UNVEILING THE VEIL DILEMMA: AL FADI
Unveiling the Veil Dilemma:Do Muslim women need to protect themselves from Muslim men? Al Fadi
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.9349/pub_detail.asp
In the past few weeks there has been much discussions concerning the ruling by the French government to ban the wearing of the veil by Muslim women in public. So many opinions have been given concerning this ban, and many have complaint that such a move by the French authorities is designed to antagonize Muslims. Even though, in general, people are free to choose to wear whatever they like, as long as no indecency is exhibited, the ban of wearing a face covering is well justified in light of the many suicide bombings that were committed by radical Muslims who were men wearing a full cover pretending to be women. Such behavior by those radicals demands a security measure against any such future possibility.
In light of this, the French government acted within its means to provide a safe environment, not only to its citizen, but to all those who are living or visiting as well. However, despite such justification, Muslims as always voiced out their complaints against the French government using the religious discrimination card as the motive behind the French government action.
As a former Muslim I find it appalling that some Muslims always like to impose Islamic rules and traditions on others everywhere they go or live. It is frustrating to read or hear of such complaints by Muslims directed against others, when in fact Muslims tend to deny others the very same rights who live in Islamic countries under Islamic law.
In fact, the issue of veiling women under Islamic teachings poses a dilemma that demands an explanation by those Muslims. Many people, including Muslim women, are made to believe that the veil was something instituted by Islam since its inception. That the veil is an Islamic tradition designed to elevate the status of women and protect them. However, when we get to the bottom of the veil issue, we uncover a completely varying account that proofs to be problematic. In order for one to gain an understanding of the veil a closer look at the historical background behind the veil command is necessary.
The Quran’s Ruling on the Veil
It must be noted that the wearing of a veil has been widely practiced by women in the Arabian Peninsula since before the start of Islam. Women wore scarves and left the upper part of their chests, as well as their necks and ears, uncovered. Tertullian, in his writing dated around 200-240 A.D., mentions that Arabian heathen females were entirely veiled except for one eye. [1] Such was the appearance of a woman when she was out in public before men, including the Muslim women who initially kept their traditional clothing.
However, social changes in Medina, after the immigration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca, convinced Muhammad that he should mandate the wearing of a veil. There have been multiple reasons behind such command for women to wear the veil. One reason had to do with Umar Ibn al-Khattab, the 2nd guided Caliph, who used to ask the prophet to command his wives to be veiled as reported in Sahih Bukhari, vol. 8, no. 257:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
(the wife of the Prophet) ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab used to say to Allah’s Apostle “Let your wives be veiled” But he did not do so. The wives of the Prophet used to go out to answer the call of nature at night only at Al-Manasi.’ Once Sauda, the daughter of Zam’a went out and she was a tall woman. ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab saw her while he was in a gathering, and said, “I have recognized you, O Sauda!” He (‘Umar) said so as he was anxious for some Divine orders regarding the veil (the veiling of women.) So Allah revealed the Verse of veiling. (Al-Hijab; a complete body cover excluding the eyes).
This hadith clearly reveals to us that Muhammad the prophet of Islam did not care much about veiling his wives not to mention the wives and daughters of his companions. It is obvious that Muslim women were not veiled at that time, and Muhammad was not all that concern for the covering and veiling of Muslim women.
Another reason had to do the fact that when women, including Muhammad’s wives, went out into the wilderness at night to relieve themselves between the palm trees and the fields they were getting harassed by men who claimed that they could not distinguish between free and slave women.
As a result of such harassment, the wives of the prophet complained to him and Muhammad revealed the veil verse (Q 33:59). However, Muhammad ordered only the free women to wear a veil, which would distinguish them from slaves as we read:
“O thou prophet! tell thy wives and thy daughters, and the women of the believers, to let down over them their outer wrappers; that is nearer for them to be known and that they should not be annoyed…” (Q 33:59)
The classical exegete of the Quran Ibn Kathir in his commentary of this verse stated that this effort to veil the free women was very successful in protecting women for being harassed by men since being unveiled became one of the characteristics of a female slave.
In fact, requiring Muslim women to veil themselves was not the only action instituted by Muhammad and his companions, the command for women to be separated from the presence of men was also revealed by Muhammad out of concern that Muslim men might flirt with his wives when they visit him at home. In Q 33:53 we read:
“O you who believe(Muslims)! do not enter the houses of the Prophet unless permission is given to you for a meal, not waiting for its cooking being finished– but when you are invited, enter, and when you have taken the food, then disperse– not seeking to listen to talk; surely this gives the Prophet trouble, but he forbears from you, and Allah does not forbear from the truth And when you ask of them any goods, ask of them from behind a curtain; this is purer for your hearts and (for) their hearts; and it does not behove you that you should give trouble to the Apostle of Allah.”
The preceding passages create some tension between what Islam preaches concerning its peaceful nature and the reality behind the veiling commands. One dilemma has to do with the fact that, if Islam indeed a religion of peace, should not one expect it to offer such peace to its own Muslim women. Why do women have to protect themselves from being harassed by Muslim men? Should not Muslim men strive to provide a safe environment to the women of their faith?
Another dilemma has to do with the separation between free women and slave ones. Does not Islam claim to have improved and elevated the status of women in general? If that’s the case, would not that require Islam to protect all women regardless of their social or religious status?
In fact, the following hadith will proof that even the prophet of Islam distinguished between the free women verses the salved ones.
Narrated Anas:
The Prophet stayed for three rights between Khaibar and Medina and was married to Safiya. I invited the Muslim to his marriage banquet and there was neither meat nor bread in that banquet but the Prophet ordered Bilal to spread the leather mats on which dates, dried yogurt and butter were put. The Muslims said amongst themselves, “Will she (i.e. Safiya) be one of the mothers of the believers, (i.e. one of the wives of the Prophet ) or just (a lady captive) of what his right-hand possesses” Some of them said, “If the Prophet makes her observe the veil, then she will be one of the mothers of the believers (i.e. one of the Prophet’s wives), and if he does not make her observe the veil, then she will be his lady slave.” So when he departed, he made a place for her behind him (on his and made her observe the veil. [2]
The hadith, also known as the traditions of the prophet, clearly shows that he (Muhammad) ascribed to the tradition found in the Quran (Q 33:59) by utilizing the veil as the public mean to distinguish between a slaved woman and a freed one. If the prophet of Islam, who is the role model for all Muslim men did so in his life time, why then should anyone be surprised to see or hear of Muslim men harassing women in general, and unveiled ones in particular, even if they were Muslim ones.
A third dilemma has to do with the command to separate between the wives of the prophet and visiting men (Q 33:53). The command in this passage is clearly directed towards men who are visiting the houses of the prophet. Such events would have taken place over 1,400 years ago. Why then such command has to apply to today’s culture? In fact it is troubling to read that Muhammad or his god felt it necessary to protect the wives of the prophet from Muslim men who may flirt or lust after them. If Muslim men had no regard to the privacy of their own prophet, why would one expect them today to have regard to women at all.
In light of our discussion above, one is left with this puzzling question to ask: If Islam is a religion that honored women, why then women would need to protect themselves from Muslim men?
A dilemma that demands an answer.
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