Koran teachings

What does the Koran say? The Koran and the Hadith (discussed in the next section) are the references that most people give to explain why Muslims BELIEVE the head coverings are required. The following is one of the verses from the Koran of primary reference (Yusif Ali translation):

24:31 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 thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves 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 ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.

Waqul lilmuminati yaghdudna min absarihinna wayahfathna furoojahunna wala yubdeena zeenatahunna illa ma thahara minha walyadribna bikhumurihinna AAala juyoobihinna wala yubdeena zeenatahunna illa libuAAoolatihinna aw abaihinna aw abai buAAoolatihinna aw abnaihinna aw abnai buAAoolatihinna aw ikhwanihinna aw banee ikhwanihinna aw banee akhawatihinna aw nisaihinna aw ma malakat aymanuhunna awi attabiAAeena ghayri olee alirbati mina arrijali awi attifli allatheena lam yathharoo AAala AAawrati annisai wala yadribna biarjulihinna liyuAAlama ma yukhfeena min zeenatihinna watooboo ila Allahi jameeAAan ayyuha almuminoona laAAallakum tuflihoon

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُوْلِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاء وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

This verse begins with a sentence that states that “ women should lower their gaze and guard their ‘modesty’.” This verse can be taken literally and it can be taken allegorically. The original Arabic uses the word “foo-rooj” which means “private parts” rather than “modesty”. So the literal translation is that a woman’s private parts should be guarded or covered. The author of the above translation probably doesn’t use the term “private parts” because that term itself is not what is important, rather the term modesty is important in the context of the whole verse as we will see. The next portion of the verse reads “they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof.” This is very important in the context of this article and it essentially means that one should be modest in appearance but should not go out of their way to conceal what naturally stands out. A pretty face is a feature that naturally stands out. In which case it can be interpreted, that you do not need to cover the face by wearing a nikab. Continuing on, the next portion of the verse states, “ they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty.” This sentence of the verse is specifically talking about a woman’s chest region. During the time of the prophet, a woman’s attire consisted of the “kimur” (a head scarf) and a “jilbab”. The jilbab was a piece of clothing that covered the chest area but still revealed cleavage. It was a loose article of clothing that either stopped at the wasteline or ran the length of the body. So what this sentence is trying to convey is that the kimur should be drawn over the chest area in order to render the exposed region of the jilbab, the cleavage, to be covered. The next part of the verse describes the maharam, which was defined earlier in the article. The part of the verse after this sentence is also very important. This part definitely reveals that the Koran is not necessarily literal but quite allegorical. This part states that “… they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments”. At the time of the prophet, women wore anklets that would jingle and draw attention to themselves. In modern times women don’t generally wear anklets and stomp their feet for attention. They do various other things such as wear makeup or dress in a manner that is more sexually explicit.

Combining the above, the verse is conveying that women should not do something that would draw sexual attention to themselves. It is “sexual attention” because the verse is about covering ones private parts and bosom, hence one can draw the conclusion that the attention being referred to is sexual. The verse is stating that women should be modest and not enhance their natural features for the purpose of drawing sexual attention. In this verse there is no indication that the face must be covered. This inference can not be drawn literally or allegorically.

When reviewing any work from the Koran one should go to various sources to find the truth behind what is written. For example, the translation by M. Picktall, reads verse 24:31 as:

24:31 And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigor, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.

This translation is essentially the same as the first. There are only a few words that are different. The allegory is a little clearer in this translation.

Interestingly enough, the verse preceding verse 24:31 states that men should also be modest and should not reveal their private parts. It reads,

24:30 Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.

Qul lilmumineena yaghuddoo min absarihum wayahfathoo furoojahum thalika azka lahum inna Allaha khabeerun bima yasnaAAoon

قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ

It is important to realize that this verse emphasizes the male/female equality that Islam protects. This is significant because at the time of the prophet women were not equals, yet the emergence of Islam granted women equality by making references such as these.

Now let’s take a look at a Koran officially sanctioned from Saudi Arabia. Here is the translation,

24:31 And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s sons or their brothers or their brother’s sons, their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigor, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.

Notice how the writing in latter translation is written to emphasize that covering of the face is required while the earlier translations emphasize modesty is required. It is key to recognize that the word, “eyes, outer palms, gloves, etc.” are not literally written. They are all man made inferences, from the man made Hadiths. In analyzing this topic, one must remember that the Muslim society has always been dominated by males. One must also examine the purpose of the Koran in relation to women, equality, oppression, community, and its general purpose. This examination is performed below in the Analysis section.

Associated with this verse is a footnote explaining where the parts in parenthesis are coming from. They are references taken from the Hadith, which “enlighten” us on the meaning of the Koran.

Narrated Safiyyah bint Shaibah: Aishah used to say: ‘When the Verse: “And to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks, and bosoms)” (V.24:31) was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their heads and faces with those cut pieces of cloth.’ (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol 6, Hadith No. 282).

Interestingly enough, this same Hadith is also translated from a different source below but the “face” is left out in one spot and head is left out in another spot.

Volume 6, Book 60, Number 282:

Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba: 'Aisha used to say: "When (the Verse): "They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms," was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces."

This causes us to examine what Juyubihinna is referring to. There are differing views on what the exact definition of Juyubihinna is, especially the definition during the time of the Prophet. The differences concern what portion of the body the word is referring to. Some say that it is the torso and others say that it is the torso but includes the neck, head, and face. I cannot support or argue against this because there is no definitive proof for either side of the argument. Hence I will later use more definitive arguments to support my conclusions.

Proponents of the nikab claim that verse 33:59 is the “fate sealing” verse which declares that women should be completely covered in public.

33:59 O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Ya ayyuha annabiyyu qul liazwajika wabanatika wanisai almumineena yudneena AAalayhinna min jalabeebihinna thalika adna an yuAArafna fala yuthayna wakana Allahu ghafooran raheema

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

Lets examine the first part of this verse which reads, “…. cast their outer garments over their persons”. “Persons” is referring to the body. The literal translation is referring to the jilbab and does not reference the face and additionally there is no mention of the kimur in this verse. The “modern day” jilbab covers the neck and the chest region which is sufficient to satisfy this requirement. What is very interesting is the next portion of the sentence “…. they should be known (as such) and not molested”. This essentially gets to the bottom of the idea, which is that when one is modest in appearance, the people (men) will realize that she is trying to be modest and therefore will leave her alone and not molest her. Said another way, the outfit (of the jilbab with the chest region covered) is to be a sign of a pure woman and when people are to see this woman they should have respect (i.e. she is a believing women). As a comparison of this, the nuns and Mennonites follow this practice in the US, and men are less likely to make advances towards these women. The last line is of importance here, “ Allah is oft-forgiving, most merciful”. That brings the human factor into this, which is that Allah knows that we, as humans, will make mistakes but that as long as we don’t intentionally do something bad (such as attract sexual attention) we are following the right path to heaven. The verses that come after 33:59 (verses 33:60 to 33:68) talk about non-Muslims that are living in a Muslim society so when verse 33:59 says to let them know you are a pure woman, it is talking about letting the non-Muslims know that you are pure, you are not trying to send out sexual messages, and will not tolerate harassment.

Again, when reviewing any work from the Koran one should go to various sources to find the truth behind what is written. Here is an example that is radically different, the translation by Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, reads verse 33:59 as:

O Prophet, direct thy wives and daughters and the women of the believers that they should pull down their outer cloaks from their head over their faces. This will make it possible for them to be distinguished so that they will not be molested. Allah is Most Forgiving and Ever Merciful.

This version is a little harsh and distinctly says to cover the face which is not in other translations that I have read nor is that wording a literal translation from the Arabic text. If you were to look at the context of the entire verse rather than individual sentences, the key for the reader is not to understand the details of covering but the prevention of molestation.

Here is another translation of the same verse by Ahmed Ali:

33:59 O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and the women of the faithful, to draw their wraps a little over them. They will thus be recognized and no harm will come to them. God is forgiving and kind.

The contrast between the three translations indicates that one needs to definitely read various translations before drawing conclusions because the interpretations can be different. But even in this translation the key for the reader is not to understand the details of the covering but the prevention of harm.

Here is the translation that Saudi Arabia puts in its official version of the Koran. Notice how the meaning is similar to the ones above but used in a manner that is oppressive to women.

33:59 O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And allah is Ever Ott-Forgiving, Most Mericful.

There is no mention of covering of the eyes in the literal translation. This is inference taken from a Hadith. By adding “as free respectable women”, it even makes it seem like it is doing the women a favor, which if they don’t follow, they are not “respectable”. Also, notice how the emphasis is taken away from “prevention of molestation” and put more towards “covering the body”.

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