Hijab in the Eyes of Little Muslim Women
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HIJAB IN THE EYES OF LITTLE MUSLIM WOMEN Hajar Mahfoodh A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS August 2008 Committee: Madeline Duntley, Advisor Donald McQuarie ii ABSTRACT Madeline Duntley, Advisor Hijab has born many different meanings associated with social, political and cultural changes. During the Iranian revolution, Hijab was used as an important political tool to represent the new character of Iran after the Pahlavi dictatorship. Hijab is often exclusively connected to Islam even though the practice of veiling is as ancient as the Roman Empire where the free women had to veil themselves when walking out in public places. Hijab is frequently discussed outside the borders of Islam, and it is presented from either a Western or an extreme feminist perspective. This results in a misunderstanding of Hijab, obscuring religious, cultural, political and regional differences. The topic of Hijab will be discussed within an Islamic context, through interviews the auther conducted with girls between the ages of 8-12, from two diffferent cultures. One group represents the diaspora of the United States, represented by girls from Dearborn, Michigan. The Middle East Muslim culture is represented by girls from Bahrain. The goal of this paper is to provide a counterpoint to the accusations made against Hijab. It is an attempt to initiate a new approach in discussing Hijab as it is practiced in current and previous Islamic cultures, from the perspective of girls who willingly choose to practice. It is also constructs a new methodology for percieving the many alternative meanings for Hijab, rather then reducing it simply to an Islamic garment. iii To my husband, my father, my mother and my darling son, Ali. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project began as an idea that would not have seen light without some important people. I would like to thank my family, which supported me all the time. I want to send many special thanks to my advisors Dr. Madeline Duntley and Dr. Donald McQuarie, who were so supportive and understanding during these two years at Bowling Green State University. I would also like to express my gratitude to Fulbright, especially to Ms Josephine Griffin, for all their help, care, love and support. Finally, I want to thank all the people who contributed to this project, as well as their families. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER I. GREAT MODELS IN ISLAM....................................................................... 9 The Matam ............................................................................................................ 9 The Exemplary Role in Shiite Culture ....................................................................... 11 Women in Islamic History ......................................................................................... 13 Fatima, the Daughter of the Prophet .......................................................................... 14 Khadeeja, the Great Wife of the Great Prophet ......................................................... 18 Zainab, the Daughter of Fatima ................................................................................. 20 Ruqaya, the Youngest Female Figure in Islam .......................................................... 24 Mary, the Virgin, the Teacher .................................................................................... 25 What do these women do in Islam? ........................................................................... 26 CHAPTER II. HIJAB, A CONSTANTLY RENEWED FASHION .................................... 29 Terms and Definitions................................................................................................ 29 The Head Covering ........................................................................................ 30 The Body Covering ........................................................................................ 32 Fashion and Consumer Culture .................................................................................. 35 CHAPTER III. HIJAB IN ISLAM AND HISTORY ........................................................... 37 The Elasticity of Hijab vs. the Correct Hijab/Style ................................................... 43 Hijab: Exploiting or Defending Islam ........................................................... 45 Islam and Hijab .......................................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER IV. PIETY IN INNOCENT EYES, AND HIJAB TODAY .............................. 50 vi The Flag of Islam ....................................................................................................... 51 The Crown on Muslim Women’s Head ..................................................................... 53 Grateful to Hijab ........................................................................................................ 57 Hijab in the Future ..................................................................................................... 60 CHAPTER V. HIJAB IS NOT ANTI-FEMINIST, HIJAB IS NOT THE EROTIC ORIENT ...................................................... 63 A Final Word ............................................................................................................ 71 GLOSSARY ......................................................................................................................... 72 Shiite Imams ............................................................................................................ 72 Ma’soom ............................................................................................................ 72 The Shiite Resources in Islam.................................................................................... 73 Religion ...................................................................................................................... 73 The Matam... ............................................................................................................ 73 Takleef ............................................................................................................ 74 Thawab ............................................................................................................ 74 Mahram ...................................................................................................................... 75 Mou’min ............................................................................................................ 76 The Quran ............................................................................................................ 76 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 77 APPENDIX A. INTERVIEWEE CONSENT LETTER ...................................................... 81 APPENDIX B. PARENTS’ CONSENT LETTER ............................................................... 84 APPENDIX C. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS ........................................................................ 87 vii LIST OF FIGURES/TABLES Figure/Table Page 1 A Traditional Hijab ................................................................................................. 30 2 A Colored Sheila ..................................................................................................... 30 3 Niqab or Burqu .......................................................................................................... 31 4 A Modern Hijab ......................................................................................................... 31 5 Jilbab .......................................................................................................................... 32 6 Iranian Manteau in a Fashion Runway Show ............................................................ 32 7 Iranian girls in Their Break at school ........................................................................ 33 8 Map of Michigan ........................................................................................................ 50 9 Amina, 11 years old, Michigan .................................................................................. 51 10 Fatema Ameen wearing Hijabi Clothes ..................................................................... 54 11 Balqees, a Bahraini Girl Wearing the Traditional Abaya .......................................... 55 12 Map of Bahrain .......................................................................................................... 56 13 Noor Taresh Wearing the Modern Abaya .................................................................. 58 1 INTRODUCTION Hijab,1 or veiling, is an orientalist symbol that is enormously embedded with ambivalence. It is frequently discussed outside the cultural borders of Islam, and is usually presented from either a Western, or a feminist perspective. This has resulted in a misunderstanding of Hijab that increased its vague mysterious meaning. Although it is a women- centered practice, it is usually discerned as a practiced decreed by men, which adds more layers that veil the meaning of Hijab, leading to misunderstanding and false analysis. It is important to mention the indispensable relationship between Hijab, womanhood, culture and post-Iranian revolution