Head Covering In Islam -Hijab
The concept of Hijab is very fragile. Qur’an uses the word khimar which as a lot of people argue, paints a picture of covering in essence, not hijab.
However, we must remember the original Arabic in which the Qur’an is written is a language that would use one word to portray several meanings in accordance with the given culture at the time. To really understand the word khimar we need to step into the history and culture of Saudi Arabia from that time.
As It has been researched, at the time women already covered their heads using coverings known as a turban in today’s world. When they would wrap the fabric to form this turban they would swing the excess fabric behind them. So when it was revealed in Qur’an for women to throw their khimar over their chest, that word already included the meaning for head covering.
In essence, the ayah is meant for women to keep the head covering and while maintaining the turban they are to throw the excess fabric across their chests and not behind them.
It is now to be noted why a lot of Muslim scholars use the word ‘choice’ when it comes to hijab. Prayer in essence is also a choice. We can choose whether we want to pray or not but that does not make it a choice in Islam. The religion will still term it mandatory but what we will choose to do is of our own accord. Similarly, Whether a woman chooses to wear a hijab or not is her choice but that does not make it any less mandatory in Islam.
Thank you for Reading!
Do let me know your thoughts in the comments :)
Note: I am not a Scholar nor am I making a dawah here. I am merely displaying facts that several highly qualified Scholars have said.
