Randi Polizzotto
Exam 2 Review Sheet
Women in Islam
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The scriptural basis for veiling
Quranic Sources for the Practice of Veiling
Quran 24:30-31: Modesty (Men and Women)
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Instructions for both men and women to conduct
themselves with modesty
o
For men: subdue eyes and not stare at women and
maintain chastity
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For women: lower gaze and guard modesty-should
not display beauty and ornaments except what is
apparent-draw head coverings over bosoms and not
display beauty except to husbands, fathers,
husband’s fathers, sons, brothers, small children
with no sense of shame of sex-not strike feet to
draw attention
Quran 33:53: Curtain/Barrier
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Rules that outsiders should follow when interacting
with prophet and insiders as they interact with
prophet
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Privilege and status for prophet and his wife-
practice of seclusion-elite status
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Do not enter home unless permission-do not force
invitation-when finish eating you shall leave-do not
engage in lengthy conversation (hurting him)-if you
have to ask wife something, ask from behind a
barrier-cannot marry her after
o
To provide domestic comfort and privacy for female
elite of Islam
First beginnings of exclusion or restrictive
behaviors being linked with privilege
Quran 33:59: Mantle/Cloak Verse
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Refers to when Muslims are going to be traveling
abroad
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Compound verses 24 and 33 but governs behavior
outside of home and applies to all women not just
prophets wife
o
Women should cover themselves so they can be
identified as free women when abroad-identified as
not slaved so not molested in streets
o
Applying rules to what already have-not new mode
of dress
Two Hadith: (used to establish doctrine of custom)
Wedding of Zeynab
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Supports practice of seclusion, veils
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Guests overstaying welcome –want more contact
with prophet
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Wanted to guard Zeynab’s modesty-prophets pulls
curtain and says you can address us through the
curtain
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Occasion of the screen Supports practice of
seclusion, veils or curtain
Asma’s thin clothing
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Cannot display parts of body after menstruation
except eyes and hands
o
Three dominant voices in contemporary inter-Islamic debate
Modernists
Distinguish Pristine faith and practice of prophet and first
community of believers and difference between later
communities
Later manifestations in Islam resulted from tradition
outside Arabia
o
Damaging of culturation-modifcation based on
location it travels to
Seek to derive systems as originally practiced
Believe in individual interpretation of scripture
Original values to modern context
Legal reform or many of the Muslim laws
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Separate original laws from medieval formations
Conservatives/Traditionalists
View Islam as inheritance balance of system of faith and
action
o
Based and sanctioned by scripture and interpretation
of scripture comes through authority of community
consensus
Not advocating personal interpretation
Tradition and lineage
Stand against modernity and Western culture contamination
Stabilize past traditions
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