Hijab and Niqab
Last Updated on Saturday, 28 February 2009 07:22
Perhaps the most distinctive (and for some, controversial) aspect as far as women's appearance is concerned is the requirement for hijab. This is covering up the body in public so that only the face and hands are visible. Only the women's husband and those who are mahram (forbidden to marry her - other women, and immediate male family members such as parents, brothers and sons) are allowed to see her without hijab.
The whole point of hijab is to protect a woman's modesty. Therefore, her clothes should not be tight so as to reveal the shape of the body, nor should it be transparent or in any way see-through.
A lot of muslim women, mainly from arab countries, wear a veil completely covering the face and gloves covering the hands and forearms (niqab). Some muslims regard this as obligatory, whereas most (myself included) see this as a matter of choice. I would only recommend this for sisters whose looks attract a lot of male attention and feel more comfortable wearing this.
Opponents of Islam often put across the argument that the requirement for hijab is oppressive and forces women into being second-class citizens. However, the truth is that it is completely the opposite, as this helps to protect women from men's roving eyes (after all, it is a natural tendency for men to look lustfully at attractive women).
Other Points about Female Appearance
- Make Up - this should not be worn outside the home.
- Hair Colouring - this can be used, but only to enhance natural hair colour, especially if grey hairs are starting to appear.
- Piercing - it is only permitted to pierce the ears or side of the nose, all other body piercing should be considered haram.
- Jewellery - as with make-up, jewellery should only be worn in moderation. Jewellery shouldn't be too big or obvious. There is no restriction for women on what materials can be used.
- Perfume - again, this can be used in moderation. It shouldn't be too strong or used excessively so as to be noticed by others. It should be avoided outside the home, and especially when going to the mosque. Ideally, perfume should only be used to cover body odours in areas such as the armpits and, during menstruation, the lower body.
- Unlike men, women aren't restricted with regards to what fabrics or materials can be worn.
Authored by Amir Brook. Taken from his good website
http://www.bahagia.btinternet.co.uk