Can someone tell me if Hijab is compulsory or not?

[KaniPi]

Sometimes I like visiting religious forums just to read different perspectives, but I have never seen so much hostility than in Muslim forums. Doesn't even compare with OH. I won't say where from, but seriously some people there cannot take an opinion at all, and if you don't want to argue and just agree with them, they call you a disbeliever or ignorant person who is beneath them only because you have a different opinion.

 

OP asked whether Hijab is compulsory or not because his potential wife didn't want to wear one, and I said well in my opinion I think it is optional (but a good thing to do) because its the girl or woman's personal choice as she is wearing it to please God. I also said its more important to dress and act modestly, because wearing the Hijab doesn't suddenly make you a great Muslim. Its just something that you choose to do.

 

I got replies (all at once) from Men that said things like:

 

"Without Hijab, she is naked." 

 

"Your opinion is pointless."

 

"You're not even debating your stupid position."

 

"Stop whining(?)"

 

"Ignorant person."

 

"What's this optional crap?"

 

"Your opinion doesn't represent all the Muslim scholars in the world, so its irrelevant."

 

My question is this:

 

Surely, dressing and acting modestly (in Islam) is more important than simply wearing the Hijab?

 

There are people who wear the Hijab and don't practice their religion too.

 

I just find it ridiculous to judge someone for choosing not to wear it. as though they are a bad person. 

 

Hijab shouldn't be put on some pedestal that states without wearing one, a woman is immoral and evil.

 

I'm sorry to vent a little and this is not an attack against Muslims (as there are lots of good people out there that are more open minded) but I just got really annoyed from how people were replying to me.

 

Fair enough if you disagree with someone, but you don't have to be rude about it. They just came across as being really arrogant. What if someone didn't know that much about the religion and had similar views. Instead of putting them down, you could explain why properly, not just spewing abuse at people.

 

 

Edit: Why did I get negged for   I didn't say anything bad. At least be brave enough to reply and say why you disagree.

[shootingstar]

I wear it by choice. Hijab is not compulsory in Islam, but in some places, you have no choice (this can also go for places that do not allow certain hijabs)

Also, hijab is not only the headscarf, but also the garments you wear around the body is included as a hijab

[LUNE]

honestly i don't really know my mom said it's not so she's not wearing it and I'm just following her I guess...but some of my friends who wear it say it is and they try to convince me to wear it to sometimes

[sonal♥]

I agree with you. Many muslims can be conservative and can give those kind of replies. But everyone isn't the same. I have many friends who follow Islam and forget about hijabs, they wear t-shirts, skirts, and jeans. It just differs in people's opinions..

[KaniPi]

I wear it by choice. Hijab is not compulsory in Islam, but in some places, you have no choice (this can also go for places that do not allow certain hijabs)

Also, hijab is not only the headscarf, but also the garments you wear around the body is included as a hijab

 

Some people told me Hijab is compulsory in Islam. Without it, you're exposing yourself. Well, not really because even if you were wearing the Hijab, people are still going to look at you. If you have an attractive face, it doesn't even matter if you cover your hair or not. Its not some magic viel that will protect women from any perverted men. If that was the case, then why do we still have cases of sexual harassment in Islamic countries where women are forced to wear it.

 

Yeah, I thought the whole point of covering yourself is to dress modestly, I can't seem to find anything that specifically states Hijab (hair must be covered). So why, this is compulsory is beyond me.

 

 

I agree with you. Many muslims can be conservative and can give those kind of replies. But everyone isn't the same. I have many friends who follow Islam and forget about hijabs, they wear t-shirts, skirts, and jeans. It just differs in people's opinions..

 

 

Nobody should judge anyone for what they do, because their religion is supposed to be private. If they want to wear Hijab or not, that should be their choice.

 

They were extremely conservative lol.

[Mystic]

If I'm not wrong, nowhere in the Qur'an does it say that you have to wear a Hijab. It just says that you have to dress modestly. Unless you live in a city or country that has strict rules regarding the hijab, I think it's all up to your personal choices and how you feel you should express modesty.

[KaniPi]

If I'm not wrong, nowhere in the Qur'an does it say that you have to wear a Hijab. It just says that you have to dress modestly. Unless you live in a city or country that has strict rules regarding the hijab, I think it's all up to your personal choices and how you feel you should express modesty.

 

Ah I see. That makes sense. Not sure why i was attacked then   

[Mischo]

It really depends however most scholars would say you'd have to..

 

And it's funny, because in the Quran it also says that men should at least cover their awra (from the navel to their knees) and act in a "modest" way - i.e lower their gaze when they see women but barely anyone does that. Seriously most muslim men I've encoutered are very misgynist - they think lots of the religion don't apply to them but ready to jump on any girl who doesn't follow their narrow view of a submissive woman.. not all ofc, one o the best guys I've met are muslims too .. but lots are like that..

 

Personally for me, if you want to wear it or not it should be your choice completely. You don't become a lesser gooz woman if you don't wear it

[Dasom's Nose]

where i come from it's usually men who are very vocal about how women dress lmao they are so fucking entitled i hate it. i live in a pretty conservative muslim country (homosexuality is wrong etc. you get the gist) so i tend to not participate in discussions with my friends and coworkers regarding religion because then i'd explode. i am a very firm believer that not everything in islam is black and white and only god can judge me so all these people telling me how i should behave can go to hell.

 

and to answer your question, some of us do have a say whether we want to wear a hijab or not though the belief is that the hijab is wajib/a must.

[Girl_in_Luv]

I'm not good at explaining stuff especially non-verbally but here are some links that can help answer your question.

 

http://islamic-world.net/sister/hijab_in_quran.htm

 

http://www.quran-islam.org/faq/quranic_meanings/aurat_of_women_(P1490).html

[酒�]

I got replies (all at once) from Men that said things like:

from Men

Whay i no surprised lmao

 

As for your question. I corrected yes it is.

There's a part in Qur'an that explain this specifically lol if you're interested you can search it in An-Nisa, forgot which ayat. Imo, its still up to the individual and their beliefs. There's "should", but in no way we force it to them.

[Aireena]

If I'm not wrong, nowhere in the Qur'an does it say that you have to wear a Hijab. It just says that you have to dress modestly. Unless you live in a city or country that has strict rules regarding the hijab, I think it's all up to your personal choices and how you feel you should express modesty.

 

Yup, basically this!

[KaniPi]

where i come from it's usually men who are very vocal about how women dress lmao they are so fucking entitled i hate it. i live in a pretty conservative muslim country (homosexuality is wrong etc. you get the gist) so i tend to not participate in discussions with my friends and coworkers regarding religion because then i'd explode. i am a very firm believer that not everything in islam is black and white and only god can judge me so all these people telling me how i should behave can go to hell.

 

and to answer your question, some of us do have a say whether we want to wear a hijab or not though the belief is that the hijab is wajib/a must.

 

Yeah I noticed that. All the replies verbal attacks were from Men 

 

Before controlling what women should look and act like, maybe some of them need to fix their attitudes. They seem to be extra rude to women who have different views to them. You should read what some of them think about working women lol.

 

I get Hijab is compulsory in Islamic countries, but isn't that more because of culture than religion?

 

 

I'm not good at explaining stuff especially non-verbally but here are some links that can help answer your question.

 

http://islamic-world.net/sister/hijab_in_quran.htm

 

http://www.quran-islam.org/faq/quranic_meanings/aurat_of_women_(P1490).html

 

Thanks for the links. Its interesting to get a different view point. 

[Soko]

i'm muslim and i don't wear the hijab, like you said it's a choice and dressing modeslty is more important.

 

and lol at those men answers, they're so stupid, can't stand those kind of people... 

[�SHERRY�]

it is COMPULSORY TO COVER YOUR AURAH so technically wearing hijab is a must cos your hair, neck and chest are part of your aurah. but yes we are given a choice whether to follow it or not as it better if you're doing it willingly and because of God not because someone else force you to wear it.

[Counting Pulses]

I think it's by choice (as it should be).

But then again, my opinion doesn't matter b/c I'm not religious.

My mom on the other hand is.

 

It also depends on the cultural background of the person- I've noticed that some countries make it a requirement to dress a certain way. Others are very lenient. Take South East Asia for example. You wear a hijab if you want to. A lot of people just choose not to wear a hijab (depending on where and how they grew up). 

 

My mom is a devout Muslim. But she spent 40 years of her life w/o a hijab. Only a couple years ago, she decided to start wearing it (at the age of 45). I asked her why she made that choice and she said "it felt like the right time". Her not wearing a hijab for so long didn't make her any less of a Muslim. 

[KaniPi]

from Men

Whay i no surprised lmao

 

As for your question. I corrected yes it is.

There's a part in Qur'an that explain this specifically lol if you're interested you can search it in An-Nisa, forgot which ayat. Imo, its still up to the individual and their beliefs. There's "should", but in no way we force it to them.

 

http://noblequran.com/translation/surah4.html

 

I tried searching up what you suggested, I'm a bit confused... there doesn't seem to be anything which specifically talks about covering the hair, unless I missed it lol.

 

All I can get from searching whether Hijab is compulsory I get this:

 

[24.31] 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…

 

 

If we take that literally, its more like wearing some sort of cloth covering your chest, than a full Hijab...it doesn't even mention hair at all though.

 

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I still cannot find anything that proves Hijab is compulsory (in terms of covering the hair).

 

 

it is COMPULSORY TO COVER YOUR AURAH so technically wearing hijab is a must cos your hair, neck and chest are part of your aurah. but yes we are given a choice whether to follow it or not as it better if you're doing it willingly and because of God not because someone else force you to wear it.

 

 

Aurah? So you mean women's attractive features?

 

I guess that does make sense, but what about women who wear the Hijab and they still look pretty, even if fully covered. Unless you're wearing the Burqa, wearing the Hijab doesn't cover the most important part of your body which is your face. Surely your face is supposed to be your most attractive feature above anything else, so wearing the Hijab doesn't really cover that.

[SEWER RAT]

People interpret 'modesty' in whatever way they like.

That being said, cultural factors dictate what the term means.

[xoSARANGHAE]

If I'm not wrong, nowhere in the Qur'an does it say that you have to wear a Hijab. It just says that you have to dress modestly. Unless you live in a city or country that has strict rules regarding the hijab, I think it's all up to your personal choices and how you feel you should express modesty.

^ this

 

although, there was a time that i was thinking about converting to Islam.

my older brother converted years ago,

 

it was explained the me then (this was like 6 years ago) that it was required. but when I asked a Muslim friend (who was born and raised), they said that it wasn't.

 

it makes me wonder if the 'social' rules are different for converts. (i hope this sentence makes sense lol)

[Doranira]

If I'm not wrong, nowhere in the Qur'an does it say that you have to wear a Hijab. It just says that you have to dress modestly. Unless you live in a city or country that has strict rules regarding the hijab, I think it's all up to your personal choices and how you feel you should express modesty.

 

“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 therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants 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. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.†(Quran 24:31).

[PokeyPlease]

^ this

 

although, there was a time that i was thinking about converting to Islam.

my older brother converted years ago,

 

it was explained the me then (this was like 6 years ago) that it was required. but when I asked a Muslim friend (who was born and raised), they said that it wasn't.

 

it makes me wonder if the 'social' rules are different for converts. (i hope this sentence makes sense lol)

Technically the hijab cloth itself is optional, but as another user stated, there are certain parts of your body you need to cover up including your hair, so it's not really *optional*. And yeah, converts tend to go the whole hog and do everything. Some I know wear the niqab and gloves to get even closer to God

[xoSARANGHAE]

Technically the hijab cloth itself is optional, but as another user stated, there are certain parts of your body you need to cover up including your hair, so it's not really *optional*. And yeah, converts tend to go the whole hog and do everything. Some I know wear the niqab and gloves to get even closer to God

 back then, thats what I thought!

thanks.

[seri]

Yes, it is, and it aims to protect women for not being disturbed..

[Reiz]

Some people told me Hijab is compulsory in Islam. Without it, you're exposing yourself. Well, not really because even if you were wearing the Hijab, people are still going to look at you. If you have an attractive face, it doesn't even matter if you cover your hair or not.

Ever been to Saudi Arabia? The women also cover their face. You can only see their eyes.

Its more of cultural thing tho

[HealingCat]

Covering your awrah is compulsory. Both for men and women. So yes, hijab is compulsory but not in the sense that someone can force it on you. But what you said about acting modestly is true.

 

And pay no heed to men like them. Living in a muslim-dominant country I see men like them a lot. They will act high and mighty as they call out a girl's hijab for being too tight while wearing shorts that end above the knee. The irony here is that their own awrah is not covered and they were told to lower their gazes first which they didn't.

 

But be careful, you can't decide on rulings of islam based on how you feel or what you remember from what your friend or mother told you. Unless your opinion is backed up by thoroughly researched facts, it is better to say nothing.