The Virtues of Hijaab
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Taken from University of Essex ISOC
An Act of
Obedience The hijaab is an act of
obedience to Allah and to his prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, 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. The Hijaab
is IFFAH (Modesty) Allah
(subhana wa'atala) made
the adherence to the hijaab 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. The Hijaab
is Tahara (Purity) Allah
(swt) had shown us the
hikma (wisdom) behind the legislation of the hijaab: '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 hijaab makes for greater
purity for the hearts of believing men and women because it screens against the
desire of the heart. Without the hijaab, the heart may or may not desire. That
is why the heart is more pure when the sight is blocked (by hijaab) and thus the
prevention of fitna (evil actions is very much manifested. The hijaab 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) The Hijaab
is a Shield The prophet
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Allah,
Most High, is Heaven, is Ha'yeii (Bashful), Sit'teer (Shielder). He loves Haya'
(Bashfulness) and Sitr (Shielding; Covering)." The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam
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 Hadeeth demonstrates that
depending upon the kind of action committed there will be either reward (if
good) or punishment (if bad). The Hijaab
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). The Hijaab
is Eeman (Belief or Faith) Allah
(swt) did not address His
words about the hijaab 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 sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, 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." The Hijaab
is Haya' (Bashfulness) There are two authentic Hadeeth
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 hijaab
fits the natural bashfulness which is a part of the nature of women. The Hijaab
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 hijaab 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.