The "myth" I was talking about is the Iranian style "hijab" and stupid "burka". It is mentioned nowhere in the Koran."
You're right. The words "Iranian" and "Burka" are not in the Qur'an, but you didn't say that. You said that the "hijab" was a myth. You weren't talking about the Iranian "chador" or you would have used that word.
The burka is cultural, as I mentioned above. It existed before Islam.
The hijab has many connotations- the one most commonly held by islamic scholars is that it means a physical covering of the body, but there are those who take the metaphysical application. That is fine, and I will not argue that contentious point brought up between sufi and salafs. however there is more to the argument.
It says in the Qur'an "By clear proofs and scriptures, and We have sent down on you (O Prophet) the reminder, that you can explain to humankind what is sent down for them and in order that they may reflect." (an-Nahl, ayah 44).
The Qur'an itself says that muslims must not reject examples that the prophet and his companions provided to show the meaning of the words that have unclear explanation in the Qur'an. You are trying to do away with the sunnah by asking me to use Qur'an only, so in essence you are disregarding the above words of the Qur'an.
So, that being said, one must try to separate the cultural actions of the time from those that were expected out of religious duty. Certainly alot of people at that time rode camels, but that is not something prescribed in the Qur'an, and something not expected all modern day muslims to do, even if the prophet and his companions did. The "niqab" comes across more as a cultural trait of Arabia of the day-- hence the reason why many non-saudi scholars reject niqab as compulsory.
However, it explicitly states in the Qur'an that women must cover their heads and bosoms. "Khimar" is used as arabic for "Head covering" for both male and female. There are plenty of proofs for this for the male-- as in descriptions when the prophet wipes his wet hands over his covered head-- the word "khimar" is used.
Thus in Surah an-Nur ayah 31:
"Extend the khimar to cover the bosom (24:31)"
This "covering is commonly known as "hijab". Now, you can argue that hijab shouldn't be used as another word for "khimar" and I would accept that argument, but muslim women who cover are following the majority of Islamic schools of thought.
Calling for an outright ban on hijab and then calling the covering of a woman in Islam a "myth" is not a wise remark by any stretch, coming from either a muslim or non.
I say, educate wome n to the meaning and let them decide, rathe rthan ban. Why some people can't put down their muslim hatred and accept that is understood-- relying on 3rd party sources for information on events and ideas is a powerful force to overcome.
