What is an Islamic perspective on clothing?

Answer 1

In the point of Islam, 'Hijab' is a very good thing to do as in Islam it has been strictly told to women to cover their heads.

Answer 2

For Muslim men, they should wear whatever style they like on conditions that:

• it should cover body from naval to knees
• it should not include silk or gold

For Muslim women, there is no restriction, for woman clothing, on the cloth material or colors. The cloth could be from silk or any other material. It could be colorful or not. It could be dark colored, white colored, of different colors, whatever. It could be one piece cloth or more than one piece.

However, women are commanded by Islam to wear cloth that covers the whole body, including hair, except the face and the hands. That cloth:

• should not be so tight to describe the woman body or sexy parts, and
  
• should not be so transparent to make the under cloth visible.

The part of the cloth covering the head (and hair) but not the face is called Hijab.

Covering the whole body including face (by wearing Burkah or veil) and hands by wearing gloves is not an Islamic requirement. It is neither required per Islam religion nor forbidden.

Answer 3

As a Muslim I am honored to answer this question...hijabs are the head covering that Muslim women use to cover their hair, neck, chest area, and ears. Some are made of scarfs, and some are one or two pieces that slide on and reveals nothing but the face. Muslim women are NOT allowed to reveal any skin except the hands and face. Islam is the religion and Muslims are the followers of that religion, similar to Baptist and Christians.

Answer 4

Wearing Hijab by Muslim Women is an Islamic religion requirement. It is compulsory by God commands in Quran and by prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) Sunnah (Prophet sayings and practice).

Wearing Hijab is part of God command to wear cloth that covers the whole body, including hair, head, and neck, except the face and the hands. That cloth:

• should not be so tight to describe the woman body or sexy parts, and
• should not be so transparent to make the under cloth visible.

The part of the cloth covering the head (and hair and neck) but not the face is called Hijab.

Besides that wearing hijab is an Islamic requirement and is a command by God and Prophet Mohamed (peace upon him), the following are some reasons and benefits of wearing hijab:

• Men would not judge the woman by her appearance but would tend to evaluate her by her personality, character, and morals.
• Wearing a hijab helps in preventing indecent acts or thoughts.
• When wearing a hijab, one feels more modest, having more self respect and confidence.
• People actually evaluate the one wearing the Hijab based on who she is and not on how beautiful she is.
• by wearing hijab, one doesn't worry about her my hair if not beautiful or needs more cosmetics.
• Hijab provides Muslims with an identity. They don't have to tell people they are Muslims. It shows.
• By wearing hijab, the woman is concealing her sexuality but allowing her femininity to shine.
• On top of the above, wearing hijab is something that is pleasing to Allah and in return one earns blessings from wearing it.

Quran says (meaning English translation):

"And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or those whom their right hands possess, or the male servants not having need (of women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of what is hidden of women; and let them not strike their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may be known; and turn to Allah all of you, O believers! so that you may be successful. (31)"

"وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَىٰ عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٣١

[Quran, chapter 24, verse 31]

In Quran, God says: "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and adornments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers...(a list of exceptions)" [Chapter 24, verses 30-31]

Also,

"O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons...that they should be known and not molested." [Chapter 33, verse 59]

In general, girls are required to wear hijab at puberty, and throughout the rest of their lives, whenever they are in the company of males who are not their mahrems. A mahrem is the close relatives that the girl/woman are not allowed to get married with.

The following are some links for more information:

• http://www.muhajabah.com/hjbscared.htm

• http://www.islam101.com/women/hijabfaq.html

• http://islam.about.com/od/dress/ Includes some pictures

• http://www.almuhajabat.com/howtowearhijab.html

• Veiling for Christians http://www.muhajabah.com/christianveil.htm

• Hijab for Jews http://www.beingjewish.com/faqs/faq2.html

ANSWER:

because the women and the girls that have reached puberty are not allowed to show their beauty to men and big boys unless it's their husbands they are allowed to show it to ladies and girls.

Answer 5

Wearing the hijab is only a cultural issue. The Quran suggests that the wives of the Prophet were required to cover themselves and remain out of the sight of other males, but it seems to only require modesty on the part of other women (eg 24.031 and 33.59).
In the words of Karen Armstrong (Islam: A Short History, 2000):
"The Quran prescribes some degree of segregation and veiling for the Prophet's wives, but there is nothing in the Quran that requires the veiling of all women or their seclusion in a separate part of the house. Muslims adopted these customs some 3 or 4 generations after the Prophet's death, copying the Greek Christians of Byzantium, who had long veiled and segregated their women in this manner."