Hijab is Islamic, Not Cultural

Misconception No. 1: Veil is an Arab culture dress, not religious.

Answer to this misconception: Prophet's wives and other believing women did not use to veil before the verses of veil were revealed (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 4, Number 148). This is enough proof that veil is religious, not cultural. Before Islam in Arabia, men and women would go round the Kaba naked, arguing that they should present themselves before God in the same condition they were born (Invitation to Islam, Issue 1, May 1997). Islam taught Arabs how to veil. Judge Islam by Quran and Sunnah. Do not judge Islam by action of Muslims because there are so many so called Muslims out there who do not practise Islam. For example, do not define veil by how one of your Pakistani friend covers her. This is because there are some Pakistani women who wear veil properly when some others do not.

Misconception No. 2: Rules of hijab for prophet's wives are different from rules of hijab for other women. This is because:

(i) God tells prophet's companions to talk to prophet's wives from behind a curtain when they go to prophet's home (33:53). God doesn't mention anything like this about other women.

(ii) The list of unmarriageable kin for prophet's wives (33:55) is different from the list of unmarriageable kin for other women (24:31). Husband's father, husband's son, their own adopted sons,  male subordinates free from physical needs, and children are not included in the list of unmarriageable kin for prophet's wives, but they are included in the list of unmarriageable kin for other women.

Answer to this misconception:

(i) Prophet's wives are the mothers of the believers. The Quran 33: 53 says prophet's wives are unmarriageable kin of the believers. Prophet's companions used to call them "mothers". This made prophet's companions think that they can talk to prophet's wives face to face like they talk to their mothers and other unmarriageable kin. This is why God sent message ordering them to talk to prophet's wives from behind a curtain when they go to prophet's home. Prophet's wives are our mothers in a spiritual sense, so we cannot marry them. But we must talk to them from behind a curtain just like we talk to other women from behind a curtain when we go to someone's home. Aisha (RA) narrates that on one occasion a female Muslim wanted to give a letter to the Holy Prophet (SW), the letter was delivered to the Holy Prophet (SW) from behind a curtain. (Abu Dawood Book 33, Hadith # 4154)

(ii) God does not include husband's father, husband's son, male servant free from physical needs, and children in the list of unmarriageable kin for prophet's wives because prophet's father passed away before his birth, Prophet had no son, and prophet's wives had no adopted sons or male subordinates free from physical needs at prophet's home. God doesn't mention of them because they don't exist in prophet's family. "Muhammad is not the father of any of your men but he is the Apostle of God and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things"(Quran 33:40).