Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

Finally, let us shed some light on what is considered in the West as the greatest symbol of women鈥檚 oppression and servitude, the veil or the head cover. Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition? Let us set the record straight. According to Rabbi Dr. Menachem M. Brayer (Professor of Biblical Literature at Yeshiva University) in his book, 鈥楾he Jewish woman in Rabbinic literature,鈥?it was the custom of Jewish women to go out in public with a head covering which, sometimes, even covered the whole face leaving one eye free.

He quotes some famous ancient Rabbis saying, 鈥淚t is not like the daughters of Israel to walk out with heads uncovered鈥?and 鈥淐ursed be the man who lets the hair of his wife be seen (...) a woman who exposes her hair for self-adornment brings poverty.鈥?Rabbinic law forbids the recitation of blessings or prayers in the presence of a bareheaded married woman since uncovering the woman鈥檚 hair is considered 鈥渘udity鈥?

Dr. Brayer also mentions that 鈥淒uring the Tannaitic period the Jewish woman鈥檚 failure to cover her head was considered an affront to her modesty. When her head was uncovered she might be fined four hundred zuzim for this offense.鈥?Dr. Brayer also explains that veil of the Jewish woman was not always considered a sign of modesty. Sometimes, the veil symbolized a state of distinction and luxury rather than modesty. The veil personified the dignity and superiority of noble women. It also represented a woman鈥檚 inaccessibility as a sanctified possession of her husband.

The veil signified a woman鈥檚 self-respect and social status. Women of lower classes would often wear the veil to give the impression of a higher standing. The fact that the veil was the sign of nobility was the reason why prostitutes were not permitted to cover their hair in the old Jewish society. However, prostitutes often wore a special headscarf in order to look respectable.

Jewish women in Europe continued to wear veils until the nineteenth century when their lives became more intermingled with the surrounding secular culture. The external pressures of the European life in the nineteenth century forced many of them to go out bare-headed. Some Jewish women found it more convenient to replace their traditional veil with a wig as another form of hair covering. Today, most pious Jewish women do not cover their hair except in the synagogue.

Some of them, such as the Hasidic sects, still use the wig.

What about the Christian tradition? It is well known that Catholic Nuns have been covering their heads for hundreds of years, but that is not all. St. Paul in the New Testament made some very interesting statements about the veil:

鈥淣ow I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonours his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head - it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head鈥?I Corinthians 11:3-10).

St. Paul鈥檚 rationale for veiling women is that the veil represents a sign of the authority of the man, who is the image and glory of God, over the woman who was created from and for man. St. Tertullian in his famous treatise 鈥極n The Veiling Of Virgins鈥?wrote, 鈥淵oung women, you wear your veils out on the streets, so you should wear them in the church, you wear them when you are among strangers, then wear them among your brothers...鈥?Among the Canon laws of the Catholic church today, there is a law that requires women to cover their heads in church.

Some Christian denominations, such as the Amish and the Mennonites for example, keep their women veiled to the present day. The reason for the veil, as offered by their Church leaders, is that 鈥淭he head covering is a symbol of woman鈥檚 subjection to the man and to God鈥? which is the same logic introduced by St. Paul in the New Testament.

From all the above evidence, it is obvious that Islam did not invent the head cover. However, Islam did endorse it. The Qur鈥檃n urges the believing men and women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty and then urges the believing women to extend their head covers to cover the neck and the bosom:

鈥淪ay to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty (......)And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms....鈥?(24:30,31)

The Qur鈥檃n is quite clear that the veil is essential for modesty, but why is modesty important? The Qur鈥檃n is still clear:

鈥淥 Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies (when they go out) so that they should be known and not molested.鈥?33:59)

This is the whole point, modesty is prescribed to protect women from molestation or simply, modesty is protection. Thus, the only purpose of the veil in Islam is protection. The Islamic veil, unlike the veil of the Christian tradition, is not a sign of man鈥檚 authority over woman nor is it a sign of woman鈥檚 subjection to man. The Islamic veil, unlike the veil in the Jewish tradition, is not a sign of luxury and distinction of some noble married women. The Islamic veil is only a sign of modesty with the purpose of protecting women, all women. The Islamic philosophy is that it is always better to be safe than sorry. In fact, the Qur鈥檃n is so concerned with protecting women鈥檚 bodies and women鈥檚 reputation that a man who dares to falsely accuse a woman of unchastity will be severely punished:

鈥淎nd those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations)- Flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors.鈥?24:4)

Compare this strict Qur鈥檃nic attitude with the extremely lax punishment for rape in the Bible:

鈥?If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl鈥檚 father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.鈥?Deut. 22:28-30)

One must ask a simple question here, who is really punished? The man who only paid a fine for rape, or the girl who is forced to marry the man who raped her and live with him until he dies? Another question that also should be asked is this: which is more protective of women, the Qur鈥檃nic strict attitude or the Biblical lax attitude?

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

I am surprised; I thought it was common knowledge that the veil was common place among Jewish women

There are instances in the Old testament when the family of the rape woman did not accept the condition of marriage and payment; the sons of Jacob killed a whole nation after their sister was violated.

While the Quran indeed has strict attitudes concerning rapes; modern Muslim laws do very little to protect women from rape.

Muslim women needs to speak up and even fight for their rights according to the Quran. Ali, will you stand besides us when we demand honorable treatment by our husbands????

Will you?

Do you have the courage?

Would you have the guts?

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

In this instance, the Hijab is used as a means of keeping many Muslim women away from society, with the misconception that it signifies isolation and weakness. But as many Muslim women come back into the fold of the untainted and true Islam Report It

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

, they are able to recognize the injustice of men who have for so long stripped them of their rights to be an integral part of society and "deserving the same dignity, honor, progress and prosperity as the men". Report It

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

Women regaining their true identity and role in society, are now wearing Hijab and embracing its concept of liberation for women, and are taking their rightful places that Islam had endowed upon them fourteen hundred years ago. Report It

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

I am surprised that my answer was Chosen as the best. So you see Ali, we still have hope; there are indeed very many true Muslim men out there. Report It

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

Is it true that this is a strawman argument and no non-muslims give a f****k?

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

Live in ancient history if you want, but don't be so arrogant to think everyone should conform to ancient customs just to please your religious beliefs.

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

My, my! Thank you for this.

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

If you will not accept The One True God, The Creator of all that mankind knows and can ever know, then go crawl back under your rock in mecca.... you may keep your head... The Christian FAith is not spred at the point of a sword.

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

This is a distortion of reality. Which is more free, to let women choose a veil or not, or to force them to wear one? Also look at today's standards not some thousands of years ago. If a women is even touched wrongly in the west they go to jail and in Muslim countries it is almost impossible for a women to prove rape as it takes 4 witnesses and women are treated as less equal in all areas of life.

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

Well researched question. But your question at the end of your description is another question in and of itself. I'll answer your original question.

In Christian circles women may or may not wear head coverings. St. Paul has said, "Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?" (1 Corinthians 11:13) Each church decides whether or not women Have to wear head covering. It is not unlawful if you don't and it's not unlawful if you do.

Personally I see it as a very humble sign of submission to God and like to see it more.

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

Yep.

Is it true that there is no such thing as the veil in the Judaeo-Christian tradition?

A more accurate rendering see what follows;

1 Corinthians 11:7 Or 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering (of hair) on her head dishonors her head鈥攕he is just like one of the "shorn women." 6 If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair, but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. 7 A man ought not to have long hair