Respected readers! We are living in a modern era with scientific revolution. It’s called the age of inventions / machines. In our daily lives we use many machines. When we buy a machine, a small booklet of instructions or a manual comes along with it. This is given to us from the manufacturer of the product or the company or person who has created the gadget or tool.
If we desire a proper working for the machine, we need to follow the instructions carefully. If I were to understand this concept and relate it to our Deen, I understand that Allah Almighty created people, so He knows us better. For the guidance of people He revealed His laws in the Holy Qur’an.
Hence, whatever laws, rules or regulations have been given to us is for us to function in a better way. For women, the instructions put forth to protect us are the ruling on veil/hijab. In these days there are many issues rising about veil/ hijab. The order of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is a beacon for all of us.
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says in the Holy Qur’an:
وَقَرْنَ فِیْ بُيُوْتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْاُوْلٰى وَاَقِمْنَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَاٰتِيْنَ الزَّكٰوةَ وَاَطِعْنَ اللهَ وَرَسُوْلَهُ اِنَّمَا يُرِيْدُ اللهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ اَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيْرًا
And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform As-Salat, and give Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove ArRijs (evil deeds and sins, etc.) from you, O members of the family (of the Prophet SAW), and to purify you with a thorough purification.
[Sura Al-Ahzab: 33]
In the light of the Holy Qur’an Hijab is a protection for women. So Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:-
يٰٓاَيُّهَا النَّبِىُّ قُلْ لِّاَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنٰتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيْبِهِنَّ ذٰلِكَ اَدْنٰٓى اَنْ يُّعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللهُ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِيْمًا
O Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and women believers to make their outer garments hang low over them so as to be recog-nized and not insulted: God is most forgiving, most merciful.
[Sura Al-Ahzab: 59]
In the golden period of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, how a woman understood this command and acted upon it can be explained by a hadith:
May Allah have mercy on the Muhaajir women. When Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) revealed the words “and to mercy draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)”, they tore the thickest of their aprons (a kind of garment) and covered their faces with them.
(Bukhari: 4758, Abu Dawood: 4102)
It was narrated from ‘Urwah that ‘Aa’ishah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray Fajr and the believing women would attend (the prayer) with him, wrapped in their aprons, then they would go back to their houses and no one would recognize them.
(Bukhari: 365, Muslim: 645)
A new Muslim sister, Suryya says about hijab, “It’s a bullet-proof jacket for women. No doubt, hijab covers the women so that they can be protected from some those men around us who do not have a clean intention with regards to us. Hijab keeps women safe from those men with foul sight. Alhmdolillah.”
In short when the order of Hijab revealed, the best women of the world covered themselves from the best men of the world. We now need to become those best women.
Hence, we should follow the orders of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) otherwise His wrath is great for those who are disobedient.
May Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) guide them and protect the Muslim sisters from all harm.
