Hijab: A Must Not a Choice In Islam

Ms. Sahar El-Nadi

Before going into Qur’anic proof and wisdom behind the religiously mandated Hijab, let us first define some Arabic terms related to Islam, Hijab, and Khimar.

Meaning in Arabic.

Arabic is a language very rich in shades of meaning for every word; translations often fail to do justice to Arabic verses for lack of appropriate vocabulary. Consequently, it is necessary, when addressing controversial issues, to look closely at the meaning of the Arabic words used in the original context. Let’s start from the meaning of the name of this religion: Islam.

Meaning of Islam and How Muslims Regard Islamic Rules.

Islam means total submission to Allah—in mind, heart, body, and soul—total acceptance of His laws and rules without doubts or arguments, total obedience to Him and His Messenger, and total refusal of shirk [associating anyone with Allah] in all its forms.

In the Qur’an Allah states:

“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger; he has indeed strayed into a plain error” [Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:36].

Muslims should not argue the commands, rules, or laws of Allah and His Prophet [peace be upon him]. They do not need proof from Allah for everything He asks of them. Their obedience is the mark of their true faith. In addition, Islam is a complete way of life that should be wholly adhered to by its followers. Thus, Muslims are not supposed to worship selectively, picking out whatever rules or rituals appeal to them and leaving the rest. Denying a basic Islamic rule or ritual is a serious sin.

Meaning of Hijab.

Hijab in Arabic means “barrier” or “screen” and thus it appears in various verses of Qur’an, referring to many things besides the woman’s head cover. For example:

Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an that He only talks to humans from behind a hijab.

The Qur’an says :

“It is not given to any human being that Allah should speak to him unless [it be] by revelation, or from behind a veil” [Surah Ash-Shura 42:51).

The Virgin Mary worshipped behind a hijab:

“She placed a screen [to screen herself] from them” [Surah Maryam, 19:17].

And, on Judgment Day there will be a hijab between the residents of Paradise and the residents of Hell:

“And between them will be a [barrier] screen” [Surah Al-A’raf, 7:51].

In all these verses, the Arabic word hijab was used to mean different things. In this light, let’s ponder the logic of hijab.

The Qur’an teaches us to look around us with open eyes and minds, to think, rationalize, and reach logical conclusions. If we look at the universe, from the tiny atom to the huge celestial bodies, don’t we see how everything important or precious is protected and concealed with a cover? Think of the skin to the human body, the womb to the baby, the plasma wall to the cell, the bark to the tree trunks, the shell to the egg, even the entire planet we live on is enjoying the protection of a “hijab”—which we call the atmosphere—against the dangers of asteroids and harmful cosmic rays. Think how other planets—Mars for example— deprived of their “hijab” have suffered much harm.

Meaning of Khimar.

The Arabic word khimar means “top-cover” and it also applies to many things besides women’s head covers. For example, it applies to the top covering a pot or jar, to any head cover worn by people even men. Notably, that’s where liquor and narcotics got their Arabic name khamr because they “cover” the reasoning when a person is intoxicated.

Khimar is the word used to prescribe the head cover of Muslim women in the verse you referred to.

The Qur’an says:

“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 veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons..” [Surah An-Nur, 24:31].

The meaning apparent to the Arabic reader is that in the presence of men who are not mahrams to Muslim women, she should wear a head cover that extends long enough to cover the bosom, not that only the bosom is covered. Another verse in Surat Al-Ahzab clarifies this further.

The Qur’an says :

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons [when abroad]; that is most convenient, that they should be known [as such] and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” [Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:59].

The Arabic word used here to indicate the cover is the plural of jilbab. Ibn Taimiyyah stated in Majmu` Al-Fatawa 22:110-111: “The jilbab is a cover which is large enough to cover the woman’s head and the rest of her body hanging from the top of her head.”

Further, the Qur’an instructs the Prophet’s Companions as follows:

‘And when you ask [the Prophet’s wives] for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen” [Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:53].

The meaning of hijab in this verse is any object that conceals a woman such as a wall, a door, or clothes. The ruling of the verse, even though it was revealed concerning the wives of the Prophet [peace be upon him], generally encompasses all Muslim women. This is because the wisdom behind the ruling is specified in the remainder of the verse.

Allah says:

“..That makes for greater purity for your hearts and theirs” [Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:53].

This wisdom is general among all men and women. Therefore the generality of the wisdom also indicates the general application of the rule as apparent in surah 33, verse 59 above.

Islam uplifted women, gave them equality, and expects them to maintain their status. The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The hijab or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the “subjugation” of women under Islamic law. Yet, the truth is that 1400 years ago, Islam recognized women’s rights in a way that grants them the utmost protection and respect as well, a combination other systems fail to offer. Islam granted them freedom of expression, political participation, business and financial rights, and asked the rest of society to hold them in high esteem and offer them due respect as mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters.

In the Qur’an, Allah Almighty first mentions lowering the gaze for men before lowering the gaze and wearing hijab for women.

The Qur’an teaches us as follows:

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do” [Surah An-Nur, 24:30’].

The moment a man looks at a woman with any brazen or unashamed thought in mind, he should lower his gaze. The next verse of Surat An-Nur is the one commanding believing women to wear the hijab.

Islam expects women to maintain their status by following Allah’s rules designed for their advantage. Hijab is one such rule.

Criterion for Hijab.

According to the Qur’an and Sunnah, there are basically six criteria for observing hijab:

1. It is obligatory for males to cover at least from the navel to the knees. For women, it is obligatory to cover the complete body except the face and the hands up to the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body. Some scholars insist that the face and the hands are part of the obligatory extent of hijab, especially if temptation [fitnah] is feared in times and places where Islamic rules are not prevalent or if security is scarce.

All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women:

2. The clothes should be loose and should not reveal the figure.

3. The clothes should not be transparent or see-through.

4. The clothes should not be so glamorous as to attract attention.

5. The clothes should not resemble those of the opposite sex.

6. The clothes should not resemble those of the unbelievers, that is, clothes that identify or are symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.

Hijab Includes The Conduct.

Complete hijab, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behavior, attitude, and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of hijab of the clothes is observing hijab in a limited sense. Hijab of the clothes should be accompanied by hijab of the eyes, the heart, the thought, and the intention. It also includes the way a person walks, talks, and behaves. Therefore, the hypocritical use of hijab is not a good example of Muslim conduct.

Hijab Prevents Molestation.

The Qur’an says that hijab enables women to be recognized as modest women and this will also protect them from being molested. Suppose there is a hooligan who is waiting to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? A girl wearing hijab, or one wearing a mini skirt or shorts? Hijab does not degrade a woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity.

Lifting the Veil Will Not Uplift Women.

Woman’s liberalization mostly disguises exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honor. Non-Muslim societies claim to have uplifted women via allowing them to expose their bodies, but on the contrary, this has actually degraded them to mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketers, hidden behind the colorful screen of “art” and “culture.”

Muslim women should be well aware of these facts. They should be aware that hijab protects them from evil glances and evil desires of those who are sick in the heart, as described in the Qur’an. Muslim women must adhere to Allah’s rules and not be persuaded or tempted by the media that opposes hijab or belittles its significance, as those who spread these ideas only desire evil for her. The Qur’an warns by saying what means:

“But the wish of those who follow their lusts is that you should deviate away [from the right path], -far, far away” [Surah An-Nisa’ 4:27].

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