(This pic was taken from http://www.themuslimwomen.org/)**The Arabic word 'Hijab' means 'coverlet', 'curtain' or 'veil' in English.
The question about Muslim women and their veil is one of the commonly asked question. The truth is, the image of Muslim women is strongly connected to a number of logical aspect: to uplift the status of women in Islam.
Ironically, the media manages to manipulate other people's perspective negatively towards muslim women via the secular media.
The 'Hijab', or the Islamic dress code is often cited in various examples as a way of oppression of women under the Islamic law.
Answer:-
Before I start to reason the logic of Hijab, let us first study the status of women in societies before the Islamic civilization.
In the past, women were degraded and used as objects of lust to men. The following examples from history illustrates the fact that women in earlier civilization was very low, to the extent that they were rejected on their own basic human dignity:
1) Babylonian Civilization
-Women were degraded and denied all rights under the Babylonian Law.
-If a man murdered a man/woman, instead of the man being punished, his wife will face the death sentence.
2) Greek Civilization
-The Greek civilization was considered as the most magnificent of all ancient civilization.
-Under this 'magnificent' system, women were denied of all rights and were look down upon.
-In Greek mythology, an 'imaginary woman' named Pandora is said to be the root cause of mishaps of human beings.
-That is, they considered women to be subhuman and lowly from men.
-Although the purity of women was precious, and women were held in full admiration, within time, the Greeks were conquered by ego and sexual perversion.
-In the end, prostitution became a regular practice amongst all the classes of Greek society.
3) Roman Civilization
-The Egyptians (Pre-Islam) considered women as evil and as a sign of the devil.
4) Pre-Islamic Arabia
-Before the Islam spreads in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women.
-Very often, whenever they perceive a female child, the child will be buried alive.
Ironically, the media manages to manipulate other people's perspective negatively towards muslim women via the secular media.
The 'Hijab', or the Islamic dress code is often cited in various examples as a way of oppression of women under the Islamic law.
Answer:-
Before I start to reason the logic of Hijab, let us first study the status of women in societies before the Islamic civilization.
In the past, women were degraded and used as objects of lust to men. The following examples from history illustrates the fact that women in earlier civilization was very low, to the extent that they were rejected on their own basic human dignity:
1) Babylonian Civilization
-Women were degraded and denied all rights under the Babylonian Law.
-If a man murdered a man/woman, instead of the man being punished, his wife will face the death sentence.
2) Greek Civilization
-The Greek civilization was considered as the most magnificent of all ancient civilization.
-Under this 'magnificent' system, women were denied of all rights and were look down upon.
-In Greek mythology, an 'imaginary woman' named Pandora is said to be the root cause of mishaps of human beings.
-That is, they considered women to be subhuman and lowly from men.
-Although the purity of women was precious, and women were held in full admiration, within time, the Greeks were conquered by ego and sexual perversion.
-In the end, prostitution became a regular practice amongst all the classes of Greek society.
3) Roman Civilization
-The Egyptians (Pre-Islam) considered women as evil and as a sign of the devil.
4) Pre-Islamic Arabia
-Before the Islam spreads in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women.
-Very often, whenever they perceive a female child, the child will be buried alive.
**The facts above are taken from reliable sources of books and internet, I will not notify these sources as I hope that the readers will do their own research to prove the authenticity of it.
During the upcoming of Islamic civilization, Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them rights 1400 years ago. Islam never degrades the status of women. Instead, Islam promotes 'Hijab' to maintain the women status and grant them human rights.
HIJAB FOR MEN
Yes, you read it right. It is a mistake to assume that the 'hijab' is only related to women. In the Glorious Qur'an, Allah (swt) did mention 'hijab' for men before mentioning 'hijab' for women.
"Say in the believing man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that they will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do." [An-Noor 24:30]
This verse is in the context that when a man looks at a woman, and at any point, if any bold, shameless thought comes into his mind, a man should lower his gaze.
HIJAB FOR WOMEN
The next verse in Surah An-Noor says:
"And say to the believing woman 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 they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons.." [An-Noor 24:31]
According to the Qur'an and Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet) there are 5 criterias in relation to 'Hijab':
1) The body should be covered. This is different for men and women. For men, it is obligatory to cover at least from the navel to the knees. For women, it is obligatory to cover the complete body except the face and above the wrists (ordinarily appear). If they wish to, they can also cover these parts of the body.
2)The clothes worn should be lose and not reveal the figure or sillhouete of the body.
3) The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.
4)The clothes worn should not resemble the opposite sex. (women dressed like men and vice versa)
5) The clothes worn should not resemble those of other religion. (clothes with special identity or symbols of the other religions)
THE LOGIC IN HIJAB
The 'Hijab' is not only a form of dress code but there is a sense to it. The logic includes the moral of conduct, behaviour, attitude and the intention of the individual.
In simple English, 'Hijab' of the clothes should be accompanied by 'hijab'of the eyes, the heart, thought and intention. It also includes the behavior, i.e the way a person walks, talks, behaves, etc.
1) Hijab prevents molestation
The reasoning of Hijab is mentioned the Qur'an in Surah al-Ahzaab.
"O prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not be molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [al-Ahzaab 33:59]
This verse stated that the hijab has been specified for women so that they are appreciated as modest women, and this will also prevent them from being molested.
Consider this analogy:
Suppose two twin sisters, who are equally beautiful were to walk down the street. One of them is attired in the Islamic hijab (complete body is covered, except for the face and hands up to the wrists). The other is attired in Western clothes (mini skirts or shorts with matching tops).
Just around the corner, there is a hooligan, who is waiting for an opportunity to tease a girl. My question to you is, who do you think the hooligan will choose to tease? The girl wearing the Islamic hijab or the girl wearing the mini skirts?
Naturally, he will tease the girl with the western apparel. Such dresses are, of course an indirect 'invitation' to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. Therefore, the Qur'an rightly says that 'hijab' prevents women from being molested.
2) Capital punishment for the rapist
Under the Islamic Syariah (law), a man convicted of having raped a woman, is given capital punishment. I have been confronted by my non-muslim friends with his fact and they (the non-muslims) labelled Islam as merciless, barbaric religion!
Do you think so too? Well, suppose (God forbid) someone rapes your wife, your mother, or your sister, and you are made the judge for the case. What punishment would you give him?
To them, I asked this and some of them went to the extent of saying that they would torture the rapist to death. I was astonished. Weren't they who says that it is barbaric and merciless? But when it comes to their own personal situation, they would act as what the Islamic law stated. So, why should there be double standards?
3) Western society falsely claims that to have uplifted women
Western talk on women's liberation is nothing but a disguised form of exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul and honour. Their claims to have 'uplifted' women are false. On the other hand, the status of woman have been degraded in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketers, hidden behind their so called "art & culture".
According to an FBI report, (taken from a statistical report book), in the year 1990, the average of 1756 cases were committed in the USA alone. The report also mentioned that in later years 1900 cases of rapes are reported daily (the year was not mentioned). My view is as the years passed, maybe they got even more "bolder" now.
4) Hijab reduces the rate of rape cases.
Surely the hijab shows positive outcomes. With rape cases reducing, (by applying hijab of course), the society will breathe easier. In a nutshell, hijab does not degrade women, but uplifts them by protecting their modesty and purity.
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