Regarding the Etiquette of Interaction Between Men and Women

This term "Shari`ah" or Islamic Law seems to be thrown around very loosely. What is termed as Shari`ah is but a set of laws established by jurist based on the Qur'an and Sunnah. The Sunnah part has its source in hadith literature. The Different Shari`ah schools differ on different points in degrees, but in principle they "USUALLY" agree. To say that no one has the right to make their "OWN" Shari`ah would be going too far. Are only the four Jurist allowed to interpret Qur’anic injunctions? Who said so, did Allah say so? If your "OWN" laws are based on Sunnah (secondly) and Qur'an (primarily) it is SHARI`AH.

The Ayahs that refer to the Khimar refer to the woman covering her bosom (breasts). Then it further states that women are not to make sudden jerky like movements that bring attention to the breasts. Thus, the intent is the breasts not being exposed. Thus, the use of the Khimar is to be used to cover the breasts for modesty. The Ayah does not state” it’s fard for women to wear a Khimar". It just tells them to wear it over the bosom. The Khimar was a common ARAB headpiece that both women and men wore. Thus, special attention to women's Khimar was revealed in the Qur'an due to her having breasts. The Qur'an thus states for her to cover her goods (private parts--i.e. breasts). The Khimar is not obligatory, but the covering of breasts is obligatory. MOST Muslim women do not pull over the khimar over the breasts. The fact that they are modest and their bosoms are covered makes them Halal. If they put on a headscarf, and their bosom is exposed they are Haram. If the opposite is true, they would not be in violation, that is the bosom is covered and the head scarf missing. If they have both the headscarf and bosom covered, that's okay too. Nevertheless, because the Ummah has accepted the wearing of the HIJAB, it would be wise to wear one.

Now, when I make such a statement as above. They will pull out the hadith about Muhammad (SWAT) making a hand gesture to the hands and face referring to that, which should be seen in a woman. HOWEVER, what was the context? The young woman came to the prophet wearing clothes through which the prophet (PBUH) could see her goods (body). He stated that when a woman reaches the age of maturity, only see the face and hands should be visible. Remember, Arabs already were wearing the KHIMAR. He was addressing her goods (BOSOM) being covered. The Khimar was worn by men and women ARABS before Muhammad (PBUH) was born. Were they modest during the days of Ignorance? The answer is no. This whole Hijab or Khimar issue is but a power and control thing. It represents Arab Imperialistic ambitions. Allah made us DIFFERENT nations and tribe so that we may know each other. What is there to know if we all looked like ARABS? There is NO compulsion in religion.

Reply

I would first like to clarify that the word “Shari`ah” does not refer to the set of laws established by any jurists, on the contrary, it refers to the directives of the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). The set of laws established by the Muslim jurists is generally known as “Fiqh”. Thus, no one can be stopped from making derivations from the directives of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, yet these derivations may be termed as his “fiqh” but not the Islamic Shari`ah. In other words, the Islamic Shari`ah is restricted to the directives given in the Qur’an or the Sunnah.

I agree with you that the directive of the Qur’an for women is to spread their head coverings over their bosoms and that Khimar is only referred to because that was the normal head covering for the Arab woman. However, I tend to disagree with you that the intent in giving this directive is “the breasts, not being exposed”. The Qur’an has itself clearly stated that the intent, for which the particular directive of spreading the head covering over the bosom is given, is to hide any ornaments that a woman might be wearing on her neck and chest. Adequately covering the breasts is obviously included in the preceding part of the verse, which directs women to guard their private parts. For a better understanding of the referred verse, let us look at its translation. The Qur’an says:

“O Prophet, tell these believing women [that when they interact in a mixed gathering] to turn their eyes away from temptation, to guard their private parts and not to display their adornments, except such as are normally visible; and [for this purpose,] they should spread their head coverings over their bosoms; and that they should display their adornments except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband’s fathers, their sons, their step-sons, their brothers, their brother’s sons, their sister’s sons, their women servants and their slave girls; male attendants lacking in natural vigor and children who have no carnal knowledge of women. Moreover, they should not stamp their feet while walking so as to bring to attention their hidden ornaments.” (Al-Noor 24: 31)

It should be quite clear from the above translation that the directives of the Qur’an regarding spreading of the head cover over the chest, and to avoid stamping of feet in their gait, are actually related to the avoidance of showing off their ornaments.

You state:

“Nevertheless, because the Ummah has accepted the wearing of the HIJAB, it would be wise to wear one.”

I would have no objections on anyone’s wearing a hijab as a social tradition. In other words, if the Muslim ummah has accepted the wearing of the hijab as a social tradition, I would not object to it, if no woman is forced to abide by this tradition in the name of religion. However, you know as well as I do, that this is not the case. Wearing of the hijab is promoted and taught as a religious directive rather than a social tradition. Under these circumstances, it becomes an obligation for all those knowledgeable of Islam to clarify the situation and to inform people of the fact that wearing a hijab is not a part of the Islamic Shari`ah.

In the end, I would like to add that Islam wants to promote Hayaa as a basic value in its social structure. Hayaa, over here refers to: “the suppression of sexual behavior within certain limits and the avoidance of instigating sexual attraction beyond those limits”. According to the Qur’an, Hayaa is one of the primary values, which, besides a few other values, provides the basis for not only moral behavior, but also a sound society. According to the Qur’an, Hayaa was the primary value that induced man to invent clothes to cover his private parts. The Qur’an, while referring to the incident that took place between Adam and Eve, says:

“And when they had eaten of the prohibited tree, their private parts became apparent to them and they started covering themselves with the leaves of the garden.” (Al-A`raaf 7: 22)

As in the case of all other basic moral values, abiding by the value of Hayaa, according to the Qur’an, helps in purifying and cleansing one’s self.

The referred directives of Surah Noor (verse 27 to verse 31), obviously, are also based on the primary value of Hayaa. The Qur’an, in the referred verses has directed Muslim men and women to keep this basic value in mind while interacting with each other. In this connection, the Qur’an has given the minimum standard for the etiquette that should be observed in this interaction. The directives given in these verses are:

1-       When entering a place of someone’s residence, Muslim men and women should first seek permission for entrance. They should enter the house only if they are granted permission.

2-       When sitting in a mixed gathering, both the Muslim men as well as women should not try to lure someone from the opposite sex with their gazes. In other words, they should avoid staring at each other in a suggestive way.

3-       While in a mixed gathering, both the Muslim men and women should wear dresses that adequately cover their private parts. Any dress that is revealing or that may in any way arouse sexual thoughts in the minds of any member of the opposite sex should be avoided.

4-       While in such a gathering, women should avoid displaying their apparels and ornaments that they normally wear. This directive does not apply to those adornments, which are normally visible. On the contrary, this directive enjoins women to avoid displaying their adornments.

In my opinion, in this case, as in many other cases, the Qur’an has given the minimum standard, which must be followed under all circumstances. On the other hand, the saying ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) that you have referred to in which he is reported to have advised Asma (ra) about her dress, gives us an excellent idea of the Prophet (pbuh)’s teachings in this respect. The basic idea of the Prophet (pbuh)’s advice was that when a woman truly abides by the value of Hayaa she would completely avoid exposing even a slightest part of her body to catch the eyes of any member of the opposite sex. Thus, such a woman would keep all parts of her body, except her face and the palms of her hands, covered. The emphasis here, it must be remembered, is on exposing any part of one’s body with the intention of attracting a member of the opposite sex. This advice is neither a part of the Islamic law, nor does it hinder a woman from exposing any part of her body for any other purpose, for instance tucking up her sleeves while working, or exposing any part of her body while getting a medical check-up. If seen in the correct perspective, we shall see that although this advice was addressed to a woman, yet the basic spirit of this advice does not allow us to restrict it to women only.

Thus, even though I agree with you that the style of dressing can and will vary from one nation to another, yet individuals who have inculcated in themselves the basic value of Hayaa, shall avoid exposing any parts of their bodies with the intention of catching the eyes of any member of the opposite sex.

I hope this helps. In case any aspect remains unclear, please feel free in writing back to me at your convenience.

May Allah grant us all true understanding of His guidance.

Regards