The Commandments Of Hijaab
The commandments of Hijaab are of great importance.
Though it is true that they are in fact somewhat difficult to
follow.
But one thing is true beyond doubt, and
that is
whosoever succeeds in following these
commandments will have less difficulty in obeying other
commandments of
Allah
Sub'haana'hu wa Ta'aalaa.
This is
the most bitter pill to swallow, in
terms of obedience,
but it
is most beneficial in that it makes it quick and easy for a
Muslim to be close to
Allah.
Today,
our standards of piety have become limited
to reciting
endless incantations and rosaries,
praying extra Salaat,
reciting the books of prayers,
fasting
when possible,
giving alms and charity and obeying those commands which may be
followed with ease.
But
we readily ignore and reject all those rules and prohibitions
which interfere in any way with our lifestyle, Nafs and desires.
We
profess deep love for
Allah,
but do not refrain from disobeying
Him,
even
though it is obligatory on us to refrain from all that
He
has
declared Haraam.
The
foundation of piety is built on seeking
Allah's
forgiveness for all our
disobedience
and
rebelliousness
against
Him.
Prophet Muhammad
sallallahu alayhi wasallam has said,
"Refrain
from sinning and you will become the most pious of worshippers."
The sin of refusing to observe Hijaab
is
more severe than other sins,
which
is why it is critical to immediately desist from it and to
sincerely resolve not to repeat it.
The
reasons for this are as follows:
-
It is a sin which
is committed in the open for all to see.
The
one committing this sin, without saying a word,
is openly declaring to everyone that she / he has no regard
for
Allah's
commands,
and
that she / he has revolted against
Allah Sub'haana'hu wa Ta'aalaa.
Our
Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has
said:
"All
of my Ummah is worthy of forgiveness, except those who have
openly sinned "
This is true not only for religion, but even under the laws
of any government of this world,
those who
openly betray their governments are not forgiven,
and
what is
the punishment for betrayal, but
death?
-
The sinful
consequences of refusing to observe Hijaab are not limited
only to the one committing this sin;
since
it encourages and spreads lewd and shameful behaviour,
it
ultimately affects the entire society which thus gets caught
in
Allah's
punishment in this world and in the hereafter.
It is
commonly observed that such a sin also paves the way for all
kinds of other mischiefs,
even
murder.
-
Those women who do
not observe Purdah should ask themselves why are they doing
so.
Is it
the temporary pleasures and fulfilment of desires which is
keeping them from it?
They
should realize that life in this world is short
while life in the hereafter is forever.
They should also realize that by not observing Hijaab
they
are embittering their lives here
as
well as condemning themselves to the punishment of hellfire
in the hereafter.
We are
not able to bear, even for a second, the heat of a burning
coal placed on the palm of our hand.
And
yet we never think, how will we be able to bear the severe
torment and fires of hell?
If we worry
that our father or husband or other relatives will not
approve and will be displeased with our following
Allah's
commands, then
we
should also think whether this will be an acceptable excuse
to present to
Allah
Sub'haana'hu wa Ta'aalaa
on the Day of Judgement.
Will
He
forgive us if we say that we did not follow
His
orders because we feared displeasing our family and friends.
Even though it is
Allah's
absolute and unalterable law that 'obeying
anyone while disobeying
Allah
Sub'haana'hu wa Ta'aalaa
is forbidden'.
That is,
if
someone asks us to disobey
Allah,
we
are forbidden to obey him.
We should
simply cast this person aside.
We
should consider whether this person whom we are pleasing by
disobeying
Allah Sub'haana'hu wa Ta'aalaa
will
be willing to receive and bear the punishment in our place on
the Day of Judgement?
Allah Sub'haana'hu wa Ta'aalaa
clearly states in the Holy Qur'aan:
Then would those who are followed
clear themselves of those who follow (them); they would see
the penalty and all relations between them would be cut off
And those who followed would say: "If
only we had one more chance we would clear ourselves of
them as they have cleared themselves of us.
" Thus will Allah
show them ( the fruits of) their deed as (nothing but)
regrets nor will there be a way for them out of the fire.
(2:166,167)
Ponder on this verse, and
it becomes
clear that on the Day of Judgement,
those people
who disregarded the commands of
Allah
and disobeyed
Him
to follow and please others,
will be enemies unto each other and all relations between them
will be severed.
On that
day,
the
young will blame their elders for not letting them obey
Allah
and
observe Hijaab,
while
the elders will say that they had no control over them,
they only asked them to disobey, but did not force them.
Then,
how frustrated and helpless will those feel who had disobeyed
Allah to
please others around them.