Islam

[natalie_1982]

I just read Brick Lane by Monica Ali about a Bangladeshi Muslim woman who moved to Britain when she was 18 to be married.

Quite a big deal in the book is whether her hair is covered or not, or who she is with when it is/ is not covered.  Why does the hair need to be covered?

[netibiza]

I think it is beacause the hair is the beautiful part of a woman and only her husband can see it.

[Clanad]

natalie_1982 is fairly close... actually the concealing of the woman's hair is required in the presence of any unlawful person.  This from Islamic site:

Hijab is a headcover that Muslim women usually wear to cover their hair and head. The word Hijab is a derivative of the Arabic word �hajaba� that means �to conceal�. Certain Islamic interpretations refer to Hijab as covering the face as well as the head. The most common interpretation refers to covering the head and the hair.

The requirements for covering the hair is in the most common and accepted Islamic teachings that requires Muslim women not to show any bodily hair to men whom they are not related to in certain relations. For example, Muslim women do not have to cover their head and thus can show their hair to their fathers, husbands, sons, fathers and other men who are specifically allowed as �mahram� (legal). For all others that are not specified in the Islamic teachings, the Muslim women are required to cover their head and head hair.

[Clanad]

Ummm... meant netibiza's offering...

[natalie_1982]

Wow, thanks to both of you.  I felt pretty ignorant when reading the book as there was so much I didn't knoew/ realise.  Tis work a look if you like reading :)

[jno]

some Jewish women wear wigs for the same reason; and the Bible says women must cover up in church. I don't know what it is about religions and women with hair on their head, but presumably men are always being assailed by impure thoughts and blame anyone but themselves.