You have probably seen Muslim women in schools, universities, and offices wearing a head scarf or a hijab, which covers their head and hair, and you must be wondering if they choose to do that or if it has been forced on them!
In this blog, we will discuss why Muslim women cover their hair with head scarves or wear hijabs in the light of the Quran, Hadith, and culture.
Why does Muslim Women cover their head and hair?
The Quran orders Muslim women to cover their heads and bodies. Although covering hair is not directly written in the Quran, it can be considered part of a woman’s beauty, and that is why they cover it.
Here are the reasons Muslim women cover their hair
Because it was ordered by Allah
In the Quran Surah an-Nur Verse 31, Allah has ordered a Muslim woman to lower her gaze and not display her beauty publically; she keeps it safe and sacred only for her husband, father, brother, children, and women slaves.
The Quran has asked a woman to draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty publically. And not strike feet on the ground to gain attention.
By covering their heads and bodies, many women gain the status of a pious women and are respected by society. Subhanallah!
To look modest and virtuous
When a woman covers her body with a cloak, she looks modest. Allah wants believing women to cover their bodies with a cloak so that no man can see their beauty except for her husband.
In Surah Al-Ahzab Verse 58, the Quran says, “O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way it is more likely that they will be recognized ˹as virtuous˺ and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
We believe if something is ordered by Allah and his Messenger (PBUH), we should do it because it would benefit us. There are harms in eating pork, and Allah and his messenger have ordered us not to eat it. The side effects of eating pork were later revealed by medical science.
To have a Muslim identity
If you see a woman with a head scarf, there is a 90% chance you will think she is a Muslim. However, covering the head and body is prescribed in other religions like Christianity and Judaism, but mostly Muslims are the ones following this, and it has become their tradition and identity.
Wearing a scarf or covering the body and head has become an identity for Muslim women, Alhamdulillah!
But the Quran does not ask for hair to be covered, right?
In the Quran, Allah has ordered women to cover their bodies. When the verse was revealed, women of that time cut their sheets and covered their heads and faces with those pieces.
Aisha used to say: “When (the Verse): “They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms,” was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their heads and faces with those cut pieces of cloth.” Bukhari 4759
To pray Salat
A Muslim woman must cover her head and body when praying. Otherwise, her prayers won’t be accepted. A’isha reported God’s Messenger (PBUH) as saying, “The prayer of a woman who has reached puberty is not accepted unless she is wearing a veil.” Mishkat 762.
Protection from unwanted attention
Some women feel safe and secure when wearing a hijab. With their heads and faces covered, they can avoid unwanted attention and can be judged on their intellect, not beauty.
It is the best way to avoid attention from men because they won’t be able to see who is in the hijab and how she looks. A man won’t approach or plan to approach a woman he couldn’t see.
Culture
Covering hair and heads has become part of the tradition and culture of many countries. For example, in most Middle Eastern countries, wearing a hijab and covering hair is mandatory for every woman.
In Southeast Asian countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, a woman covering her head is considered modest and religious. The culture of covering hair and head is widely practiced in Indonesia as well.
Personal choice
Covering one’s hair and head can be influenced by religion, family, or culture. Many women prefer this lifestyle and feel comfortable covering their hair.
Covering head in other religion
Covering the head is not only prescribed by Islam and the Quran but has also been mentioned in the Bible. You must have seen older pictures of Christian women who have completely covered their heads and bodies; that was when the religion was followed.
Here are a few verses from the Bible that prescribe women to cover their bodies and heads.
It is mentioned in 1 Timothy Chapter 2 Verse 9-10, “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”
A woman who does not cover her head is like a woman with her head shaved. The verse from 1 Corinthians Chapter 11, Verse 5, describes that women should cover their heads while praying and prophesying.
Conclusion
We have used references from the Quran and Hadiths to answer the question of ‘why Muslim women cover their hair’; we have also mentioned the cultural reasons, what other religions say about it, and how it can be a personal preference.
Islam prescribes hijab to women to uplift them and not to degrade them in society, and if a woman is comfortable in observing hijab, i.e., covering her hair, then we don’t have a reason to question her choice.
