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THE
VIRTUES OF HIJAB
An
act of obedience.
The
hijab is an act of obedience to Allah
and to his prophet (pbuh), Allah says in
the Qur’an: ‘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.’(24:31).
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
Hijab is iffa (Modesty).
Allah
(subhanahu wa-taala) 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.’ (33:59). In the above ayah
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 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
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.’ (33:53). 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
honorable manner.’ (S33:32)
The
hijab is a shield
The
prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah, Most
High, is Heaven, is Ha’yi
(Bashful), Sattar (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).
The
hijab is taqwa (Righteousness and
Piety)
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.’(7:26).
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
hijab is iman (Belief or Faith)
Allah
(swt) did not address His words about
the hijab except to the believing women,
Al-Mu’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.”
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.
The
hijab is ghayra
The
hijab fits the natural feeling of Ghayrah,
which is intrinsic in the straight man
who does not like people to look at his
wife or daughters. Ghayrah is a
driving emotion that drives the straight
man to safeguard women who are related
to him from strangers. The straight
Muslim man has Ghayrah 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 Ghayrah
in men. Islam considers Ghayrah
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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