islam

The Virtues of Hijab
        There are many virtues and benefits to the Hijab both spiritually and physically.  First and foremost it is an an act of obedience to Allah and to Rasulullah (SAW), Allah says in the Quran: "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.'(Sura # 24 ayah #31)." And we must obey Allah (swt) and his Messenger in all matter as Allah (swt) says in the Quran"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.' (Sura #33 ayah #:36). To futhur understand the importance of hijab we se this hadith of Aisha (RAA), the wife of Rasulullah (SAW), addressed some women from the tribe of Banu Tameem who came to visit her and had light clothes on them, they were improperly dressed: "If indeed you are believing women, then truly this is not the dress of the believing women, and if you are not believing women, then enjoy it."

Allah (SWT) made the adherence to the hijab a manifestation for chastity, modesty and a protection against being raped and molested as Allah (SWT) says: "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." (Sura #33 ayah #59).  From this ayah we see that the hijab is a protection for the woman and has been ordered to protect the woman from being molested and being made in sex objects. When the cause of attraction ends, the restriction is removed. This is illustrated in the case of elderly women who may have lost every aspect of attraction. Allah (swt) made it permissible for them to lay aside their outer garments and expose their faces and hands reminding, however, that is still better for them to keep their modesty.  And all this is in place to protect and the society and to keep it pure.  as we see from this next ayah Islam wants to stop the problem before it starts as Allah (swt) says "And when you ask them for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and their hearts." (Sura # 33 ayah #53).Now we see if we followed these guidelines it would cut down the rate of women raped and molested.  Imagine if every followed these divine laws there would be no more sexual harrasment and molestation of women.  The hijab makes for greater purity for the hearts of believing men and women because it screens against the desire of the heart. Without the hijab, the heart may or may not desire. That is why the heart is more pure when the sight is blocked (by hijab) and thus the prevention of fitna (evil actions is very much manifested). The hijab cuts off the ill thoughts and the greed of the sick hearts!  As Allah (swt) says in the Quran "Be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner." (Sura #33 ayah #32)

    Allah (swt) says in the Quran "O children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc.) and as an adornment. But the raiment of righteousness, that is better.  "(Sura # 7 ayah #26).The widespread forms of dresses in the world today are mostly for show off and hardly taken as a cover and shield of the woman's body. To the believing women, however the purpose is to safeguard their bodies and cover their private parts as a manifestation of the order of Allah. It is an act of Taqwah (righteousness).

    Rasulullah (SAW) said: "Allah, Most High, is Heaven, is Ha'yeii (Bashful), Sit'teer (Shielder). He loves Haya' (modesty) and Sitr (Shielding; Covering)." Rasulllah (SAW) also said: "Any woman who takes off her clothes in other than her husband's house (to show off for unlawful purposes), has broken Allah's shield upon her. "The hadith demonstrates that depending upon the kind of action committed there will be either reward (if good) or punishment (if bad).

Salaamualeikum.

My name is Aishah. I am a 24 year-old student, who is taking a Sabbatical before going onto Post-graduate work at a university in Malaysia.

When Sister Amina asked me to write something about myself for her site, I thought it was not a good idea as I am just an ordinary muslim who normally works quite hard, hangs out with friends - females ones - and tries to live a decent life. Boring in other words.

I come from a not specially religious family and no one made me veil my face. It was what I wanted to do, and I had to persuade my family it was no silly juvenile fancy, but an adult decision come to from what I had read and seen. The proofs I used to convince myself are shown somewhere else here so I won't take up time by telling them all again. All I will say is that I was 16 when I first wore niqaab and since then its a natural part of my life and something which I think is right for me.

My friends also veil and its something which is firmly established here. I am lucky to be living in an Islamic country but it is not always easy to veil fully. But that is a good test for my commitment to Islam. Wearing niqab, :: I also veil my eyes and wear gloves:: I feel that I am doing what Allah the Ever Merciful wishes me to do. I am content like this and I pray that my husband when we get married, insh Allah, will wish me to continue veiling after we are married. I don't think I could wed a man who would not let me continue veiled. Fortunately young men seem to like niqaabis for wives. But that was NOT reason for my veiling.

I feel good about wearing this form of hijab. I would never want to lose it until I am old, as I prefer it this way after so long wearing full veils. Insh Allah, I will do that for many years to come.

Bon Jour. Je suis Mira.

I hope you forgive my English writing which is not good yet. I am just married and I am 19. I live in South France and my parents are from Algerie. I first wore a light veil over my head when I was 6 maybe 7. At 11 my Mama allowed me to wear niqab out side but I had to take it off at school. I must say I really pestered her to let me wear that niqab but she made me wait until she said I was old enough. France schools do not like hijab and niqab less. I was 16 when I wore veils over my eyes as well and then I left school and helped my mother who makes wonderful embroidery for the fashion houses in Paris. I have found men leave me alone when I am fully veiled. Befor niqaab when I had hijab and head scarf I was always being pested by men, But they dont like veiled girls. They might saw something nasty but that all. Ordinary I get left alone and that is good.

Three months ago I wed a distant cousin who was chosen for me but who I agreed to. He was very brave as he never saw me until our wedding. At least I saw him round the curtain. He is a very nice man and trains to be an imam in the end. We are going to Egypt next year so he can go to the AlAhazar for his studies.

We both agree that niqaab is right and I would not have married a man who did not think it. So we agree which is great. I am very happy as I work with my mother and live next apartment to her with my husband. I have always wished to be Niqaabi since I was a little girl and learnt why I should veil. My parents did not feel strong about it, so I had to learn the reasons to convince them I was right. I think I was very bossy little girl.......... My life is good and I praise Allah for his Kindness to me and everyone

AsalaamuAlaikum to all readers of Sister Amina's Web Site. I hope you learn from it and that it may inspire some sisters to look at how they dress. My name's Sayyideh and I made my submission to Allah the Compassionate, the All Knowing, eight years ago. I am Swedish but I live in England where I care for my husband and my two little boys. I wanted to say why I believe that I am doing the RIGHT thing in covering-up completely but Sister Amina says there will be a big article on the various reasons in the Quran and Hadith why we became niqaabis. I took me quite a time after shahada to decide I had to cover-up completely. In fact until after my first baby was born. (I now have a daughter and a son) But it was so very good when I did come to believe that it was fard. Saying that, I don't want other sisters to think I am saying they are wrong if they don't cover-up.

My decision was very very personal but it is the right one for me, I know. I was worried what my kids would say about having a Mum who was invisible for some of the time. But my oldest daughter who is nearly 6 is already wanting to dress as I do. She is too young to understand why I see it as my obligation, but I will tell her when she can understand. If, when she is older and understands fully, then we will talk about when she can wear niqab.

My husband approves completely of all this. He says he is proud that he has a wife who is Niqaabi. Dressing like this can be a bit tricky at times but it is the only way for me, and I am so pleased that I decided to do so.

Walaikumsalaam

In the five or so years since I adopted Niqaab, I have been asked all sorts of questions about it. So, as FAQs (frequently asked questions) seem synonymous with The Net and computing, here are a few FAQs concerning Niqaab and Niqaabis. They are all extracted from actual e-mail and snail mail correspondence.

*** What is a Niqab? Where does it originate? ***

The Niqab is simply a veil that covers the wearer's face, normally leaving the eyes exposed. The ones we are talking about here are opaque and are not fashion statements! Its origins are lost in the mists of time, but it's usage grew more widespread with the expansion of Islam in the 15^th and 16^th Centuries.

*** Is veiling only to do with Islam? ***

We know that some Greek women and especially virtuous Roman women veiled their faces in public. And the same is true of the Persian Empire. So veiling as such pre-dates Islam as a form of modest concealment. But, in the three examples I have mentioned, the use of the veil was social and cultural, and had little or no religious significance.

*** What do you mean by the term 'Niqaabi'? ***

Niqaabi is just a slang term, like Hijaabi - one who wears Hijab. Or in this case, one who wears Niqab. More generally, it includes all sisters who cover their faces in public: some fully, some leaving the eyes exposed.

*** Are women that cover their faces different than the women that only cover their hair and not their faces? ***

I hope not! It is merely that our interpretation of Holy Writ differs from Sisters who do not veil themselves as we do.

*** Aren't we simply talking about clothing here? ***

Yes and No. Of course we dress differently to our sisters who do not veil their faces. But the main difference comes from the way we interpret the relevant passages from the Holy Qur'an and from Hadith. We view it as our duty to hide out faces; not for social or cultural reasons, but because it is what we believe we are told to do in the Holy Qur'an. Other sisters interpret the relevant passages from Holy Writ differently to us, so their 'clothing' will be different to that of a Niqaabi.

*** Is 'Hijab of the Eyes' something just done by Niqaabi and why?

Keeping one's gaze lowered is an instruction to be found in the Holy Qur'an. (Surah al Nur. 24:31) The previous verse also calls on men to do the same................... It is something that many (hopefully all) Niqaabis do but, from personal experience, it is a hard discipline to master.

*** I'm interested in the psyche of the one that wears the niqaab as opposed to the one that chooses not to. Do they become more religious? ***

I would not say that I was any more 'religious' than many of my Sisters who do not wear niqab. I do take my obligations as a muslimah seriously, but I do not think that makes me a 'better' sister than the many who chose not to veil themselves. I have non-niqaabi friends, many of whom out-strip me in piety and knowledge, and to whom I have turned for help in the past. Just wearing a niqaab and covering-up does not in any way guarantee a sister's religosity. It is what lies under the coverings that counts - what the wearer believes, how she acts, and how pure is her soul.

*** Do they assume a role different than the one that does not? ***

I would hope the role that every muslimah would aspire to would be a true servant of Almighty Allah and to eventually become a good wife and mother. So, in that, we are no different to any other well-intentioned muslimah.

Where differences do occur is in what was can NOT do. For example, I cannot go roller-blading, mountaineering or ski-ing, nor swim in public. I do not go to the theatre any more, nor to the cinema. But, for all that, I lead a full and interesting life which meets ALL my needs, both spiritual and intellectual.

*** Why do some muslimahs also veil their eyes? ***

The eyes have been described as 'the windows to the Soul' and they are very expressive. Regretfully some men see every glance by a woman as inviting, and therefore many Niqaabi conceal their eyes so as not to tempt or distract men who may see them in public.

*** Why do you wear gloves? ***

For two reasons. Firstly, if I cover up all the rest of my body, it seems a bit silly (and contrary to me beliefs) to have my hands exposed when they can be expressive in themselves. The second reason is the prevent me from touching haram items. For instance, my studies take me into libraries where there may be (there are, in one case) books bound in pig skin.