HIJAB IN THE WORKPLACE Q&A

Q:      What is hijab?
A:      Rules regarding Muslim women s (and man s) attire are
derived from the Quran, Islam s revealed text, and the
traditions (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him). In the Quran, God states:  Say 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 adornments except what (must
ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their
viels over their bosoms and not display their beauty except
to their husbands, their fathers...(a list of exceptions)
Chapter 24, verses 30-31
                In one tradition, the Prophet Muhammad is
quoted as saying:  ...If the woman reaches the age of
puberty, no part of her body should be seen but this --- and
he pointed to his face and hands.
                From these and other references, the vast
majority of Muslim sscholars and jurists, past and present,
have determined the minimum requirements for hijab: 1)
Clothing must the entire body, with the exception of the
face and the hands. 2) The attire should not be form
fitting, sheer or so eye-catching as to attract undue
attention or reveal the shape of the body. 3) The clothing
cannot be similar to male clothing or to the distinctive clo
thing worn by people of other faiths. 4) Clothing must not
suggest fame or status.
                There are similar, yet less obvious
requirements for a Muslim male s attire. A must always be
covered from the navel to the knees. A Muslim man should
similarily not wear tight, sheer, revealing, or eye-catching
clothing. The prohibitions against wearing clothing of the
opposite sex or distinctive clothing of other faiths is also
the same. In addition, a Muslim man is prohibited from
wearing silk clothing (except for medical reasons) or
 gold jewelry. A Muslim woman man wear silk or gold.
                (References: The Muslim Woman s Dress,  Dr.
Jamal Badawi, Ta-Ha Publishers;  Hijab in Islam,  Maulana
Wahiduddin Khan, Al-Risala Books;  The Islamic Ruling
Regarding Women s Dress,  Abu Bilal Mustafa Al-Kanadi,
Abul-Qasim Publishing)

Q:      But aren t there Muslim women who do not wear hijab?
A:      Yes, some Muslim women choose not to wear hijab. Some
may want to wear it but believe they cannot get a job
wearing a head scarf. Others may not be aware of the
requirement or are under the mistaken impression that
wearing hijab is an indication of inferior status.

Q:      Why is hijab becoming an issue for personnel managers
and supervisors?
A:      The Muslim community in American is growing rapidly.
Growth factors include conversions to Islam, immigration
from Muslim countries and typically high birth rates for
Muslim families. As the community grows, more Musli
m women will enter the work force. In many cases, these
women wish both to work and to maintain their religious
convictions. It should be possible to fulfill both goals.

Q:      What issues do Muslim women face in the workplace?
A:      Muslim women report that the issue of attire comes up
most often in the initial interview for a job. Some
interviewers will ask if the prospective employee plans to
wear the scarf to work. Others may inappropriately in
quire about religious practices or beliefs. Sometimes the
prospective employee, feeling pressure to earn a living,
will take off the scarf for the interview and then put it on
when hired for the job.

Q:      What can an employer reasonably require of a woman
wearing hijab?
A:      An employer can ask that an employees attire not pose
a danger to that employee or to others. For example, a
Muslim woman who wears her hijab so that loose ends are
exposed should not be operating a drill press or simi
lar machinery. That employee could be asked to arrange her
hijab so that the loose ends are tucked in. An employer can
ask that the hijab be neat and clean and in a color that
does not clash with a company uniform.



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From cair1@IX.NETCOM.COMSat Nov 11 16:15:47 1995

Salaam alaykum

The following is a DRAFT Question and Answer (Q&A) to be
sent to the media along with a news release detailing two
cases of sisters being fired from their jobs because they
would not take of their hijab. Please take a look at it and
offer an comment, suggested changes, additions, etc.

Ibrahim Hooper
Council on American-Islamic Relations