Ronald+Jackson



Religious views of dressing have helped people to express themselves for years. But, do people go so far? After reading this article, you will think deeply about the question just asked.

To begin with, we have all seen humans exposing and covering certain parts of their body. This tradition had been passed down for ages along with it's corresponding beliefs. For the living and the dead, certain clothing are called for to maintain a true identity in his or her religion. We will be exploring the specific clothing and reason for wearing it in two religions: Judaism and Islam.

Here is an example of "representing your religion" in Judaism:
 * "The white shroud is also a symbol of purity (although, paradoxically, the corpse was considered so impure in ancient times that it was not to be touched by the high priests except in select circumstances). The shroud is also alluded to during Yom Kippur when Jews traditionally wear white clothing as they attempt to emulate the purity of the angels.**"

So, after Jews pass away, it is a necessity that they be buried in white to represent angels. It represents purity and a divine soul. But, even though they wear white, are they really pure people? They could be murderers going along with the wishes of a parent or other family member. At such a point, does the way that you look really matter?

Now, for an example of representing your religion in Islam: "1. Clothing must cover the entire body, only the hands and face may remain visible (According to some Fiqh Schools) .   2. The material must not be so thin that one can see through it.    3. The clothing must hang loose so that the shape / form of the body is not apparent.    4. The female clothing must not resemble the man's clothing.    5. The design of the clothing must not resemble the clothing of the non believing women.    6. The design must not consist of bold designs which attract attention.    7. Clothing should not be worn for the sole purpose of gaining reputation or increasing one's status in society." This is very strict. In fact, I've noticed that some Muslim women don't cover their whole body up. They just wear the kemar over the top of the head. Anyway, this makes no sense. Some people can't afford to cover up their whole body due to jobs or alliances. Does this mean that they have no eternal life? Not to mention, I'm sure that the Muslim women that do cover up their bodies completely feel out of place when in public. Now, to compare the two: Both of these traditions have one thing in common: dressing must be done in a certain way. If it is not done in this way, you will have a miserable life. It seems that Jews don't have rules as strict as Muslims. They don't have to cover up their entire bodies. Yet, they still have rules to abide by. Being a Muslim seems hard as you probably don't attract a mate as easy since womens' curves must be hidden. Jewish people don't have that problem. To conclude, religion does has strict dressing codes. But, does it matter to God? This is the question to consider. After all, every Holy text was written by a human. So, make wise choices when you're getting dressed in the morning! Sources: Kahn, Rabbi Moshe. "Reprinted from Ten Daat Vol. III No. 3 pp. 9-11." //Jewish Education for Women//. Rabbi Kahn, n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2010. < [] >. "Seven Conditions For Women's Dress in Islam." //Islam for today//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov 2010. . "Chevra Kaddisha." //Blood Gender Power//. N.p., 1991. Web. 1 Nov 2010. . //TLC's What Not To Wear: Take Notes!//. Web. 1 Nov 2010. .