The Veil in Christianity

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The Veil in Christianity

Mary, the motherof Jesus

A nun

Introduction

A common misconception is that Muslim women are the only ones who cover their hair. It may be true that Islam isthe only religion in which most women follow its directives to cover the hair, but it is not the only religion to have such

directives.

It is particularly interesting to look at the case of Christianity, since Christianity is the predominant religion in theWest, and it is Westerners, including observant Christians, who are often the first to criticize Islam because of thehijab (modest dress, including headcovering).

Is Covering the Hair a Religious Commandment for Christian Women?

There can be only one answer to this: yes, it is! Simply open the Bible to the First Epistle to the Corinthians, chapter11. Read verses 3-10.

But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ and the head of the woman is the man,and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered, disgraces hishead. But every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it isthe same as if she were shaven. For if a woman is not covered, let her be shaven. But if it is adisgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head. A manindeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God. But woman is the gloryof man. For man was not created for woman, but woman for man. This is why the woman ought tohave a sign of authority over her head, because of the angels.

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The meaning of this passage is plain enough. We can make the following syllogisms:

Syllogism 1

Praying with an uncovered head is a disgrace

Having a shaved head is the same as praying with an uncovered head

Therefore, having a shaved head is a disgrace

Syllogism 2

If it is a disgrace for a woman to have a shaved head, she should cover her head

It is a disgrace for a woman to have a shaved head - see syllogism 1

Therefore, a woman should cover her head

In other words, the passage means what it says. Have you ever wondered why Catholic nuns dress like they'rewearing hijab (Muslim hijabi women, have you ever been mistaken for a nun? I have, more than once). Have you everwondered why Mary the mother of Jesus (peace be upon them both) is always depicted in Christian art with her haircovered? Did you know that until the 1960s, it was obligatory for Catholic women to cover their heads in church (thenthey "modernized" the service)?

There are some interesting points that can be made about the Christian directive.

1) The explicit purpose of the Christian woman's headcovering, as stated by Paul, is that it is a sign of man'sauthority over woman. The explicit purpose of Islamic hijab is modesty. Strange how so many Westerners think that

the purpose of hijab is a symbol of male authority. Maybe they know that that's what it is in their own religion(Christianity) so they assume that Islam must be the same...!

2) The Christian woman is to cover her head whenever she is praying, whether it be at the church service or justpersonal prayer at home. This may mean that if she is not praying at home, she is uncovered around male guestswho are not related to her; or if she ispraying at home, that she is covered around her own husband and family. If

any more proof were needed than Paul's own words that the Christian headcovering is not about modesty, this must

certainly be it!

This puts hijab in a whole new perspective, doesn't it! To my non-hijabi Muslim sister who feels that hijab is a sign ofoppression for the Muslim female, please do read the above and then read the Quran. Believe me, if Allah SWTmeant for hijab to be a sign of male authority, the Quran would be as unambiguous about it as Paul is in the Bible.Isn't this difference the kind of thing that attracted you to Islam in the first place?

Do Any Christian Women Today Cover Their Heads?

It is true that most Christian women do not, and many don't take other teachings of the Bible (against pre-maritalsex, adultery, etc) literally either. However, there do seem to be a growing number of Christian women out there who

are committed to following the Bible as it is written. Below are some webpages that I found that call for Christianwomen to cover their heads in accordance with the commandment of the Bible.

According to the Scriptures: Headcovering

Biblical Headcovering: The Scarf of Hidden Power

Christian Women's Headcovering Directory

Headcoverings and the Christian Woman

Is a Woman's Hair Her Only Covering?

Let Her Be Veiled

Modesty and Christian Living in the 90s

My Testimony Regarding the Headcovering

Nigerian Catholics told to be modest


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No Such Custom?

On the Covering of Heads

She Maketh Herself Headcoverings

Should Christian Women Wear a Headcovering?

The Biblical Practice of Headcovering

The Christian Modesty

The Christian Veiling

The Headcoverings of Sisters

The Rites of Submission

The Significance of the Christian Woman's Veiling

The Veil

Women's Headcovering and the Glory of God

Note: Interested in a multi-faith discussion of veiling? Want to share with women of other religions who also cover?Check out the CoveredWomen4God e-group. Follow the link to visit the website, or join by submitting with the formbelow. Women only, please.

Subscribe to CoveredWomen4God

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The Veil in Christianity