H I J A B: HOW IT PROTECTS AND BENEFITS WOMEN AND SOCIETY
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Dear Brothers and Sisters Assalamu Alaikum
I want to INFORM you through the words of a sister, why and how hijab
(Islamic code of dress) protects a woman and what are its advantages.
This is not coming from me but from a WESTERN woman who was born and
raised in the western culture, spent most of her life on the wild
side, found a deep vacuum in her life, discovered Islam, accepted it
wholeheartedly, and turned her life around completely - for the
better. This sister is an Irish American, has a Ph.D., teaches in a
prestigious US university, wears hijab wherever she goes - in the
class rooms while teaching, in the conferences and meetings she
attends. She is very proud of Islam and her hijab and in the following
explains the advantages and wisdom of wearing hijab. So please read
with an open mind. Those who are open to reason get the guidance and
better their lives, but those who have "eyes but can't see, and ears
but can't hear" will wander in the wilderness of life forever. No
amount of logical reasoning will help them. However, our job as
Muslims, i.e., those who surrendered to Allah, is ONLY to convey the
message to the darkest corners of the world. Our job as Muslims is not
to impose anything on disbelivers because as Allah says in Quran, "For
you is your religion, and for them is theirs".
May Allah give guidance to all of us and enable us to follow Islam
which is the manual of human life. May Allah grant us the wisdom to
understand Islam and to live our lives to its fullest by following its
teachings. May Allah make us realize that education is not only about
getting a piece of paper called degree but education is about learning
and understanding life, the world, and the etiquette of living. May
Allah enable us to find solutions to all the problems we encounter in
life in His great message - the message of Islam. Ameen.
O Allah, no amount of gratefullness will be enough to thank for the
blessing of your message of guidance you have given us. O Allah,
enable all human beings to know the message of Islam, so this world
will become a cradle of peace and stability and so that the forces of
darkness will be defeated from the face of the earth. May Allah be our
guide in this journey of life. Ameen.
Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, Irfan Hasan.
NOTE: The emphasis in capital letters are mine.
--------------START OF SISTER'S MESSAGE -----------------
H I J A B: MUSLIM WOMEN'S HEAD COVERING
The Quran, the Muslim's holy scripture, clearly enjoins Muslim men and
women to dress and behave modestly. Muslim women are specifically
instructed to cover their heads when in the presence of non-mahrem
(potentially marriageable) men:
. Surah Al-Nur (the Light) (24:31) in the Quran states: "They (the
believing women) should draw their head coverings over their
bosoms...". . Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59) states: "O Prophet [PBUH] Tell
thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they should put
on their outer garments; that is most convenient in order that THEY
MAY BE RECOGNIZED (as Muslims) and not be molested."
[MY COMMENT: This is an effective rebuttal to the argument some Muslim
women have against wearing Hijab, that by wearing it they will be
recognized and will be attacked. Allah clearly wants Muslims to be
recognized in whatever community they live in. Their lives lived as
Muslims will get other people interested in them and that will be a
way of spreading the message of Islam. People will approach them and
ask them why they dress like that, why they are different. Their
curiousity will automatically draw them towards Islam. Allah is the
most supreme starategist of the universe. He blessed us with the
message of Islam (Islam means peace and security and told us
strategies to spread the message which only benefits us and not Allah.
Allah is beyond all needs.
Allah says in Quran that if the whole world gets united against a
Muslim and want to harm him, they won't except if Allah wills, and if
the whole world unites to benefit a Muslim, it won't except for
Allah's will. Therefore security comes from Allah. Allah is the
protector of believers. One should NEVER FEAR ANYONE BUT ALLAH and
then all of his/her fears will be erased from the heart. Those who bow
before Allah, bow to no one in the world - no one. As great poet of
the east Dr. Allama Iqbal said (in Urdu) :
yeh Aik sijda jesay tu garaaN samajhta hai hazar sijdooN say daita hai
aadmi ko nijat Translation: This one bow (to Allah) which is so hard
for you,is the bow that saves you from thousands of other bows.
END OF MY COMMENT]
Both of the above Quranic references instruct the Muslim woman to
cover herself with a large, loose overcoat (jilbab) and full head
covering (khimar) so that no provocative part of her body will be
visible. Her modest appearance would MAKE IT CLEAR TO EVERYONE THAT
SHE IS A CHASTE, BELIEVING WOMAN, and no one is to molest her or
sexually exploit her [My Comment: This is an effective solution to the
problem of sexual harassment because a Muslim woman's modest
appearance is a social statement that she is not to be messed with!!].
THE BENEFITS OF HIJAB (COVERING) FOR WOMEN
. For Muslim women, COVERING THE HEAD IS NOT THE SIGN OF DEGRADATION
or oppression. It is a commandment from Allah, who is not male or
female, and thus, would not discriminate against women, a segment of
His creation.
. Rather, HEAD-COVERING IS A SIGN OF PURITY AND DIGNITY. It highlights
the Muslim woman as a pure, chaste woman and sets her apart from the
immoral behavior associated with women who dress immodestly.
. The HIJAB IS A SORT OF "SCREEN" BETWEEN THE CHASTE MUSLIM WOMAN AND
THE EVIL THAT EXISTS IN THE WORLD. When a woman wears a hijab she is
less likely to be harassed by men with lusty motives; SHE IS LESS
LIKELY TO BE EXPLOITED FOR HER BEAUTY AND FEMINITY.
. The Hijab allows a woman to move about outside the confines of her
home WITH HER ATTENTION ON THE TASKS SHE HAS SET OUT TO DO. The Muslim
woman does not try to impress anyone but Allah when outside of her
home. She is not concerned if men find her attractive, or if people
are impressed because she has the latest fashions, or the newest
hairstyle. She leaves her home as a SELF-CONFIDENT PART OF HUMAN RACE,
not as a fashion-plate seeking stares and adoration in order to gain
self-esteem.
. The hijab cuts down on competition among women. How many people in
the West sacrifice financial savings and health in order to have
plastic surgery - in a desperate attempt to meet up to an unrealistic
standard of beauty. IN ISLAM, WOMEN ARE APPRECIATED FOR THEIR
KNOWLEDGE, PIETY AND CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY. When women wear hijab
one finds that the most beautiful women are not necessarily the most
popular. Rather, a woman is assessed for her mind, and not just
superficial physical traits.

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