WHAT IS HIJAB?

There are many sisters who have failed to understand the actual meaning of Hijab. Hijab

 technically means covering. Islam desires the preservation of social tranquility and familial

 peace. Hence, it asks women to cover themselves in their interactions with men, whom they

 are not related to.

WHY IS HIJAB NECESSARY?

The dangerous consequences of the Western culture of nakedness and permissiveness are 

before us. We should think twice before blindly trying to imitate Western life-styles.

HOW SHOULD WOMEN OBSERVE HIJAB CORRECTLY?

Basically, the dress of ladies should cover the whole body except the face and hands

 (i.e. palms & fingers). Hair should not be exposed because Islam considers it as half 

of the total beauty of women. The Hijab could be of any form and color, a one-piece chador

 or a three-piece ensemble, as long as it is not tight fitting and does not attract people's 

attention.

BASELESS OBJECTIONS AGAINST HIJAB:

It seeks to imprison women: Those who feel that Hijab imprisons women should refrain 

from living in houses because it is nearer to a prison than Hijab.

It subordinates women: In fact, culture, which promotes nakedness, takes people nearer 

to the culture of animals. Wearing the Hijab, on the contrary, liberates women from the 

trap of Western fashion and maladies. It gives them greater, rather than less freedom and 

mobility.

Why only women? Science has confirmed that visual stimulation plays a predominant role 

in the physiology of men compared to women. The fact that the sex-industry in the West is 

targeted towards the male-market confirms it. Besides, men are also required by the Islamic

 principles to cover their private parts.

Victims of Ridicule: Some of our sisters come up with the excuse that the non-believers laugh

 at them if they observe Hijab and they feel degraded. They may laugh for a little while but 

after some time they will have no choice but to respect the Muslim women observing Hijab for 

their discipline, which could not be shaken, by their little laughs.

Let us not forget the famous phrase: The one who laughs last laughs the longest".

Beauty is meant to be appreciated: True! But only by the husband. Hence women who truly

 love their husbands would never wish to be seen in public without Hijab.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF DISCARDING HIJAB

- Becoming an easy target of anti-social elements.

- Causing great stresses, insecurity and suspicion in the minds of husbands, ultimately 

disturbing the familial harmony.

- Instigating young people to deviate towards the path of lust and immorality.

- Giving rise to cases of divorce, adultery, rape and illegitimate children.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF OBSERVING HIJAB?

- Confidence in social participation as human being and not as sexual commodity.

- Guarding one self from the lustful looks of men.

- Not diverting people's attention from constructive social work.

- Improving the moral character of the society. In conclusion, women can achieve true 

dignity and experience true emancipation by observing Hijab and not by discarding it.

HIJAB ALSO FOR MENv

“Say to the believing men that they cast down their glance. Allah (s.w.t.) is aware of the 

things they do.” Holy Qur'an (24:30) To cast down one's glance, means not to look in a fixed

 way, not to stare. The sentence means, "Tell the believers not to stare at or flirt with women."

Allah (s.w.t.) has given equal rights to both men and women; He forbids either sex claiming 

supremacy over the other. Allah (s.w.t.) states in the Quran: "The most honored of you in the 

sight of Allah (s.w.t.) is (he who is) the most pious of you." Holy Qur'an (49:13)

---1,900 Raped Every Day In America

WASHINGTON- Nearly 1,900 women are raped every day in America, according to a study

 released that paints a much grimmer picture than US Justice Department figures announced

 earlier this week.

The National Victim Center, which promotes the rights of victims of violent crime, said 1.3 

adult women are raped every minute and 683,000 US women are raped each year, based 

on a survey of more that 4,000 women, including 579 rape victims.

One in eight adult American women has been raped, bringing the total of rape victims to 

at least 12.1 million, it said.

The survey indicated that 61 percent of all rape cases involve women under 18 and that 

29 percent of all rapes occurred when the victim was less than 11 years old. - Reuters 

(Source: MID-DAY Bombay 25-4-92)

_____________________________________________________________

HIJAB SUPPLEMENT

Allah (s.w.t.) states in Qur'an: "Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth 

and all that is between! If it had been Our wish to take (just) a pastime, We should surely have 

taken it from the things nearest to Us, if We would do (such a thing)." Holy Qur'an (21:16) 

The above surah amply emphasizes the seriousness with which Allah (s.w.t.) created this 

world and everything that exists therein, including the human beings. Allah (s.w.t.) created 

us for a specific and important purpose and it is the duty of every Muslim to lead a disciplined

 life, realizing the seriousness of this purpose. Human beings must distinguish themselves from

 animals by decent and disciplined behavior. But how many of us take this life with the 

seriousness it deserves? All of us originated from one father and one mother and belong to 

one big family, but it is unfortunate that many of us live without any sense of collective 

responsibility. We are one community and the action of one-person will not only reflect on 

other individuals but also the whole community. Allah (s.w.t) states in the Holy Quran: 

"If anyone slew a person, unless it be for murder or spreading mischief in the land,

 it would be as it he slew the whole people" When Allah (s.w.t) commanded our sisters

 to observe Hijab, it was because of the universal damages that would be caused by refusing

 to observe it. It is not a matter of individual behavior, as many people may think. A woman 

going out exposing her charms attracts men, which sets off a chain of undesirable events, 

causing lot of harm to several people. Thus, the indecent behavior of one person affects the

 community as a whole. Although the person, who originally caused the damage, is to be 

blamed for all the consequences, other members of the community are also responsible to

 some extent for allowing such a thing to happen. Therefore, it becomes a collective 

responsibility of all of us to ensure that such damages are not caused. For example, 

some people were sailing in a boat, which they jointly owned when one of them stated

 making a hole in the place which was allocated to him in the boat. When others tried 

to stop him, he argued that it was his part of the boat and he was free to do whatever

 he wished. But if he was allowed to continue, the boat would sink and all of them would

 be drowned. Discarding Hijab will harm not only one's own self but also millions of others.

 Exposure of physical charm of our women may destroy many homes and cause innumerable 

rapes and murders for which we all are responsible. It is pertinent to relate one of the several 

heart-breaking stories caused by discarding Hijab: A young innocent man, who saw the 

photograph of an attractive woman, was immediately infatuated by her physical charm. 

Unfortunately, he had neither wealth nor position to get closer to her. To fulfill his desire, 

he though of getting money quickly by any means and resorted to stealing. Finally, 

he ended up in prison for robbing a few people and killing one. Who is to be blamed 

for all the consequences but the person who caused them? Had that woman observed Hijab 

and refrained from displaying her attractions, these crimes would not have taken place. 

Our Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.) has said that on the Day of Judgment, such people would

be brought forward for trail on charges of quasi-crimes in which they had a share of 

responsibility. They would plead that they did not commit those crimes, but then they 

would be told that they removed their Hijab and attracted this person, which made him 

indulge in those crimes. "And soon will the unjust assailants know what vicissitudes their

 affairs will take". Holy Qur'an (26:227)

LIBERATION OR SEXPLOITATION

Today in some societies, particularly in the West a woman can walk semi-naked in public,

 swim topless, patronize bars and clubs, smoke, drink, dance in discos and have sex with

 anybody she feels like. She can even serve her boyfriend, like an unpaid prostitute, 

and be free to murder her unborn baby if she falls pregnant. She can also compete in the

 business world by using her body to promote commercial commodities. At the end of the 

day she will be regarded as a truly 'liberated' woman! In Islam, however, Liberation of 

women is far more serious, noble and dignified than just the burning of bras as is done in

 the so-called permissive societies where the fair sex is regarded as no more than a sex object. 

Today the West is very quick to condemn Islamic laws, which protect purity of purpose and

 the intermingling of the sexes at all levels of society. Look at the glossy cover of any magazine 

or advertisements on TV and newspaper, you will find that most of these advertisements 

have scantily dressed women in alluring poses to attract the attention of men. This proves 

that the Western society considers woman only as a sex symbol. The liberation of women in

 Islam is far superior to Western liberation as it allows women to live with respect, dignity 

and equality in society. Equality does not mean aping and behaving like men or dancing to 

their carnal tunes; that would be an act of inferiority in the face of one's own femininity. 

A truly liberated woman always dresses decently and modestly. A true woman will never 

degrade her body and sell her dignity to the highest bidder. No woman is truly liberated if

 she is still the slave of her wayward conscience, bodily lust or infidelity. However, in Islam, 

women, whatever their role as mothers, wives, sisters or daughters, command respect and

 have a constructive role to play in society. The Hijab itself gives an aura of freedom to the 

womankind, facilitating their movement and protecting them from provocation and wanton 

greed of the human wolves. Removal of the Hijab makes you vulnerable to the lust of men. 

By removing your Hijab, you have destroyed your faith. Islam means submission to Allah 

(s.w.t.) in all our actions. Those who refuse submission cannot be called Muslims.

_____________________________________________________________

--What successful women have to say about Hijab

‘It is amazing the way things changed overnight when I started on with Hijab. 

I can feel the extra respect coming my way. People take me more seriously; 

friends at college think it looks very neat and smart, and I feel protected and 

confident when I step out.’

Dr. Mrs. N.Z.Vakil (Medical Student).

‘The most important thing about Hijab is that it gives you an identity of a Muslim. 

Moreover, it is another way of obedience to Allah's (s.w.t.) command. People often 

give me due respect which I would have not got without a Hijab. Traveling among 

men has become easy for me as it makes me feel safe and protected. It also gives

 me a lot of confidence and last but not the least this has brought me one step closer

 to Allah (s.w.t.). Therefore, I consider Hijab as a blessing from Allah (s.w.t.) and 

I thank him for His blessing.’

Reshma Qazi (Arts Student)

‘The Angel of Death, Azrael (A.S.) said "Obedience to Allah's (s.w.t.) Commandments 

is better than compassion to the earth". Initially I felt I would be looked down upon in society,

 but after wearing Hijab, I realized that people do not give you as much importance as you

 feel they should. The nearness, which I felt to Allah (s.w.t) by obeying His commandment, 

is beyond expression. Moreover wearing Hijab has created an aura of respectability in my 

environment and has enabled me to remember Allah (s.w.t.) more often.’

Mrs. S.A. Vakil (House Wife)

‘I feel that at present when demoralization is increasing in the society, every woman should

 wear Hijab, It is the only thing which protects a woman and makes her feel secured.’

Shenaz. F. Raj (College Student)

‘In the modern society of today, a woman has always been looked upon as just another 

sexual object for the men. Why should one display one's beauty for unwanted eyes to 

feast upon? The Hijab protects a woman's honor and doesn't arouse unwanted passion 

from the opposite sex. I feel if the women were to universally adopt the Islamic code of

 dressing, the rate of incidences of eves teasing, molestation, rape, etc. would be negligible.

 Wearing the Hijab gives me more confidence in myself as a woman and it doesn't obstruct

 me in any way in my profession.’

Mrs. Salva I. Rasool (Graphic Designer)

The stylish coat can be worn in many different patterns; it loosely falls from the shoulders

 and reaches the knees. A loose long coat falling from the shoulders and reaching the ankles

 can also be worn with a scarf covering all the hair. A scarf covering the hair fully, 

can be worn along with a loose shirt falling till the knees as trousers.

 (Hair should not be seen from below the scarf). This hijab commonly known as the

 "Chaadar" is a single piece of material which falls from head and is draped on the shoulder.

 A scarf too can be worn inside it, to cover all the hair.

_____________________________________________________________

WHY HIJAB IS NECESSARY

Until the Imperialists invaded Muslim Countries and the Muslims started mixing with

 non-believers, all our Muslim women walked in this world with great respect and dignity. 

The non-believers were finding it very difficult to come anywhere near the border of our 

Muslim sisters purity. The Hijab did not only protect them from those evil eyes of 

non-believers but also gave them freedom and independence from being misused by them. 

The non-believers planned to destroy their barrier through removal of Hijab and unfortunately,

 many of our sisters, without realizing what shame and destruction they were bringing to

 themselves, removed the Hijab and exposed themselves. When imperialists invaded China,

 they were not faced with Hijab but were confronted with other obstacles and the Chinese

 refused to co-operate with them. In order to crush this resistance, the imperialists flooded 

China with opium and made it available to the Chinese free of charge. Once the Chinese 

were addicted, free distribution of opium ceased and it was given only to those who fulfilled 

their demands.

Removal of the Hijab had exactly the same effect. At one time, you were independent and 

lived with dignity, but now you are nothing but a slave of your evil desire and behave worse

 than a non-believer. By removing your Hijab, you have destroyed your faith. Islam means 

submission to Allah (s.w.t.) in all our action. Those who refused submission cannot be 

called Muslims. Allah states in Qur'an: "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 Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.

" Holy Qur'an (24:31)

Also, Imam Jaffer Sadiq (a.s.) says: ‘Modesty is the symbol of faith and whoever has no 

modesty (Hijab), has no religion.’ There are many sisters who have failed to understand 

the actual meaning of Hijab. To observe proper Hijab is to dress up oneself modestly and 

appropriately covering all parts of body except face and hands, without showing one's figure 

or curves and without using any sort of make-up. Allah (s.w.t) has given equal rights to 

both men and women; He forbids either sex claiming supremacy over the other.

 Allah states in Qur'an: "Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) 

the most righteous of you." Holy Qur'an (49:13) Hijab is one of the righteous deeds and 

it is a sign of honor and equality with men and stands as a shield of protection against evil men.

 The woman in Islam is bestowed with respect and honor and a Muslim gives great importance

 to his wife. Our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) says: ‘the best of you are those who are best in 

resting their wives’. The status of wife is so respectable that she is not bound to do any 

house-hold work unless she does it willingly and with affection; but if her husband forces her 

to do any work, he will have to answer to Allah for his conduct. Also, she is not bound to earn 

and maintain the house of her husband. Her work shall always conform to the laws of Shariat. 

Unlike the Western world, the Muslim wife is a queen in her husband's house. The first thing 

a husband does for his wife is to provide a servant and a cook according to his ability and when

 she becomes a mother, she receives greatest respect from her husband.

Do Not Hesitate to Take the Step towards Hijab

In today's world, we find several young women hesitating to take the "hijab" step. They think

millions of times before taking this decision. Many young women say, "I can not wear it before

getting married"; “I might lose my job if I wear hijab"; or “I want to wear hijab but it will prevent

 me from life's pleasures, such as playing my favorite sport or wearing fashionable clothes".

In fact, quite a few young women feel that the hijab acts as an obstacle for reaching their aims

and aspirations in life, and hinders them from enjoying their life freely.

The Right Choice

No one can deny that there are Muslim men who prefer marrying a non-veiled woman, but this

is because they do not understand the Islamic teachings and injunctions. There are also real

Muslim men who prefer to marry a woman who is veiled, as they believe that one day she will

be the mother of their children and should be a good role model for them. Such men understand

 Islam well, and believe that everything which Allah the Almighty and His prophet

(peace and blessings be upon him) ordered and taught us to do is for our benefit.

So those who believe that they might not get married if they wear hijab should first comprehend

 that marriage is a part of Fate as well as choice. In addition, they have to be precise in choosing

their life partner, and know that the one who does not obey Allah the Almighty will never be a

good husband.

The right choice is to marry the man who loves Allah the Almighty and translates this love into action.

 This kind of husband will constantly try to apply the Islamic teachings and will always treat his wife gently;

with him, she will live a life full of faith, love, forgiveness and happiness.

Enjoy Your Life Wearing Hijab

There is a widespread notion that wearing hijab hinders a young woman from carrying out her daily activities.

 Actually, this is wrong, as every young woman is capable of enjoying her life while wearing hijab.

A woman who is veiled can go out with her friends and have fun. She can also play sport and wear

fashionable clothes. The only changes will be that choose a suitable place to go out with her friends

 that does not have anything haram and that she will wear suitable clothes that coincide with the Islamic

 dress-code.

A young woman who is veiled can play sport in places that are specifically designed for women or she

can choose a sport that she can play while wearing modest clothing. Several young women have had

this experience; one them is Lama El- Sharkawi who is 25 years old from Egypt. She decided to wear

hijab in spite of her obvious success as a bowling champion. El-Sharkawi played bowling for 13 years;

she traveled to several countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and Dubai and took part in several

championships.

"The hijab decision was not easy," says El-Sharkawi, "but the most important thing for me is to please

 Allah the Almighty and obey His orders." She added that sport is a significant part of her life and that

is why she plays aerobics in places designated for women.

“I believe that we as veiled women can enjoy our lives and please Allah the Almighty at the same time”,

 added El-Sharkawi. She said that hijab helped her to change several aspects of her life for the better,

such as, her way of thinking, her attitude towards life, and it made her closer to Allah the Almighty.

“I started to be more curious to read and know more about the Islamic teachings,” added El-Sharkawi.

In terms of her career life, she owns an advertising company and her job as a business development

manager requires that she deal with several multinational companies. "The hijab never hinders my

career, in fact I’m so proud to wear it,” observes El Sharkawi.

Responsibility

In fact, hijab can really prevent you from falling into sin. It also helps to preserve your dignity and

chastity. Moreover, it increases your respect in the eyes of all the people around you. However,

the important thing is to know that it is not just a matter of covering your hair; we, as veiled women

 have to present Islam and reflect an honorable image about Islam and Muslims through our actions,

 beliefs and attitudes.

Wearing hijab is a great responsibility, as people quite often form images about Islam through seeing

young women who are veiled. For this reason, I believe it is a responsibility that every young woman

who is veiled should live up to.

For those who believe that they will sacrifice if they wear hijab, remember our Prophet

(peace and blessings be upon him), his Companions, wives and daughters who sacrificed a

great deal and tolerated harm for the sake of Allah the Almighty and for maintaining the sublimity of Islam.

 Now let me ask you if you are still hesitating to wear hijab!

Source :IOL

Note : Shiam EL-Bassiouni is an assistant editor at youth for the future. A graduate of the American

University in Cairo, she holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication.