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The Science Behind the Veil (Hijab)

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Ukhti S. View Drop Down
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    Posted: 09 May 2010 at 2:48am
Bismillahi Ar Rahmani Ar Rahim - In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful
 
The Science behind the Veil (Hijaab)
 
     The moral duty of wearing the veil in Islam is an often-discussed topic among Muslim women. However, little has been written about scientific reasons that the veil is beneficial for society. There are, in fact, a number of health benefits that wearing the veil can provide, as well as many behavioral science studies that suggest that the veil is the best attire for women.
 
     Protecting the head is very important from a Protecting the head is very important from a health  perspective. Results of medical tests show that 40-60% of body heat is lost through the head, so persons wearing head coverings during cold months are protected about fifty-percent more than those who do not.
     Chinese and Muslim medical texts take this concept even further. In the Hua Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor�s Classic on Internal Medicine), wind is said to cause sudden changes within the body, and shaking, swaying, and other movements that potentially upset the body�s equilibrium; thus, creating bad health. These texts attribute the common cold to wind elements entering the body and causing the typical symptoms of sneezing and a runny nose.
     In the traditional Islamic medical texts of Al-Jawziyya, we can find numerous references to the "four elements" of fire, water, air, and earth, and how these affect the body in adverse ways. In particular, we are advised to stay away from drafts and to protect our heads in wind, breezes, drafts, and cold weather. All outdoor workers should wear some sort of head covering for this reason.
     Protecting the head is even more important in warm weather. V.G. Rocine, a prominent brain research specialist, has found that brain phosphorus melts at 108 degrees; a temperature that can be easily reached if one stays under the hot sun for any length of time without a head covering. When this happens, irreversible brain damage, memory loss and loss of some brain functions can result. Although this example is extreme, brain damage can still be measured in small degrees from frequent exposure to and overheating of the head. Bernard Jensen, a naturopath and chiropractor, states that this is because the brain runs on the mineral phosphorus, which is very effected by heat.
     Last, but not least, a veil or head covering should be worn by all public workers serving society to ensure cleanliness and purity. Workers in a number of professions wear "veils" - nurses, fast food workers, deli counter workers, restaurant workers and servers, doctors, health care providers, and many more. In fact, when we compare the number of workers who cover their heads to the number who do not, we find that more people probably cover their heads than do not.
     Aside from personal and public health benefits of the veil, it has numerous other benefits to society. In Analyzing Visual Data, Ball and Smith discuss the acknowledgement of sociologists that visual representations are influential in shaping people's views of the world and their interpretations of life. Men use visual data to interpret their relationships with the women around them.
     Many studies have found that when a person tries to rewire their instinctual perceptions, they are usually only rewired on the surface; their original perceptions still exist on some level. Brain studies show that we exist in a world of constantly varying light variables that force the brain to perform what is called "lateral inhibition;" consequently, it provides us with a "steady" image as opposed to a "true" image of what we see. Furthermore, lateral inhibition networks operate as part of the "unconscious" brain; largely, without providing any information to the "conscious" part of the brain about what they are doing. Therefore, the brain can provide varying perceptions of the world without our even being fully conscious of what it is processing.
     Further studies cited in Encyclopedia Britannica show that how a female presents herself to society falls under the category of ritualized behavior through which animals provide specific information to other animals, usually members of its own species. Virtually all higher animals, including humans, use displays to some extent to do this, and the best-known displays are visual ones. Some biologists actually restrict the term display to refer to visual signals or gestures. These visual signals, which in animals can be simply a bright color or plume, encourage attraction. In humans, they are usually exhibited in ornamental hair, make up, or clothing.
     In our society, most of the time attractive hairstyles and clothing are worn for the purpose of making the adorner more attractive (advertising and television have institutionalized this reality). The ever-changing variations in fashion tend to affect the brain because it typically has trouble constantly adjusting to changing shadows and forms in the world. Reasonably then, through "lateral inhibition," the brain automatically simplifies these images into the unconscious message that attractive hair and clothing are MEANT to attract. Joining these two concepts together, we can see how the human male could receive the signal of "attraction" from the brain before he has enough time to "block" it by "lowering his gaze."
     Having to re-form an image already processed by the lateral inhibition network is a cause of stress for most people. Doing this day after day, after seeing many "displays," potentially causes a great cumulative stress on society.
     In early times, stress caused the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in an outpouring of the hormones epinephrine, norepinephrine, and glucocorticoids that were essential to the life-preserving fight or flight reactions of primitive man. However, the nature of stress for individuals living today is different. It is only occasionally that one is confronted with unexpected, overwhelming, life-threatening stresses.
     Present day stresses arise from many things; among these are the vast amounts of visual and physical input we are bombarded with in this "information age" of personal freedom. The problem we face in this is that the body still continues to respond in the same fashion as during primitive times, releasing large amounts of these hormones, which can be very harmful. They can cause an increase in blood pressure, damage muscle tissue, lead to infertility, inhibit growth, damage the hippocampus, and suppress the immune system.
     The two most effective solutions to this problem are, first, to convince the advertising industry, and society as a whole, to alter the presentation of women to our males. The second and more viable way is to simply influence women to dress modestly, which will help ensure that they do not send inappropriate visual signals to men.
     Covering the hair can also have a beneficial effect on the female psyche as well. Studies of women being interviewed for jobs show that there is a high correlation between what they wear and their perceptions of how successful they will be in their interviews.
     There are many more examples of how what we wear can influence how we act. Wearing a veil can serve to remind women of their religious duties and behavioral expectations. It can also serve as a reminder to women that we are not only individuals, but also representatives and diplomats of our "Ummah".
 
By Karima Burns (IslamOnline.net)


Edited by Ukhti S. - 09 May 2010 at 3:01am
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Matt Browne View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Matt Browne Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 June 2010 at 3:28am
Because of all of these benefits, Muslim men should wear the veil too, right?

A religion that's intolerant of other religions can't be the world's best religion --Abdel Samad
Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people--Eleanor Roosevelt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ukhti S. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 June 2010 at 1:14pm
Bismillahi Ar Rahmani Ar Rahim - In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful
 
Originally posted by Matt Browne Matt Browne wrote:

Because of all of these benefits, Muslim men should wear the veil too, right?

 
Hi Matt,
 
If you have seen men from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Kuwait, Dubai etc you have most probably seen that they wear a "veil". And if you look at men in the Masjid (Mosque), then you'll also most probably see men wear something like a hat on their head.
 
If you come to deep religion and the understanding of it, then there's a difference between the veil of a woman and the veil of a man.
 
Take Care!
Kind regards,
Ukhti S.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote xx__Ace__xx Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 June 2010 at 1:35pm
Originally posted by Matt Browne Matt Browne wrote:

Because of all of these benefits, Muslim men should wear the veil too, right?

If men are physically much much weaker than women, which is contrary to the nature I know, then yes. And if wearing a veil and bangals would make a man appear handsome in some way -_-


Edited by xx__Ace__xx - 02 June 2010 at 1:04pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Matt Browne Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 June 2010 at 8:06am
Science requires critical thinking. The results of scientific findings should be open and not what we'd like them to be, because of certain beliefs. A good example is evolution.

In general, headgear such as hats, caps, helmets, veils, and turbans serve different purposes. One is protection (against impact, cold, heat, rain and other precipitation, glare, sunburn, sunstroke, dust, contaminants, ...).

Another is to keep hair contained or tidy. This was more important in the past, because shampoo didn't exist and soap was expensive.

There's also the purpose of social conventions. Symbols, rituals and dress codes strengthen social bonds. The article above promotes a particular social, cultural, or religious convention, trying to use science in an one-sided biased way. It doesn't show the whole picture. Just to give you one example in terms of health benefits: The average life expectancy of a woman in Japan is 81.6 years (no veil). In Saudi Arabia which is also a rich country it is 75.3 years (veil or niqab). In Yemen it is 64.3 (veil). In Afghanistan it is 43.8 (veil or burqa). In fact, chadors, niqabs and burqas are a severe health risk, because the human skin requires sunlight for example to metabolize vitamin D. Lack of direct sunlight actually increases the rate of depression significantly.

In my opinion, a woman can be a good Muslim whether she wears a veil or not. Whether she wears a chador, a niqab, a burka or not.  It should be an individual choice without the use of rules or peer pressure. And never ever should a man force his wife to wear a dress she doesn't want to wear.




Edited by Matt Browne - 05 June 2010 at 8:07am
A religion that's intolerant of other religions can't be the world's best religion --Abdel Samad
Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people--Eleanor Roosevelt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote xx__Ace__xx Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 June 2010 at 2:18pm
And that'd be cuz you're looking at it from the wrong perspective. This article is nothing but an implication of the scientific side of the many pros of wearing the veil. Some of the stuff relating to fashion might sound odd but I don't see how the scientific side would be 'one sided'.
Hmmm, you say both sides of a scientific explanation must be exposed. Agreed. So, any scientific disadvantages of weiring a veil come to your mind? Do share 'em.

"In my opinion, a woman can be a good Muslim whether she wears a veil or not. Whether she wears a chador, a niqab, a burka or not.  It should be an individual choice without the use of rules or peer pressure. And never ever should a man force his wife to wear a dress she doesn't want to wear."

^Yeh, and I don't think anyone denied it. Lemme remind you, Islam is the last religion which would literally force a person to follow its morales. And definitely, intentions in Islam matter more, only if your inside is true to God that's what comes first. Though, I don't see how this goes with the topic at hand, i.e. the lesser known advantages of wearing a Hijab.


Edited by xx__Ace__xx - 06 June 2010 at 4:04am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gibbs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 June 2010 at 10:01am
I agree with Matt there really is no significant scientific difference between a veil and a baseball cap.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote xx__Ace__xx Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 June 2010 at 1:21pm
"there really is no significant scientific difference between a veil and a baseball cap."

Except it wouldn't really be clever to wear a baseball cap everywhere to prevent being looked at as a sex object, which is the primary reason for the Hijaab. Smile


Edited by xx__Ace__xx - 06 June 2010 at 1:21pm
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