LOVE THE HIJAB

LOVE THE HIJAB
By: Fateen Al-jonara Pangarungan

“Why do you need to cover your hair and wear long, loose dresses? Your beauty hides beneath that clothe, it calls for appreciation!” A lot of people had been recounting on that. Our eyes are the channel for admiration for beauty. A woman’s beauty is always disposed to admiration from the gentleman. In Islamic perspective, a woman’s beauty is not for display which is prone to harassment and renders them an easy prey for depraved men with lusty motives. Here’s an answer to my friend’s issue and to the rest of the people who have similar inquiry. Hijab is the dress that covers the adornment of the Muslim woman. To be precise, the Islamic definition of hijab is the dress that covers whatever might arouse instincts. That would keep her safe, not only in her own society but wherever she goes. Notice that the way hijab is worn does not arouse sexual desire or appeal for both men and women.

The face is the index of women and the greatest source of attraction. Allah says in his Noble Qur’an:

"O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when out doors): That is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." " And they should not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons." "And when you ask his ladies for anything you want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs."

In most society in the modern era, when a Muslim woman is asked as to why she get rid of her hijab her grounds such as that it’s old fashion, it spoils the trend and “I’m just not ready for it, time will come.” It spoils her trend because she won’t find herself attractive to the opposite sex. My friend’s remark is indeed true that “Your beauty hides beneath that clothe, it calls for appreciation!” Swiftly women responded to that call. Yes, it may be true that a woman who does not cover her hair is not exactly looked upon as a loose woman. But women liked the idea that men look at them. Otherwise, why would they spend a lot of money every year to style, color and treat their hair? Or why would they spend myriad on fashion for the name of appreciation. FYI, hijab is not old fashion as some might claim and it does not spoil a trend. A woman does not need to show her skin to be in fashion. As you can see, the influence of our fashion to general fashion is pervasive. Muslim women are able to dress modestly from the mainstream outlets without disposing the hijab. There are no exemptions.

Our old folks have been warning the later generations that there will come a time when women will wear nothing but naked! We use to laugh at that aged foretelling. But look at the deteriorating society now, showing too much of the “flesh” is the trend. Today’s reality is summed up when Kenneth Edmunds said, “If you want to be somebody, that requires more than what you’re doing.” What he was trying to say is that if women will show their ass, rest assured that everyone will look. And maybe that’s the point. The new breed of “Muslim” women submitted to that propaganda. In simple terms, our own civilization went with the flow that was once adhering to one creed. Most Muslim women went out of their way as far as the circumstances will allow them to do it.

EVEN NON-MUSLIMS SOCIETY FIGURED THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING A HIJAB

I find it is so poignant that people ask the same question time and again, “Is hijab an oppression?” It could certainly be so if someone forces women to wear it. On the contrary, semi-nudity also is a form of oppression if someone forces her to adopt the style. However it is interesting to note that the very same people who find fault with the Islamic dress code for women do not find any thing improper in the dress of nuns. We can easily see that the nuns are still wearing their own hijab and the society in large see this as normal condition. Muslim women who wear their hijab face discrimination in joining the labor force. However, it is evident that the “hijab” of Mother Teresa did not prevent her from social work! And the western world honored her with the Nobel Prize! But the same people would argue that the hijab is a hindrance for a Muslim girl in a school or for a Muslim lady working as a cashier in a super market! How extreme is that? This is the kind of hypocrisy or double standards which paradoxically some “sophisticated” people find hijab fashionable! Let us put it this way --- If one woman has the right to go half naked in public, why doesn’t another woman have the right to cover herself in public? Why is it looked upon as oppression if she chooses to be modest?

THE RATIONALE OF WEARING A HIJAB

Let us shed light to this issue by looking at these paradigms. Research shows that one of its most important advantages of wearing a hijab is ‘the security of the society’ that clears it from crimes, rape, incest, harassment in daily life, etc. It will prevent a woman from scandalous acts and set her apart from women who sell their bodies for a price. By looking only at these examples affirms the idea that by taking off hijab, women are prone to belittling and disrespect, and social crimes against women like rape, harassment etc. are rampant. Hijab is a woman’s right to maintain her modesty and to be respected as a person. It is so strange that many women are not aware of such wisdom behind ordaining hijab. It is just for their own sake.

Logically, if a woman finds hijab as a hindrance from freedom and goes about displaying her body to seduce men or snatch another woman’s husband (thus ruining a serene and peaceful marital home), she should not be surprised if her son or husband happens to be the victim of another woman’s foul play. For instance, a husband may not observe the gradual loss of his wife’s beauty as he daily sees her; on the contrary, she will still remain in his eyes the beautiful bride whom he married many years ago. Yet when he goes out and sees those younger and prettier girls exposing their beauties outdoors, this may injure his self-esteem as he tries to notice variation in beauty (the thing that would not happen had all women adhered to the rule of hijab). Hence, the wisdom behind prescribing hijab as a duty for women is to safeguard and protect the whole society from temptation and secure the stability of marital lives. That is why Allah Almighty has ordered woman not to uncover the natural beauty and attractiveness that He Almighty granted her, before anyone except her husband

Even in these degenerate times, people pay more respect to the more modestly dressed ladies than to the scantily clad ones. Picture a lady prime minister or a highly influential woman wearing low-cut blouse or a miniskirt in an international conference?! Can she command and demand respect as she would get if she were in more modest attire? Similarly, if a female judge walked into the courtroom wearing a tight miniskirt and low-cut blouse, would you take her seriously? Who would you respect more, a woman dressed like that or one dressed modestly? There is no denying that women had changed. Women are getting farther and farther away from where they used to be. This is all brought about by the abused exploration, power and feeling oneself. It shifted women from being modest to demonstrative type only worst! The Qur’an was revealed for all times, and though circumstances change, human nature does not. The fact is that men do like to look at women’s bodies, so a woman who covers herself is more likely to be respected as a person than looked upon as a piece of meat! Nothing could be more degrading than getting to a point where people find us women too boring. Because what’s left after that?

We have the right to enjoy the beauty and the fragrance of a flower without blame unless we stretch our hand to cut it (trespassing on the right of its owner). We could also contemplate the beauty of a pretty mare without blame unless we try to ride it without the permission of its owner. The same applies to all kinds of beauty on the surface of earth. Islam permits anyone to enjoy these adornments, either their owners or any others who would like to contemplate their beauties. Thus, it is permissible to contemplate all kinds of beauty on earth except starring at opposite sex. It is not permissible for a male to look at a female other than his wife and the same applies to females, they are not allowed to gaze upon males and contemplate their masculinity. Allah says: (And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest. ) (An-Nur 24: 31)Thus, it is clear that hijab was meant to protect the Muslim woman, Muslim homes and Muslim society as a whole. It is Allah Himself who created man and woman, and He knows what is beneficial to them and what is harmful.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION

• “Does wearing a hijab concern women only?”

Others say that one does not need to cover the hair; some say that one must cover one’s face and hands besides the rest of the body. All of these questions are worthy of note. Let me tell you that a true Muslim should refer to the right scholars to get himself well-acquainted with the sound image of Islam. I would want to share my knowledge on this matter. It should be clear that Hijab is meant to preserve Muslim woman’s dignity. Like all other Shari`ah-based commands, Hijab should be given due care, for it brings about countless fruits and wards off evils.

The proof that would come to mind when talking about the obligation of hijab is the verses 30-31 in Surah 24 of the Holy Qur’an, which give the meaning of:

*{Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters’ sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigor, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.}*

These verses clearly reveal the idea that a Muslim woman should wear her hijab according to God’s commands. I need here to confirm a point that even that in the previous verses the word hijab was not spelled out in the first place, but Allah Almighty stated ‘good behaviors’ as a ‘prerequisite’ to hijab. Look at the expressions used: “Lower their gaze”, “be modest”, “not to display their adornment”, “draw the veils over their bosoms” “not to stamp their feet” etc. It must be clear to any thinking person what is meant by all the above expressions in the Holy Qur’an. Women in the Prophet’s time used to wear a kind of dress that covered the head, but not the bosom properly. So when they are asked to draw their veils over their bosoms so as not to reveal their beauty, it is clear that the dress must cover the head as well as the body. And hair is considered by people in most cultures of the world - not only in the Arab culture - as an attractive part of a woman’s beauty.

Allah says: “Say to the believing men to lower their gazes and guard their chastity,” (An-Nur: 30) “And say to the believing women to lower their gazes and guard their chastity, and let them not display of their charm - except what is apparent.” (An-Nur: 31)

Commenting on the phrase, “what is apparent”, Ibn `Abbas, the famous Companion and the Qur’an exegete, said, “It means face and hands.” In other words, according to Ibn `Abbas, a woman must cover all her body except her face and hands while in the presence of men who are not related to her directly (and the list of those in whose presence she need not cover is clearly outlined in Surat An-Nur: 31). The majority of Imams - including those of the Four Schools as well as others - share the above interpretation of Ibn `Abbas.

• “If a person refuses to cover her head, can others call her a non-Muslim simply for baring her head?”

If a person refuses to wear Hijab, after having known that it is a requirement mandated by Allah, then she is certainly a transgressor, and guilty of a serious offence in the sight of Allah, and yet such an offence does not justify anyone to question her basic faith. We must know that in Islam no person possesses the authority to put out people from the fold of Islam based on their sins or violations.

• “Can a Muslim woman wear colorful and flashy hijab?

They go against the objective of hijab, which is modesty and bashfulness. Therefore, I do not think it is permissible. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Allah is Good, and He only accepts that which is good." And for every good thing, the means toward achieving it must be good as well. So long as your attire fulfills the above conditions, you don’t have to worry. Remember Allah has not revealed religion to make life difficult; rather it is intended to make it easy and comfortable for us. Allah says: (He has not laid upon you in religion any hardship) (Al-Hajj 22: 78). (Allah wishes to lighten the burden for you; for certainly man has been created weak!) (An-Nisaa’ 4: 28).

Here are the requisites of hijab or Proper Islamic attire for women:

1. It should cover her whole body except face and hands.
2. It should be loose-fitting.
3. It should not be transparent or revealing.
4. It should not be an attire specifically worn by men only.

Guarding the honor and chastity of the Muslim society is often laid solely on the backs of women. A Muslim woman needs to be careful of her appearance. But outer appearance should go hand in hand with the inner attribute. Hijab is just an outer garment but the manners and behaviors of the one wearing it are as important too. It is necessary for a Muslim woman to look modest and behave well. Her actions will give an impression with what she’s wearing and on the other hand to her religion as well. What would you say of a woman who dresses modestly, wears her hijab but acts immodestly in the public? She might end up confusing the people. We serve as a model to other people and if people see us doing other things it is directly attributed to our faith.

We can say that there is wisdom in Allah’s commands, and if we see the wisdom behind certain rulings, it is easier to accept them. We can look at the advantages of adorning a headscarf and trust that Allah, the Omniscient, knows what is better for us. We can wait for the reward for doing so, only if our intention is to obey Him, because when there is difficulty in doing something, the reward is given in proportion to the difficulty. And that reward is more worthwhile than having a breeze on our necks. YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM CLICK IMAGE BELOW