The
Turban

Here's a question,

why have the interpretations of rules concerning muslim women's clothing and seclusion

become more and more severe over the centuries,

while the rules concerning clothing for muslim men

seem to have been interpreted in a much more relaxed and permissive manner?

Strange isn't it?

Of course there are those who like to visit mosques

and exhort their fellow muslims to grow beards in a certain way,

or to cut off trouser legs above the ankle,

but few seem inclined to follow their suggestions,

unless it happens to be the local custom

to wear long beards and short trousers.

There are people to whom it is of great importance

to emulate the fashion of the Messenger's clothing

as exactly as they can,

and can this be seen as anything other than praiseworthy?

But most men see fit

to look to what was best for a time and a place

and adapt it for another kind of place entirely.

They look to the purpose of the clothing,

how it expresses the Deen,

and wear something that suits the local weather and culture.

But it's not just the cut of the cloth mentioned in the Hadith.

Aren't there strong clear words from the Messenger concerning men not wearing gold and silk?

Yet far from having cries to extend the ban to include other precious metals, or gemstones,

or other fine fabrics,

everyone seems quite relaxed about it don't they?

Is it that unusual to see gold watches in the mosque?

And silk ties?

Do you know any mosques that have dress codes for men

to keep these things out?

I think they usually leave these decisions to the muslim men themselves,

each man doing the best he can to follow what he understands of his Deen.

Aren't there all manner of areas of men's dress code

where we could easily cause a certain amount of aggravation

were we inclined to be extremely strict in our interpretations of certain verses?

Doesn't the Light Surah have a verse which says that

there are only three times of day when men are allowed to be naked?

No more morning swim? Or shower after the gym?

Don't men recognise that rules made for one time and place,

one culture and society,

can change to suit new cultures and societies

by searching out the purpose of the original rules,

the ideas behind them,

and finding new ways to express them?

And isn't this what muslims have done throughout history,

for both men and women,

but in quite a different manner

and moving in different directions.

The Messenger was never known to go out with his head uncovered,

and usually he wore a turban.

So if the Messenger's example is so crucial that it should be copied,

then why don't we see more muslim men wearing turbans?

Well, in Muhammad's day

if a man didn't wear a hat when he went out

it was said that he was letting people know that he was homosexual,

isn't that the case?

So the Messenger wore a hat,

a turban.

And around the world muslim men do wear hats,

as do people everywhere,

though of different styles

to suit the local weather.

People everywhere know that a hat is the best way

to regulate body temperature,

providing warmth in the winter

and shade in the summer.

But all those muslim men don't wear turbans

even though they owe allegiance and have affection for the Messenger.

And a lot of them don't even wear hats.

Some men may want to copy the Messenger in every external detail,

whereas others may well try to follow his example by trying to understand how the Messenger thought,

and trying to live a way of life that they think he might approve of.

When they go out they know that

they don't have the need for a turban to let other people know that they aren't gay,

and they know that a turban is not necessarily

a good choice for a rainy night out in Glasgow.

But all muslims must hope that if the Messenger was with them

he would approve of their behaviour.