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 honourable 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.
