Hijab In Islam – Let’s Unveil The Secrets!

This article is a brief comprehensive guide on Hijab in Islam. It answers the frequently asked questions about Hijab. Moreover, it reveals the Hijab’s beautiful secrets and responds to the most common misconceptions. Follow the article to know more about this beautiful Islamic legislation.

Introduction | What Is The Meaning Of the Hijab in Arabic?

Hijab is an Arabic word that literally means to veil or hide. It is known among many people all over the world that Hijab is a costume worn by Muslim women to mainly hide their hair and necks. Although this is partially true, this concept lacks the great aspect of the Hijab.

Unfortunately, Muslim women with Hijab are frequently stigmatized. Some people falsely think Hijab is a form of women’s oppression, constraint, and limitation. They also think Muslim women are to wear Hijab by force through their fathers or husbands.

In this article, we will unveil the secrets of the Hijab in Islam, answer your common questions, and respond to your doubts about Hijab. If you want to learn the Quran with Tajweed online, check our courses now.

What Is The Concept Of Hijab In Islam?

The concept of Hijab in Islam is more than just a dress code and is far beyond a piece of scarf worn on a Muslim woman’s head. It actually represents a deeper and more profound Islamic concept. 

Allah (SWT) has sent his prophets and revelations to guide people to their well-being in life and the hereafter. He (SWT) had put a set of applicable rules to keep society’s integrity, decency, and modesty. These rules apply to the two genders; men and women.

Hijab is one of the legislations Allah (SWT) has put in for women for the good of people and society. He ordered women to dress in a modest way -as prescribed in shariah- and act with decency; namely, wear the Hijab.

By wearing the Hijab, A Muslim woman actually fulfills one of Allah’s commands and shows her obedience to her creator. Hijab is a personal decision, it is not by any means a form of oppression, limitation, or force.

Why Don’t Men Wear Hijab In Islam?

Similar to women, men also have a set of rules and legislations from Allah (SWT) to preserve the modesty of society.

Some people wrongly think Hijab In Islam is an extra burden for women while men are free of responsibility. However, men and women both uphold the responsibility of society’s modesty.

According to Islam, men and women are equal in front of Allah (SWT) where they are both required to dress modestly, act modestly, and lower their gaze. 

However, they are not by any means identical. Each gender has specific legislation that suits its physiological, psychological, and emotional nature. Thus, Muslim men’s modest dress has different criteria from that of women. Yet, they share some main rules as we will discuss later on.

The Purpose Of Hijab In Islam – Why Do Muslim Women Wear Hijab?

The main primary purpose of the legislation of hijab in Islam is to obey Allah’s commands as He is The Wisest and The All-knowing. 

Allah (SWT) taught us in the Quran that the purpose of our life in the world is to test who obeys Allah (SWT) and who rejects. Thus, we should obey Allah’s commands even if we don’t actually know the wisdom behind them. “He is the One Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds” (Quran 67:2)

The secondary purpose is to preserve society’s integrity, maintain its modesty, and keep a suitable decent dress code among its members.

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Do Muslim Women Wear Hijab At All Times?

No, actually Muslim women don’t wear Hijab at all times. They enjoy their beauty at home in front of Muslim females and their very close male relatives as clearly stated in the Quran. (Quran 24:31)

Women have a fitrah (natural primitive tendency) to show their beauty and enjoy wearing the most attractive clothes and accessories. Islam always goes in harmony with fitrah, as both are from Allah (SWT). Islam doesn’t suppress Muslim women’s fitrah. However, it directs it to the right place.

History Of Hijab In Islam

Hijab in Islam became legit after Allah (SWT) revealed this verse:

“ And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests….”

(Quran 24:31)

It was narrated that when this verse was revealed, Muslim women immediately responded and wore the prescribed Hijab. (Sahih al-Bukhari 4758)

These first Muslim women had truly known the true purpose of their life and immediately responded to Allah’s commands without hesitation.

What Are The Requirements/Rules Of Hijab In Islam?

According to The Islamic Shariah, there are six criteria that should be fulfilled to meet the rules of Hijab in Islam. One criterion varies between men and women, while the rest are the same in both genders.

1. The extent of the body to be covered: 

That clearly differs between men and women. Women are required to cover all their bodies except for their face and hands. It is worth saying that even covering the face and hands are better in Islam.

In case of men, they should be covered at least from the navel to the knee. That is the very basic, but It is better and more modest in Islam to be more covered.

The following upcoming rules apply for both genders:

The worn clothes should not be too tight to extensively reveal the body shape and curves. It should be as loose as possible, especially for women.

3. The worn clothes shouldn’t be transparent or reveal the skin under it. It should be opaque enough to hide the underlying skin.

4. The worn clothes shouldn’t be extensively glamorous or in highly attractive colors to attract others. 

5. The worn clothes shouldn’t resemble the clothes or the style usually worn by the opposite sex.

6. The worn clothes shouldn’t resemble the clothes of other religious groups.

At What Age Does A Muslim Woman Start Wearing Hijab?

Muslim women start wearing Hijab when she reaches the age of puberty. This is the age that every human being either male or female would be accounted for his deeds whether good or bad.

Is Hijab Mandatory/Fard In Islam?

Actually, Hijab In Islam is mandatory and Fard in Islam for Muslim women. This means that a Hijabi Muslim woman would get a reward from Allah (SWT) for fulfilling His command, while a non-Hijabi one would have a punishment in the hereafter for not obeying.

There are several verses and Hadiths that show Hijab is a Fard in Islam. We have mentioned some of them earlier in this article. Moreover, Jurists and knowledgeable Muslim scholars of all ages agreed upon the duty of Hijab in Islam.

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Punishment for Not Wearing Hijab – What Happens If You Don’t Wear Hijab?

As we previously mentioned, Hijab follows the rules that apply to fard in Islam. Thus, not wearing Hijab is considered a sin in Islam and deserves punishment in the hereafter.

However,  Allah (SWT) is The All-Forgiving and The Most Merciful, He accepts people’s repentance and forgives all their sins. If a Muslim woman repented and wore Hijab for the sake of Allah, Allah would accept her and replace all her sins with hasanat.

Allah (SWT) says in The Quran: “As for those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, they are the ones whose evil deeds Allah will change into good deeds. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran 25:70) 

What Are The Benefits Of Hijab In Islam?

The hijab in Islam has numerous benefits for men, women, families, and society as a whole. We will list a few of these benefits in the following points:

• Hijab is a form of Allah’s obedience that grants hijabi women a great reward from Allah (SWT).

• Hijab frees women from slavery to fashion, media, and stakeholders and purifies her heart to seek Allah’s pleasure and blessings rather than seek people’s preferences and opinions.

• Hijab keeps women connected to Allah and is a tangible reminder to act modestly.

• Hijab protects women from potential harm, harassment, and illegal gazes.

• Hijab preserves Muslim women’s identity. A woman wearing Hijab walking in the street would clearly identify she is a Muslim and people would in return react to her accordingly. 

• Hijab raises Muslim women’s status in society and enables others to look at Muslim women’s mental abilities and moral values rather than their physical beauty and sexual attractiveness.

• Hijab helps men and women be satisfied with their spouses, where a woman would only show her beauty to her husband and a man would only see his wife.

• Hijab keeps the family’s integrity and satisfaction.

• Hijab contributes to society’s modesty and decency.

• Hijab has a fundamental role in the emotional and sexual well-being of members of society as a whole.

Conclusion | The Beauty of Hijab In Islam

Hijab is not just a piece of cloth worn on a woman’s head. Hijab is one of the most beautiful legislation in Islam. It is a form of Allah’s obedience and genuine protection of individuals, families, and society as a whole.

Hijab was never a form of women’s oppression or compulsion. It is a form of women’s freedom and liberty if applied as Allah (SWT) and His prophet (PBUH) prescribed.

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