Hijab - outward practice/spiritual meaning?

[Ms. Toad]

I am attending what is billed as a community event at the local Islamic Center tonight. Out of respect, I asked whether it was expected (or would be appreciated) for non-Islamic women to wear headscarves, and the response was that it would be appreciated.

So - I spent part of last night watching videos for how to wear a hijab. It struck me that the hijab may have some similarities with plain dress and plain speech (Quaker practices, at one time), and it got me wondering.

For background, in the early days Friends wore plain dress (similar to what many Amish wear currently, on the non-colorful end of the scale of Amish dress), and used plain speech ("Thee" and "thou" instead of "you&quot . The reasoning was twofold - simplicity and avoidance of class distinctions. Over time, the dress and speech created its own kind of class distinction - setting us apart (one might say elevating ourselves) from the world by our speech and dress. Because plain dress and speech had become (for many of us) inconsistent with spiritual integrity, the practices were dropped by all but a very few Friends. (There is at least one group in rural Ohio which still uses plain speech, and a few families I am aware of who wear plain dress.) Simplicity is still one of our basic beliefs, but it is no longer interpreted to require a specific type of dress or speech.

As I understand it, the hijab is worn as part of the spiritual discipline of dressing modestly. It may be my own personal lens, but modesty to me has at least components of avoiding displays of sexuality and generally, of not being ostentatious. Many of the videos I watched last night included quite glamorous hijabs - multiple layers of luxurious fabric, broaches, sequins, and far more variations of wrapping than I would have imagined.

Is there any exploration of how the "trendy" hijab (as many of the videos were captioned) fit with the spiritual discipline of dressing modestly?

I'm not passing any judgment. The similarity with Quaker plain dress and speech struck me last night and made me curious. In at least some Muslim sects there seems to be a fair amount of flexibility in interpreting the Qur'an, rather than reading it literally - which is how Quakers traditionally read the bible - as a living text which is informed by our ongoing personal and corporate relationship with God (historically, at least, through Christ) - which is what led me down this particular thought train. Similar practices, and a similar approach to reading the holy books of our faith.

[Alameda]

1. It seems you have a handle on it....

There are controversies regarding the glamorous hijabs, in fact they are quite contrary to the intent of the hijab. As I understand it, they don't have to be too plain, and should not be ugly, but they should not attract attention either. You are quite correct, the key is modesty. Some Hijabies put things in their hair to puff up the hijab to make it look like they have a LOT of hair. That is discouraged, but still often done. A simple scarf covering your hair is more than enough. When women pray, they cover all the hair.

Remember, one can be covered but naked and naked but covered. It is in the intention. Of course, there is a great deal of controversy regarding hijibs in the Muslim community. As I see it, it's more of a privilege than a requirement. Some of the most perfect Muslimahs I know do not wear hijabs. Some of the worst do.

I have even seen prostitutes in Morrocco covered with only the eyes showing, they were quite skilled at getting their message out and obtaining clients by the body posture and eye movement.

I hope this answer helps.

[Ms. Toad]

2. Thank you!

Last edited Fri Feb 10, 2012, 12:06 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm just back from the event at the Islamic Center - very delightful event. I think there is one more in the series ( http://nocmes.org/ ) I missed the first one. This is the only one that has had individuals talking about the Muslim experience in the United States - pre and post 9-11, and pre/post Obama's election. Nothing earth shattering - but it was nice to hear from people experiencing bigotry first hand that I am not imagining what I see here on DU. The speaker did a study (I wish I had access to the study) which asked questions that revealed bigotry without it being obvious that was what was being asked about. The result was that the level of bigotry was about the same before and after 9-11, but what has changed is that it is now socially acceptable to be anti-Islamic. The other interesting result was that liberals were no less bigoted than conservatives - but they were more likely to conceal their bigotry (or rationalize it away).

I chatted a bit with her after the talk - and noted how similar my experiences as a lesbian were to hers as a Muslim in connection with the last presidential election - the gathering in because he needed our support, the simultaneous distancing first by candidate Obama (most strikingly in asking two women wearing hijabs to move from directly behind him at an event) - and the acceptance of it (at least publicly) for the greater good. That is an area of interest for her - she feels our two communities are natural allies. We didn't get to fully explore that because our our status as guests (she, a visiting Muslim, and me a non-Muslim), out of respect for our hosts who don't necessarily agree.

I am curious about why/how you see wearing a hijab as a privilege, if you are willing to share more about it. I have been troubled by some of the anti-Islamic nonsense in GD, and particularly troubled by the implication that any woman who covers is not making that choice of her own free will. It would be helpful to me if I understood more so that I do not inadvertently wind up being offensive when I challenge it because my knowledge of Islam is way less than it ought to be.

[Alameda]

3. because when one wears a hijab, there is implied a degree of privledge ....

I sometimes wear a head covering, sometimes do not. Most of my female friends do the same. Some don't wear any head coverings other than to pray. Some cling to wearing a heavy hijab at all times when in public, or in front of none familial males. As you have obviously noted, a lot can be done with a hijab to actually make oneself look better and more alluring, which is not the point.

As to why I see it as a privilege, of course one has to be in a somewhat protected situation to be able to wear it. I have worn them and almost been attacked, try to get a job wearing one. Even if one does get employment, the general reaction is negative. People either seem to be hateful, or afraid of the hijab wearing female.

I don't know any woman who wears one because her husband, or father orders her to. In all cases I am familiar with, it's the female who wears it out of her own choice. When I wear a head covering I feel my energy is "contained" so to speak. Without it, I feel like my energy is sort of escaping all over the place, and I am more vulnerable. Wearing hijab feels like an invisible mother's embrace.

I feel there is a certain dignity to wearing a head covering, without it, I feel sort of naked, although I do not feel it is absolutely mandatory and frequently go out without it. Rather I seek other ways to cover that do not draw attention or cover in a more subtle way. To each their own. I would not want to impose my ideas on anyone. It has to come from the heart.

You may want to read some of Riffat Hassan's work as well. She is a Muslim feminist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riffat_Hassan

http://www.religiousconsultation.org/hassan2.htm

[Ms. Toad]

4. Thanks, again.

I wore a headscarf last night. (I don't know if it is proper to call it a hijab since I was not wearing it for religious reasons). I decided to put it on a work and wear it until I got back home, including running a couple of errands. I certainly attracted more attention than usual - and I was aware of how apprehensive I was about the possibility it might be hostile attention.

So - the privilege you feel is connected to feeling able to be open about being a Muslim; being in a place where it is relatively safe to live as you believe your faith calls you to live?

It is interesting (and sad) that a practice which makes you feel less vulnerable from a personal perspective makes you feel more vulnerable from a community perspective.

As to the personal perspective - is there an outward consequence of your energy feeling contained - is it a tangible reminder in a sense to behave in a more disciplined way?

I know in my faith, for example, there are physical aspects which are of no particular value in and of themselves - but which remind me (and others) to be more internally disciplined. The easiest to explain is when I am part of the team running our business meetings (clerking). When I am not actively clerking, I support the other clerks by closing my eyes, and often assuming a posture of prayer. I don't need to, in order to hold them in the Light - but is useful to remind me of what my role is at that particular time (rather than taking notes, admiring artwork, or whatever else might catch my fancy). It is also a reminder to the rest of the meeting that a business meeting is still a meeting for worship, and each of us needs to remain in worship.

Is that at all similar to what you are suggesting when you say wearing a hijab "contains" your energy?

Thank you for the reference to Riffat Hassan's work - I will take a look over the weekend.

And thank you for the conversation!