A Woman in Hijab as an Emblem of the CHSCA

In the CHSCA website, there is an article on spiritual abuse with a picture of a Muslim woman wearing a hijab (Muslim women's head covering). This picture is used in many of the CHSCA articles and posts in other websites practically as an emblem of the CHSCA.

In another post, I wrote that hijabs are not signs of spiritual abuse. The idea that women's head coverings indicate spiritual abuse has something to do with the Bible and has nothing to do with the Qur'an. This is an example of Western people's misunderstanding of Islam. I do not deny that in some Muslim countries, regions, and groups there is spiritual abuse toward women, but it has nothing to do with their wearing hijabs.

In fact, using this picture as an emblem of the CHSCA makes an impression that CHSCA is a kind of Muslim or anti-Muslim organization and not an anti-cult organization.

Actually, John Knapp does not deny that he knows very little about Islam as he wrote in CHSCA Facebook page:

I know much less about Islam than Christianity, Buddhism, or Hinduism—about which I know little enough. What I do know, I admire.

I've tried reading the Qu'ran, but unfortunately I found trying to read it without cultural context very difficult. I had some really great conversations with a local Imam in California around the time of the Gulf War. He helped me a little. I bought a beautiful edition in the original with facing translation. I still have it.

Well, when Muslims speak about reading the Qur'an, they always mean reading its original Arabic text. I do not think Knapp tried to read its Arabic text. Probably, he tried to read one of its English translations. I personally read Russian translations of the Qur'an almost 30 times (I have 7 different Russian translations of the Qur'an) and I read the Arabic text 2 times. In addition, I read some portions of English translations of the Qur'an. I never felt that it is hard to read a translation of the Qur'an, even when I was reading it the first time and the translation was not very good. It may be hard to understand some things in the Qur'an. However, many translations of the Qur'an have commentaries. In fact, most translations of the Qur'an are translations of meanings, that is, they themselves give some interpretation of the Qur'an. Also, there are Qur'anic commentaries. They are called Tafsir or Tafseer. I have 2 Tafsirs in Russian, but there are much more Tafsirs available in English. In addition, there are books on the Qur'anic sciences (Ulum al-Qur'an or Uloom al-Qur'an) which give good introductory information on the background of the Qur'an and principles of its understanding and interpretation. There are also many books on Islam, including those for beginners. So, if Knapp had really wanted to read and understand a translation of the Qur'an, he could have done that without much difficulty.

If he had read a translation of the Qur'an, he would probably know why Muslim women wear hijabs because the Qur'an is very clear about this. In the Qur'an 24:30-31 (Yusufali's translation), it is written:

30 Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.
31 And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.

In the Qur'an 33:59 (Yusufali's translation), it is said:

O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

So, the reason for women to cover their whole body, including their heads, according to the Qur'an is to prevent men's lust to them, that is, to prevent rapes and any kinds of sexual abuse. This reason has nothing to do with oppression or spiritual abuse.