Assalamu 'alaykum,
I was actually going to say someting similar to what Miraj said.

For the people who believe hijab is an obligation, they wear hijab to please God and only because of that. Not to cause scandal, or shock people or anything like that.

AND people would be protected by the "freedom of religion" only IF they are Muslims. Someone can't just go sue their employer because he/she feels like she wants to wear a hijab.

If you're interested in Islam, I suggest that you start by learning the 5 pillars first and start implementing them in your life before being concerned about things like hijab. I''m not saying it's not important but after seeing so many converts leave Islam in so little I have really come to the conclusion that until someone is able to implement the 5 pillars consistently, we shouldn't be insisting in anything else.

And finally, a word of advise to those who think that "sue your boss"  is an easy feat. Suing someone is a HUGE expense (I'm saying this out of experience!!). Every time you say "hi" to your lawyer you have to give him anywhere between $150 - $300. Every day he has to go to court you have to give him a minimum of $1,000. So suing your employer is a VERY expensive proposition and takes a lot of time. In addition, proving that you were fired because of your clothing is also not that easy to prove.

The-middle-way wrote:

Sister witness, Miraj's above opinion contradicts that of the consensus of the Scholars, as the following fatwa shows:.

I cannot be easily dismissed as a "non-specialist", so I'm delighted to respond to this.

A fatwa is a legal OPINION, not law. My response that there is no reference to hijab as clothing in the Quran is not a contradiction of Arabic lexicon. I am a naive speaker of Arabic, and, as a scholar of Islam myself, I have a strong understanding not only of the theology of hijab, but the history of its development as an "obligation to God" in the minds of scholars

Also, the word "khimar" did not mean headcovering in the Prophet's day, Sheikh Keller admits as much, stating that khimar is familar "in our day" as hijab. However, the fact remains that nowhere in the Quran does hijab refer to a means of costuming. That it does "in our day" is the result of fatwas, not sharia. Scholars connoted the word "khimar" to mean headcovering approximately 200 years after the death of the Prophet. Historically, it was not headcovering in the early ummah.

Not to mention that Quran 24:31 never directs women to cover their hair. It does say use your khimar to cover your breasts, but I don't see many hijabis taking that command literally. Muslim scholars may believe there is no ambiguity about 24:31, the meaning and historical context of the words "khimar' and "hijab" and the obligation from God for Muslimas to cover their heads, but there has been debate and dissent over the issue for centuries.

"Consensus", another word that is bandied about in a self-serving manner in order to stifle debate, is undefined - it is all too common for dissenting scholars to be dismissed as "illegitimate" - thus creating a consensus of convenience. A consensus of Sunni scholars, of Shia scholars; a consensus in the village, the nation, of the Arab world alone. There is a consensus for everyone who wants one. That doesn't make the fatwas Islamic.

What I want to see is the ayah/ayat that define hiajb as clothing, not some other Muslims saying that "this is what God really means". In the historical context, women were not compelled to conceal their hair, nor was khimar the equivalent of hijab. Those who claim this is so are not going back to the Prophet's day, but to dictionaries. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't get my Islam from the dictionary. If you can't speak Arabic and haven't studied the scripture in an historical context, perhaps that's the best you can do.

Salaam

You got to be a specialist or your just a sad confused soul that doesnt know her "bosom" from her head.

A very astute observation, Lee Ann!  Very good for a non-specialist.

In the Name of the High
assalam o alaykum

the whole notion of consencus, i.e Ijma, was borne out of a political necessity first and fore-most. in the absence of a stable political entity in Islam, in post 4 Caliphs, it was mandated as such to the myriad of the different schools that had emanated.

regards, ali.q

Dear sister,

I like to support what sister Ceren said here. Take it easy and take time to learn more about Islam. Start by practicing it privately.

Once you have some knowledge of Islam and start wearing hijab after than, maybe you will be able to remove misunderstanding about Islam from good Christian people. In the noble Qur'an God said Christians are "Nearest to the Muslims" [ Ref: The noble Qur'an 5:82 ] and there is a whole chapter devoted to our spiritual mother Mary [ Chapter 19].

The word "Jesus" was mentioned in the Qur'an 25 times and "Mary" was mentioned 32 time [ 19 times in the Bible].

We pray to the same God of Jesus, Moses, Abraham and Muhammad [ Peace  be unto them all] .

"And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone."
[ The holy Bible Mark 10:18 ]


For more information, please visit the following websites.

http://www.welcome-back.org/

http://www.harunyahya.com/





Feel free to ask as many questions about Islam you want. Then start wearing hijab when the time is right.

I wish you all the best.

May peace and blessings be unto all.