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How do we respond to the misconception that the hijab of Muslim women is derived from the "Frau Malka," the head covering of Jewish women, and the claim that Muslims are the ones promoting this idea?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The issue of hijab is agreed upon by all monotheistic religions, with differences only in the wisdom behind it. Islam views it as an observance of a woman's nature and her relationship with non-mahram men. Before Islam, women suffered humiliation and degradation in most civilizations, and in distorted Judaism and Christianity, they were viewed disparagingly and described as a source of misery and temptation. As for Islam, it has treated women justly, granted them their full rights, and legislated for them what achieves the betterment of society. The statement that the ruling on hijab stems from "masculine jurisprudence" is incorrect; rather, it is Islamic jurisprudence with its proofs. No scholar has said that a woman's face is like her private parts and must be covered; instead, they differed on its obligation. As for a woman's voice, it is not awrah unless it involves softness or a seductive tone. The agreement of ultra-orthodox Jews on the niqab does not invalidate or cast doubt on the truth, for perhaps they retained some remnants of truth in certain matters.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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