Hijab in Islam Full Guide

What is Hijab in Islam? Real Expert Guide

Muslim females have to personify rightful straight manners. Hijab In Islam means that women must dress with modest coverings and outfits. This modest female clothing or covering has become known by the name of the Hijab.

The Meaning Of The Hijab In Islam

The Arabic word Hijab means linguistically a cover. It is derived from the stem of the Arabic verb” yagib” which in English means obscure or cover or hide. The meaning is to cover the hair and the body with wide non-transparent clothes.

Al Hijab in Islam is a divine command from Allah the wisest given to be practiced and observed by Muslim women. 

It is worth mentioning that learning the Holy Qur’an virtually via smartphones or laptops is considered one of the cautions mentioned above. Classes are usually handled by female Quran Tutors.

You can choose the courses you want:

What is The Concept Of the Hijab In Islam?

There are several concepts of the Hijab in Islam:

1. The Religious Concept Of Hijab In Islam

 Hijab has become typified by the women’s head scarf and is often translated into English as a ‘ veil’. The aim is to enhance and protect the conservation of modesty and public decency and to seek to reduce to a minimum the immorality aspects within the social atmosphere.

2. The Historical concept Of Hijab

The Hijab is a long-standing concept for seeking the pleasure of Allah the Almighty, by applying  His divine command and instruction Not of male-dominated subjugation or of a man-made social formulate or concept. Hijab is the main principle and a solid concept of Islamic beliefs and values. It is observed as a religious mainstream that the most faithful Muslim women practice globally.

What is the History Of the Hijab In Islam?

 The history of the Hijab in Islam starts after migration from Mecca to Al Madinah, the women were to sit with the men without wearing a veil (hijab). Then Allah revealed the verse of the hijab in His holy words.

Hijab In the Quran:

Hijab was mentioned several times in the Quran. For example, Allah SWT said:

“And when you have eaten, disperse, without lingering for conversation. This irritates the Prophet, and he shies away from you, but God does not shy away from the truth. And when you ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a screen; that is purer for your hearts and their hearts. You must never offend the Messenger of God.”  Surah Al- Ahzab, verse 53.

Allah the Almighty has shown that the veil or screen (the hijab) is a purification for the hearts of both men and women and is far from sin, evil, and corruption.

Allah also said:

“O prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers, to lengthen their garments. That is more proper, so they will be recognized and not harassed. God is Forgiving and Merciful.”

Surah Al- Ahzab. Verse No 59. 

In the Holy Qur’an, Allah the Almighty also said:

“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…” 

Surah An Nur verse 31. 

How did the Companions react to the verses of the Hijab?

When these holy verses above were revealed, the companions’ women of the Prophet Muhammad expeditiously adopted these guidelines and commands. In a similar spirit of obedience,  all other Muslim women in the city maintained modest covering (hijab) ever since. They didn’t hesitate; hence, the primary purpose for wearing the hijab is to obey Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.

Prerequisites And Characteristics Of The Rightful Hijab In Islam

There are 6 Characteristics of hijab in Islam that identify the true hijab:

1. Cover the whole body

The whole body of a woman or a girl should be covered by a veil except the face and the eyes, in which there is disagreement.

 ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her narrated that Asma’ bint Abi Bakr entered upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wearing a thin dress. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) turned away from her and said, “O Asma’, when a woman reaches the age of puberty, nothing should be seen of her except this and this” – and he pointed to his face and hands. Abu Dawood (4104) 

2. Hijab Without An Adornment

The veil should not be containing an accessory or adornment. It would not come into anything that would draw the attention of men or awaken their sexual desire.

3. Hijab Non-transparent

The legal rightful veil (the Hijab) should not be transparent. It should not reveal what is hidden behind it. If so, it does not enter into the meaning of the veil.

4. The Veil Must Be Loose

 It must be loose, not tight: because the veil is not considered a veil except with loose clothing. Though the tight clothing does not show the color of the skin, it shows the size of the organs and depicts them in the eye of the men.

 5. Hijab in Islam Should Be With No Fragrances

A hijab without fragrances means anything fragrant, smelling pleasant and delightful. Therefore perfume or any kind of fragrance is not allowed. The prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Any woman who puts on perfume then passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance then she is an adulteress.” 

6. A Woman Should Not Be Dressed Like A Man Even with Hijab

Women’s clothes should not be similar to men’s clothes. Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men.

In another narration, Ibn Abbas said: The Prophet cursed men who copy women and women who copy men. Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6445

What is The Proper Age To Wear The Hijab? – What time should a girl wear the veil?

The proper age to wear a Hijab is 10 years old. However, the Muslim family should encourage their daughter to love wearing the veil while she’s still a young girl.

When a girl reaches ten years old, it’s a good time to make her love wearing it. But it is not the legal time to wear it. It is not obligatory to wear it at this age. That is to make her get used to it. The family can convince their daughter that the veil will be a maintenance for her body and her soul and a kind of approach to Allah, her Creator.

The family should teach their daughter to wear it as they teach her to pray and fast before she reaches the age at which she must pray and fast. 

 If the girl is beautiful or has a big body or a sexual one, she must wear it regardless of her age.

The girl should be taught how to get used to wearing the hijab gradually, using methods of enticement, a carrot-but-not-stick approach, patience, and forbearance, then when she reaches the age of maturity, she should wear the veil that will be favored by her.

Violence or reprimanding to force her to wear it, will not be a good way. The result can be a backlash

The girl’s age of maturity is when she gives her first menstruation, the age of fifteen, the appearance of coarse hair in the vulva.

What are the benefits Of Wearing a Hijab In Islam?

There are many benefits of wearing a Hijab in Islam:

1. The True purpose in life

Faithful Muslim women believe that their true purpose in life is to worship Allah according to His instructions and commands not according to what they love or desire. They adjust their behavior as revealed in the holy book of the Quran and through the teachings and orders of Muhammad the final Prophet and the final Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). 

Worship in Islam is an integrated conception that encourages Allah-consciousness in each characteristic of daily life, from prayers and Quran recitation to charity, neighborliness, and honest dealings in business. So Modest clothing or covering is considered an essential aspect of worship in Islam as well.

2. True Faith in Allah

True faith is to surrender to the duties imposed on a woman by Allah the Almighty, such as the hijab.  So if she wears it, she’s submissive to Allah.

Allah said in the Holy Quran, “It is not for any believer, man or woman, when God and His Messenger have decided a matter, to have the liberty of choice in their decision. Whoever disobeys God and His Messenger has gone far astray” Surah Al Ahzab. verse 36.

3. The veil is a sign of faith for those who wear it

Allah said in the Holy Quran, “O prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers, to lengthen their garments. That is more proper, so they will be recognized and not harassed. God is Forgiving and Merciful.” Surah Al- Ahzab. Verse 59.      

4. The Veil is A Virtue  And Pureness For The Hearts of Both Men And Women

Allah SWT says:

“And when you ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a screen; that is purer for your hearts and their hearts.” Surah Al Ahzab. Verse 53.

 In this verse, Allah has instructed the believers if they are going to ask for something from the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and prayers are upon him), their question should come from behind a veil (the Hijab), which is purer for all hearts, the Prophet’s wives’ hearts and the hearts of the ones who are asking. 

The verse indicates the generalization of judgment to the needs of all people at all times. It indicates that the heart is the place of purity as well. The veil indicates the wearer’s worth and value. Therefore, it shows the importance of the veil to women and girls.

5. The wearer’s Chastity

The veil indicates the chastity of the wearer, and if chastity appears on a woman, it protects her from the greed of those who are weak of faith, who may harm the swagger women but they don’t harm the women and the girls who put on conservative clothes.

6. Hijab is a Sign Of Shyness And Modesty

Hijab is a sign of modesty, and shyness is a great ethic that Islam asked people to adopt it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made it a part of faith, a part of common sense, and Allah the Almighty placed it by an instinct in the souls which He the Almighty wished to honor. 

The word shyness ( Haya’a) comes from the Arabic word ( Hayah) which means life because life cannot be stable and upright without shyness and modesty.

7. Praiseworthy Jealousy

The veil corresponds to the concept of normality of jealousy, which is the strong instinct found in the spirit of a righteous man, which causes him to safeguard his women from all bad things. 

8. It is A Call For Morality And Virtues 

It is a characteristic of the heart which is full of faith. The veil helps a man via his zeal to protect women, Protect them from all things that are harmful to them. Therefore, It is a call for morality and virtues, such as modesty, chastity, social ethics, etc. The veil closes the path to demonic thoughts, so it protects society from harm and protects the hearts of men and women from heart diseases and demonic thoughts.

Is Hijab Mandatory “Fard” In Islam?

Muslim scholars considered Hijab in Islam as a (Fard) obligatory ritual for all Muslim women who have reached the age of maturity. 

Sanction For Not Wearing Hijab In Islam

If women who are true believers choose not to wear it. They are considered to have fallen into sin. The religious ruling of not Wearing a Hijab is the same as leaving the prayers, and the same as not fasting during the month of holy Ramadan.

Denying its obligation ( saying it is not from Islam) can lead someone out of the fold of Islam religion.

Conclusion 

Allah the most Wise knows better than all of us. When He the Almighty says to do, we should do, and when He the most merciful says don’t do,  we should not do. He created us and he knows what is the best and what is the worst for us. We should obey Him. Those righteous people who obey Allah without hesitation are the happiest.

 “Our Lord, do not cause our hearts to swerve after You have guided us, and bestow on us mercy from Your presence; You are the Giver.”

Allah Subahnhu Wa Ta’ala says in the Holy Quran,

“And tell the believing women to restrain their looks, and to guard their privates, and not display their beauty except what is apparent thereof, and to draw their coverings over their breasts, and not expose their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, what their right hands possess, their male attendants who have no sexual desires, or children who are not yet aware of the nakedness of women. And they should not strike their feet to draw attention to their hidden beauty. And repent to God, all of you believers, so that you may succeed.”

Surah An- Nur verse 31.

Written by Dr. Shazli Rajab.

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