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.
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.
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 honourable manner.'
(S33:32)
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).
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).
THE HIJAB IS EEMMAN (BELIER 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."
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.
THE HIJAB IS GHEEERAH
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.
