Hijab (Follow Up: While Praying)
Question:
Assalaamualaikum,
Thank you very for answering my questions so far. I have one more with regard to this topic.
If headscarf is not obligatory (apart from the conditions discussed in surah Noor), why is it necessary for Salah? The Salah is nullified for women if they don't cover their hair but not for Men. How can it be that for one gender the sign of respect is to cover hair and for the other if is not ?
Answer:
Assalamu Alaykum,
If you look at the books of Feqh you will find that normally there are no separate sections about the women's Hijab during and outwith prayers. In the subject of obligatory coverage for women and men, overall, the jurists have used the same evidences for both conditions (i.e. during and outwith prayers). Whatever that was discussed and concluded, based on the directives of the Qur'an, about the conditions of covering head outwith prayers also applies to the time of prayers.
There are however two points that I would like to add:
1.You have a point there when you refer to wearing Hijab as 'a sign of respect' during prayers. This however is not really in the category of religious obligations, it is in the category of manners and etiquette. When we pray we are standing formally in front of the Almighty. It is understandable that we would like to dress respectfully and appropriately for this occasion. In a culture where wearing head scarf is considered as wearing respectfully and appropriately, it is a very appropriate manner that a woman wears it during prayers. This can equally apply to men in a culture where wearing a head covering (Turban) for men is considered as wearing respectfully and appropriately.
2. Please note that while I do not cosnider covering head to be an obligation for women, I do cosnider it to be a good thing to do if the intention is to attain more purification, just as men may like to cover parts of their body for the same reason.
This will be even more applicable in the occasion of praying.
Obviously both the above points are within the domain of personal choice.
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Related Topics:
- Implication of the Word Khimar for HIjab
- Hijab (Follow Up: Verse 33:59)
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June 2013
Assalaamualaikum,
Thank you very for answering my questions so far. I have one more with regard to this topic.
If headscarf is not obligatory (apart from the conditions discussed in surah Noor), why is it necessary for Salah? The Salah is nullified for women if they don't cover their hair but not for Men. How can it be that for one gender the sign of respect is to cover hair and for the other if is not ?
Answer:
Assalamu Alaykum,
If you look at the books of Feqh you will find that normally there are no separate sections about the women's Hijab during and outwith prayers. In the subject of obligatory coverage for women and men, overall, the jurists have used the same evidences for both conditions (i.e. during and outwith prayers). Whatever that was discussed and concluded, based on the directives of the Qur'an, about the conditions of covering head outwith prayers also applies to the time of prayers.
There are however two points that I would like to add:
1.You have a point there when you refer to wearing Hijab as 'a sign of respect' during prayers. This however is not really in the category of religious obligations, it is in the category of manners and etiquette. When we pray we are standing formally in front of the Almighty. It is understandable that we would like to dress respectfully and appropriately for this occasion. In a culture where wearing head scarf is considered as wearing respectfully and appropriately, it is a very appropriate manner that a woman wears it during prayers. This can equally apply to men in a culture where wearing a head covering (Turban) for men is considered as wearing respectfully and appropriately.
2. Please note that while I do not cosnider covering head to be an obligation for women, I do cosnider it to be a good thing to do if the intention is to attain more purification, just as men may like to cover parts of their body for the same reason.
This will be even more applicable in the occasion of praying.
Obviously both the above points are within the domain of personal choice.
----------------------
Related Topics:
- Implication of the Word Khimar for HIjab
- Hijab (Follow Up: Verse 33:59)
------------
June 2013
