Do you believe hijab is mandatory?

SarahY

Aynur

Thanks ) everyone is entitled to go in the direction they choose to go and yes what you said makes sense.

I know that most sunni/shia muslims will view non-hijabs as not religious because of the connotations associated with a girl wearing the hijab. It?s like a formed stereotype..

If you look at the muslim world for example in particular Australia (I can relate to that not sure about other places) around 10 years ago, the concept of hijab wasn?t as heavy as it is now. Before it would be normal to see older women not wearing hijab and if a younger girl did wear it, it would be like ?oh so cute?.

Now a days if people don?t wear it they consider it like disrespect of the self or as arabs say ?3aab? like rude? it?s like she has no humility. It?s turned into a social concept more than a religious duty of what is right and wrong for a particular age. It?s similar in western /non muslim societies in which they comment on a older lady dressed like a ?teenager?.

Unfortunately people do tend to judge on appearance but that doesn?t start or end on muslims. Basically you can?t change that but you can change people?s views of you through your deeds, your actions. I have a sister who doesn?t wear the traditional hijab and people say ?oh shes so nice and kind hearted and good and this and that, but she doesn?t wear hijab?. They throw it in as a comment as if she is neglecting something but they recognise her good attributes. So be it, if you try to please everyone you?ll die a failure and miserable.

Maybe you can say yes I don?t wear the traditional hijab but I do my best in following the command of God by wearing longer garments.. for example. Maybe suggest it?s not about choosing to disobey Allah because I am obeying his command (refer back to the particular verse) and besides none of us a free from sin. Challenge them to prove you?re disobeying? Maybe?

Why I believe hijab isn?t such a bad thing is well it does reflect an identity that I am a muslim, and it reflects my culture. I do not believe Quran is against culture but is against enforcing culture as a religious obligation or that placing it above your duty..

Take this verse for example
4913 (Asad) O men! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, all-aware.

I?m no expert at tafsir but to me it?s like our cultures are part of our identity, you can take and leave what you don?t like but it doesn?t mean you need to expel it out of your life, inevitably you will have influences.

Muslims around the world reflect hijab differently, take for example people from Pakistani, India, Bangladesh, their sari?s don?t exactly cover their hair (completely) but they wear it, they reflect their identity and I guess to them that is respecting their identity.

In Iran and Emirates women show the tops of their hair (not all). like in emirates women would wear long abaya?s long loose dresses generally all black and then have a scarf styled with half their hair styled and like 10kgs of makeup haha off course not all people do it like that though it?s a common practice.

In Saudi Arabia I got told by a brother who used to live there that there are areas in which women do not cover their faces, and that the face covering is very cultural based, and that if a women decided not to walk out covered they?d find it offensive. I know Saudi likes to spin off a religious association to it, but it reflects culture.

Again not all people choose to follow this cause of identity. Also something to keep in mind culture changes through generations.
As I said before I wore hijab because I thought it was a religious obligation. This is what I was taught, that muslim women wear the scarf. So I thought I must do this. I wore it before my mother wore it, I didn?t question the need to research that this is a religious obligation, I trusted my teachers, I was still a kid so I accepted her word and decided to wear it. Funnily my parents were against me wearing it which made me want to wear it even more. Then they decided if I wanted to wear it, it was my choice. So I wore it.

So the way I wear hijab covers the necessary besides that I gain respect in my community. To me it?s like a reminder, I have an identity automatically associated upon me, my actions are important so I am more conscious of them. because I wouldn?t want to represent myself in a bad light to give other muslims a bad rep. So it keeps me focused. I?ve been wearing it for almost 14 yrs? to just take it off wouldn?t be comforting also I have other external influences which would compel me to keep wearing it.

ok that's abit long i'll leave it there

Salam )

Q_student