These days are the days of “reform” and “freedom from old traditions” seems to have become the saying amongst most people. Attempts are being made to approve and accept things that were forbidden in Islam. One such issue is that of the “Hijab”. One hears claims from hear there and everywhere that there is no direct commandment for “Hijab”. Some present inaccurate translations of the Holy verses in this regard. People are quick to un-justify things that they are not comfortable adhering to.
In western countries non-Islamic ideologies are more prevalent than Islamic education. Although in the UK were I’m from there has been a lot of progress made in instigating the teachings of Islam into education. And even the bad press that Islam has been categorised under has raised a lot of willingness from people to look into the deeper meanings of Islam to learn more about it than they already know.
It’s a case of the smarter people (the ones I like) who are not even Muslim that actually will go out and study Islam to an extent of understanding at least. These people are not wanting to convert to Islam and no body is forcing them to study it, they have a mind they are interested and they want to learn information. On the other hand there are also a lot of people that look to demote Islam and only study Islam to look for faults.
So what is Hijab
Hijab, literally means screen, curtain, partition and concealment. As a verb it means to conceal ones self or hide from view. In Islamic Shari’ah (Islamic Law), the word means to cover, conceal or hide oneself from the view of Ghair-Mahram (a person to whom she can possibly marry).
Hijab with its established limits is a Devine Law and guidance based on the Holy Qur’an and the Traditions (Ahadith) of prophet Muhammed (pbuh), the interpretations of these by the Islamic jurists as well as on the practices of our pious predecessors. It is because of these basis’s that Hijab has been practiced through time until this day by the Muslim Ummah. We are no longer just a religion, we are the fastest growing religion in the world, the second largest religion in the world and the most talked about religion in the world. We get un-metered publicity and yes it is bad publicity but it does raise a lot of interest at the same time.
Under the influence of western civilization, the practice of women going about without Hijab has resulted in reactionary and extreame points of views being stated about it. This has caused further doubts within people in the Hijab’s princples and legal limits. Basically the Hijab is being made out to be all wrong and “only for mad people” (is one quote I came across). The bad publicity is having a good effect on some though a lot more women who are already within Islam are feeling more proud of wearing the Hijab and ones that did not used to wear it now wear it.
Because of all these mismatches through the media and talk. I feel there is a need to educate firstly our own Muslims who are not informed about the rulings of Hijab. I mean if you are non Muslim and you see 50% of Muslims following a certain ruling of Islam and then the 50% not following it. Yes people are people and other people understand that every body isn’t perfect but how is that going to look? Come back to earth brothers and sisters. We need to sort our selves out before we can go on to lead and peacefully inform others.
It is therefore necessary to present the true teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Ahadith on this matter. May Allah (god) give us the true understanding of the Devine Law and the courage to practice it.
The rules and regulations governing in the relations between men and women are clearly spoken by Allah in the Qur’an in detail, providing clear boundaries. For example men and women have been asked to lower their gazes; women have been asked not to engage in sweet talk with men; and even the companions of the prophet Muhammad (saw) we asked to talk to the wives of the Prophet from behind a curtain if they needed to ask anything of them.
The verse of the Hijab in the Quran
The scholars of the Holy Qur’an agree that the Commandment regarding Hijab for women was revealed in the following Verse of Surah Ahzab, which is why this verse is also know as the verse of Hijab.
O you who Believe! Enter not the Prophet’s Houses until permission is given to you for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation; but when you are invited, enter; and when you have taken your meal, disperse without seeking vein talk. Such (behaviour) annoys the prophet; he is ashamed to dismiss you, but Allah is not ashamed (to tell you) the truth. And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen (Hijab); that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs. Nor is it right for you that you should annoy Allah’s messenger, or that you should marry his widows after him at any time. Truly such a thing is in Allah’s sight an enormity.
( surah Ahzab, v. 53)
In the above verse, we find some etiquettes and commandments of the Islamic way of life pertaining to:
- Invitations for meals and the conduct of guests,
- Hijab for women
- Marriage with the wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.) after his demise (death)
Now numbers 1 and 2 don’t really apply to this topic, Hijab was mandated for women. Women were not required to observe Hijab before the revelation of this Verse.
There is consensus among the scholars of the Holy Qur’an that although the Wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.) were particularly addressed in this verse, the Commandment is meant for all women. The same style of providing guidance is found in many other places in the Holy Qur’an. For Example Allah says in surah Talaq:
O prophet (s.a.w), when you do divorce women, divorce them at their prescribed periods. (Surah Talaq V. 1)
And we all know that divorcing women has to be done when they are not in their prescribed periods and waiting until they are clean. Now this was meant for every man not just the prophet as were the previous verses
May Allah guide us all with knowledge, lead us to more knowledge and keep help us to practice our selves that knowledge!
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