What does the Holy Quran say?
Author: Dr. Farid Younes, Former Professor of Middle Eastern Cultural Anthropology and Islamic Philosophy, Founder and Novator of Islamic Democracy (California, USA), Member of the Advisory Board of Sangar
There are many misunderstandings in Muslim societies, and especially women are the main target of religious castes and sexists of the 21st century, who have both defamed the name of Islam and made women slaves of their unlawful desires, but everyone remains silent.
The author of these lines was invited for a short interview on Sunday, January 6, 2024, on Afghanistan International TV, which is broadcast from London, to give his opinion on the compulsory hijab imposed by the Taliban.
Firstly, religion is not imposed, and the Quran is very clear about this: “La ikraha fid deen”, that is, religion is not imposed, but Muslims impose religion. Although religion is a matter of the mind and heart, and until a Muslim believes in God with his heart, he cannot claim Islam. So religion is not an external matter, but an internal one.
Secondly, a person, whether male or female, is responsible for his own sin, not for someone else's. The Holy Quran says in this regard: "kullu nafsi bimo qasabat rahinna", which means that everyone is responsible for his own sin. This is similar to the fact that a person becomes responsible when a court passes a sentence on him. The fact that the Taliban are attacking the Hazaras and the Shia religion and using hijab as an excuse is against Islamic morality, Islamic Sharia, and human rights in Islam.
Thirdly, the Quran clearly states that the hijab of the heart comes first, then the hijab of the body. We read in the Holy Quran: “O Children of Adam, We have created for you garments which cover your faces and are a source of beauty, but the garment of piety is better. This is one of the Divine verses. May they be enlightened (Surah Arafah, verse 26).
In the above verse, we clearly see that God has not only addressed men but also women, that the first is the hijab of the heart and then the hijab of the body. Interestingly, the hijab does not imply a person’s faith. A woman can wear a hijab but commit a crime. For example, today two women in hijabs from Afghanistan are in the US and Canadian prisons. One for murder and the other for theft!
Fourthly, hijab does not include faith, because hijab is not one of the pillars of faith. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked: What is faith? He said: “Belief in God, in the holy books, in the prophets, in the angels, in the last day, and fate.” Anyone who believes in these six principles with all his heart is a Muslim. Hijab is among the piety, but piety of the heart comes first. And the most interesting thing is that the purity of the heart is not visible, otherwise, the hijab becomes meaningless.
Fifth, during one of my trips to the Middle East, I noticed in a Moroccan market that there was a sign above the store: “Men's and women's jellaba.” Jellaba in Arabic does not mean a scarf or a veil. The jellaba is a hooded garment worn by men and women in Arabia since ancient times, and the hat in it is designed to prevent injury to the head from the scorching sun.
From the point of view of the Quran, the hijab covers the body up to the neck, arms, and legs up to the ankle. Eyes, lips, and hair are not ornaments, so scholars have different views on hair. One has her hair down and the other has it completely covered, and an Indian Muslim woman has a chador on her shoulder and no one criticizes her.
The hijab and especially hair covering is a woman's personal matter. Women, like men, are created free and make their own decisions, not men making decisions for them. The status of the Prophet's wives differs from that of ordinary women outside the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) house. If a woman covers her head, why not, and if she doesn't, why not? It is their personal matter.
