Hijab
1.An act
of obedience.
The hijab is an act of obedience to Allah and to his prophet (pbuh),
Allah says in the Qur'an: 'It
is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His
messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option
in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His
Messenger, has indeed strayed in a plain error.' (S33:36).
Allah also said: 'And tell the believing women to lower
their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their
private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc) and not to show
off their adornment except what must (ordinarily) appear
thereof, that they should draw their veils over their
Juyubihinna.'(S24:31).
Juyubihinna: The respected scholars from As-Salaf As-Saleh
(righteous predecessors) differed whether the veil cover of the
body must include the hands and face or not. Today, respected
scholars say that the hands and face must be covered. Other
respected scholars say it is preferable for women to cover
their whole bodies.
2.The Hijab is IFFAH (Modesty).
Allah (subhana wa'atala) made the adherence to the hijab a
manifestation for chastity and modesty. Allah says: 'O
Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of
the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies
(when outdoors). That is most convenient that they should be
known and not molested.' (S33:59).
In the
above Ayaah there is an evidence that the recognition of the
apparent beauty of the woman is harmful to her. When the cause
of attraction ends, the restriction is removed. This is
illustrated in the case of elderly women who may have lost
every aspect of attraction. Allah (swt) made it permissible for
them to lay aside their outer garments and expose their faces
and hands reminding, however, that is still better for them to
keep their modesty.
3.The hijab is Tahara (Purity)
Allah (swt) had shown us the hikma (wisdom) behind the
legislation of the hijab: `And when you ask them (the
Prophet's wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a
screen, that is purer for your hearts and their hearts.'
(S33:53).
The hijab makes for greater purity for the hearts of believing
men and women because it screens against the desire of the
heart. Without the hijab, the heart may or may not desire. That
is why the heart is more pure when the sight is blocked (by
hijab) and thus the prevention of fitna (evil actions is very
much manifested. The hijab cuts off the ill thoughts and the
greed of the sick hearts: `Be not soft in speech, lest he
in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for
adultery, etc) should be moved with desire, but speak in an
honorable manner.' (S33:32)
4.The hijab is a Shield
The prophet (pbuh) said: "Allah, Most High, is Heaven, is
Ha'yeii (Bashful), Sit'teer (Shielder). He loves Haya'
(Bashfulness) and Sitr (Shielding; Covering)."
The Prophet (pbuh) also said: "Any woman who takes off her
clothes in other than her husband's house (to show off for
unlawful purposes), has broken Allah's shield upon her. "The
hadith demonstrates that depending upon the kind of action
committed there will be either reward (if good) or punishment
(if bad).
5. The hijab is Taqwah (Righteousness)
Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an: `O children of Adam! We
have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your
private parts, etc) and as an adornment. But the raiment of
righteousness, that is better.'(S7:26). The widespread
forms of dresses in the world today are mostly for show off and
hardly taken as a cover and shield of the woman's body. To the
believing women, however the purpose is to safeguard their
bodies and cover their private parts as a manifestation of the
order of Allah. It is an act of Taqwah (righteousness).
6.The hijab is Eemaan (Belief or Faith)
Allah (swt) did not address His words about the hijab except to
the believing women, Al-Mo'minat. In many cases in the Qur'an
Allah refers to the "the believing women". Aisha (RA), the wife
of the prophet (pbuh), addressed some women from the tribe of
Banu Tameem who came to visit her and had light clothes on
them, they were improperly dressed: "If indeed you are
believing women, then truly this is not the dress of the
believing women, and if you are not believing women, then enjoy
it."
7. The hijab is Haya' (Bashfulness)
There are two authentic hadith which state: "Each religion has
a morality and the morality of Islam is haya'" AND "Bashfulness
is from belief, and belief is in Al-Jannah (paradise)". The
hijab fits the natural bashfulness which is a part of the
nature of women.
8.The hijab is Gheerah
The hijab fits the natural feeling of Gheerah, which is
intrinsic in the straight man who does not like people to look
at his wife or daughters. Gheerah is a driving emotion that
drives the straight man to safeguard women who are related to
him from strangers. The straight MUSLIM man has Gheerah for ALL
MUSLIM women. In response to lust and desire, men look (with
desire) at other women while they do not mind that other men do
the same to their wives or daughters. The mixing of sexes and
absence of hijab destroys the Gheera in men. Islam considers
Gheerah an integral part of faith. The dignity of the wife or
daughter or any other Muslim woman must be highly respected and
defended.
Fear
Allah & hope for every good thing from Him; Don't follow your
adamant self, lest you regret it; Remain in between hope & fear
and you will rejoice with the pardon of Allah if you submit (Hasan
ibn Hani (ra))