Why Muslim Women Cover Their Hair
Muslim women cover their hair for a variety of reasons, some religious and some secular. Each individual woman has her own reason for choosing to cover her hair.
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Rejecting beauty ideals
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Many women cover their hair because it saves them the time it would take to style and prepare their hair. They prefer to spend their time in other ways and reject the idea that women should spend hard earned time and money on superficial concerns.
Dress for respect
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Just as men wear simple and conservative clothing such as business suits and short hair in the workplace, many women feel that covering their hair allows them to present an appearance that equals a man's conservative, short hair.
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Quran's instruction
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The Quran says in Surah an-Nur verse 31, says women are "not to display their beauty except what is apparent of it." This is commonly interpreted to mean women should avoid showing anything except their hands and face.
Surah al-Ahzab verse 59
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The Quran further states in Surah al-Ahzab verse 59 that "women of the faithful should draw their outer garments close around them." Following this instruction provides women with privacy.
Act of worship
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Following the prescription to cover their hair allows Muslim women to make small parts of each day an act of worship that brings them close to God and their community.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Ludovic Bertron
