10-24-00
Salaams. Happy Jummah. WElcome to the Muslimsworldwide newsletter.
For all of you who join me today, the article entitled The Virtues of
Hijab was brought to you in part by the site:
http://www.islamworld.net. This article, which was retrieved from the
University of Essex Islamic Society, brings possible answers to some
of the questions that raised about "hijab". if you like this
article, please feel free to visit the site, and post your opinions,
they are always welcome.
ALlah Hafiz
May Allah be with you every step of the way...
M.Editor
University of Essex Islamic Society
The Virtues of Hijab
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.
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