Why Hijab?

Although Islamic hijab is not limited to the dress code, but it covers attitudes while interacting with opposite gender as well, however, trying to find a proper Abaya in west has been a struggle as always for me as many of the Abaays that are available do not follow proper Islamic guidelines of sitr: they are either well-fitting, fancy, not of proper size (as of made for grown-up ladies and not young ones), too colourful, of thin fabric etc etc. This always makes me wonder what are we doing with the hijab today, what has become of it and where are we going? Why are we getting influence from the pop culture too when it comes to covering while when it comes to physical Hijab Islam discourages even slightest presence that can cause attention..

 

One of the most detestable thing in the eyes of the west is the Hijab and covering of a female. Prior to World Wars where western females were usually homemakers and dedicatedly took care of their families, this narrative shifted significantly after the wars when males presence in the workforce reduced as a result of the aftermath. Hence, women’s right to work and similar movements were introduced that forced out females from home to the work arena. Today, this advocacy of women’s right per western standards have reached a standard such that it’s normal for a female to freely mix in offices, industries, companies and even let their bodies and physicality be taken advantage of for cheap works such as promoting certain products. Not surprising, hence, why we hear from time to time of restaurants attempting to promulgate provocative garments for females waitress as uniform in order to hire and pay them. Thus, many a time (if hypothetically not always) females are mostly not only viewed as mere workers by the system but also a source for pleasing male desires in the public sphere. Now, Islam doesn’t stop a women to go out, work and contribute towards economic growth nor does Islam wants to confine and chain females to remain indoor but rather Islam has given women rights to work, educate etc, however, Islam is very wary about preserving the dignity and honour of women and takes this seriously. Islam has laid down rules how a female presence should be like if needs lead to working outside.

Before I can expand further, it’s reasonable here to see what Islam’s view is on equality between the two genders as many a time in the west female’s rights are equated with male’s and hence, it’s used as justification card to deem something permissible which in reality can be harmful. Weighing by Quran and Ahlulbayt عليهم السلام parameters, Islam believes both genders are equal, no one is better than the other but the only excellence is given to the one who is most “God-fearing”. This is supported by two verses:

 ” To men belongs a share of what they have earned, and to women a share of what they have earned.” (4:32), here verse is not showing any discrimination in regards to gender but rather is stating out clearly that both genders shall be held equally accountable on the judgement day because both were created for the same purpose, goal and material i.e. dust. The other verse which supports the above-mentioned statement is 49:13 which is self-explanatory: “O mankind! Indeed We created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes that you may identify yourselves with one another. Indeed the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most God wary among you. Indeed Allah is all-knowing, all aware.”

Hence, Islam doesn’t deem women to belong to an inferior gender category nor does it objects or put restrictions on women from actively participating in society be it work or education etc. Rather if a male forces and restricts a female from these rights than the male is going against the teachings of Islam. It’s worth noting here that many females in East are deprived of these rights and it becomes important to distinguish between culture and religion here and avoid labelling cultural practices that go against Islamic principles as part of religion. In terms of differences between the two genders, the only important difference which Islam, as well as biology, recognizes is the difference of physicality. Males supersede females in strength, stern and muscles while females supersede males in emotions, gentleness and delicateness. This difference is beautifully structured in a way where one gender lacks the other fill in such that both become one whole. However, it’s important to note here that this difference in no way defines females being intellectually incapable and hence their advice, opinion, and even listening to them becomes futile automatically. This is refuted by Imam Ali’s relationship to Syeda Fatima (as well as other females of the holy household) where he used to seek her for discussion, advice and opinion in different matters. In any case, the physical differences between the two gender mean that there’s also a difference in spiritual dimension which will be discussed shortly in regards to hijab (which is the interest of this writing).  From the discussion above we establish that Islam doesn’t subjugate female gender and doesn’t wish to confine and limit her but rather Islam has given her rights to work, educate and get involved in society etc, however, because Islam understands the nature of human beings well and it takes females honour, dignity and respect very seriously, so for this matter Islam has imposed some rules in regards to hijab for both genders in form of physical covering and social interaction. So, based on the physical differences and nature, rights and duties of the two genders take a slight shift unlike how it is viewed in the west.

To being, Islam desires that sexual pleasures be only exclusively and strictly be between husband-wife relationship and workspace be strictly oriented towards professionalism and business alone. In this way, it completely filters away sexual pleasure from work and limits it to within the family unit by imposing some regulatory rules. Logically too, it’s within the instinct of human beings to desire relaxation of the soul this way. If both genders disregard the limits and seek to mingle freely with non-mahrams (unrelated opposite gender) than it inevitably opens up gates towards wider destruction and corruption. This is because the sexual desire within the human being can’t be extinguished and the more it is uncontrolled the more it leads to destruction. Its similitude is like the fire, the more wood is added the more it increases instead of decreasing. This can easily be observed around us today as well as reading about historical details of concubines holding 3000+ females.

Quran has beautifully imposed a limitation on both genders via these verses 24:30 and 24:31.

 

 قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ

 

Tell the faithful men to cast down their looks and to guard their private parts.

That is more decent for them. Allah is indeed well aware of what they do. (24:30)

 

We see for males, the Quran orders them to lower their gaze and private parts. This is because if eyes are not controlled it can lead to a variety of corruption from unneeded forbidden relationships to heartbreaks and even divorce and much more. This is why ahadith has warned us to control our eyes because it’s one of the arrows of Satan. It’s disliked in Islam for a male to even have conversations with many non-related females.  By placing these restrictions, Islam has saved family unity and strengthened it in many ways and uplifted this restriction only when it comes to spousal relationship.

 

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَىٰ عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

 

And tell the faithful women to cast down their looks and to guard their private parts, and not to display their charms, except for what is outward, and let them draw their scarfs over their bosoms, and not display their charms except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women,1 or their slave girls, or male dependants lacking [sexual] desire, or children uninitiated to women’s parts. And let them not thump their feet to make known their hidden ornaments. Rally to Allah in repentance, O faithful, so that you may be felicitous (24:31)

 

 

The above verse is addressing the females. Going in detail of this verse is not the purpose of this writing, hence, the point addressed in the verse is that the addition of covering comes into play for female gender and Quran orders them not to adorn and beautify themselves before unrelated men the way females in west are encouraged to do, for this leads to becoming a source of attraction, attention, desire and pleasure for non-mahram men and open up gates to a number of corruption and weakening of the fabrics of society by the destruction of nuclear family unit. Islam’s interest in preserving the woman’s honour is delicate to the point (as mentioned in the verse) they are not even allowed to expose themselves before non-Muslim females in the possibility of them sharing what they saw to their men. Becoming pleasing object in the sight of the public Islam deems it against the honour, dignity and respect of female gender.

We can conclude from the above discourse that Islam encourages both genders to appreciate segregation strictly and be wary of not being a source of attention for the opposite gender in any shape or form be it in conversations, interaction, body language and even dress code etc. For females, the covering takes a much-advanced form than males and they are asked to cover and dress themselves modestly. If these rules are applied it results in a healthy, strong and loving family environment and workspace becomes limited to professionalism alone, consequently strengthen the fabric of society.

 

P.S: The above is only throwing light on some of the hijab aspects in relation to women which is making this writing one dimensional. Males do have their own hijab too and it was quickly addressed above, however, due to the limitation of space and in fear of lengthening the work it was refrained to be explained in details. In no way, it is seeking to ignore and jeopardise the male gender as the writing was focusing on one gender alone.