Saima Khan
The discourse on the veil has taken numerous directions. The Qur’an does not state anywhere within the
text that the full body covering such as niqabs are manditory; this part of the religion is open to interpretation based on each person’s own take on their religious following. The headscarf widely known as the hijab
on the other hand is considered an obligation in the Qur’an by majority of scholars. However, although
it is recommended by God for Muslims, its enactment still remains a personal decisions that will not determine the level of your faith. As any other recommendation such as praying and fasting, no person is
to decide for another what obligations they are to fulfill regarding matters of faith - unless it is a vice that
affects the safety and happiness of another. Patriarchical societies and political powers take religion and
impose regulations to dictate dress, often in the name of religion. In many parts of the world the veil is either looked down on or praised and made manditory. Oppression does not emerge from the veil, it begins
at the roots of a patriarchical political power that uses these symbols to gain power and label the superior
from the inferior which essentially limits the comfort and choices of others. Islam is embedded in the core
value of choice and does not give authority to any person to rule that choice from another.
It is important to avoid taking anything (of religion) at face value and to accumulate various perspectives
and your own research. From there you can chose the path with which you are most comfortable and
connected to.
The Qur’an talks about so much more than the veil, yet that is the main part that is repeatedly mentioned
and fixated in people’s minds in both Western and Eastern countries. Orphans for example are mentioned
far more than the act of veiling and concept of modesty. Critisism and rejection of slandering, crimes, and
acts of injustice and harm upon others are substantially more important and repeated within the Qur’an.
Yet the popular discource of Islam has lead to two major topics:
1) the veil and female oppression and 2) violence in Islam
Neither of those topics are actually in the Qur’an as they are widely accepted. Violence and inequity is
highly discouraged and penalized and the veil is a suggestion but not a compulsory act. If one does take on
the veil, it should be a matter of their own choice and not a means of imposing inferiority and oppression
upon a woman.
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