In The Name of God, The Intensely Merciful, The Eternally Merciful
“Have you ever caught yourself watching Muslim women and wondering, “Why are they wearing those clothes?” (hijab)
The Islamic dress helps safeguard the modesty and decency of a person and the moral ideals of society. There is a deep impact that outer modesty makes on inner spiritual well-being. Furthermore, inner spirituality is reflected in one’s appearance.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkul Karman, when asked about her hijab by journalists and how it is not proportionate with her level of intellect and education, replied:
“Man in early times was almost naked, and as his intellect evolved he started wearing clothes. What I am today and what I am wearing represents the highest level of thought and civilization that man has achieved, and is not regressive. it is the removal of clothes again that is a regression back to the ancient times.”
It’s one’s ignorance and stereotyping behaviour which makes people believe a piece of material covering the hair strips a woman of the ability to speak up, pursue a career or work a remote control– when in fact, Muslim women cover their hair (and body), not their brain.
Hypocrisy and freedom
People think Muslim women need to be freed. But is it freedom showing parts of her body that she doesn’t want others to see? If a woman is free to show her body, why should she not be free to cover it?
Ironically, the very people supporting freedom of choice, insist to “take off the hijab”. This is a way of also dictating what she should or should not wear.
Equal, not identical
Ever since secularism and feminism deleted God from society, man became the only role model: i.e women could never be a full human being, until she becomes just like a man.
In Islam, women are honoured to a higher level of righteousness and piety, not being just a sexual object to men.
God created man and woman as a pair; equal, but not identical. Men and women are complementary to each other, not competing with each other. (Refer to the Quran 4:32)
“And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing.”
[An-Nisa, 4:32][Saheeh International translation]
Women will never reach true liberation until they stop imitating men and value the beauty of their own God given distinctiveness.
So why the special clothing?
God made it a compulsory act of worship. It is an act of obedience to the Creator.
As humans, the most important thing is to believe in Allah and worship Him alone. That includes following the guidelines that Allah commanded. (Refer to the Quran 33:59 & 24:31)
“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
[al-Ahzab, 33:59][Saheeh International translation]
“And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed”.
[An-Nur, 24:31][Saheeh International translation]
This special attire is the best way to cover according to Allah Himself. He knows best what is good for women and He commands men and women to keep their body private.
The beauty of a Muslim woman is kept away from prying and undeserving eyes.
In-hope-and-faith 