Why Headscarf For Women in Islam not for men too?

[cenkiss]

Alright i want to ask all fellow muslims here.Why does a women have to wear headscarf?Does not wearing headscarf make her bad or kuffar?Does my mother and cousins count kuffar?

[removeduser_487563287433]

There is nothing in Islam about women being required to wear a headscarf. The controversial statement in the Quran that it is based on is;

"And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings (khimars) over their bosoms (jaybs), and not display their ornaments 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 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."

Believe it or not... "ornaments" is the big matter of debate in this passage. Most muslim scholars consider this to mean genitals, breasts, sexual parts. More extreme interpretations can range from anything up to the eyes.

In any case the idea that women are required in Islam to wear a headscarf, even in places like Iran or Saudi Arabia where women are required to be completely covered is quite modern. Seventies Egypt or Afghanistan would have seen very few women wearing these coverings... for example... if you watch the funeral of Nasser in 1970 Cairo... you will see thousands of women. And no headscarves.

[Maverick]

There is nothing in Islam about women being required to wear a headscarf. The controversial statement in the Quran that it is based on is;

"And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings (khimars) over their bosoms (jaybs), and not display their ornaments 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 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."

Believe it or not... "ornaments" is the big matter of debate in this passage. Most muslim scholars consider this to mean genitals, breasts, sexual parts. More extreme interpretations can range from anything up to the eyes.

Why did they use so many euphemisms! We can guess what "male servants free of physical needs" means but "ornaments"? Bling maybe?

[PurpleScotch]

Ferrets speaks the truth. The idea of headscarves is quite new and modern. In fact, it is said the prophet's wife didn't wear a headscarf herself.

Also, the word "Hijab" in Arabic (which refers to "headscarf" today), used to mean "covering" in the old ages, and the meaning of the word "covering" could range from blankets to curtains.

[Pivra]

Ferrets speaks the truth. The idea of headscarves is quite new and modern. In fact, it is said the prophet's wife didn't wear a headscarf herself.

Also, the word "Hijab" in Arabic (which refers to "headscarf" today), used to mean "covering" in the old ages, and the meaning of the word "covering" could range from blankets to curtains.

let them wear curtains!!!!!! install curtains around their bodies lol...

[Noremac]

Here's a picture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mumnestorian.jpg

Can you guess the religion?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Nestorian Christianity

[Father Jack]

Yeh I think Ferrets has pretty much answered this. The wearing of the headscarf is more cultural rather then being a religious obligation. It is also subject to how you interpret religious texts regarding women.

[Yorkshireman]

This photo is from Kabul University in the 1970's. No headscarves in sight but plenty of mini-skirts !

[Ex Tenebris Lux]

This photo is from Kabul University in the 1970's. No headscarves in sight but plenty of mini-skirts !

probably not the best example. that was pahlavi's pro-west regime.

[Lord Consul]

probably not the best example. that was pahlavi's pro-west regime.

Pahlavi? In Kabul? He was the Iranian Shah .

About the Hijab issue: Indeed, head scarves have been covering an ever growing number of female heads - an unexpected side-effect of the collapse of Communism, an event that mortally wounded the traditionally strong Arab secularist movement.

[jankren]

probably not the best example. that was pahlavi's pro-west regime.

It is the best example. Shah Pahlevi wasnt an Afghani ...

[removeduser_487563287433]

It's all down to interpretation with organised religion, always done to how retarded the adherants are, for example;

"Indeed, if a woman does go without a veil, she should have her hair cut off too."

Quran? No, Bible. Corinthians.

[Serious Spamurai]

In many Muslim countries they are not worn, such as the East African countries. You'll see Tuareg women wearing headcoverings, but it's the desert, so it's pretty much vital:



But, then you look at the Tuareg men:


The men don't show their face to anyone but their family, sound familiar?


The general increase in the wearing of Hijab and Niqab is down to Sayyid Qutb, al-Ikhwaan and the Saudi Arabian Clergy, it was never this prevalent.

Although headcoverings for both Men and Women should be worn whilst praying as a sign of respect and modesty.

[removeduser_487563287433]

The men don't show their face to anyone but their family, sound familiar?

Jawas.

[Serious Spamurai]

Jawas just wear a hood.

[jankren]

Alright i want to ask all fellow muslims here.Why does a women have to wear headscarf?Does not wearing headscarf make her bad or kuffar?Does my mother and cousins count kuffar?

Yes, your mother and cousins are kuffars. If you care about them you should cover them right now.

Anyway, its weird indeed that Religious Fanaticism seem to gain grounds all across the Muslim world swiftly in the last 30 years. I remember that in the 80s in Indonesia we had a lot of raunchy local movies on theater and TV. But right now censorship is tighter than ever and many people begin to take religion more seriously. All this thanks partially to Al Qaeda and the stupid wars in the Middle East.

[cenkiss]

The thing that boggled me was the thing that people keep saying was the thing "Islamic headscarf".I know a lot of cultures used to wear headscarves even before there was islam or even judaism.

[Odovacar]

True. Headscarves were worn by married women in Hungary.

[Dayman]

The men don't show their face to anyone but their family, sound familiar?

[Yuri Orlov]

It is a shame that in a lot of countries where most people are Muslims religion has become more extreme, like with the use of veils.It was not like that in the 70ties.. I think a lot of the blame can go to the money of the Saudies....