Is it okay to refuse to wear a hijab when attending a Muslim event?
Question
Gramps,
I’ve been seeing many non-Muslim women refusing to wear a Hijab when attending non-religious but Muslim sponsored events/meetings. Could refusing to wear the Hijab be considered the same as Daniel from the Old Testament’s refusal to follow another religion’s practices since it is a religious requirement? Thanks!
Aleeah
Answer
Aleeah,
No, the two circumstances really aren’t as similar as you might think.
When Daniel refused to partake of foods forbidden by the Law of Moses, he was standing up for his beliefs (Daniel 1:8). His religious beliefs forbade him from eating those foods offered to him. To partake would have been a violation of the Law of Moses.
The hijab is a type of head scarf. Is there any Christian belief that says wearing such is immoral or against the Law of God? I’m not aware of any. Movie stars such as Doris Day and Sophia Loren made such scarves en vogue ages ago. And plenty of Christian women followed suit. There would be nothing wrong with wearing such.
So, do you see a difference between refusing to do something that is forbidden by one’s religious views vs. refusing to satisfy someone else’s (non-prohibited) requirements when you go visit them? The first is standing up for your beliefs. The second is being rude or at least somewhat disrespectful. Can you imagine if someone who had been informed that Mormons don’t serve alcohol or tobacco at their social gatherings would choose to bring their own bottle of beer or cigarettes to an LDS function? That would just be rude. We’d much rather they simply opted not to come to such a gathering. Then we’d all be happy.
I’ll also comment on current events. Recently Mme. Marine Le Pen (Candidate for President of France) and Nazi Paikidze (US Chess Champion — yes that’s her name, not a label) have both refused to wear the hijab for their visits to Muslim countries. In conjunction with this, they have opted to cancel their trips. On the one hand, we need to recognize that their motivations are socio-political, not religious. On the other hand, the fact that they’ve chosen to cancel their trips is the appropriate and more polite way to handle it as opposed to arriving and then raising a tizzy fit about having to wear it. That’s just rude.
Gramps
Also there is nothing in Islam to demand the hijab. I have muslim friends in Pakistan who are deeply religious but they do not wear the hijab or any sort of head scarf. It is a cultural not religious requirement
I do not think of not wearing a headscarf as rude at all.
Not wearing it is far from raising a tizzy, though.
I thought the hijab was the symbol of a Muslim woman’s covenant with God. I wasn’t aware that non-Muslim women were expected to wear it at Muslim events. It is good to know. I would not want to offend by not wearing one to such an event.
I don’t see this in any way equivalent to the scenario Gramps put forth comparing those who would come to an LDS function and bring alcohol and cigarettes. The Quran states that women ( and men) should dress modestly [sounds so familiar to us LDS]. It does not prescribe specifically to wear a hijab, niqab (face covering), etcetera. These customs have developed in Muslim dominant communities throughout the world. Unfortunately, many people have deviated from the original intent of the modesty teaching in an attempt, IMO, to project false piousness. By complying with such customs, we validate these faux religious practices. I think a good compromise would be to wear a colored scarf, much like Gramps describe, in the style of Doris Day. That way, you’re honoring the religious practice of “modesty” but not validating the faux piousness of a cultural-religious practice often associated with repression of women.
I feel that the hijab as intended by those who insist upon it in their countries is probably more about adherence to Muslim faith than just a cultural norm. However, I think AskGramps presents a great, Christ-like compromise with the headscarf as worn by some women in America in past years. Or just not visiting at all. I think standing up for our beliefs and sharing them is important but the conversation ends with needless antagonism. If it makes them feel better, culturally, to see women’s heads covered, then it shows a great compassion and consideration for their traditions to do so. People respond and open up when this kind of love is shown.