DICHOTOMY BETWEEN HIJĀB AND NIQĀB IN ISLAM
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Date
2018-07
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Abstract
Islam is a complete way of life that contains every aspect of life, which designed by our
Creator to advance happy, healthy communities and ease the path to eternal bliss in Paradise
in today’s society modesty is seen as a sign of weakness or insecurity but this is not the ease
in Islam where modesty is seen as a sign of respect for oneself and others Muslim scholars
unanimously agreed that fulfilling the conditions of the dress code is an obligation on all
Muslim men and women. They have based these conditions on evidence found in the Quran
and the Sunnah.
According to Encyclopedia of Islam, the term Hijab or veil is not used in the Qur'an to refer
to an article of clothing for women or men alone, rather it refers to a spatial curtain that
divides or provides privacy. In this wise, Al-Qur'an instructs the male believers (Muslims) to
talk to wives of Muhammad behind a Hijab and then. Hijab (staying behind the partition}
was the responsibility of the men and not the wives of Muhammad. Meanwhile. Hi jab as an
integral part of everyday appearance and life of most Muslim women all over the world has
been synonymous with Muslim women for quite some time.
Consequently, the instruction of Hijab in the Quran. which was specifically directed to the
wives of Muhammad, was later generalized, leading to the segregation of the Muslim men
and women. This implies that, the modesty in Qur'an concerns both men’s and women’s
gaze, gait, garments, and genitalia. The clothing for women involves Hijab and Khimar over
the necklines and Niqab or Jilbab (cloaks) in public so that they may be identified and not
harmed. Hence, the guidelines for covering of the entire body except for the hands, the feel,
and the face, are found in texts of Fiqh and Hadith that are developed later.
Therefore, the concept of Hijab and Niqab was recommended for the Ummah of the prophet
(SAW) to save guard their nudity against lewdness and to protect modesty. However, the
modest dress for woman is the practicability of Hijab/Niqab but there are controversies
among the Ulama on the exact ambit of the Hijab. Although, there is consensus among all the Islamic Ulamah that all matured female should cover the whole bod\' with a loose long, not
decorated not perfumed, not transparent, not resembles men’s and disbelievers clothes,
especially when to appear in front of a (Gairu Mahrim) strangers or out of marital bind.
In a distinguish view, the Niqab and Hijab are two different kinds of clothing that are
available to Islamic women. Meanwhile, a Niqab is a segmented part of Hijab and cover only
the face. It is a form of a veil that covers the face including the ears and the hair but Hijab
actually refers to the rules of covering up. In addition, the word Niqab is used to refer to a
veil that covers the head and face. However, Hijab means "cover,” "drape.” or "partition:” but
the word Niqab means veil covering the lower face up to the eyes. The general term Hijab in
the present day world refers to the covering of the face by women. Meanwhile, the specific
nature of the dress involved can vary considerably among different schools of legal
interpretation, seets, and cultural backgrounds.
The study agrees that the word Hijab is the act of covering up but is often used to describe the
headscarves worn by Muslim women. These scarves come in many styles and colours. The
type most commonly worn in the Nigeria covers the head and neck but leaves the face clear.
Whereas, the Niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the urea around the eves clear.
However, it may be worn with a separate eye veil. It is worn with an accompanying
headscarf.
However, some scholars argue that Quran chapter 24 verses 30-31 teaches etiquette for male
and female interactions, where khumur is mentioned in reference to the clothing of Arab
women in the 7th century, but there is no command to actually wear them in any specific
way.
Meanwhile, the traditional Muslims and Salafis argue that the garments know today as Jilbab
and khumur are the very garments demanded by the Qur'an. However, Qur'an translators and
commentators translate the Arabic into English words with a general meaning such as veils,
head-coverings and shawls.
The Sunni scholars opine that, Muslims have recognized many different forms of clothing as
satisfying the demands of Hijab but the debate focuses on how much of the male or female
body should be covered. To this effect, Sunnis recommend that women wear loose clothing
that is not form fitting to the body either modest forms of western clothing (long shirts
and skirts), or the more traditional Jilbab, a high-necked loose robe that covers the arms and
legs or Khimar a scarf or cowl that covers all but the face is also worn in many different
styles.
Meanwhile, the Qur'anic legislation regarding women is to protect them from inequities and
vicious practices (such as female infanticide, unlimited polygamy, or concubinage, etc.)
which prevailed in the pre-Islamic Arabia. The aims of this paper is not only to refute the
insinuation of non-Muslims on the status of Islamic injunction towards Hijab and Niqab that
Muslims woman was greatly afflicted in two ways which were the main source of different
evils, sufferings and injustices that happened to her during history. But also to examine the
significance of Hijab and Niqab as a remedy to the widespread of raping, incest and sexual
harassment