Subject: [Masjid Tucson] Submission weekly reminder

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

After polygamy, probably the thing that most Westerners "know" about Muslim women is that they are covered so only their faces are ever seen in public. Traditional Muslims often use the term hijab. A more generic term is "veiling". A veil, or hijab, always covers the hair, and in some cases part or all of the face. However, this isn't a Quranic dress requirement. The minimum requirements for a woman's dress is to lengthen her garment (Quran 33:59) and to cover her chest.

     Dress Code for Believers*
[Quran 24:30-31] Tell the believing men that they shall subdue their eyes (and not stare at the women), and to maintain their chastity. This is purer for them. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything they do. And tell the believing women to subdue their eyes, and maintain their chastity. They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies, except that which is necessary. They shall cover their chests, and shall not relax this code in the presence of other than their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, the sons of their husbands, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, other women, the male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been nullified, or the children who have not reached puberty. They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies. All of you shall repent to GOD, O you believers, that you may succeed.*

*24:30-31 Dressing modestly, therefore, is a trait of the believing men and women. The minimum requirements for a woman's dress is to lengthen her garment (33:59) and to cover her chest. Tyrannical Arab traditions have given a false impression that a woman must be covered from head to toe; such is not a Quranic or Islamic dress.


     Dress Code for Women
[Quran 33:59] O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers that they shall lengthen their garments. Thus, they will be recognized (as righteous women) and avoid being insulted. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.


May God help us observe His commandments and avoid innovations.

References:
Women's Rights, the Quran and Islam (Chapter 5, Veiling), http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/womensrights/
The Woman's hair, http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/1987/jun/page3.html
Dress Code for Women based on Quran, http://www.masjidtucson.org/submission/perspectives/women/dresscode.html
Women: Dress Code, http://www.masjidtucson.org/submission/perspectives/women/

Peace.