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Women in Islam

Why does the Muslim woman wear Hijab?

Allah Almighty said:

{O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters, and the believing women to draw their outer garments over themselves; that is more likely that they will be known [as chaste women] and will not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [205] Surat al-Ahzāb: 59.

The Muslim woman understands well the meaning of the term "Khusūsiyyah" (particularity). Her love for her father, brother, son, and husband made her realize the particularity of each type of love, as her love for her husband and her love for her father or brother require her to give everyone his due right. Her father's right over her, mainly showing respect and dutifulness, is different from her son's right over her such as providing care, upbringing and so on. She knows quite well when, how, and to whom she could reveal her adornment, so, her outfit in the presence of a stranger is different from what she wears in the presence of a close relative. In other words, she does not appear in the same look before all people. A Muslim woman is a free woman who refuses to be a captive of fashion and others' personal desires. She wears only what is appropriate for her and what makes her happy and pleases her Lord. See how the woman in the West has become a captive of fashion and fashion houses. Once they declare that the new trend is wearing short and tight pants, she hurries to wear it whether it fits her or makes her feel comfortable or not.

It is no secret to anyone how the woman today has turned into a commodity, as almost no commercial or flyer is devoid of an image of a naked woman. This conveys an indirect message to the western woman about her current value. When a Muslim woman conceals her adornment, she is the one who sends the world a message indicating how valuable she is, and how honored she is by Allah. So, those who deal with her must evaluate her in terms of her knowledge, culture, convictions, and ideas not in terms of her physical beauty.

A Muslim woman also understands the human nature that Allah has instilled in people, hence, she does not reveal her adornment in the presence of strangers to protect the society and herself from abuse. I think none can deny the fact that every beautiful girl who feels proud of exposing her physical charms to the public, when reaches old age would wish that all women wear Hijab.

Have a look at the statistics of death and disfigurement rates resulting from plastic surgeries nowadays, what has driven women to go through all this suffering? It is because they forced her to take part in physical beauty contests instead of focusing on her intellectual beauty, the thing that has caused her to waste her true value as well as her life.

Does the woman's head-cover indicate backwardness and retardation?

As a matter of fact, uncovering the head is complete and utter backwardness. Is there any further backwardness beyond the time of Adam; Allah ensured for Adam and his wife concealment and clothing since the time they were created and made to live in Paradise.

Allah Almighty said:

{Here you will neither go hungry nor naked.} [206] Surat Taha: 118.

Allah has also provided Adam's offspring with garments to cover their private parts and as an adornment. Since then, humanity has been developing in its clothing with concealment and covering, which has become the criterion of measuring people's progress. It is well-known that people who live away from civilization, like some African nations, barely wear anything besides what covers their private parts.

Allah Almighty said:

{O children of Adam, We have given you garments that cover your private parts and as an adornment. However, the garment of piety – that is best. That is one of the signs of Allah, so that they may take heed.} [207] Surat al-A‘rāf: 26.

Let the Western man have a look at his grandmother's photos on her way to school and see what she used to wear. When swimsuits appeared for the first time, demonstrations took place in Europe and Australia against it because it opposed man's sound nature and customs and not for religious reasons. The manufacturing companies then were dedicated to producing intensive commercials using five-year-old girls wearing swimsuits to encourage women to wear it. The first girl appeared to be extremely shy while walking in a swimsuit and she failed to complete the show. At that time, both men and women used to swim in full black-and-white swimsuits that cover the whole body.

Why, in Islam, men and women do not cover their bodies in the same manner?

The difference between men's physical structure and that of women is an unquestionable axiom to all people, simply because men's swimsuits differ from those of women in the West. A woman completely covers her body to ward off temptation, but has anybody ever heard of a woman charged with raping a man? Women, in the West, go on demonstrations demanding their right to have a secure life free of harassment and rape which they lack; however, we have never heard of similar demonstrations held by men.