Al Hijaab

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Hijab - Is it logical?

By: Sabiha Saifi

Your Choice!!!

Ever wondered how beautiful a rose is… but after being used it is thrown in the dustbin!!! Ever noticed a pearl being deep inside the ocean covered in the shell, still it has got a super value and you will never see anybody even thinking of throwing down, leave about dustbin. What do u wish for yourself? A rose that is being used for pleasure for a time and then thrown in a dustbin or a pearl which has got an ever ending respect? Obviously, a pearl!

We are living in the 21st century, we believe in “logics” and we always require LOGIC before accepting anything. We need logical reasons before accepting any thing. We don’t believe in copying things blindly! We want a “logical life” and we want to live a life as per ourselves. In short, we believe in “I am what I am”!

Unfortunately… outrageously… though we don’t like to copy, but we do still copy blindly even without knowing its after-effects (or side effects). Yes! I am talking about the dressing style of my sisters which they are blindly copying from the western culture. You must be thinking “what after effects am I talking about?” According to you, you are strong and brave enough to protect yourself even in jeans and mini skirt! Ok, for the sake of argument I agree, but then what about the hereafter? When you will be standing in front of ALLAH and you will be questioned about your dressing style? You may have performed salah regularly, and you may be a good Muslima. But when it comes to dressing, you have disobeyed your Creator’s command.

"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards God, that ye may attain Bliss." {Surah Noor (24):31}. Even our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s) prohibited women to dress like men.

On that day, what reply will you give on disobeying the commandment of ALLAH??
“As to those who believe and work righteousness, ALLAH will pay them (in full) their reward; but Allah loves not those who do wrong. (Al Quran ch3: v 57)”

Many of my sisters say, it is cool, it is comfortable, it is just a part of culture and everybody dresses like that. They just wear jeans and don’t get exposed. It is just normal. But I tell them, have you ever noticed Allah’s valuable creations?? He has made valuable things in the world covered and well protected. Where do you find Diamond? Deep down the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find Pearls? Deep in the bottom of the ocean, covered up in a beautiful shell. O my dear sisters, your body is sacred. You are more precious than diamonds and pearls. Don’t you think you should be covered too?

The Prophet (s) said, “The whole world is to be enjoyed, but the best thing in the world is a pious woman.” (Muslim)

In the name of modernization, many people think that it is fine in wearing any kind of dress. Whether it covers the whole body or not, it doesn’t matter. If exposure of body is modernization of women, then I think animals are more modernized than us. It is shame on us that we – being girls – do not hesitate to wear any kind of dress. We don’t even care to expose ourselves and give a chance for an eve-teaser and be a part to destroy an ethical society. It is rightly said “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction”.

Covering does NOT mean DEGRADING; it is just protecting…

If a doctor advices you to wear specs/gogs (while riding the scooty or bike) so that your eyes are protected from dust and dirt (as they are delicate) does it mean that you are degrading your eyes??? Or does it mean that your eyes are of less importance??? Of course not; because they are delicate so you need to protect them, the same goes with you, my dear sisters.

If a president of a country gets special security, does it mean he is degraded, he is out-dated? Or is he honoured? Similarly you are honoured in the house of Islam and you are protected from an evil-eye just as the president.

Can you ever deny an order or request that you receive from your loved one? If she wants to talk to you or meet you, would you like to deny? Then how can you deny the commandment of your Lord, who loves you the most, more than anyone else, the one who is going to reward you Paradise in the hereafter. Can you ever get a better gift than Paradise? Can you? NO!!! Then what are you waiting for? What is stopping you from wearing your hijaab? Go ahead my sisters; protect yourselves from the Hell-fire and being eve-teased by guys. Start wearing hijaab. None of us know when we are going to die! Who can save us from the hell-fire? It will be our own deeds, and our obedience to Allah – the Almighty. Decide for yourself which way you want to choose? Hell or heaven?

Last but not the least, What do we do when our Love stop listening to us… starts ignoring us… and that love starts loving someone else… starts praising somebody else… what do u do? Won’t you leave your love? And don’t you think your Lord has got the same right, when you are ignoring him, not obeying His commandment, you start loving the devils by following their footsteps, copying them blindly!!! Even then, Allah says, “But Indeed your Lord is Most Merciful, so return to Him in repentance.” And prophet (s) said, “Allah is happier with the repentance of His servant than anyone of you on finding his camel after he has lost it in a desert. (Bukhari, Muslim)”. Ask forgiveness from Him, start obeying His commandments. Convince Him, for you have to get to your final destination – the Paradise!

Hijab covers our body not our brain. It never abstain us to free and open thinking; it brings about peace and stability in the society. There are many women in the society who observes complete hijab and created astonishing career and are well respected in the society, not only by Muslims but Non-Muslims too. We don’t need to expose our beauty to show our intelligence! Alhamdulilah.

Proud to be Muslimah- A Real Pearl

Now I want to ask my sisters, what is your logic behind exposing yourself or following trend blindly???

Where There is a Veil…….

By: Nisaar Y. Nadiadwala

Jim Nelson has written a book ‘ When Nations Die’. He points out an important common rule for the fall of nations ..the abandonment of religion…… What ever little moral lessons the western Democracies have in their Bible they are also discarded. The two biggest examples are: 1. Belief in one God 2.Modesty. This is the beginning of the down of the great Western Civilization.

Can you guess how foolish are their intellectual arguments to ban the face veil? The refutation comes from the Non Muslims themselves and that too on street corners. Here is one of them “Why has France banned Face veil?” .. Because they find that it is unhealthy for the Muslim women wearing it”… Oh then they should ban even high heels shoes and sandals too as they are more injurious to the entire women of France….They should ban lipsticks and many other cosmetics because they contain lead , which is harmful for the skin and it is applied by most of the French women…. Ah they are manufactured by Multi national companies so they cannot be banned… Ah I wish that Addidas and Reebok should also come out with face veil and make it a brand product !!!.

When I was a young boy of 6 years, I used to accompany my maternal grandmother to sell milk. There was this 70 years old lady who used to buy milk. Every time I used to enter her shop, she used to draw a “Ghungat” ( face veil of a kind) and cover her face. One day out of curiosity I asked my grand ma “why is this lady always hiding her face from me?” She replied “ It is very natural of a woman to be modest and be shy in the presence of a Non Mahram”. I asked “ Grand ma, she is too old and I am a young boy!” “So what?” My grand ma replied “She has been covering her face for past 60 years so even when she is old she has that natural bashfulness in her that Allah gave her…..” That was a memorable answer. By the way that lady was a Hindu Brahmin.

The modesty of women is among those cultural similarities which different civilizations have enjoyed except that when they tore of that modesty, their down fall speeded up. Robert Stonebraker, from Winthrop university writes “Among the women under twenty years of age, 70 percent of all births are to single mothers……” Prior to the 1960’s most women in the West refused to engage in pre marital sex without an explicit or implicit promise of marriage in the event of pregnancy. Today they go in premarital sex with an explicit promise of not getting married… The mentality of western women has been changed due to the changing job opportunities in the West. The economy has shifted from muscle power to brain power so women are finding a lot of jobs and along with money comes a super confident or illusion that they can bring up their children on their own without burying themselves in the matrimonial life.

Have you noticed how gradually the western women has been cheated by male dominating western society?. Yesterday it was with abortion. Now the debate over banning abortion is dead , Today the radical liberation can hit any Priest of Roman Catholic who opposes same sex marriages. He will be disowned by the so called vanguards of freedom of speech. Marriage life has stiff competition from gay marriages, lesbian marriages, live in relations……And this is nicely wrapped like a gift and awarded to the women with the label of ‘women’s liberation’

Author: Nisaar Nadiadwala speaks and writes on Islam and Muslims. He can be reached at nisaar_yusuf@yahoo.com | www.nisaaryusuf.wordpress.com

Hijaab in Islam - Answered by Dr. Zakir Naik

Dr. Zakir Naik answers on Hijaab and Modesty

"Modesty & Hijab in Islam" by Ahmed Deedat

Shaykh Ahmed Deedat answers on Hijaab

Hijab for men

Author: Sabiha Saifi

“Hijaab” being a hot topic these days, media is trying its best to malign Islam by providing misinformation to the public regarding hijab by raising allegations like:Islam degrades women in the name of hijab, why in Islam only women should do Hijaab, etc.

It is a misconception that hijab is only made for females. But hijab is first an obligation for males and after that it is an obligation for females. Hijab does not merely means covering body with a black cloth (known as burqa.) It includes a complete behavior and attitude apart from dressing modest. In short, Hijaab is Mandatory for both males and as well as females.

Allah says in the Quran in Surah Noor (24):30, “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.” First Allah commands men to observe hijab and then in the next verse it is commanded for females.

It is also mentioned in a hadith where Jareeribn ‘Abdullaah said:"I asked the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) about an accidental glance at a woman. He commanded me to turn my gaze away." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who said: This is a saheehhasanhadeeth. See al-Sunan, 2700).

The Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) also said: "O Ali, do not follow a glance with another, for you will be forgiven for the first, but not for the second." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 2701; see Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7953)

My dear brothers, next time onwards when you see a girl (even) without Hijaab (might be a model; or actress in TV; or in magazine, ads, newspapers, posters etc.; or even your girlfriend without hijab before marriage!), before giving a comment “She is hot" or "you are looking HOT dear” Remember the commandment of Allah and punishment in the Aakhirah for disobeying your Lord!

Brothers also find it "cool" to shake hands with girls (including their cousin sisters, sister-in-law, friends, etc.) They find nothing wrong in ‘just’ shaking hands, might be here it is “okay” but what about the hereafter???

It was narrated that Ma’qilibnYassaar said: The Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) said: “For one of you to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle is better for him than that he should touch a woman who is not permissible for him.” Can you really bear this pain? Think practically… how much painful it is even if a small needle pricks in our finger. O’ Allah! What a torture and severe punishment it would be!!! Even my sisters don’t care and shake hands with non-mahram and didn’t even realize the punishment is same even for females, for Allah is just and wise.

Don’t be a fool thinking what you follow is cool!!! Be a muslim by your deeds by following the Quran and Authentic Hadith not just by name as it won’t help you to earn Jannah (if you are a muslim just by name!).

Hijab for men is obligatory (lowering gaze and guarding modesty) even if a female is not in hijab. The harder is the test, the greater will be the reward.And whoever disobeys Allah, will be punishable for their deeds.

Hijab generate respect for each other and help in creating peaceful society, which is the need of the hour. Be a Muslim by choice not by chance!

"Bridging the Disconnect: Unveiling the Hijab and Islamic Feminism"

Diamond Sharp

Every morning, seventeen-year-old Malikat Rufai carefully covers her hair with a veil. Having decided that wearing the traditional hijab, a Muslim head covering, was not for her, she instead devoutly wraps her head with elegant scarves, thereby altering the hijab to fit her personal style.

Her head wrap has become an extension of her personality, a reflection of her religion and culture. "The respect that is commanded by the hijab and the dignity and grace that exudes from it is liberating."

The veil or hijab is in many ways symbolic of the Muslim feminist movement. The term hijab is the Arabic equivalent to "cover" or "veil" and has become synonymous with the head covering that Muslim women wear.

As a Muslim woman, Malikat regards her choice to wear the hijab as one garnering much respect. This view is not shared by everyone. Some interpret her headscarf as a sign of oppression. As Islamic feminism gains worldwide attention, the debate over the hijab has become forefront.

Islamic feminism promotes the equality of all Muslims regardless of gender. Islamic feminists advocate for women's rights, gender equality and social justice rooted in an Islamic framework. However, Islamic feminism also incorporates non-Muslim ideas, recognizing that Islamic feminists are a part of a worldwide feminist movement. Advocates aim to highlight the teachings of equality in the Quran and encourage a critique of the traditional patriarchal interpretation of the religion of Islam.

This growing feminist movement in the Muslim world is credited to the closing educational gap between men and women in Muslim countries. Now more than ever, women are reclaiming their own faith based on an equality understanding of Islam. And more often than not, Muslim feminists dote the hijab.

In recent years, the hijab has become the catalyst for even more dispute with Islamic terrorism at the forefront of news media. France banned religious headwear in school. Belgium and some German states proposed bans against religious headwear and in Italy, a teacher was forbidden to wear her veil over concerns that it would "scare the children." In England, a young girl lost the legal battle to wear her hijab and burqa to school. And in the U.S. wearers of the veil and other traditional clothing have fallen victim to discrimination.

The legal banning of the hijab in France and the proposed banning in other countries angered Malikat. "I believe this [the banning] is the most disgusting breach of religious freedom I have witnessed. Islam is not so much a religion as a lifestyle, and to deny a Muslim woman her right to live her life in the manner that she has chosen for herself should be illegal."

The veil exists as a dichotomy. In countries such as Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, women are forced to wear it against their will and suffer physical violence, cultural exclusion, and even death if they do not adhere to the laws.

Women in Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia must follow strictly enforced dress codes; the hijab is mandatory. In other countries, wearing the hijab is not required and is only encouraged and worn at will.

Juxtaposed to women who suffer violence and the oppression are those who cover their hair freely for their own religious and cultural beliefs. Some women use the hijab as their own form of independence against a society that increasingly displays the female body as a sexual object.

Whether or not to become a hijabi (a woman who wears the veil) is often a personal choice that a young American Muslim woman makes for herself.

Nafia Khan, nineteen, decided to wear the veil after entering college. "I felt it was my time. I had researched before doing it but the final step was to believe that God was going take care of the rest."

Her eighteen-year-old sister Marium has not decided to wear the veil because "Right now, I do not feel that I have fully comprehended the responsibility and understanding that comes along with wearing the veil. Islam is not just a religion, but a way of life. I feel as though I do not have to wear a veil to prove my religion, values and beliefs."

The common stereotype is that Muslim women are forced to cover themselves, and although that is true sometimes, the sentiment does not apply to the entire Muslim population. "Islam is a religion that cannot be forced on anyone, especially because so much is based on intention. If it was not your intention to become hijabi of your own freewill there is no purpose of doing so, because the hijab is first and foremost in the heart," Malikat affirmed.

The resurgence of veil wearing, especially by young women who do not live in majority Muslim countries, has been credited to a backlash against a Western society that demoralizes women and demotes them to sexual objects.

Wearing the hijab has become some Muslim women's way of liberation from the commercialization of beauty that consumes our nation and others like it. The criticism against the hijab confuses many. "I feel as though that when we live in a world that has made walking outside in clothing so revealing and flashy okay, why is it a crime to want to cover ourselves up?" asked Marium.

Still, many Muslim and non-Muslim feminists are adamantly against women wearing the hijab. They view the hijab as a product of the patriarchal nature of Islam, which teaches that all Muslims, male and female, must present themselves modestly. The fact that only women must wear the veil in order to be considered modest is sexist. "Why are men not forced to wear anything?" feminists commonly ask.

But to Muslim feminists, sameness among the sexes is not the goal; equality is.

"Many women find that the equality they seek in feminism does not mean sameness. For them, it is no bother that Muslim women are urged to cover their hair, and that Muslim men are merely encouraged to grow beards and required to cover themselves from the navel to the knee. For them, equality lies in the eyes of God. They are equal believers and equal participants in the faith of Islam with different responsibilities due to their gender-oriented social roles. This is Muslim feminism," responds twenty-two-year-old Usra Ghazi.

The lack of knowledge about another culture is often the root of prejudice and judgment. "I think many people think of wearing the veil as oppressive because they are ignorant of the real meaning of what it signifies. Although our actions speak out for our beliefs and values, the wearing of the veil goes another step forward by showing them. I think that people have not truly understood the meaning behind the veil," Marium remarked.

Dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslims is the only way to end misconception.

As Malikat Rufai embarks for her freshman year at Spelman College, she is unsure if she will continue to wear the veil. "I think my hijab has empowered me because it is an external shield for the beliefs I carry within me. I have become a stronger person as a result of my wearing it, and definitely more in touch with who I am as a person."

But because she began wearing it at such a young age and was influenced by her parents to do so, she wants to make sure that the decision to wear the hijab is completely hers.

"I am now toying with the decision to forego wearing my hijab when I transition to college in a few weeks. This decision is not because I feel the hijab is negative; it's actually quite the opposite. I want to be absolutely certain that when I wear my hijab it is for me, and not for anyone else, so I think I'll test myself by not wearing it for a while, but it will always be my intention to come back."

Source: http://www.youngchicagoauthors.org/girlspeak/features_bridging_the_disconnect_unveiling_the_hijab_and_islamic_feminism_by_diamond_sharp.htm