Hijab, or veil, takes the center stage whenever there is a battle between truth and falsehood. It has always been a sensitive issue, but it recently received a great deal of attention due to legislation and proposed legislation in several  Hijab represents a woman’s submission to her Creator and her connection with the faith. Hijab represents a woman’s submission to her Creator and her connection with the faith. 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)

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:

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)

Hijab includes conduct and behaviour among other things. Hijab in Islam concerns men as much as women. Hijab originates from a superior objective: limiting the human desires towards the opposite gender to one’s private life in the form of a legal marriage and letting society focus on work and productivity. Hijab in Islam in some sense is the main identification of a Muslim woman. 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 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. Islam is the complete code of life and is the best way for the ultimate guidance of mankind. Hijab provides Muslim women with both spiritual and physical peace and harmony.

Muslim women feel empowered wearing hijab, a headscarf:

1. Hijab blocked  prevention of evil actions or thoughts
2. Hijab has given her a decent and upright lifestyle
3. Hijab provides a sense of security to a woman
4. Hijab eliminates competition amongst women
5. Hijab inspiring other women to do the same
6. Hijab is the primary motivation to obey God 
7. Hijab is a symbol of privacy and modesty
8. Hijab is a head covering worn in public
9. Hijab is a test for the Muslim woman
10. Hijab is practised to show respect
11. Hijab is an act of obedience to Allah
12. Hijab is for Modest and respectable women
13. Hijab inspiring other women to do the same
14. Hijab elevates her in society by desexualizing
15. Hijab levels of layer and covering-up purposes
16. Hijab makes someone beautiful inside and out
17. Hijab is an expression of chastity and modesty
18. Hijab directs self-worth away from an appearance
19. Hijab is for successful women and believing women
20. Hijab helps their hair clean and protects their face from wind

Hijab makes a woman secure from social evils such as lust and shows that they are equally respected in society. In Islam, lowering one’s gaze is a command given by Allah to both males and females alike in order to promote a modest and dignified societal code of conduct. Males and females must exemplify noble speech, righteous manners and dress with modest clothing. The modest female clothing has become known as Hijab. 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 has become characterised by the iconic female headscarf. The Hijab worn by Muslim women enables the preservation of modesty in a public forum. A believer is considered to have fallen into sin if they choose not to observe its practice. Hijab is a core principle and concept of the Islamic belief system and is observed as a mainstream Muslim practice globally. Allah says:

بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

“With the clear proofs and the Books. And We sent down to you the Remembrance, that you may make clear to mankind, what has been sent down to them and that they may reflect.” (Surah Al-Araf – 16-26)

Islam’s societal construct is built on a foundation of faith in Allah and seeking to please Him by observing modesty at all public levels. Islam does not deny the instinctive desire to enjoy such beauty. Instead, offers men and women a dignified framework to do so. Living one’s life in accordance with divine instruction is a great example of personal empowerment and liberation.

Here are a few verses on what Allah says in the Quran about Hijab:

• “Tell the faithful men to cast down their looks.” (Quran 24:30)
• “And tell the faithful women to cast down their looks.” (Quran 24:31)
• “And abstain from all sins, internal or external.” (Surah Al-Anam, 120)
• “And let them not stamp their feet to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.” (An-Nur: 31)
• “Islam regards both men and women as equal in the sight of God from the spiritual side of view.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:124 )
• “Allah created you from dust, then from a drop, then He made you into mates.” (Quran 35:11)

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.

Scientific Benefits of Wearing Hijab:

•  Hijab hygienically serve society to ensure cleanliness and purity
• Hijab shields from temptations and harmful desires
• Hijab has given her a decent and upright lifestyle
• Hijab allowing to focus on matters in life
• Hijab takes one beyond the superficial
• Hijab prevents cross-contamination
• Hijab shields from unwanted advances
• Hijab protects the heat from the body is lost
• Hijab elevates her in society by desexualizing
• Hijab helps prevent such mental and physical harms
• Hijab protects the hair from dust and direct exposure to sunlight 

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. The majority of Muslim women wear hijab, to obey God, and to be known as respectable women. 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)

Muslim women choose to wear a hijab for many reasons. Some see it as a sign of passage into adulthood. Others wear the hijab to identify themselves as Muslim and show cultural pride. Many also wear the covering to value family traditions or local customs. Of course, many Muslim women choose not to wear a hijab. Others choose to only wear it for religious occasions. Allah says:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

“Indeed, Allah and His Angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe! Send blessings on him and greet him (with) greetings.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:56)

The Hijab sends a signal to men that the wearer is a modest and subdued woman who should not be bothered. Hijab or women veiling is important in Islam and all Muslim women should wear Hijab. One of the functions of the Hijab is to protect women from misdeeds and harm. 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.