is hijab (female headscarf) proscribed in Koran?

[Yeshi]

Or is it an invention stemming from cultural millieus and making its way into religion?

Aka in primitive areas of the world, pretty females had to hide behind scarves in order not to get raped.

So when and how did hiding of females became a "religious" issue?

[lenrek]

Not sure. I remember, many years ago, the Muslim girls in our village don't really wear hijab that regularly. It seems, (the way I notice), it is of more recently (since early 90's), that most of them started to wear it. I am saying this, as I never see one of my neighbor wearing it, but a few years back, when I went home (Malaysia) to visit my parents, I saw her wearing it.

Just for your info, in SG, the local gov ban hijab from public schools (primary to secondary, I think this include pre-U) .

By the way, this post seems to be more suited for GRD.

[Grizzly]

By the way, this post seems to be more suited for GRD.

Why, I believe you are correct.

Islam=Abrahamic religion.

Off you go!

[An Abomination unto Nuggan]

Modest dress is prescribed for women (and men) in the Quran but I don't think the hijab itself was.

From memory, most sources state the the hijab was worn only by the Prophet Mohammed's wives during his lifetime and even then it was only when they tended to the fallen on the battlefield. It was in fact quite a social faux pas for any other woman to adopt that dress. Of course, it became imbued with symbolism of piety, goodness and so forth and thus others did adopt it. Helped keep those pesky women quiet and out of sight too.

[Dharma]

Modesty in dressing? Modesty can also mean less or few.

that would mean to wear very little clothes in front of God - -perhaps be more like Eve. One should definately check the Arabic to see if they mean "modest".

:rolling:

[Lilyofthevalley]

Full covering of women was traditionally only for high-born women, to protect them from the masses' gaze, and has only lately been laid upon 'ordinary' women of all classes. The Quran merely prescribes 'modest dressing'.

Apparently, it is also a most terrible thing for Muslim men to be made to be 'immodest'. They must not disrobe before others - they must keep their dignity at all times and be fully dressed.

Witness: the degradation of Abu Ghraib prisoners; and the Notting Hill would-be suicide bombers. The latter rightly demanded of London police that they shouldn't have to come out with their hands up, naked. Despite the police argument that they might have explosives strapped to their bodies, their nakedness would be against Islam. :eek:

[Yeshi]

Har!

If hijab is not proscibed in Koran, then it is not a "religious symbol" or attire.

Which means all the french muslim girl pupils can appeal and win against the school ministery there! :Cheeky:

The wording should go against "disparating cultural attire" and would also then ban african nDebele women form wering colorful neck rings, etc ...

IMHO i think jewish ladies also are proscribed to wear hair wigs to hide themselves, and that Mary, mother of Jesus also used to wear headscarf as it was the cultural attire at that time there?

[PaperCut]

Or is it an invention stemming from cultural millieus and making its way into religion?

Aka in primitive areas of the world, pretty females had to hide behind scarves in order not to get raped.

So when and how did hiding of females became a "religious" issue?


This is not really an answer to your question, but you know, when I keep hearing in the news again and again that a female teacher has had sex with her student(s), and that workplace affairs are rampant in my country (U.S.), I can't help it but wonder maybe those Muslims got something right.

Of course, it is always about balance, and they seem to have a hard time letting go of traditions and finding a reasonable balance on how much they cover their womens. It seems we also need to reconsider some of our standards and practices.

Being a "nonbeliever" I'm just approaching this from a practical point of view.

[Aria]

This is not really an answer to your question, but you know, when I keep hearing in the news again and again that a female teacher has had sex with her student(s), and that workplace affairs are rampant in my country (U.S.), I can't help it but wonder maybe those Muslims got something right.

I'd like to point out that this doesn't make any sense. Sex education is the only (one and only) thing that has a positive effect on virtually any sexual metric. Covering up won't do it, telling people not to have sex won't do it, threatening to stone people to death won't do it. Only sex ed. Only.

[DMB]

This is not really an answer to your question, but you know, when I keep hearing in the news again and again that a female teacher has had sex with her student(s), and that workplace affairs are rampant in my country (U.S.), I can't help it but wonder maybe those Muslims got something right.

Of course, it is always about balance, and they seem to have a hard time letting go of traditions and finding a reasonable balance on how much they cover their womens. It seems we also need to reconsider some of our standards and practices.

Being a "nonbeliever" I'm just approaching this from a practical point of view.
It only makes it into the news because it is pretty unusual. The huge numbers of men in positions of power who carry out sexual abuse are almost taken for granted.

If what women wear is such a problem, why not insist that men be blindfolded and only allowed out when led about by a controlling woman? There seems to be some sort of idea that if women went about naked, men would be unable to control themselves and would leap on them all the time.

No. All these dress customs cloaked in religion are really about male control of women

<pedantic note> "Proscribe" is the wrong word for this topic. It should be "prescribe". The two words have approximately opposite meanings.</pedantic note>

[premjan]

Covering people up makes them hornier than ever. The only problem is getting caught. I have had women rub up against me when they thought noone was looking (I'm not a Muslim or covered up). Plus I bet it reduces anxiety about one's figure. Most burkha clad women eat meat like crazy and develop big pot bellies, I have heard.

[Azathoth]

Covering people up makes them hornier than ever. The only problem is getting caught. I have had women rub up against me when they thought noone was looking (I'm not a Muslim or covered up). Plus I bet it reduces anxiety about one's figure. Most burkha clad women eat meat like crazy and develop big pot bellies, I have heard.Were these women who rubbed against you, covered in burkhas as well? There is a possibility that the burkha might have been hiding something more than a pot bellied carnivore.

How husky were their voices? Because, y' know, you might have just been groped by Abdul the overweight pervert, instead of some sultery, tent wearing vixen.

[premjan]

Having sex with female teachers is a bad thing now?

[Kosh3]

24:31 And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.

33:59 O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

[Yeshi]

strange that the number of beatings etc is proscribed in every detail in Koran for the adulterous wives, etc. but for the headscarf only vague "cloak tightening" is used.

Which allows for variety of abuses over female beleivers, from beating them up for not wearing proper colors of burkha or showing an ankle underneath etc.

All ending with the words: "is ever forgiving and merciful".

Someone is lying here.