Hijab (The Veil) in Islam

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. Before we analyze the reasoningbehind the religiously mandated ‘hijab’, let us first study the status of women insocieties before the advent of Islam.

1. In the past women were degraded and used as objects of lust

The following examples from history amply illustrate the fact that the status ofwomen in earlier civilizations was very low to the extent that they were deniedbasic human dignity:

1)      Babylonian Civilization:The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonianlaw. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wifewas put to death.

2)      Greek Civilization:Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations.Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights andwere looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called‘Pandora’ is the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeksconsidered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity ofwomen was precious, and women were held in high esteem, the Greekswere later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitutionbecame a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.

3)      Roman Civilization:When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had theright to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were commonamongst the Romans.

4)      Egyptian Civilization:The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.

5)      Pre-Islamic Arabia:Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women andvery often when a female child was born, she was buried alive.

2. Islam uplifted women and gave them equality and expects them to maintain their status.

Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.

Hijab for men

People usually only discuss ‘hijab’ in the context of women. However, in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijab’ for men before ‘hijab’ for the women. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Noor:

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guardtheir modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah iswell acquainted with all that they do.” [Al-Qur’an 24:30]

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

Hijab for women

The next verse of Surah Noor, says:

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty andornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear there of; that they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, theirsons...”

[Al-Qur’an 24:31]

First part of text for the Day of Hijabs (1.02.2016)

From the Book :Common questions of non-muslims (Dr.Zakir Naik)