanted attention from men which revokes the purpose of wearing burqas. Islam never forces a woman to wear hijab or burqa while a modesty dress for both men and women is mandatory. My dear brothers, do think twice before forcing your sister or wife to wear hijab because you are squashing the right of women in the name of Religion.