Niqab is a veil that has profound meaning. This is a veil on the face that is worn by certain Muslim women. This garment is an individual statement of belief and identification. Its history is intercultural and multinational. Looking into the niqab, one will find a narrative of faith, tradition, and a matter of choice.
In this article, the niqab shall be elaborated. We will also look at its history. We are going to review its religious background. Its current-day existence will also be discussed. You will be taught about various styles as well as the connotation of styles.
What is a Niqab?
A niqab is a piece of cloth. It covers the face. Therefore, the eyes are left with an opening. It is worn by women together with a headscarf or a hijab. Niqab belongs to a larger movement of modesty in Islam. It is not the same as a burqa. Thus, a burqa is a garment that envelops the whole body. So, this is composed of a mesh screen on the eyes. Niqab, on the contrary, does not cover the eyes.
Niqab wearing is widely practiced in the Arabian Peninsula. It is also identified in North Africa, the Middle East, and even in the Muslim communities across the world. Wearing one is a matter of great individuality. In many cases, it is also a choice of a female. She can also consider it an order of God. She may also consider it a form of worship.
The History of Veiling
Face veiling did not come with Islam. Its practice has ancient origins. It was present in multiple cultures even before the 7th century. Therefore, it is recorded that women in the Byzantine Empire covered their faces with veils. Veiling was also practiced by the Persian societies. In most ancient societies, veiling was a symbol of belonging to a particular social group. In many ways, it differentiated between the noble woman and the common people.
Face veils also existed in pre-Islamic Arabia. Therefore the women of other religious affiliations were wearing their facial coverings. Therefore, the early Christian authors mentioned this practice in Arabian women. Thus, the veil belonged to the culture of the region. It had social values of modesty and respectability.Therefore, the popularity of the modern niqab rose dramatically at the end of the 20th century. This increase was associated with the Islamic revival movement. Some interpretations of the books of Islam became more popular. This has promoted the reinstatement of practices that are considered to be Islamic. Thus, this led to the niqab being more visible.
Religious Views on the Niqab.
The niqab has a religious foundation that is discussed. No single rule exists that is universally accepted. The Islamic scholarship presents a variety of perspectives. Islam, the holy book of the Quran, demands that both men and women be modest. This modesty is in a subjective form.
Other researchers are of the opinion that the niqab is a binding obligation. They understand certain texts and practices of the Prophet Muhammad to command women to cover their faces. To them, it is a necessary aspect of obeying the order of hijab. The latter is firm in some Islamic schools of thought.
Other researchers consider the niqab as something suggested and not a requirement. They see it as a virtuous act. They find no need to regard omitting it as a sin. Most Islamic jurists belong to this group. They also concur that it is mandatory to cover the hair. Therefore, they do not even carry this obligation to the face. Thus, these researchers insist that the variety of opinions is an identified Islamic legal tradition. Finally, the motive of a woman to put on a niqab is individual. It can also be a religious choice. Therefore, it may be an identification with her roots. It may also be an assertion of her being a Muslim.
Niqab vs. Hijab.
Misconceptions about the dress code of women in Islam usually lead one to think about the niqab and the hijab. Both are modest dresses based on faith. They are not mere cultural attire. They do it based on certain interpretations of Islamic texts. This paper will examine the difference between the niqab and the hijab. We shall discuss their foundation in the Quran and the Ahadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him).
The debate on veiling is subtle. There are various interpretations by scholars. This paper will explain these perceptions. We shall elaborate on the physical variations of the garments. Then we will go on to the religious evidences that sustain every practice. It is aimed at outlining the subject more comprehensively and respectfully.
The Hijab: Covering the Hair
The word hijab is generally broadly understood in Islam. It is the overall idea of modesty in the dressing and conduct of men and women. Hijab, in popular use, is the headscarf that is worn by most Muslim women. This scarf envelops the neck, hair, and chest. The face remains visible. The hijab is the most prevalent type of Islamic head covering that is witnessed around the world. It is accompanied by simple clothes that cover the entire body.
Variations and Styles of the Niqab.
The niqab cannot be called a unique and standardized piece. Many styles exist. These changes are based on the differences in cultures and individual tastes. The fabrics vary between chiffon, which is lightweight, and old-fashioned cotton.
The Half Niqab
The half niqab is a plain one. It is made up of a piece of cloth that wraps up the lower half of the face. It normally knots or applies elastic belts to hold it. This form exposes the forehead and the eyes. It is realistic and widely used by most women.
The Full Niqab
The complete niqab, which is also known as Gulf-style niqab, is more covered. It often has multiple parts. A band is tied on the forehead. There is a bigger piece of cloth that falls down and it is covering the face below the eyes. It is a style that tends to have a single or two sheer layers. These layers might be turned down to cover the eyes. The sheer fabric is see-through by a woman. Her eyes are concealed to other people.
Other Garments
The niqab is usually worn together with other conservative apparel by women who wear it. An outer garment is a loose robe known as abaya. A jilbab is a like long coat. Khimar is a long head covering made of capes and thrown behind the back of the chest. Sometimes there is also the wearing of gloves. This finishes the concealing of the whole body.
The Niqab in the Modern World
The niqab is a controversial issue nowadays. This is particularly true in Western countries. The topics covered in the discussions are security, identity, and the rights of women. There is a misinterpretation of the garment. One can feel that it is a symbol of oppression or extremism.
The niqab is usually the reverse of the case with the women who wear it. They perceive it as an instrument of freedom. It enables them to move about in society without being criticized based on their looks. It is what enables them to be judged by their personality and smarts. Also, it is an abandonment of social demands on the bodies of women.
Bans and Regulations
Several states have put in place legislation on face coverings. These legislations usually affect the niqab-wearing women. There are nationwide face covering bans in France, Belgium, Denmark, and Austria, which apply to the use of face covers in public places. Other nations have partial prohibitions. It can be in the case of schools of the populace, government offices or even the transport.
The advocates of these bans will use security reasons. They are also proponents of social cohesion. In their opinion, it is important to see the face of a person to communicate. The opponents claim that these laws violate the freedom of religion. People claim that the restrictions have a disproportionate impact on Muslim women. These laws have been criticized by human rights organisations. They caution that these bans may result in the marginalization of women.
A Symbol of Identity
The niqab has become a potent icon in most locations. It is an act of devotion to religion. It represents a prominent Muslim sign. Thus, it is a way of rebellion against Islamophobia to some people. It is one form of demanding their presence and their rights. Niqab remains a piece of garment of great personal and political significance.
Scholarly Opinions: Is the Niqab Obligatory?
These pieces of evidence have resulted in two broad academic stances over the niqab. One should realize that both opinions are held by reputable Islamic scholars and made on sound interpretations.
Position 1: Niqab is Recommended (Mustahabb), Not Obligatory (Wajib)
Most exponents of the four principal schools of Islamic law (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali) believe that the whole body a woman is awrah (what she is not supposed to reveal) with the exception of her face and hands. According to this, they conclude that it is not a requirement to cover the face. It is, however, strongly suggested as a pious practice of additional modesty and piety and particularly during timings or locations where temptation (fitnah) is feared. Those who hold this opinion rely on the Ahadith of Asma and the occasions when the faces of women were considered as the main evidence.
Position 2: Niqab is Mandatory (Wajib)
A strong minority of scholars, especially of the Hanbali school, and some Shafi’i and Maliki scholars, maintain that women must cover the face when in the company of non-mahram (unrelated) men. They anchor their perception on the Quranic verse that instructs women to cover themselves with their outer garments and the behaviors of the wives of the Prophet including Aisha who veiled their faces. These experts insist that the evidences that warrant the reveal of the face are older than the order to cover the head was solidified. They also say that the danger of fitnah is very common nowadays so niqab is a requirement of Islamic Basis of Covering: Quran and Ahadith.
The act of covering up the Muslim women relies on the Quran verses and the Ahadith narrations. These texts are given different meanings and result in the various practices of hijab and niqab.
Quranic Verses on Modesty and Dress
Two key verses in the Quran provide the primary guidance on women’s dress.
The first is in Surah An-Nur (The Light):
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not to expose their adornment except that which appears thereof and to wrap their headcovers over their chests…” (Quran 24:31)
This verse commands women to be modest and to cover their adornment. The phrase “except that which appears thereof” is a key point of discussion among scholars. Many classical and modern scholars interpret this phrase to mean the face and hands. Based on this, they conclude that covering the hair (hijab) is obligatory, but the face and hands may remain uncovered.
The second verse is in Surah Al-Ahzab (The Confederates):
“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves part of their outer garments (jalabib). That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused…” (Quran 33:59)
This verse instructs women to use an outer garment for covering. The term jalabib (plural of jilbab) refers to a loose outer garment. Some scholars argue that this verse implies covering the face. They point to explanations from early Muslims, like Ibn Abbas, who said this meant women should cover their faces, leaving one eye to see. Others maintain it refers to a general outer cloak without specifying the face.
