The Muslim Veil in North America: Issues and Debates

The issue of the hijab (veil) has been divisive for the Muslim community in North America. Muslims themselves see different meanings in covering their heads. The wider North American society also reacts in diverse ways to the Muslim veil; some read into the practice elements of oppression of women and extreme patriarchal attitudes. Others see it as a harmless mode of self-expression. Beginning in 1996, the Canadian Council of Muslim Women invited scholars from various fields to carry out a systematic study of issues surrounding different practices relating to the hijab among Muslims. This provocative book also discusses the current issues surrounding opening up the interprestaiton of the Qur'an and the Hadith to a woman's perspective.