The Hijab is not a political flag, nor a sign of extremism. Its a symbol of self-respect and modesty

by sfarag69 (student)

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Everything you Need to Know

About the Hijab

Fathia Hamdy

10th Grade Girls Islamic Studies

In the world we live in today, Muslims are being watched through a very negative eye. The common misconception is that we are terrorists, who are obsessed with the idea of killing innocent people in the name of our God. Muslim men are accused of oppressing their wives by forcing them to fully cover up and wear a Hijab in public. The sight of fully dressed women wearing headscarves does not add to the positive image of Islam in the West. There are many reasons why people think we as Muslim women wear the scarf. Some believe that we are oppressed, uneducated, or terrorists. However, all these conceptions of the Hijab are false and greatly misleading.

First of all, what is the Hijab? The Hijab is simply a piece of cloth which covers a woman’s hair, neck and bosom. Literally, Hijab means veil, which is a barrier. In a sense, our Hijab is a barrier between us and the public eye. It is meant to protect us from the dangers of society. The command for Hijab is addressed in Surat Nur of the Qur'an. Allah (SWT) says: “Say (O Muhammad) to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty that is more purer for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And Say (O Muhammad) to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof....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. (Surah 24 Ayah 30-31).

From this ayah, we can tell that the Hijab first starts with the lowering of the gaze. Muslim men and women are commanded to lower their gaze and not to look at the opposite gender. This reduces the possibility of any bad thoughts towards another, which prevents the committing a larger sin. According to this ayah, the Hijab also includes protecting one's modesty. This means dressing in a way that is appropriate and in accordance to the Islamic dress code. Both men and women are required to wear loose clothing that covers their awrah. The awrah for women is every part ...

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Muslim females are commanded to apply the Hijab when they reach puberty. This is supported in the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that says: “Aisha (R) narrated that Asma', daughter

of Abu Bakr, entered upon the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) wearing thin clothes. Prophet Muhammad turned his attention away from her. He said: O Asma', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of the body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands.” (Abu Dawud ). This means that when a Muslim women reaches puberty, it is an obligation upon her to apply the Hijab, or by at least dressing modestly and in a way that covers their awrah.

The Hijab did not become mandatory upon Muslims until the 4th year of the Hijrah. Since then, millions of Muslims around the world have applied the Hijab into their daily appearances. In some countries, like Iran and Saudi Arabia, Hijab is a law; Muslim women are required to cover their heads in public. However, there are some countries who have banned the Hijab. In France, the Hijab and other suspicious religious symbols were banned in public schools, while full-face veils were banned in all public places. In Turkey, the Hijab is banned in all public buildings, such as universities, schools, and libraries. The Hijab was also banned in Tunisia in schools and government buildings; and Syria has banned the wearing of full face veils, such as the niqab, at public universities.

Most people today may see the Hijab as a threat and a sign of terrorism, but wearing the Hijab has many benefits. First of all, the Hijab increases your Iman, or faith in Allah. This is because Allah SWT specifically points out in the Quran that the believing women are those who wear the Hijab. The Hijab also includes lowering your gaze, so it creates a sense of conscience in one by preventing one from looking at members of the opposite gender. Another benefit of the of the Hijab is that it helps to erase the evil from society, by preventing women from committing forbidden actions like adultery. When a woman is dressed in full Hijab, this will give her a feeling to stay away from those actions that Allah has forbidden. The Hijab also increases knowledge and action, because the women that is modestly dressed does not distract men from working or learning. The Hijab also increases purity in the heart, because it prevents the gaze of the man from the women, therefore preventing any inappropriate thoughts. The Hijab gives a women a clean reputation, and protects the woman because it covers her from those who might harm her. It also increases one's taqwa, and is a means of covering from Allah SWT. What more does one want if they are being covered by the mercy of Allah?

The Hijab is not a political flag, nor a sign of extremism. It’s a symbol of self-respect and modesty, and an act of obedience towards God. Our Lord has commanded us to guard ourselves only for the purpose of our protection, so why should we not follow his command and benefit from it? Muslim women may have been insulted and discriminated against because of their Hijab, but our faith in Allah is stronger than all the insults that come towards us, and we will continue to represent our faith through the dress of our Hijab.