The Virgin Mary, Hijab and the Muslim Woman.

Bismillah ir rahman ir raheem,

As salamu 'alikum wr wb (May the Peace, Mercy of Allah and Blessings be upon you)

The Virgin Mary, Hijab and the Muslim Woman.

Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. (1 Corinthians 11:4-16)


I found this very interesting site about the Head Covering Through the Centuries (With an Emphasis on Western Culture and Europe)

http://www.scrollpublishing.com/store/head-covering-history.html

The clearest verse on the requirement of the hijab is (Holy Qur'an chapter 24:30–31,) asking women to draw their khimar over their bosoms.

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 khimar over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to [...] (Holy Qur'an chapter 24 verse 31)

In the following verse, Muslim women are asked to draw their jilbab over them (when they go out), as a measure to distinguish themselves from others, so that they are not harassed. (Holy Qur'an chapter 33:59) reads:

Those who harass believing men and believing women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a grievous sin. O Prophet! Enjoin your wives, your daughters, and the wives of true believers that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): That is most convenient, that they may be distinguished and not be harassed. [...] (Holy Qur'an chapter 33:58-59)

In Islam there is a veil (covering) between us and the creator-Allah.
There is a veil (covering) between us and the angels. This is all due to their own sacredness and beauty.

In Mecca there is a covering over the Kab'ah -due to it's own station in Islam. The more dominant opinion followed (besides wearing a face veil -the niqaab) is what you see most of the women here doing. The focus is on the face and not upon the body.

In Islam the Prophet Muhammed (saw) said "Who ever has no shame let them do what they want". In Islam motherhood is extolled and the word for shyness "Hayyah" also is from the same root word that means life.

It as if those women who have no shyness have no life, or no life with in them. Modesty is a virtue in Islam. The woman's beauty is in her shyness.

Islam is a conservative faith. Women are teachers, doctors, lawyers, teachers of religion, nurses, technicians. Women are our mothers, sisters, daughters and wives.

A man came to the Prophet Muhammad and complained that his mother was very ill tempered.

Muhammad said, "She was not ill tempered when she kept you in her womb for nine months."

The man insisted, "O messenger of Allah, I am telling you the truth that she is very ill-tempered."

Muhammad said, "She was not ill-tempered when she used to keep awake the whole night for your sake and feed you."

The man said: "I have recompensed all these favors of my mother".

Muhammad then asked, "How have you recompensed her?"

The man replied "I have helped her perform pilgrim by putting her on my shoulders".

Muhammad said, "Can you also recompense the painful pangs which your mother had at the time of your birth?"

In a very clear narration the Prophet Mohammed said,

"Paradise lies at the feet of mothers"

This Hadith urges us to cherish and respect the mothers and it shows that pleasing the mothers will serve us and save us in the hereafter.

A young man once came to the Prophet Muhammad and sought his advice about taking part in the Holy War with him.

Muhammad asked him whether his mother was alive.

The man answered: yes

Muhammad then told him. "Go back home and serve her as if heaven was under her feet."

It was narrated that a man came to the Prophet Muhammad and asked him, "Who amongst my near one had the greatest right over me?"

Muhammad replied, "Your mother".

The man then asked, "Who after that?"

The Prophet replied again, "Your mother".

The man then asked, who is next,

The Prophet again replied, "Your mother".

The man then asked, who after that,

The Prophet said, "Your father".

This Hadith illustrates that a mother deserves service, love, submission, obedience and gratitude from the children more than the father. This is because a mother generally makes more sacrifices and endures greater hardships than a father while bringing up the children. She feeds them and takes care of them by sacrificing her comforts in the day and her sleep in the night without any greed or compulsion but only out of sheer love and affection.

This is the reason why this Hadith has given more importance to the mother and stressed upon the children to be more considerate and submissive to her in comparison with the father.

The right of the mother to be served and treated nicely is three times greater than that of the father, for she renders three important services to her children which cannot be done by the father. The mother bears the burden of the child during pregnancy, stands the pains of delivery, and then feeds the child from her breasts."

"When the wife of Imran said:

'O my Lord! I have vowed to You what is in my womb [my child] to be dedicated to Your services, so accept this [my vow] from me. Verily, All-Hearer, the All-Knowing.' Then we she delivered her she said:

'O my Lord! I have delivered a female child' - and Allah knew better what she delivered - 'And the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam and I seek refuge with You for her and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast.' " (Holy Quran chapter 3:35-36)

"So her Lord accepted her [Maryam] with good acceptance." (Holy Quran chapter 3:37).

"And mention in the Book, Maryam [i.e. mention, O Mohammed, in the Quran the story of Mary], when she withdrew from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen from them; then We sent to her our angel (Jibrael, or Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in full human form. She said:

'I seek refuge with The Most Beneficent [God] from you, if you do fear Him.' (The angel) said:

'I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.' She said:

'How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?' He (the angel) said:

'So (it will be), your Lord said: 'That is easy for Me: And to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (from God)', and it is a matter (already) decreed (by God).' " ( Holy Quran chapter 19:16-21)

For some fascinating information on why the Qur'an drawls attention to Mary's Levite lineage (Oh Sister of Aaron) you would do well to read the two part series here:

http://www.acommonword.net/2010/05/jesus-and-mary-in-quran-christian.html (part 1)

http://www.acommonword.net/2010/05/jesus-and-mary-in-quran-christian_11.html (part 2)