Woman Between Islam and Western Society
10. Hijab in Islam
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10. HIJAB IN ISLAM
HIJAB IN THE LIGHT OF THE QUR’AN AND
HADITH
This chapter is based on an authoritative Arabic
book titled
Hijab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah fil Kitab was-
Sunnah,
by Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, a
famous scholar and traditionist. It was translated by
this writer and initially published in condensed
form in the quarterly,
Islam and the Modern Age.
1
The third edition of the original work with some
additions is before me. The question of
hijab
(veil),
or
purdah
in Urdu, the author tells us, has been
discussed in light of the Qur’an and Hadith.
From the author’s point of view, a woman’s face is
not included in the parts of the body that need to be
compulsorily covered. He suggests, however, that it
is better to cover it. He agrees with those who, in
spite of holding the view that the face is not to be
covered as a rule, nevertheless advocate the
covering of the face in order to discourage mischief,
in view of the general moral degradation in present-
day society. Here is one of the traditions referred to
