Hijab, or veil, takes the centre stage whenever there is a battle between truth and falsehood. Hijab represents a woman’s submission to her Creator and her connection with the faith. Islam is the complete code of life and is the best way for the ultimate guidance of mankind. Hijab is also one of the mandatory obligations of Islam for Muslim women and has its benefits. It shows that no other man has the right to seek pleasure from them as she is sanctified for her husband only. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
‘’O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and (the) women (of) the believers to draw over themselves [of] their outer garments. That (is) more suitable that they should be known and not harmed. And is Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’’ (Surah l-Ahzab 33:59)
Hijab is an act of obedience to Allah. Hijab frees women from being thought of as sexual objects of desire or from being valued for their looks, or body shape rather than their minds and intellect. It is the responsibility of a woman to assume such poise and behaviour that she does not excite a man’s passions. Even a glance of lust can infatuate a man and a seemingly harmless encounter eventually lead to mischief and corruption in society, destroying entire families. Allah says:
وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا
“Tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity and not expose their beauty except that which is apparent.” (Surah An-Nur 24:31)
Hijab brings to the lives of women and the responsibility men and women share in upholding modesty in society. Hijab gives women an air of authority, dignity, and respect. Only those who are well behaved can expect admiration and high esteem from others. Hijab is a way to show Muslim women that in the world of Men they are respected. Hijab makes a woman secure from social evils such as lust and shows that they are equally respected in society.
Here are some impotence of using the Hijab in Islam:
- Hijab blocked prevention of evil actions or thoughts
- Hijab is for successful women and believing women
- Hijab has given her a decent and upright lifestyle
- Hijab makes the soul calmer and more peaceful
- Hijab eliminates competition amongst women
- Hijab inspiring other women to do the same
- Hijab is the primary motivation to obey God
- Hijab bondage to the surrounding society
- A hijab symbolizes a journey of devotion
- Hijab keep confidence and self-respect
- Hijab takes one beyond the superficial
- Hijab renew their commitment to God
- Hijab Protects from Male Harassment
- Hijab is our statement to the world
- Hijab is an ambassador of Faith
- Hijab is an act of righteousness
- Hijab prevents cross-contamination
- Hijab Protects from Male Harassment
- Hijab provides the connection to God
- Hijab Protects from Male Harassment
- A hijab shows the identity as a Muslim
- Hijab keep confidence and self-respect
- Hijab over up with loose-fitting clothing
- A hijab symbolizes a journey of devotion
- Hijab is for Modest and respectable women
- Hijab inspiring other women to do the same
- Hijab elevates her in society by desexualizing
- Hijab makes someone beautiful inside and out
- Hijab is an expression of chastity and modesty
- Hijab directs self-worth away from an appearance
Every day tens of cases related to sexual crimes were heard in the courts of law. A hijab encompasses more than a scarf and more than a dress code. It is a term that denotes modest dressing and modest behaviour. Some women think that they look beautiful when they wear tight clothes and try to show off their modesty. Allah says:
لَّقَدْ كُنتَ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَٰذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَاءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ
“Certainly you were in heedlessness of this. So We have removed from you your cover, so your sight today (is) sharp.” (Surah Qaf 50:22)
They can still be modest and look beautiful by wearing a hijab, you do not need to follow non-believing women to look beautiful. It is the Shaytaan (Satan) that will mislead you and make you feel that the lady that is less covered is more beautiful than you. Allah says:
وَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ جَعَلْنَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ حِجَابًا مَّسْتُورًا
“And when you recite the Quran, We place between you and between those who (do) not believe in the Hereafter a barrier hidden.” (Surah Al-Isra` 17:45 )
Hijab for Muslim Women is a covering for the care of chastity and an identity card to pronounce their respect for the laws of their Allah. It frees them from being valued for their looks, or body shape rather than their minds and intellect. The majority of Muslim women wear hijab, to obey God, and to be known as respectable women.
Here are a few verses on what Allah says in the Quran about Hijab:
- “And abstain from all sins, internal or external.” (Surah Al-Anam, 120)
- “Between them shall be a veil, and on the heights will be men who would know every one by his marks: they will call out to the Companions of the Garden, “peace on you”: they will not have entered, but they will have an assurance (thereof).” (Surah Al-Araf, 46)
- “And when you ask (the Prophets wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen: that is purer for your hearts and their hearts.” (Al-Ahzab: 53)
- “And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance…” (Quran 33:33)
- “Islam regards both men and women as equal in the sight of God from the spiritual side of view.” (Quran 4:124)
Hijab is not a constraint for Muslim women, rather those who wear it wear it as an ornament that gives them respect as well as keeps them pious and free from any disturbance that may be caused because of any unintentional sexual innuendo. Allah says:
وَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ جَعَلْنَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ حِجَابًا مَّسْتُورًا
“And when you recite the Quran, We place between you and between those who (do) not believe in the Hereafter a barrier hidden.” (Surah Al-Isra` 17:45)
Hijab, in the sense of veiling, can also be achieved by hanging a curtain or placing a screen between women and men to allow them to speak to each other without changing the dress. This was more common in the early days of Islam, for the wives of the Prophet Muhammad.
Hijab helps in an obsession with physical appearance:
- Hijab is not required in places where there are only females
- Hijab is not a means to restrict women from pursuing
- Hijab is not a means to restrict a woman’s freedom
- Hijab is not worn to be intimidating or anti-social
- Hijab is not to express her views and opinions
- Hijab is not a sign of female inferiority to men
- Hijab does not hinder contribution to society
- Hijab is not a protest against non-Muslims
- Hijab is not education or a suitable career
- Hijab is not a symbol of oppression
- Hijab is not a portable prison
- Hijab is not something new
- Hijab is not against community values
- Hijab is not discriminated against or mistreated
- Hijab is not an act of defiance and confrontation
- Hijab is based on their choice of clothing or appearance
- Hijab has been practised by many righteous women historically
- Hijab is necessitated that people should not be judged by what they wear
Hijab does not mean that you are not like other Women. It means that you choose to save yourself from other social evils. Hijab provides a sense of security to a woman. It increases her confidence because she knows that she is well covered and can move around easily in areas that are congregated by her male counterparts. Allah says:
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
“Tell believing men to lower their glances and guard their private parts: that is purer for them. God is well aware of everything they do.” (Surah An-Nur 24:30)
O Allah, enable all human beings to know the message of Islam. We as Muslim women should make a practice to wear the hijab so that we can obey the Almighty Allah and can earn blessings from Him in both worlds. Women who wear Hijab Almighty Allah give them respect as well as keep them pious and free from any disturbance. Allah says:
وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِيَ بِإِذْنِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ
“It is not granted to any mortal that God should speak to him except through revelation or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger to reveal by His command what He will: He is exalted and wise.” (Surah Ash-Shuraa 42:51)
Muslims believe that their true purpose in life is to worship God according to His instructions. May Allah give guidance to all of us and enable us to follow Islam which is the manual of human life. May Allah grant us the wisdom to understand Islam and to live our lives to their fullest by following its teachings. May Allah makes us realize that education is not only about getting a piece of paper called a degree but education is about learning and understanding life, the world, and the etiquette of living.
