Contents
The Illusion of Reforming Islam
Do you want to reform Islam? Do you dream of a tolerant Islam? Do you want an Islam that keeps up with the times? Do you want a free Islam? Are you looking for an Islam of peace and respect? Is this what you desire? Let’s explore this dream together.
Islam does not need just one reform, but multiple reforms, the most significant of which concerns women. I believe we all agree on this point. Women have suffered greatly and continue to suffer because of Islam. The Muslim woman is effectively subjugated twice: to God and to man.
Can we interpret the verse about the hijab, which states:
“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)
differently from the way it has been explained by so-called moderate imams?
They claim that the hijab concerns only the Prophet’s wives and the wives of religious leaders, whom the verse refers to as “believers.”
This interpretation is false. The verse clearly shows that God calls upon all believing women to wear the hijab. Moreover, it commands the Prophet to ask his wives, his daughters, and the wives of believers to wear it.
There is no doubt that Islam mandates the hijab, and this is not merely an opinion—it is stated explicitly in the Quran. Anyone searching for excuses to claim otherwise is not following true Islam as dictated by God to the Prophet.
Either you follow this obligation, or you do not deserve to be called a Muslim.
Thus, reforming Islam in this regard is impossible.
Beware of so-called reformers who make baseless claims. Never speak without verifying the facts!
There is no need to bring up hadiths confirming the mandatory nature of the hijab, because the Quran takes precedence over hadiths in Islamic law. However, even in hadiths, we find repeated emphasis on the obligation of hijab, along with its conditions:
- It must not reveal the shape of a woman’s body.
- It must not be transparent.
- It must cover the hair, as Muhammad said that half of a woman’s beauty lies in her hair.
- The entire body must be covered except for the face and hands, which are not necessarily required to be concealed, especially for unmarried women.
A quick look at Islamic history shows that from the time of Muhammad and throughout Islamic civilizations, free Muslim women always wore the hijab. However, female slaves were not required to wear it, even if they were Muslim. This is a clear distinction in Islam: the hijab is for free Muslim women, not for enslaved women.
Historical Change and Today’s Reality
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, women began to remove the hijab, and secularism emerged in Turkey. The first women to abandon the hijab were Jewish and Christian women who lived in the Islamic world.
The trend started within wealthy families and gradually extended to other marginalized women (such as actresses, singers, and artists) until it became common across North Africa, Turkey, and Egypt, eventually reaching other Islamic countries.
If Muslim religious leaders today were to declare that hijab is not obligatory, one could argue that there is a chance for Islamic reform. But if they do not, then discussions of reform are pointless.
Have you ever noticed that God never addresses women directly in the Quran? He could have said “O women…” but he never did.
Isn’t this a form of discrimination?
Furthermore, Islam considers women weak and declares:
“Men are in charge of women…” (Surah An-Nisa, verse 34).
It commands men, through Muhammad, to force their wives and daughters to wear the hijab.
So, are you still surprised when you see a father or a brother forcing his daughter or sister to wear it?
Do you still believe that Islam can be reformed?
What do you think of God threatening women with hellfire if they dare to appear before a stranger without a hijab?
Hadiths Condemning Unveiled Women
The Prophet Muhammad said in an authentic hadith recorded by Muslim:
“There are two types of people of Hell whom I have not seen: people with whips like the tails of cattle, with which they beat people; and women who are clothed yet naked, deviating from righteousness and leading others to deviate. Their heads are like the humps of camels. They will not enter Paradise, nor even smell its fragrance…”
He also said:
“The worst of your women are the flamboyantly dressed ones who display themselves proudly; they are the hypocrites. None of them will enter Paradise except as rarely as a spotted crow.” (Reported by Al-Bayhaqi, and authenticated)
And another hadith states:
“Any woman who removes her clothes outside of her husband’s house has violated the barrier between herself and God.”(Reported by Ahmad)
A Question for ‘Open-Minded’ Muslims
Can we reform Islam in this aspect? Yes or no?
In other words, can you accept Islam without hijab?
If your answer is yes, we can move forward with other reforms.
But let’s liberate women first.
Unfortunately, I fear that the discussion is already over.
We are lying to ourselves if we say that Islam is capable of reform.
The principle is simple: When we try to reform Islam, we step out of it.
Before demanding reform, official Islam must first recognize other Islamic sects that have deviated from the rigid orthodoxy. Only then can we even begin to talk about reforming Islam.
