One of the most visible and politically controversial aspects of Islam is the wearing of the veil. The veil comes in a variety of forms and styles, but is typically known as Hijab when it covers the primarily only the hair and Jilbab when it descends further near the waist. The general, though
not universally-held belief among many Muslims is that Hijab is fard (“FURD”) or required of all women starting a puberty. Depending on one’s culture, one’s family, one’s choice, or occasionally law, this may mean different styles of Hijab such as Burka or Niqab (loose full body coverings with either slits for the eyes or a screen over the eyes), chador, and several others. Muslims universally agree that the Qur'an commands modesty, but disagree on what exactly modesty means. Some suggest that modesty means simply dressing conservatively, many others suggest that modesty means covering one's hair, and still others suggest that modesty means covering everthing except one's hands, one's face and one's feet. One could continue this spectrum of modesty until one arrives at Birka or Niqab.
not universally-held belief among many Muslims is that Hijab is fard (“FURD”) or required of all women starting a puberty. Depending on one’s culture, one’s family, one’s choice, or occasionally law, this may mean different styles of Hijab such as Burka or Niqab (loose full body coverings with either slits for the eyes or a screen over the eyes), chador, and several others. Muslims universally agree that the Qur'an commands modesty, but disagree on what exactly modesty means. Some suggest that modesty means simply dressing conservatively, many others suggest that modesty means covering one's hair, and still others suggest that modesty means covering everthing except one's hands, one's face and one's feet. One could continue this spectrum of modesty until one arrives at Birka or Niqab.
In the United States, women and girls (at least those I have spoken to) have considerable freedom with respect to the hijab. Though all women must wear hijab at masjid (or mosque), many do not wear hijab at any other time. Others, because of personal choice or sometimes family insistence do wear the hijab whenever they are in the presence of males who are not specific relatives (i.e. see quote at the end of the post--fathers, husbands, sons etc.).
Indonesia has a population of 250 million of which 87% are Muslim. Though not an Islamic state (it is a religious state recognizing six monotheistic religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Protestant Christianity, Catholicism, Confucianism and Islam), many women wear the hijab. Scholarship on the subject generally falls into two camps: one camp suggesting the Hijab is the result of a relatively recent Arab influence and another which suggests that Islam in Indonesia is hybrid that
combines indigenous traditions with Islam. As a guy who is willing to ask a lot of question, I found a diverse set of beliefs and practices surrounding the hijab. First, unlike I have found in the United States, some girls (primarily those in their teens and early twenties) wear hijab almost as a one would wear a scarf or pair of shoes. When hijab matches one’s outfit, or one’s whim, it is worn. When it doesn’t, girls feel free to not wear hijab. For this reason, there are many many different colors and styles of hijab. Styles seem to cater to age but fashion seems to be a high priority. This view of wearing the hijab was reported primarily in Jakarta, Indonesia’s largest and most progressive cities. Where this view of hijab was reported, women tend to younger and their mothers and grandmothers did not wear the hijab, though this is not always the case.
A smaller number of women reported that hijab is fard and that it they wear hijab at all times it is required and that once they began wearing it,they continued to wear it. Women who held this view almost always had mothers who wore the hijab and tend to view the wearing of hijab as a religious obligation.
combines indigenous traditions with Islam. As a guy who is willing to ask a lot of question, I found a diverse set of beliefs and practices surrounding the hijab. First, unlike I have found in the United States, some girls (primarily those in their teens and early twenties) wear hijab almost as a one would wear a scarf or pair of shoes. When hijab matches one’s outfit, or one’s whim, it is worn. When it doesn’t, girls feel free to not wear hijab. For this reason, there are many many different colors and styles of hijab. Styles seem to cater to age but fashion seems to be a high priority. This view of wearing the hijab was reported primarily in Jakarta, Indonesia’s largest and most progressive cities. Where this view of hijab was reported, women tend to younger and their mothers and grandmothers did not wear the hijab, though this is not always the case.
A smaller number of women reported that hijab is fard and that it they wear hijab at all times it is required and that once they began wearing it,they continued to wear it. Women who held this view almost always had mothers who wore the hijab and tend to view the wearing of hijab as a religious obligation.
Overall, roughly 50% of girls I have observed in various Indonesian contexts wear hijab. So far, I have observed six schools. These schools have included two public Islamic schools (there are also private Islamic schools) and four public schools. Both had about half of the population that wore hijab. A larger percentage of teachers wear hijab, though they too do not universally wear it. In general, hijab is widely viewed as choice, and only on one occasion have I encountered the view
that all women should be wearing hijab. For the most part, the wearing of the hijab all of the time, some of the time, or never is a personal choice that most people care little about. I suppose, the view of hijab, is not unlike shorts for boys at NCHS—some wear them every day, some never, some when they feel like it. Fashion and comfort is the driving concern.
that all women should be wearing hijab. For the most part, the wearing of the hijab all of the time, some of the time, or never is a personal choice that most people care little about. I suppose, the view of hijab, is not unlike shorts for boys at NCHS—some wear them every day, some never, some when they feel like it. Fashion and comfort is the driving concern.
Quotes from the Qur'an regarding Hijab:
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and
ornaments except what must ordinarily appear therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (Quran 33:5)
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and
ornaments except what must ordinarily appear therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (Quran 33:5)