In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Assalam alaikum [May peace be upon you].
I begin with a quote-
“It is one of the great ironies of our world today that the very same headscarf revered as a sign of 'holiness' when worn by Catholic Nuns, is reviled as a sign of 'oppression' when worn for the purpose of modesty and protection by Muslim women.”
In this article i would like to address the issue of Hijab [covering the head and the body] which deals with the modesty of covering the head and body by Muslim Women.
The ‘crunch’! Hijab is a sign of Oppression and Suppression.
It is again common to hear that many people in the west, standing for ‘women’s liberation’ consider the observance of the Hijab by Muslim women as the greatest representation of women's oppression. In other words, the woman is subjugated in Islam and is imprisoned under the garb because she has to cover herself up under compulsion. Let us see whether this claim holds true!
We must first try to understand-
"Why do Muslim women need to cover their heads?”
Undoubtedly, many people labor under the mistake that the Hijab applies to women alone. Since this article deals with the Hijab of Muslim women I would describe the Hijab of Men in brief. The word Hijab is commonly used to refer to covering or concealing but in the broader sense Hijab is not merely a covering. The Hijab serves as a protection- Protection of identity, Protection of dignity, Protection of self-esteem, Protection of chastity, purity.
Moreover it is the Hijab of moral character, behavior,conduct, speech and appearance among people.
Allah says in the Noble Qur’an-
"Say to the believing man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.
And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty…..." [Al-Qur'an 24:30-31)
These aayaats[verses] from Surah (Chapter) Noor are clear and apply to both men and women. Indeed, these verses provide solutions to the problems we face today.
My dear sisters, ask yourselves -
Would you like those stares from men around you? Do you really feel comfortable when Men ogle at you continuously [under the pretext of admiring your beauty]?
And my dear brothers, ask yourselves-
Would you entertain any guy ogling at your sister? Or your Mother?
The answer is so obvious! We respect and love our Mothers, our sisters and we must also be well aware that the women around us are mothers, daughters, sisters of someone too. I agree that there are many among us who love it [seeking attention from the opposite sex] and want to be seen and commented on! May Allah guide such to the truth and protect them from the evils of its consequences.
As I mentioned earlier, the verses mentioned above provide solutions- let us see how!
Allah commands the believing man to lower his gaze [eyes] when he sees a woman before any weird or brash thought creeps into his mind. It is not allowed and appropriate for a man to ‘STARE’ at a woman and bother her [independent of what she is wearing]. Many men feast upon women who dress skimpily [or even wear revealing, tight fitting clothes] which is totally wrong. This leads to eve teasing and other evils which we are aware of.
Thus the evil which leads to other evils is cut off at the root level itself. Alhamdulillah.
Coming to the next verse in which Allah commands the believing woman to do the same and guard their modesty. If we read the verse carefully, we realize the beauty of it.
Unfortunately, we see many sisters following the footsteps of topnotch women celebrities, actresses and Models [size zero]. This trend of imitating what they wear and how they look or what they apply that has been borrowed from the western society over the years is in vogue and is flourishing in our societies today to which our sisters are falling prey. It is sad to see that the women are being treated like objects. In the name of liberation, our women are literally being degraded.
Studies and surveys reveal to us that more than half of men first glance at a woman’s bosoms. Also a majority of men, glance at the woman’s hips and buttocks. Statistics say that very few men look at the woman’s face initially.
Now, I would want you to read the verse again-
Allah commands the woman to-
‘draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty’
Alhamdulillah. Another solution in which the woman takes social responsibility and avoids mischief from happening! How does it happen? The same would be elaborated in the next verse which says-
"O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments[cloak] around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they may be known [to be Muslims] and not be molested.." [Al-Qur'an 33:59]
The 2 reasons stated here in this verse of the Noble Qur’an are-
1] They may be known as Muslims [Believing women submitting their will to God]
2] Not be molested [Annoyed]
As I mentioned in the initial part of this article- Hijab also speaks for a woman’s identity. When people see a woman well covered in hijab, it does not take them time to recognize the woman to be a Muslim. The Hijab speaks for the one wearing it- so as to say-
‘Do not approach me; I am not that kind of a woman’
Statistics also tell us that most of the rapes that happen are a result of the provocative dressing or behavior of a woman.
Ask yourself a question- When you see a woman dressed modestly in Hijab what do you feel for her other than respect? Would you cast a second look at her?
What is the case with our sisters [nuns] who have dedicated themselves to the churches? What is their attire like?
It is strange to see that the Christian women do not observe the veil though the Bible instructs women to dress up in the same manner as the Nuns and the Muslim women do. Women would not enter the churches without covering their heads until forty years back . But the storm of Modernization has struck so hard that it seems the women other than the nuns are exempt from this biblical code of dressing!
Would you even consider casting a second look at Muslim women in hijab as compared to women in tight revealing clothes? SubhanAllah [Glory be to Allah]
Here is a survey that the English daily newspaper recently conducted on scarf and Hijab. This survey was conducted among those ladies who are mostly highly educated and are presently working as professionals in their respective fields. When question was raised why they do Scarf or Hijab or under what circumstance they started doing scarf.
Some of the answers are as below-
One beautiful lady who is presently working in an american IT firm as a IT specialist says:
That while doing scarf it’s like having recognition. I feel more confidence and power within myself.
Another woman says that I love fashion and still I am, but Hijab has given elegance in my style, what I was lacking before and I always felt that. Now in crowd even, I feel myself so differnt and special.
Similary such kind of surveys were conducted on internet, and there, when women were asked whey they start wearing scarf, some of the answers are as under;
It boost confidence, and automatically creates respect for myself. It was so surprising to note that non muslims even participated in the survey.Tena who is catholic christian and by profession is an engineer wear scarf. She explains that it gives her contentment, and feeling of peace.
Although scarf was initially a symbol of religious attachment but with the pessage of time, it has become part of glamour and fashion. Nowadays, even in functions and wedding parties, girls prefer to wear their shawl in style of scarf. In College and university girls also, it is becoming more and more popular.
People often talk about History but fail to realize that the clothing of women as recently as fifty to seventy years ago was strikingly similar to hijab. The western attire is nothing but a new invention. It must be noted that Muslim women who wear hijab and know the practicality and wisdom behind it do not wear it out of compulsion. They do not wear it because the Imams say or because their fathers or husbands want them to. They wear it because Allah says so!
And undoubtedly, it does not interfere with any of the activities in all aspects and walks of life. As I said earlier Hijab is not merely a covering but in the broader sense, Hijab serves as a protection- Protection of identity, Protection of dignity, Protection of self-esteem, Protection of chastity, purity.
Moreover it is the Hijab of moral character, behavior, appearance, speech and appearance among people.
Islam teaches us to treat the women gently and with utmost respect without harming their identity and dignity.
How ironic it is that people are more concerned and worried about their wealth [gold and silver] but so careless when it comes to protecting and safeguarding women! They try their best to safeguard their riches and deposit the same in banks and safety deposits. I dare anyone to walk with a piece of diamond, gold or silver openly! You wouldn’t because it is valuable.
Women are far more valuable than diamonds and pearls in Islam! Priceless.
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w instructed us to be kind and protective towards women as they are our mothers, sisters, daughters and aunts. If men and women both understand their responsibilities and know the wisdom behind what Allah has revealed they would willingly take it up knowing the benefits of the prescribed way of life. Alhamdulillah! For both men and women, clothing requirements are not meant to be a restriction but rather a way in which society will function in a proper manner.
Hijab uplifts the women and is safe from the claims and allegations of the talkers of vanity who wish to achieve their aims by shouting out loud their so called concerns for ‘women’s liberation’ and exposing women to all kinds of evils of the society.
Hijab doesnt not subjugate but safeguards!
May Allah guide us all!
Ameen..
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