Islam and the Quran

Islam and the Quran used in their present connotation. It is a fact that both words have a similar meaning, that is, chaadar or duppatta, that is, something which covers the body of a woman and not her face. So, it is very clear that the present burqa or hijab are not Quranic terms; both are part of Muslim culture and not part of Quranic commandments. The concept of hijab as understood in the popular sense today has emerged from Fiqh. In reality, Islam talks about adopting simplicity and modesty. In terms of outfit, the Shariah prescribes women to cover their body with clothing which is not tight fitting and not meant to attract others. (Quran 24:31, Tafsir Usmani) It is noteworthy that the well-known Arab scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, clearly endorses the abovementioned position of the Shariah in his book on this subject, Jilbab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah fil Kitab was-Sunnah (The Veil of a Muslim Woman in the Light of the Quran and Sunnah). He goes on to say that it is clear from the Quran, the Hadith and the practice of the Companions and the Tabiun (Companions of the Prophet’s Companions) that whenever a woman steps out of her home she should cover herself completely so as not to show any part of her body except the face and the hands. During the Prophet’s time, Muslim women were active in different fields, such as agriculture, horticulture and social work. Islamic literature mentions some pious women who have played a highly creative role in their society, like Hajira, the wife of the Prophet Abraham; Maryam, the mother of Jesus; Khadija, the wife of the Prophet of Islam and Aishah, the wife of the Prophet of Islam. According to books of Hadith, Fatimah, the Prophet’s daughter, used to take part in campaigns, undertake the work of providing first-aid and giving the injured water to drink and food to eat.