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The road to hijab
Author
Unknown
( The
readers should verify the Qur'anic verses and the Ahadith quoted in
this Article by an Unknown Author. In his/her
enthusiasm to support Hijab for women, The author has
used highly subjective as well as distortive interpretation of the Qur'anic
Verses and quoted weak or fabricated Ahadith. This article is posted here, as
our policy is to encourage Opposing Points of View – Managing Editor of IRFI)
Gulf Times
Doha, Qatar
Published:
Friday, 4 May, 2007, 12:55 PM Doha Time
In order to
even find the road to hijab, much less walking on it, one must first realise
that the hijab of the Muslim woman is not Arabian, Pakistani, Black or White
American, etc. It is the command of Allah, the conditions for which have been
given in the Qur’an and Sunnah, in order to provide protection and safety for
women. Here are a few aspects one needs to consider.
Intention
The first step on the road to hijab is the proper intention (Niyah). The wearing
of the hijab is the compliance to the command of Allah, therefore it can be
classified as an act of worship. As with all acts of worship, the fundamental
underlying principle is intention. The hijab must be worn for no other reason
except to comply with the order of Allah, solely for His sake and seeking His
Pleasure. If it is not done with this sincere intention, then it becomes an act
of either hypocrisy or of ar-riyaa (showing off).
If a Muslim woman wears hijab because, for instance, of an overbearing husband
or father, and in her heart she dislikes it, or feels that it is a form of
injustice: then she may very well have taken an act deserving of reward into one
that may not bring about any reward in the hereafter. If all that Allah expected
from our acts of worship were outward manifestations, then He would have
graciously accepted the Islam of the hypocrites during the time of the Prophet,
sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.
The same is true for the woman who wears hijab because it’s what the women
around her do. She covers from head to toe in black to impress the people with
her piety. When she is abroad, where no one she knows will see her, save her
Lord, she does not wear the proper hijab. She then falls under the threat of
Allah’s punishment, as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said,
“Whoever does a deed for the people, then Allah will give him to the people.”
Knowledge
The second step on the road to hijab, is knowledge. The great scholar of hadith,
Imam Bukhari said, “Knowledge must precede both statement and action.” It is of
the utmost importance for a woman who is seeking to observe the proper hijab, to
ascertain sure knowledge, based on the Qur’an, Sunnah and the understanding of
the first generation of Muslims. Unfortunately in this day and age, there are no
shortages of books written on the issue of hijab by both Muslims and non-Muslims
alike that are full of misleading information.
It therefore becomes incumbent on Muslim women to gain sure and correct
knowledge on this topic, in order to be better able in ciphering through the
misinformation that is so predominant on this issue, and getting to the truth.
When hijab is observed with the proper intention and based upon sound knowledge,
it then becomes a firm conviction in the heart.
Due to this conviction, it becomes less likely that the hijab will be abandoned;
either based upon the weak arguments of would-be Muslim “scholars”, or the
everyday pressures of living in a “modern” society and its false call to women’s
liberation. For the true desire of these people is as Allah says in the Qur’an,
“Verily those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse should be
propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this
world and in the hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not.” (24:19).
Love
The third step on the road to hijab is love. It is among the signs of true
belief that all acts of worship are manifested from love of those actions. The
love of the hijab and the haya (inhibition or bashfulness) of the first
generation of Muslim women has slowly been worn away from the hearts of
modern-day Muslim women. Once Ali ibn abi Talib asked his wife, Fatimah, “What
is the thing most beloved to a believing woman?” Fatimah replied, “Not to see or
be seen by strange men.”
What happened to this love of modesty? Unfortunately for many Muslim women, this
love has been replaced with the love of women’s liberation or the love of what
has become prevalent in one’s culture or homeland. In order for the love of the
hijab to be returned to the hearts of Muslim women, we must remove from our
hearts the disease that suggests that the hijab makes us inferior to men and
restricts our womanhood. These are whisperings of the Satan calling Muslim women
to abandon their honour and their status as the best women of creation.
The hijab of the Muslim woman is her right and her honour ordained by the Lord
of the worlds. It is her light that separates her from the darkness of the
disbelieving women. It was narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam, said, “The parable of a woman who moves with a slow sweeping motion,
trailing her beautiful clothes, performing not for her husband, is like darkness
on the Day of Judgment; she has no light.” (Tirmithi)
Awrah
The awrah of a woman is the areas of her body, which must be covered. The
respected scholars from past and present have differed in whether the veil
should cover the hands and face, or whether it is sufficient to cover
everything, save the hands and face.
Aisha reported that once her sister, Asmaa, visited her in finery while the
Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was at home. He turned away from her and
said, “O Asmaa, when a woman reaches puberty it is not lawful for her to uncover
any part of her body except this.” He then pointed to his face and hand palm.
(Abu Dawoud)
The above narration is one of the most commonly cited as proof for leaving the
face and hands uncovered. The main consideration of this opinion must be what
constitutes the face and the hands. The above statement clearly illustrates that
the hand is the part of the body, which extends below the wrist bone.
The definition of what constitutes the face can be found in another tradition of
the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. He pointed from his forehead to his
chin and from his cheek to the cheek. (Abu Dawoud) It may be of importance to
note that ears must also be covered because they are not a part of the face, but
are a part of the head as he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said, “The two ears
are a part of the head.” (Tirmithi)
This opinion also does not allow for the uncovering of the neck and breast. The
khimar must cover the entire head, including the ears, all of the hair, come
down from the head to cover the neck and the bosom. This is clear in the
statement of Allah “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be
modest, and to display of their adornments only that which is apparent, and to
draw their veils, (ie, khimars) over their bosoms, and not to reveal their
adornment...” (4:31)
Also among the things that must be covered are the clothes that a woman wears in
her home. It is not sufficient for a Muslim woman to go out in pants or a skirt,
a long shirt, or even a shalwar kamees and a khimar, because many times the
clothes that a women wears in the house are themselves adornments. As the above
verse states, Allah forbids the believing women from displaying her adornments,
except to those people who are clearly named out in the verse.
Allah also commands His Prophet to tell the women in the verse, “O Prophet! Tell
your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their
cloaks (veils) around them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that
they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is every Forgiving, Merciful.”
(33:59)
Even though the hijab is not merely a covering dress, equally as important, it
is behaviour, manners, speech and appearance in public; there are certain
standards of dress however, conditions of hijab, that must be maintained.
Source:
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=147198&version=1&template_id=47&parent_id=27
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