(1) AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE
The Hijab is an act of obedience to Allah SW(4) and to His
Messenger Muhammad (SAAW(5)). He (SW) says:
وَمَا آَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ
[ الأحزاب، ٣٦ ] وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُبِينًا
"It is not for a believer, man or woman,
when Allah and His Messenger have
decreed a matter that they should have
an option in their decision. And
whoever disobeys Allah and His
Messenger, has indeed strayed in a
plain error." (Qur'an 33:36)
Allah (SW) also says:
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ
بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ
[ النساء، ٦٥ ] وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمً ا
"But no by your Lord, they can have no
Faith, until they make you
(Muhammad (SAAW)) a judge in all
disputes between them, and find in
themselves no resistance against your
decisions, and accept (them) with full
submission." (Qur'an 4:65)
Indeed,, Allah ordered that women must put on the Hijab(6).
He (SW) says:
وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ
فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ
[ النور، ٣١ ] بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ
"And tell the believing women to lower
their gaze (from looking at forbidden
things) and protect their private parts
(from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not
to show off their adornment except
what must (ordinarily) appear thereof,
that they should draw their veils over
their Juyubihinna(7)." (Qur'an 24:31).
Allah considered the dazzling display of beauty an act of ignorance:
[ الأحزاب، ٣٣ ] وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَى
"And stay in your houses and do not
display yourselves like that of the times
of Jahiliyeeyah(
(ignorance). " (Qur'an 33:33)
He, Most Glorified, says:
وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ
[ الأحزاب، ٥٣ ] ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِ ن
"And when you ask the Prophet's wives
for anything you want, ask them from
behind a screen." (Qur'an 33:53)
The above Ayah (verse) does not apply only to the Prophet's
wives but to all of the believing women. Carefully read the
following saying of Allah (SW):
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
[ الأحزاب، ٥٩ ] يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your
daughters and the women of the
believers to draw their cloaks (veils)
over their bodies (when outdoors). That
is most convenient that they should be
known and not molested."(9) (Qur'an 33:59)
The Prophet (SAAW) said:
" المَرأة عَوْرةَ "
"The woman (i.e. any woman) is A'wrah (10)", that is she must be covered.