The Veil and Muslim Womens Behavior Research Paper

The Veil and Muslim Womens Behavior - Research Paper Example The way Muslim women dress is strongly influenced by religious rules. The fundamental principle can be found in the Quran, which prescribes dress requirements for both men and women. This is important because the Islamic text functions as the code of ethics of Islamic societies and that it, certainly, is the basis of the norms by which Muslims live by. Therefore, while the text merely advises, they were closely followed across the Islamic world. Sura 24, 31-32, specifically prescribes the use of adornments for women. To quote:They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies, except that which necessary. They shall cover their chests, and shall not relax this code in the presence of their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, other women, the male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been nullified, or the children who have not reached puberty (Sura 24:31).The above text has different interpretations from different Islamic communities. However, it set the standards by which women dress themselves by explicitly stating the rationale behind the rule. This is the reason why women in Muslim countries wore the veil. This piece of clothing depicts all that this paper is interested about. Its usage is typified by several cultural connotations that is why it influences the way women behave and act.The veil or hijab is the answer to the requirement of covering women’s body up to an acceptable degree.... This piece of clothing depicts all that this paper is interested about. Its usage is typified by several cultural connotations that is why it influences the way women behave and act. The Veil The veil or hijab is the answer to the requirement of covering women’s body up to an acceptable degree. This latter element to the rule gave Sura 24: 31 slightly different interpretations across the Muslim world, which resulted to the variations in how the veil is worn. But the fact remains that the veil became a cultural tool to depict and enforce what is considered ideal behavior in women. Numerous scholars have explained this theme and one may be sure that several interpretations were also posited. Gabriel cited some of the most important of these. He cited to important schools. The first is the Islamic perspective wherein women are being protected and supposedly â€Å"liberated† because the veil allows them to determine and be reminded of the importance of certain ideal behavio r such as piety, honor, modesty and the concept of guarding morality (4). This is the ideal principle as espoused by the core Islamic belief system on women. Many Islamic women choose to wear the veil on their own accord. In a survey, for example, it was found that 9 out of 10 women in all age groups in Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan approved of the Islamic dress code norm (Hassan 191). The other school explains that the veil became a tool for Islamic communities to isolate women and restrict them from participating in the public sphere. Both of these schools have valid arguments, but what is significant is the way they both highlight how the veil can impact behavior through the sheer symbolisms and norms it represents. Taking the view of the Islamic scholars, the veil