It often occurs to me that many
of our sisters in Islam are not properly encouraged once
they begin to observe the requirements of Hijab. It may
be that a sister has been obliged to wear the Hijab without
truly pondering over its superiority.
Perhaps she has reached the age
of puberty and her parents have instructed her to wear
it. Perhaps she has recently accepted Islam and her close
companions have told her of its obligation. Alternatively,
perhaps her husband has commanded her to wear Hijab.
A sister who does not truly know
the superiority of Hijab will always remain envious of
disbelieving women. Why? Because they observe these misguided
disbelievers attempting to look beautiful for all to see.
Hence, the Muslim woman then compares herself to that
woman which causes her to feel ashamed of her own Hijab.
Therefore, what follows is a reminder
for my sisters in Islam. It is a reminder of the true
status of these so-called beautiful women. It is a reminder
of the excellence of the women who wear Hijab.
Excellent Qualities of Those who
Wear Hijab:
It is well known that the Muslim
woman is a creature of modesty. Allah loves for our Muslim
women to be shielded by their Hijab. It is their outer
protection from the decadence of this life.
's Messenger (sallallahu`alayhi
wa sallam) said , said: "Allah is modest and covering.
He loves modesty and privacy." [Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa'i
Al-Bayhaqi, Ahmad].
Thus, as modesty is a quality that
is loved by Allah, our sisters must take comfort in knowing
that they are modest and that they are not like those
women who show themselves off to the world. Such women
will not be shielded from Allah's Wrath. Allah's Messenger
(sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam) said: "Any woman who
takes off her clothes in other than her husband's home,
has broken Allah's shield upon her." [Abu Daawood
and At-Tirmithi)
Therefore, we see that the Hijab
of the Muslim woman is indeed part of modesty. Modesty
accompanies Eemaan (faith). That is why Allah's Messenger
(sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam) said: "Modesty is part
of Eemaan and Eemaan is in Paradise." [At-Tirmithi].
Also: "Modesty and Eemaan are companions, when one
goes away the other one goes away." [Al-Haakim and
others]
The Muslim women must know that
the disbelieving women who beautify themselves for the
world to see possess no modesty, thus, they are void of
any Eemaan. Instead of looking to the latest fashion models
for guidance, you must look to the wives of the Prophet
(sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam).
Look at the regard for modesty
that our mother, 'Aa'ishah possessed even in the presence
of the deceased; she said: "I used to enter the room
where the Messenger of Allah and my father (Abu Bakr)
were later buried in without having my garment on me,
saying it is only my husband and my father. But when 'Umar
bin al-Khattaab was later buried in (the same place),
I did not enter the room except that I had my garment
on being shy from 'Umar."
It can be quite difficult for the
Muslim woman to go out wearing Hijab in a society that
mocks and torments her. Indeed, she may feel strange and
out of place. However, if she knows the status of those
who are mocked by the disbelievers, then she would continue
to wear her Hijab with dignity.
Allah Says in His Book (what means):
"Verily! The criminals used to laugh at those who
believed. And whenever they passed them, used to wink
at one another. And when they returned to their own people,
they would return jesting. When they saw them, they said:
'These have indeed gone astray!' But they (disbelievers,
sinners) had not been sent as watchers over them (the
believers). But on this Day those who believe will laugh
at the disbelievers. On (high) thrones, looking (at all
things). Are not the disbelievers paid (fully) for what
they used to do?" [Quran 83:29-36]
Allah's Words should serve as a
support for you my dear sister. Also, take comfort in
being a stranger among these lewd and sinful women. Allah's
Messenger (sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam) said (what means):
"Islam began as something strange, and it would revert
to its (old position) of being strange, so good news is
for the strangers." [Muslim]
The Characteristics of the Exposed
Women:
Instead of practicing the Hijab
(covering), the disbelieving women expose themselves,
making a dazzling display of themselves for others. Such
a display is an attribute of ignorance. Allah Says in
His Book (what means): "And stay in your houses and
do not display yourselves as you used to during the times
of ignorance." [Quran 33:33]
Allah's Messenger (sallallahu`alayhi
wa sallam) said: "The best of your women is the affectionate,
the fertile, the comforting, the agreeable -- if they
fear Allah. The most evil of your women are those who
expose and display themselves, and those who strut (to
show off) and they are the hypocrites. Those who enter
al-Jannah (the Paradise) are like the red beaked crow."
[Al-Bayhaqi]. The simile of the red-beaked crow is to
show that those who enter Paradise will be as rare as
this kind crow is rare.
We see from the above Aayah and
Hadeeth that displaying oneself is indeed unlawful. Further,
it is a quality of the most evil of women! Therefore,
do not be envious of the disbelieving women. They only
have this life to enjoy, while the believing women will
have Paradise. There is nothing in your Hijab to be ashamed
of, as it is the garment of the righteous and pious female
worshippers of Allah.
In order to truly show you how
evil those women who expose themselves are, let us ponder
over the following statement of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu`alayhi
wa sallam): "Of the people of Hell there are two
whom I have never seen, the one possessing whips like
the tail of an ox and they flog people with them. The
second one, women who would be naked in spite of their
being dressed, who are seduced (to wrong paths) and seduce
others. Their hair is high like the humps of the camel.
These women would not enter Paradise, nor will they smell
its fragrance, although its fragrance can be sensed from
such and such a distance." [Muslim]
These women who expose themselves
are common among us today. These are women that even the
Prophet did not see! Look around you and you will see
those women who are clothed but naked! Look at the hairstyles
of the women who expose themselves -- are they not high
like the camel's hump?
Perhaps we are the first generation
since the time of Aadam to witness such women. If one
ponders over photos taken thirty to fifty years ago, one
will see that the disbelieving women did not expose themselves
in the manner that their offspring do today! These women
are among the people of the Fire! Thus, how can you envy
them?
Such lewd women will not even smell
the fragrance of Paradise; so our women must avoid their
path.
Another lesson from the above hadeeth
is that it confirms that what the Prophet , came with
is indeed the truth! This is a prophecy that has come
to pass in front of our very eyes. Hence, will we continue
to envy these evil women, or should we be grateful to
our Lord for the Hijab, which brings modesty, which leads
to Paradise?
To sum up, the Muslim woman should
abandon all of the ways of the exposed women, and adopt
the ways of those who are modest through their love and
practice of the proper Islamic Hijab.
By: Salaah Brooks
[Source: Hudaa Magazine]
