A Head Covering Poem

photo from Designs by Sheryl Ann

The Head Covering
“Must I wear it?” some ask with dread,
“This covering of cloth upon my head?”
As if the command were stern to obey-
But I ask the question a different way:
If by this simple act I honor the Lord,
And model obedience to His precious Word;
If the Church may thus learn, as the Scripture hath said,
Her own sweet submission to her glorious Head;
If thus may the brothers be challenged to lead;
If in this small sign the daughters may read;
A woman’s true beauty; if angles discern,
And pause from their praises to wonder and learn;
Then I ask, not “Must I?” but “May I?”

- by M.A. Frees, dedicated as "Inspired by my wife’s sweet spirit"

Found in "A Word in Season," at Designs by Sheryl Ann (Head Coverings, Christian Music, Books & Scripture Texts)

Note from ThoseHeadcoverings: This is "free advertising" for Designs by Sheryl Ann; I have not received compensation for sharing this website store with you. Please drop by and view their page at "A Word in Season" (linked above) for more links to thoughts on head covering, modesty and other topics.

"What Do Orthodox Jews Wear on Their Foreheads?"

What Do Orthodox Jews Wear on Their Foreheads? | People - Opposing Views
by Brett Levine

Informative short article explaining Tefillin, Yarmulke (aka kippa), the variety of hats, and the Tallit, as worn by men in Orthodox Judaism.

Other articles on this subject include:
"Kippot, Hats and Head Coverings: A Traditionalist View", by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, in MyJewishLearning.com
"Headcoverings in Judaism", at BJE.org.au

and a news article in the Times of Israel: "Oversight body pans Bar_Ilan U. for penalizing bare-headed student", by Aaron Kalman, from December of 2012. Just an observation story for thought.

Christians of Various Traditions & Head Covering

Hot topic in the Catholic Forums:

"Attn. Christians of Various Traditions: Women & Head Covering ? - Catholic Answers Forums"

The question presented was: "What Christian Tradition do you belong to & at what time in it's history did it No longer be expected for Christian women of your Tradition to cover their heads full-time & when it's history did it no longer be expected for women at Church & during prayer And further, what reason was given for it to be acceptable for a Christian woman of your Tradition to be uncovered."

As always, there is some discussion of the first several centuries of Christian writings, also called the Church Fathers, and the phrase from the Apostle Paul: "... because of the angels."

No one can pinpoint for sure why the tradition of head covering in the churches faded away, but as the questioner proposes, it does seem to point to the era around the last century and the "women's lib movement". Others seem to not care when it did pass away, but are content that it did. Some interesting thoughts in places, if you care to peruse the pages of forum postings.

"Hijab controversy: Kids also face persecution"

Found in the Nigerian Vanguard: "Hijab controversy: Kids also face persecution"

 "As a demonstration of modesty and obedience to Allah, Muslim girls and women wear head coverings called “hijabs,” particularly when in public. Q24:30–31. For Muslims, wearing a headscarf is not only about religious expression, it is strictly religious obligation; and if the constitution freely provides for freedom to exercise one’s faith according to section 38 (1) of the 1999 constitution, then where lies the tolerance so claimed by non-Muslims?"

The article deals with the problem of girls who suffer for wearing a Muslim style head covering, in Lagos, Nigeria. A teenaged girl who wore a headscarf was apparently beaten by her female principal in front of a special assembly called in the school, as reported by one student observer:

“The principal addressed us and warned that if we didn’t stop putting on religious outfit during the school hours, we were going to get into trouble. She subsequently called on Aisha and gave her about 43 lashes. Some of us started crying on the assembly. Her body was covered with marks of the cane. The principal had warned us before, but that day was more serious,” she said.

Making a rule against wearing a headscarf, and then publicly flogging a young woman for supposedly rebelling against authority, is just unjustifiable in any country, religious or not. According to one account in the article, the crime is blamed on the non-religious of the area, those who have lost a faith they once held. Regardless, this is just not acceptable human behaviour, and only a few small steps behind those who would deny a young woman or girl her education simply because she chooses to honor her faith and her family by covering her head in public. May those who have been persecuted for their faith in other places and ways understand.

Headcovering Should Be a Choice

I've been reorganizing the blog and checking on links, while keeping up with the news about headcoverings and headscarves (see the links to news in the right column). I came across this explanation and summary of headcovering in The Catholic Knight. This is what I think:

photo from Catholic Knight

The authentic Catholic reason for wearing the chapel veil is the Biblical reason. It's just something that all Christian women (regardless of denomination) are supposed to do, not because they have to, but because they're supposed to want to. The Catholic Church has decided to no longer enforce this Biblical custom through Canon Law, and in doing so, the Church is saying it does not want to be our nanny. The chapel veil is a custom for women to do voluntarily, because they want to, not because they are being forced to. The idea is that women are to read what the Scriptures have to say, and be convicted according to what is contained therein. In order for a chapel veil to be an authentic sign of humility and holiness, it must be voluntary. Indeed, Christian women are supposed to wear one, but it is never to be forced.

What do you think? Does this reasoning apply to all women who wish to cover, regardless of denomination or religion?

Facebook Headcovering Pages

Karen Orr has contacted me before and just again, to let us know of her small but apparently active home business for modest dresses and headcoverings. You can find her at the Modest dresses & HeadCovering Shop at Facebook. I think that if you are interested in her goods, you should send her a private message, since she doesn't have an outside website shown here.

Even on social sites like Facebook, keep your eyes open, and search where you can.

Other head covering websites with pages on Facebook include:

• Inspirational HeadCoverings - "creates fashion forward scarves for women who have lost their hair due to medical treatments. Please visit our website at www.InspirationalHeadCoverings.com."
• Headcoverings by Devorah - where modesty doesn't have to mean frumpy! You can find Devorah's website at  Headcoverings by Devorah.
• Heavenly Headcoverings - with a personal Etsy website also -  http://www.etsy.com/shop/lindaward1?ref=si_shop
• Headcovers.com - that wonderful website that provides such stylish headcovers for those who have had to deal with hair loss, also at Headcovers.com. 
• And there are about a billion (yes I am exaggerating) listings that come up when I type "hijab store" into the Facebook search feature.

Have fun exploring the internet through whatever source you are able to use. But, as always, be aware of stumbling across creepy sites.

Sale: Pre-Tied Bandanas, Snoods, Hats, Berets, Headbands, Hair Accessories

And now for a commercial . . . ;)

Pre-Tied Bandanas, Snoods, Hats, Berets, Headbands, Hair Accessories Handbags, Costume Jewelry - MyHeadcoverings.com

Please also read this great article about this website and its relation to the explosion of variety in head and hair covering styles:  The Yeshiva World

The Guardian lifts the veil on London's stylish hijabs - photos

Lifting the veil on London's stylish hijab wearers | Life and style | The Guardian

"Iranian-born photographer Sara Shamsavari's colourful portraits celebrate the individuality and creativity of the capital's young Muslim women"

Colourful article with link to an online gallery of photos taken by the photographer. Part of International Women's Day: Women of the World Festival, 6—10 March 2013.  Photos here by Sara Shamsavari are from the online gallery in the Guardian.

"The project, she admits, was inspired by her own experience growing up in London in the 80s and 90s. Despite her blue eyes and fair skin, Shamsavari's Iranian background meant she became accustomed to name calling. Yet this prejudice only fed her desire to focus on what she calls "uncelebrated communities" in her work. "With all depictions of ethnic minorities there is too much negativity and too many cliches and stereotypes. I wanted to do something that was the opposite." "

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Side note to Christian, Jewish and other head covering wearers: are there any galleries like this for the rest of us? 

"highest level of thought and civilization"

Tawakkul Karman of Yemen, Nobel Laureate

I have seen this quote by Nobel Prize winner, Tawakkul Karman, of Yemen, many times on the internet, but I have not been able to place a definite time or interview with it. If you have the link to a transcript of the interview, I would like to post it here as well; please comment. The quote referring to modesty in clothing as opposed to early man who wore almost no clothing:

"When asked about her hijab by journalists and how it is not proportionate with her level of intellect and education, she replied, “Man in the early times was almost naked, and as his intellect evolved he started wearing clothes. What I am today and what I’m wearing represents the highest level of thought and civilization that man has achieved, and is not regressive. It’s the removal of clothes again that is regressive back to ancient TIMES.”"