Veiling by different groups of muslim women depending

veiling by different groups of Muslim women, depending on their class, scriptural interpretations, and social
and cultural history.
Topics
 Practice of veiling
 Ideological positions toward veiling
 Racism versus sexism
Learning Objectives
 By successfully completing this module, you should be able to: Identify common misconceptions about
veiling
 Explain the diversity of meanings of veiling for Muslim women themselves
 Describe how racism may underlie some feminist attempts to “liberate” Muslim women
 Explain why Muslim women’s practice of veiling has become a contentious issue in Western societies
 Describe the reasons for veiling or not veiling by different groups of Muslim women
Reminder
Please make sure you devote sufficient quality time to completing this module. To be successful, it is important

7/25/2018 CSOC885, Module 4 - Introduction
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for you to complete each activity listed. Please contact your instructor if you need help or have questions.
The Social-Cultural Practice of Veiling
Homa Hoodfar argues that veiling by Muslim women takes multiple forms and reflects many different
meanings depending on the status of the wearer and the social and historical context in which veiling is
practiced. She also emphasizes that rather than being an indisputable symbol of Muslim identity, there are many
different positions on the practice of veiling among Muslims themselves depending on their interpretation of
Islamic verses and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammed.
Hoodfar also provides a brief history of veiling as a cultural practice that predates Islam and was mostly used by
women of high status. Although veiling is presently identified almost exclusively with Muslim women, Hoodfar
notes that veiling is nowhere specifically recommended or even discussed in the Quran (Mernissi, 1991).
Overview
Key Point
Debates about whether Islam requires women to cover their heads and/or faces are of most concern to religious
scholars who want to uphold orthodox interpretations of the Quran and feminists fighting for gender equality.
Religious Scholars’ Position
Some Muslim religious scholars and community leaders argue that the covering of women’s heads and bodies is
mandated by the Quran, the book that Muslims consider to be the revealed word of God. They point to two
verses of a Surah (chapter) in the Quran to support their position:
1. Surah 24: al Nur (or The Light), verses 30–31, says:
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater
purity of them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they
should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: they should not display their ornaments except what must
ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty...”
2. Surah 33: Al-Ahzab (The Coalition), verse 59, states: