Islamic University Scholar Finds Headscarves Not Required
reported in Al-Monitor.com
In a landmark doctoral dissertation, Sheikh Mustafa Mohammad Raashed says his studies found that Islam never required women to wear a headscarf, Al-Nahar reports. Egypt’s Al-Azhar University endorsed his conclusions, including that a lack of "analytical capabilities due to psychological problems" led to wrong interpretations.
"According to observers, Al-Azhar asserted its position on the discussion, and put an end to the ongoing debate over whether wearing the hijab is a tradition or a religious obligation. The university unequivocally declared that Islam does not impose the hijab as an obligation. "
See also:
http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2012/06/45564/hijab-is-not-an-islamic-duty-scholar/
and:
http://muslimahvoicesbafts.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/hijab-is-not-an-islamic-duty-says-muslim-scholar-sheikh-mustapha-mohamed-rashed-al-azhar-university/
It will be interesting to see if this affects government institutions in and out of Egypt, as if it truly is a "ruling" on Islamic law.
1 comment:
"Sheikh Mustapha Mohamed Rashed argued that Hijab is not an Islamic duty. He stated that Hijab refers to the cover of the head, which is not mentioned in the Holy Quran at all."
Well, the verse in the quran regarding headcoverings speaks about covering the bossom. It says to tell the beliving women to draw their headcoverings (khemars) over their bossoms, so that they would be recognized as beliving women and not be annoyed. Arabian women pre-Islam used to wear a type of fashion headcovering, but exposing part of their bossom. However, christian and jewish women DID wear long veils that covered their bossoms. So it is possible that this vers refers to looking like those beliving women to be as respected as they where. But the reason of not being annoyed is maybe not so valid today. At that time people understood the veil as something modest and modesty as something good. But today women showing modesty are instead very likely to be annoyed. To be wearing it just for the sake of modesty or getting respect from people is not a very strong reason anymore, atleast not in the west today.
However, this is something that should not affect christians wearing the veil. The christian symbolism of the veil is not that it´s something to be worn for or just in this world. When I have compared the description of heaven in Islam and heaven in christianity, this have seemed even more clear to me. And also the way to heaven in both religions. As Christ said; it is hard for a rich man to come into heaven. Because he has a hard time letting go of his wordly belongings. But in Islam to be rich and successful on earth is not seen as a distraction, rahter the contrary. But in christianity, the importance of doing things regardlessly of the social norms in societies changing are emphasized. We are not told to make it easier for ourselves in this world or even love things of this world, but rather are we told that we must be prepared to endure hard times here.
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