Despite the history and the origin, hijab is one thing that was institutionalized through the law of Shari’a, the religious laws of Islam. Hijab has been associated with two of the Quran’s verses. Now, there are two schools of thought.
One believes that though the Hijab has been associated with these verses, it is the choice of the women whether they should wear it or not. While the others believe that the association of the Hijab in these verses is directly connected with the imposing of the Hijab on women.
Well, to avoid any debate, we will just focus on what the holy Quran says about the hijab. So, let us get started.
Below are the verses that include Hijab:24:30, 31, and 33:59.
In Chapter 24, Noor (Light), The Quran highlights the Law of Modesty. In verses 30-31, both men and women are instructed to stay modest.
“Say to the believing man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.”(Holy Qur’an 24:30)
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and 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…” (Holy Qur’an 24:31)
Muslim women should cover themselves modestly, according to the scripture above. It merely states that their bosoms must be covered. The Qur'an, on the other hand, does not specify the specifics of such a covering. It's vital to notice that the Qur'an makes no mention of a lady who isn't veiled!
A famous scholar commented on verse 24:31 says:
“The noun khimar (plural khumur) refers to the head-covering worn by Arabian women as an ornament before and after the arrival of Islam, rather than as a hijab to cover their heads.
As per Classical Islamic interpreters, Hijab was most commonly worn as a decoration before the Islamic era started. We can say so because women would wear clothes that loosely cover their backs.
The other verses about women’s clothing are the verses 58-59 from Sura al-Ahzab:
Those who harass believing men and believing women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a grievous sin. O Prophet! Enjoin your wives, your daughters, and the wives of true believers that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad). That is most convenient, that they may be distinguished and not be harassed. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Holy Qur’an 33:58-59)
Both Muslim men and women were subjected to harassment and aggravation during that period, according to the Qur'an. The purpose of wearing an outer garment when leaving the house for Muslim women is to avoid being harassed. This passage was not written to cover or confine women to their homes, but to provide a safe environment for them to go about their daily lives without being harassed. The simple wearing of "the outer garment" would not achieve the fundamental goal of the Qur'anic mandate in settings where there is no danger of "believing" Muslims being confused with others or if "the outer garment" is unable to operate as a mark of identification for "believing" Muslim women. [2]
Rather than adopting Islam's genuine message, cultures appear to have continued with their traditional and tribal practices, incorporating the lowest meaning of hijab as a dress regulation for women rather than focusing on the deeper and vast meaning of hijab.
The morality of the self and the purity of the conscience, according to Nazira Zin al-Din, is incomparably superior to the morality of the veil. There is no good to be looked for in pretense; all kindness is inherent in the self. She closes this section of the book, al-Sufur Wa'l-hijab, by arguing that wearing a hijab is not an Islamic obligation for Muslim women. If Muslim lawmakers have concluded that, their viewpoints are incorrect.. [3]
In certain countries, veiling has become a political statement, a dramatic expression of the desire for independence from foreign influences and sovereignty.
Whether one's opinions on veiling the face and/or head are literal or not, there is no command in the Holy Qur'an to do so.
The main point is that you should learn the Quran in order to understand these intricacies. All you need is a little knowledge that can easily be gained when you learn and understand the Holy Quran.
I am an islamic writer and quran teacher.
