Informative Speech on Hijab

I. Introduction

A. Isn’t it ironic that a headscarf worn by a nun is considered a sign of holiness, but when worn by a Muslim woman it is seen as a sign of oppression.

B. The headscarf worn by a Muslim woman is called a hijab. The word itself comes from the Arabic word "hajaba" meaning to conceal or hide from view. Hijab is the modest covering of the head and body of Muslim women.

C. I have been wearing the hijab since I was twelve years old. Therefore, I have experienced firsthand the benefits and hardships.

D. You have probably seen women in hijab whether in the media or in your daily life. Perhaps you have wondered why a woman would chose to cover her hair or if she was forced to.

E. Central Idea: Because of the constant appearance of Muslim’s in the media, I think it is important for people to understand the reason behind the head scarf Muslim women wear.

F. First, I will talk about the different religions in which women cover their hair; then, I will discuss the different reasons in the Islamic religion for the hijab.

II. Body

A. Islam isn’t the only religion where women were required to cover their heads. In the religion of Christianity and Judaism women are required to wear a head covering.

1. Christianity: The Christian religion which is well known for the covering of the woman’s hair is the Mennonites. Mennonites are part of the larger Christian expression called Anabaptism, meaning baptized again. In traditional or conservative Mennonite denominations the head covering is called a prayer veil and is worn by baptized women. Some women wear the prayer veil at all times and others choose to wear it only when attending religious services. The two main reasons they wear the headscarf is:

• It responds to the biblical teaching that says women should cover their heads when worshipping.

• It signals submission to God and to the headship of the men in the family.

2. Judaism: In Judaism, covering one's head is a sign of respect. The Hebrew word, Kippah, literally means "dome." The kippah, also known as a skullcap, is perhaps the most instantly identifiable mark of an observant Jew. The Talmud, a central text of Jewish doctrine, says that the purpose of wearing a kippah is to remind Jews of God, who is the Higher Authority. The kippah is a means to draw out one's inner sense of respect for God "above. Not only do women wear the kippah but also the men.

As you can see Islam isn’t the only religion in which women are required to cover their hair.

B. There are many reasons why we, as Muslims, wear the hijab. The main reason is because God told us to. There are two sources which guide Muslims in the wearing of the hijab.

1. The first and most important source is the Qur'an. The Quran