THE IMPORTANCE OF HIJAAB

The Muslim woman is either heedless or unaware of the great harm she is doing by her anti-Islamic behavior, by dragging others to the pits of evil. Muslim women wearing an anti-Islamic dress must realize the consequences of the person who stared lustfully at her revealing body - inducing him into satanic actions as his mind becomes obsessed with satanic notions. If one cares to think for a short while it will become clear to him the outcome and the consequences of these satanic notions.

Unfortunately Satan and his cohorts are calling the Muslim women to enslave her to the creation, and to forget about her servitude to her Creator. Chastity, modesty and piety are deceptively are seen as shackles on personal freedom. Since the days of the feminist movement, there has been an increasing amount of scrutiny on I dress and status of Muslim women. According to these "liberated" women the hijaab not only covers the head, but covers the mind, will and intellect. They say that our dress code is outdated and oppressive, and that it stops us from being productive human beings. The Muslim sisters must remember that in this so called 'democratic free I world' women are treated as sex objects and not equal as men.

The liberation of the modern women is a myth - In Islam, women have been given a noble status and our role in life is as important, if not more so in many aspects of family life, as that of men. They speak out of ignorance when they say that the hijaab does not belong to these modern times. On the contrary due to the constant decreasing moral values in the world today, circumstances make the hijab even more necessary, more than ever before. Sex crimes are rampant and 'liberated' women in the larger society now face increasingly higher chances of being raped or sexually harassed. Their dress code seems to imply 'liberated' gesture from the women and invite lewd gaze and actions from the men.

The women who uncover their beauty and show off their bodies and make-up faces for all to enjoy, expose themselves to be harmed by these wolves in human clothing. Allah has warned believers that they should not let Satan deceive them. Under the guise of fashion, culture and modernism, Satan has and is succeeding to lead the Muslim women to immodesty.

Allah enjoined the hijab on the Muslim women to protect her from harm. He knows his creation and women must begin to understand what the hijaab truly is. The modest appearance of the Muslim women, dressed in correct hijaab, is a sign of purity and dignity. It tells the world that she is a chaste woman, and sets her apart from the immoral behavior associated with women who go out in clothing that leave nothing to the imagination. As a chaste, modest woman, the hijaab shows that she does not want her sexuality to enter into her interactions with men in the smallest degree. A woman in hijaab is less likely to be sexually harassed by men with sinful motives. And indeed she is given more respect by Muslims for wearing this virtuous raiment. More and more women working even in the most prestigious offices and shops have taken to wearing the hijaab. The women working on their own as Doctors, Chemists, Teachers, Dentists and other professions have much more freedom to decide on (heir dress and now we see more and more of them taking onto wearing the hijaab. Women who took their employers lo Industrial Tribunal for dismissing them for wearing hijaab have been successful in their claims for unlawful dismissal upheld by the tribunals.

The word Hijaab comes from the Arabic word 'hajabah meaning to hide from view or to conceal. For some women wearing hijaab is the truest test of being a Muslim. In instructing them to wear hijaab, Allah has given Muslim women what they can bear of injunctions and obligations. For Allah says:

"And we do not lay on any soul a burden except to the extent of its ability, and with Us is a Book which speaks the truth, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly." -  (23:62)

If the use of hijaab still seems a big step for some sisters, may be some of us can at least ensure our dress is no! Immodest so that we may gradually return to true Islamic values. It is very important, therefore, that parents get their children use to the Islamic dress-style from the very early age. for example when praying at home or going to the Madrassa, The women should start to wear the hijaab at home, for example whilst inviting friends and relations at home and when going to religious occasions in the community and then gradually gelling into habit of wearing it on daily basis. Those parents who are buying short western dresses for [heir children lo reflect their 'modern' or 'western' outlook are indeed storing problems for themselves for the future when the children grow up and will have to answer for it on the Day of Judgment to their children who will blame them for their wrong upbringing.