The Head Scarf, Hijab Issue

February 12, 2008 — Winslie Gomez

The fact that we humans are ONE as a species, is strangely illustrated by head covering.

Scarves and shawls have been a universal and common issue among many nations on our globe. For some nations, it has been the general and accepted practice at some point in their history. For others, it has always been part of their tradition, to such an extent, that the precise reasons are infused with the culture till the two are inseparable or indistinguishable.

The religious teachings in effect overlays the culture till the commanding terms are seen as law with reprisal being the norm in certain parts of our world. We would have to retrace cultural antiquity to find the origins of these practices.

“O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims) …” (Qur’an 33:59)

NEWS

Last Thursday in Turkey a constitutional amendment was approved, allowing female students to enter universities wearing Islamic head scarves - a move some Turks see as a threat to the traditional separation of church and state./a>

The picture is from Carols post.

Over at American Bedu, Carol describes her life in the Kingdom of Saudi, in particular she has an article to the issue of “Why Do Some Women Veil and Wear Black Gloves?”

Some more interesting pictures at Flikr.

FRANCE

The French caused uproar in many parts of the world as the BBC states:

The French government has passed a law banning the wearing of Islamic headscarves in schools, which comes into effect at the start of the new school year on 2 September. BBC News Online examines the controversy surrounding the ban, which will affect millions of Muslims.

Q: Why was a law banning the wearing of headscarves passed?

The French had been debating this issue for two decades, but it intensified in the past couple of years, with dozens of girls expelled from secular schools for refusing to remove their head covering.

Achelois

I should also mention Achelois, as I owe her an apology for quoting her in another article but forgetting to link her post. Sorry Achelois, aptly named being;

Your interview with Shazrad “Interview: Achelois, Simply A Woman” was excellent and as a non-Muslim it gives me hope that people can have a sincere and honest dailogue.

I liked this

002.062 YUSUFALI: Those who believe (in the Qur’an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

http://justlearningman.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/the-head-scarf-hijab-issue/