Importance Of Hijab In Islam - NikahExplorer
The word Hijab is taken from the Arabic word 'Hajaba' which means to hide or to conceal. The term 'Hijab' can be interpreted in three ways: as a visual barrier, physical barrier, and ethical barrier. The visual barrier hides something from sight, it allows the women to retain their modesty, morals and freedom of choice. They choose to cover because they believe it is liberating and allows them to avoid harassment. The physical barrier is used to create a space that provides comfort and privacy for individuals such as the female elite. The ethical barrier, is to do the right things and to maintain the modesty.
Allah says in Quran in Surah An-Nur, Verse: 31
"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their khimār over their breasts and not display their beauty except to their husband, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments".
Also Allah says in Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 59:
“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
(Qur’an, 33:59).With the hijab, a woman does not have to live as according to the society’s expectations, and she does not have to use her beauty to obtain recognition amongst the people of the society.
One of the major functions of hijab is to protect women from abuse and suffering. This particularly includes various forms of sexual abuse and harassment. Men often get mixed and wrong signals and believe that women want their attention by the way they reveal their bodies. The hijab, on the contrary, sends a signal to men that the covered woman is a modest and chaste who should not be bothered.
Safiya bint Shaiba narrates in Sahih al-Bukhari, 6:60:282:
"Aisha used to say: "They should draw their veils (khumur) over their necks and bosoms (juyyub)".
Some women think that the hijab makes them feel like they're locked in a cage or it's being imposed on them. However, it covers the beauty of a woman and gives her honor, respect and protection rather than suppression.
Islam is the religion that gives a lot of respect to the women than any other religion. Hijab is the purity and the heart may become more pure with the Hijab as the sight is blocked and there will be prevention of evil actions or thought. With the hijab a woman can be judged by her character or her good nature rather than her looks.
Hijab is righteousness, as Allah says in Quran in Surah Al-Araf, verse:26
"O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (your private parts) and as an adornment; and the clothing of righteousness, that is better".
It's a misconception that Hijab is meant for restriction rather it is a means in which Muslim society functions in an appropriate and respectable manner. Islamic regulations are unique to the highest standards of the Muslim identity of righteousness, and moral uprightness. Islam protects and safeguards the individual's identity and the society from awkward situations.
The Messenger of Allah Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) said:
"For every religion there is a characteristic, and the characteristic of Islam is Haya`a (modesty, shyness, bashfulness)".
[Ibn Majah]