History
The symbol of the cross is widely recognized as an emblem of Christianity and Catholicism, much like the Star of David is for Judaism. Islam, however, has no such symbol associated with its doctrine.
Many people outside of the religion don’t know this. A popular and widely-held misconception is that the crescent moon and star is an internationally-recognized symbol of Islam. This symbol, though, actually has its origin in the Ottoman Empire, who in turn got their inspiration for it from the Byzantines. It has nothing to do with Islam.
Despite the fact that Islam does not have any religious symbol equivalent to the cross or the Star of David, head coverings often worn by women who are part of this religion- such as the Hijab, Khimar, Burqa and other similar types of clothing - are often classified as “religious symbols” and placed in the same category as the Star of David.
Let’s take a look at what the Islamic sources say about this “controversial” garment, which seems to disproportionately occupy the minds of people all over the world.
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
SURAH AL-AHZAB, VERSE 59
It’s clear that Islam prescribes the covering of the body, for both men and women, that of what is necessary
The headscarf has been worn throughout history by both Muslims and non-Muslims. And while it’s true that, presently, Muslim women wear it more often than others, does it deserve to have the gravity and potential stigma of an official religious symbol? Does it mean that we can classify a garment as a symbol if it’s predominantly worn in certain religious communities?
In other times throughout history, various types of head covering garments have been commonplace in non-Muslim communities. The Jewish and Christian characters of the Bible are almost always depicted wearing a cloth over their hair. In medieval Europe, a cloth head covering was a universal and homogeneous garment, worn by women of all faiths, and in many different styles. Even “Western” women as late as the mid-1900s commonly wore headscarves to protect themselves against sun, adverse weather, or wind, and would don them when outside, when riding horses, or in open-air cars. Most likely, your grandma probably wore one for such purposes. And let us not forget about Nuns!
Nowadays, though, head coverings are mostly worn by women in the Muslim community, which has led the rest of the world to widely associate the headscarf with Muslims. Even at the legal level, headscarves are associated with Islam, and in some areas, there are specific laws in place banning or restricting such garments for women of the Islam faith.
Can we classify a garment as a religious symbol just because people assume it’s a religious symbol? If that is the case, then the same can be applied to common stereotypes or anything that falls under the realm of non-objectivity. If that is the case, then we are going down a slippery slope of legislating opinions rather than facts.
Could the real reason for the headscarf’s classification as a religious symbol be the convenience the label provides to ban headscarves under the pretext of religious neutrality? With the negative light in which the media and Western society commonly portray headscarves, one can’t help but wonder.
Even if we were to make the argument above, that head coverings haven’t been uncommon throughout history, there is still the question of why the distinction is made between the garment that covers the head and the garment that covers the rest of the body. They're both articles of clothing, and they have the same function: to cover the body. There is even a garment called the Jilbab, which covers both the head and the body with one complete piece. The distinction between head and body covering can’t even be made in this case.
The reason for the distinction is that, unlike the headscarf, the rest of the dress resembles clothing other communities have more familiarity with. Islam values modesty and puts emphasis on the correct way of covering the body, which is why it prescribes the use of a head and body covering. But the headscarf itself is a garment that can be worn for any reason: just a piece of fabric, not exclusive to any community.
It’s clear a Muslim woman can’t “just take it off,” in the same way they wouldn’t just take off any other piece of necessary clothing they’re wearing. For Muslim women who wear a headscarf and cover their bodies, it’s not just an Islamic prescription: it’s incorporated into their beliefs of what parts of the female body should be covered. Similarly, women in Western communities have a dress code that prevents them from uncovering their chest in public, while women from certain African communities don’t adhere to that particular dress code.
The classification of the Hijab as a religious symbol opens the door to the banning of the garment, further alienating Muslims from societies, and fueling the hate crimes of people who consider the Hijab “provocative.” When Hijabs and similar head coverings are vilified, so, too, is the religion of Islam itself, and by extension, the individuals who adhere to it. Whether done deliberately or out of sheer ignorance and misunderstanding, legally moderating these garments is an act of discrimination and oppression.
