The unthinkable has happened in Saudi Arabia: women have appeared in public without their headscarves — and mingled freely with men! The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia is outraged, for — note well — the hijab was "ordered by God." Western commentators have misled many people lately into thinking that the hijab was an invention of the Khomeini regime in Iran, or that it was ordained only for the Prophet Muhammad's wives, or as the relentless Karen Armstrong continues to insist, a borrowing from Byzantine Christianity. Well, I know plenty of Byzantine Christian women, and they don't wear it — because nothing in Christianity suggests that it was "ordered by God." But that is not the case in Islam. The Grand Mufti can point to ahadith like this one:
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin [Mother of the Believers]: Asma, daughter of AbuBakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah [Muhammad] (peace_be_upon_him) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 32, Number 4092).
It is difficult for reformers in the Islamic world to try to counter the command of the Prophet. That is no doubt behind the thinking of the Grand Mufti in this story from Arab News (thanks to "Allah"):
Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh yesterday issued a scathing condemnation of Saudi women who showed up unveiled at the Jeddah Economic Forum and mixed with men.“We followed up what happened at the forum and which should be denounced... namely, the mixing of men and women and the latter’s appearance without wearing the hijab ordered by God,” the mufti said.
“This is prohibited. (Moreover), newspapers published their pictures in this state which violates Shariah,” he said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
Not only did newspapers splash the pictures of these women, but some portrayed their conduct as “the beginning of the liberation of Saudi women — as if they were being constrained by Islamic law,” said the mufti, who also heads the Kingdom’s Council of Senior Islamic Scholars.
“I warn against the dire consequences that such practices will have,” he said.
“What is even more painful is that such outrageous behavior should have happened in Saudi Arabia, the land of the Two Holy Mosques, whose rulers consistently abided by Shariah without fear of criticism... and remain on this right path, thanks be to God,” the mufti said.
"As if they were being constrained by Islamic law"! The very idea! How could a woman possibly feel constrained by a law that forbids her to go out of the house without permission from a male guardian, or to speak to a man unless spoken to, or to testify in court if she is a victim of rape, or myriad other similar statutes! It's also useful to remember that people like the Grand Mufti would enforce the laws of dhimmitude while likewise maintaining that they cannot possibly be unjust, because they are ordered by God.
If it were not uncontextual historically, you could say that the Puritans relocated to Saudi Arabia from America. And, if these Islamists were not totally nihilistic, you could regard them as Leno-Lettermans for the globe. While destroying the nihilism of Islam (pardon the redundancy), we must learn to laugh at these fools and to call upon one of the greatest of oppositional tools--ridicule. These people are funny. Whacko, but funny. Through Islam, they are the bearded lady, the rubber man, the dog-faced man, the sword-swallower and fire-breathers of any cheap carnival side-show. We must stop the misery they inflict on the world but enjoy their ridiculousness. Take them seriously only as targets.
Karen Armstrong. Oy.
Unfortunately, Karen Armstrong is not the only person insisting that the veil was a borrowed custom from the Byzantine Christian women. There are some primary sources that suggest this was the case, see The Book of Himyarites: Fragments of a Hitherto Unknown Syriac Work, edited by Axel Moberg. What makes their arguement convincing is the fact that the Islamic faith did not set a school of conduct or law into writting until approximately 720, which is well after several portions of the Byzantine Empire had been conquered by the Muslims. This means that the hijab could have actually been a complete borrowing from Byzantine tradition.
Furthermore, I am curious how you know Byzantine Christians, when the last major stronghold of the empire fell in the mid-fifteenth century. Unless they are descendants of Byzantine Christians, they are quite old! If these women are descendants or they are just practicing the beliefs of Christians of the Byzantine Empire, one must bear in mind that the veil was customary only of the women in very elite or noble positions. Also, time changes the standard of how religion is practiced. For example, the Roman Catholic masses are no longer required to be performed in Latin. Because the Bible does include a verse in which women are told to wear a headdress, while men are not allowed to wear a hat during worship (bear in mind, that many first century traditions are mentioned in the Bible and are mentioned as such), it would not be surprising that Byzantine women wore such a garment.
Also do not put so much faith in the voice of one man. The Pope himself can state his interpretation of the law, but what is practiced by Christians is very much different. Likewise, I am sure, in the Islamic faith. The Grand Mufti's interpretation of the Prophet's prophesy may not be the belief of the majoriy of practicing Muslims.
While it would be nice to clearly state that the tradition of the hijab was clearly Islamic in origin, the evidence is... well lacking. If, however, you could prove that the tradition started in in the Arab-Islamic tribes before Christian influence, I will endorse your argument whole-heartedly
Dear Christian woman and "femanist":
The point is not that Byzantine Christian women didn't wear headscarves. Of course they did. The point is that it was mere custom, and so died out, while in Islam it continues because it is NOT a mere borrowing from Christianity, but has the sanction of the Prophet in the hadith I quoted.
In other words, the point of this article is not that the hijab is Islamic in origin. Personally I am not in the least interested in its origins. The point is that it continues in Islam because of the Islamic belief that it is commanded by Allah.
As for the very existence of Byzantine Christians, it is false that this name refers only to imperial citizens. I am a Byzantine Christian myself. I suggest you study the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches.
Regarding the Mufti's influence, your point would be sound only if he were the only one saying this. Have you been to Saudi Arabia lately?
Cordially
RS