AL-HIJAB (THE VEIL)

AL-HIJAB (THE VEIL)
In the name of Allah[1], the All-Merciful, the Ever-merciful. All Prayers and Blessings of Allah be upon our master, the most noble Prophet Muhammad. We praise Allah, thank Him, and seek His help, guidance and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil in our souls and the sinfulness of our deeds. “Whomever Allah guides, then he is right-guided, and whomever He leads away into error, then you will never find for him a right-minded patron” (TMQ[2], 18:17).

When we dealt with ‘bashfulness’, we mentioned that the best manifestation of it is ‘being bashful with Allah (SWT[3])’. For women, the first and foremost manifestation of bashfulness is putting on the veil.

I will start with women’s bashfulness, as the morals and virtues prevailing in any society depend upon the modesty of its women. I am not here darting any offences or accusations at our sisters (Allah forbid). I am only stressing on the importance of women’s bashfulness due to its great significance. When the enemies of Islam try to wreak havoc in society, they seek to deprive women of their bashfulness. Hence, the youths can easily be led astray.

This issue is crucial. If we say that bashfulness is an obligation on men, it is a set of obligations for Muslim women. Hence, many duties are enjoined upon women in relation to modesty. This is because it is the nature of women to be modest. It is thus easier for them to follow this virtue. Women prove their abidance by the greatest manifestation of this modesty when they cover their body according to the Islamic code of dressing.

If I ask you sister a question: If you have something precious, will you protect it? If a woman has a pearl, for instance, will she put it in a safe place away from danger? I do believe every woman will. The more this pearl is precious, the more the woman will keep it aloof of others. She will keep it away from any treacherous eyesight. A pearl is preserved in an oyster, which is not beautiful at all. Nevertheless, the oyster is badly needed for the protection of the pearl. The same applies to hijab[4], which is indispensable for women’s protection. What is the most precious possession of a woman? Isn’t it her modesty? Doesn’t that deserve even higher protection?

In this respect, some people might broach a question: “Why were women ordered to put on the veil, and not men? Was this a restriction imposed just upon women?”

Our answer is that a hundred men cannot make one woman infatuated with them unless she allows it intentionally, but one woman can make a hundred men infatuated with her. For that reason, the veil has been imposed as an obligation (or ordinance) enjoined upon women because they are the source (springhead) of stimulation.

We notice something wondrous in this respect. In the Pre-Islamic era, people used to oppressively regard women as carnal beauty and the Arabs considered her value by the level of beauty (and charm) lurked in her body, and so did the Romans. Their concept of beauty meant the beauty of the woman’s body, and not her inner beauty. Then, Islam came to alter this concept and refine human feelings. Islam teaches men to look at the beauty of women’s feelings and emotions instead of stopping at the external materialistic beauty. Islam tells the men of humanity: “Purify and cleanse yourselves!”

Islam turns our attention to the fact that beauty lies in the grace of values and ethics, and the grace of ethics is the most significant part of all religious legislations and human values.

Islam ordains that men should not evaluate woman’s beauty solely on the basis of her body’s beauty. No one has the exclusive right to cherish her body save her ‘husband’.

Islam reveals to all of us (men and women) that the beauty of a woman lies in the ‘beauty’ and grace of her feelings and moral excellences and not in the shape or form of her body. No one has the right to enjoy a woman’s beauty except her husband, which in that case will serve the good of the community. If Islam were a religion of men, it would have placed legislations that allowed a woman’s beauty to be cheap and easily accessible to them. Islam, on the contrary to that, made the beauty of women of a higher value in men’s eyes by providing protection to that beauty from uncontrolled lusts and desires, and instead ordering men to respect greater the inner beauty of her soul. Thus, the real value of women is associated with the degree of her bashfulness and her abidance by it.

This brings us to another question. What has, (we wonder), elevated and promoted the dignity of women? It is the Islamic manner of dressing enjoined upon women. Many women wonder, “What is the evidence that al-hijab is an obligatory duty enjoined upon women?”

As for the verses that enjoin al-hijab on women, Allah says what can be translated as, “O you Prophet, say to your spouses and your daughters and the women of believers, that they draw their outer garments (jalabibhun (plural of the Arabic word: jilbab) closer to them; that will (make) it likelier that they will be recognized and so will not be hurt. And Allah has been Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.” (TMQ, 33:59).

What is jilbab?

A jilbab is an outer garment that covers the whole body.

According to the afore-mentioned ayah (verse) Allah says what can be translated as, “…and women of believers” (TMQ, 59:33). This makes us convinced that the order was not restricted to the Prophet's wives.

Let’s contemplate the previous ayah, “that will (make) it likelier that they will be recognized and so will not be hurt,” (TMQ, 33:59). This means that putting on the VEIL is better for women. When any man sees a veiled woman he will realize on the spot that she is religious and pious, so he will not molest her. Everyone will respect her and her choice of morality.

How can people know that you are virtuous and pious?

It is by virtue of your abidance by al-hijab. Allah says what can be translated as, “that will make it likelier that they will be recognized and so will not be hurt.” (TMQ, 33:59).

In another verse, Allah (SWT) also says what can be translated as, “And say to the female believers to cast down their be holdings, and preserve their private parts, and not display their adornment except such as is outward,” (TMQ, 24:31). Scholars agreed that a woman should not display but her face and hands.

What is hijab?

It is what the Muslim woman should draw over her bosom and neck. Allah (SWT) repeats “and not display their adornment” (TMQ, 24:31). A woman should not display her beauty except to the man whose obligation is to truly protect and value that beauty, that is her husband. Then Allah says what can be translated as, “And repent to Allah altogether, (O) you believers, that possibly you would prosper,” (TMQ 24: 31). These Qur’anic verses are addressed to those who claim that the verses advocating hijab are not clear and that these verses are addressed only to the wives of the Prophet (SAWS[5]). Allah (SWT) says, “And say to the female believers to” and the verse ends with, “And repent to Allah altogether,” (TMQ 24:33). So this order is to all female believers, and not just the wives of the Prophet.

Each woman should put on the veil, and every man should turn to Allah in repentance and order his wife to abide by the Islamic manner of dressing. O ye husband! Help your wife to adhere to the Islamic manner of dressing because you will be called to account for her (and her manner of dressing). Allah says what can be translated as, “and do not flaunt your finery as was the flaunting of finery in the earliest (times) of Ignorance” (TMQ, 33:33). This is a clear severe prohibition!

Allah (SWT) forbids women to flaunt their finery or make a dazzling display of them. Do you know how women made a dazzling display in the earliest times of Ignorance, that is, the Pre-Islamic Times (Paganism)?

Although they used to wear loose garments, women used to show up their own charms and beauties, displaying their necks and part of their hair. This was how women flaunted their finery. This is similar to the imperfect veil some women put on nowadays, not mentioning the women who do not wear the veil in the first place! I do not want to incur the wrath of sisters who wear that imperfect hijab nor exasperate them, but the whole issue is related to woman’s bashfulness with Allah.

We do not want them to be wrathful upon us, nor put off this imperfect veil, nay, we do rejoice every step a woman takes on her way to bashfulness. However, we are in urgent need of your taking more steps towards the Perfect Veil that is worthy of Allah’s satisfaction and bliss. You should be assured that the veil should cover all your hair, neck and bosom in order that you have a perfect veil and not make a dazzling display of yourself as in the earliest (times) of Ignorance. When the verse of the Veil descended on the Prophet (SAWS) men set out reciting it, over and over, to their wives, daughters, sisters and the females akin to them in the most gentle and simple way.

The Companions of the Prophet (SAWS) said, “By Allah, every woman (of them) took part of her dress and torn it into two: making one a veil to cast over her head and covering her body with the other part because they were poor. Every woman (of them) caught up with the Prophet (SAWS) in the following prayer (i.e. in the mosque) putting on her veil.”

There is an amazingly great discrepancy between those women and today’s women! When we ask one of them, “When would you put on the veil?” she retorts, “Next winter, I will put on the veil, because I could not buy new clothes and scarves this summer!”

After realizing all these facts you have to ask your relatives to put on the veil (to cast their outer garments over their persons) as a means of their protection (from harm and molestation). Yet you men have to ask that of them with the easiest and the gentlest means.

The Prophet (SAWS) says, “The best of your women is the affectionate, the fertile (in productivity), the propitious (favorable), the consultative if they fear Allah. The most evil of your women are the Mutabar'rijat (those who do At-Tabarooj), the Mutakhayelat (who strut/swagger), and they are the hypocrites. Those who enter Paradise are like the Cough Crow.”[6]

The Prophet (SAWS) said, “There are two kinds of the dwellers in Hell I have never seen yet. Those of the first group have whips similar to cows' tails, they beat people therewith; and those (of the other group) are women: (who are) seemingly dressed yet, in fact, they are undressed, deviated, and persuade others (i.e. other women) to stray, their heads are similar to (the similitude of) the humps of leaning camels. Verily, they will never enter Paradise nor smell its scent, (though) they will find its redolent scent far away from them as the journey that spans for such-and-such.”[7] The Prophet (SAWS) never saw such characters or these two groups that have appeared in modern times. This perfect denotative description proves the greatness and truthfulness of the Prophet (SAWS).

According to the hadith, these women who will dwell in the hell-fire are seemingly dressed, though they are undressed. They are straying away from Truth, and leading others to perversion. They are bareheaded; their heads are like the humps of camels. This portrayal blocks their ways to Paradise so they will not enter it, nor smell its (redolent) scent, although this scent is smelt from faraway.

In this respect it is noteworthy that the Prophet (SAWS) fought a battle for the sake of a woman who became unveiled. It was the Battle of Bany Qaynuqa (the tribe of Qaynuqa). The Jews of Bany Qaynuqa (the tribe of Qaynuqa) were living in Madinah. They had a market for selling gold. A Muslim woman, who was one of the Companions of the Prophet, went to the market. A Jewish man fastened the edge of her garment to her head so when she rose to her feet her body was uncovered and the Jews laughed at her. One of the Companions of the Prophet killed that Jew so the Jews killed that Muslim. As a result, the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) led an army and besieged the Jews of Qaynuqa and got them out of it. So they were divided and annihilated. All this occurred for the sake of an unveiled woman.

What if the Prophet and his Companions, after all the strenuous efforts they had exerted, witnessed our current affairs? What would we say in the presence of our Lord on the Day of Judgment? How will we respond to His Omniscient Reckoning?

O Muslim women, here is another story for you to contemplate upon. One day, Imam Ahmed Ibn-Hanbal (RA) was walking on the road when he saw a veiled woman (a perfectly veiled woman). All of a sudden the wind blew away her dress so he descried (caught sight of) her heel. Ibn-Hanbal (RA) lifted the edge of his cloak and covered with it his face and cried out, “This is the Time of trials!”

He felt guilty and said these words just for catching sight of a woman's heel unintentionally! What, I wonder, would he say if he witnessed our case nowadays?

O virtuous sister, if your veiling is perfect and appropriate, your bashfulness will be disciplined, and hence the entire society will be disciplined. Each woman should know that bashfulness and faith are inseparable! This matter is certainly crucial! We should thus cooperate and be sincere in advising one another.

There are some dubious matters and specious arguments blocking women’s way to abiding by the veil. Now, let’s discuss them elaborately to set your mind at rest.

A woman might say, “I'm not convinced of putting on the veil.” If we ask her: "Are you a true Muslim?" She might say, “Of course, I'm a Muslim!”

You have to know sister that the root of the word ‘Muslim’ is istislam, which means ‘total submission to Allah’. When I profess, “I’m a Muslim!” this means that I totally submit to Allah. Being a true Muslim coincides with one’s entire and humble submission to Allah. Allah says what can be translated as, “And in no way should a male believer or a female believer, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a Command, have the choice in their Command.” (TMQ, 33:36).

Allah (SWT) decreed al-hijab in verses of the Qur’an and we recited these verses. It is not permissible for Muslims, men or women, to have any option when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter.

As Allah (SWT) issued an obligation, we must say: “O our Lord! We hear and obey!” rather than saying: “We hear and disobey!” When Ibrahim (AS) “Abraham” was enjoined to slaughter his son he did not realize the reason. Verily, on starting to do what he was ordered, he taught us how to submit to Allah’s orders. Allah then granted him the blessing of saving his son from slaughter, and replaced that with a ram from paradise. This was the wisdom of the whole matter. Islam has founded our obedience and submissiveness to Allah’s orders even if we cannot grasp the wisdom behind them. Once you know that this order is from the Qur’an or an authentic hadith of the Prophet (SAWS), you have to submit instantly.

The second dubious matter is quite erroneous. Some women may claim that what really matters is faith and the belief in the essence of our true religion. One of them might claim, “A devoted heart is what really matters. One should be sincere to Allah. The veil is not significant, what really matters is the veil of the heart (metaphorically speaking), that is, to make one’s heart mantled in the cloak and ‘veil’ of faith.” One of them might say, “I stand to prayer by night, observe the obligatory prayers and fasting of the month of Ramadan. I do not need the veil.”

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “… Verily, No one lives up to (abides by) all the commandments of this religion save who masters all its affairs."[8]. All Muslims have to embrace the teachings of Islam, the True religion lock, stock and barrel (completely).

You will not be able to face Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgment, and say, “Really, O my Lord, I did a lot of righteous deeds and abided by Your commands and this, I think, would suffice! As for the veil, it is the intention of the believer that matters!” Allah says what can be translated as, “Do you then believe in some (parts) of the Book and disbelieve in other parts? (Literally: in some parts)” (TMQ, 2:85).

Let us assess the whole issue anew. Possibly she has done many good deeds but she should realize that she did commit a lot of sins. She will be punished every time a man looks at her uncovered body, because the veil is an obligation enjoined upon her.

Another woman might claim: "It is the fault of the one who gazes at me and doesn’t lower his gaze,” but she must know that she is the source of all this enticement. If a woman claims that she has many good deeds I really fear for her. She possibly does have many good deeds but has neglected her multifarious sins that might outweigh such good deeds, because she abstains from putting on the veil. Try to calculate all the sins she gets from the eyes that gaze at her everyday!

O Muslim woman, do you imagine the piles of your sins just from this issue? Every time a man gazes at your body and gets charmed, you add new sins to your record. You did not obey Allah’s orders. Count your piles of sins when you ride the bus, or on entering your class. Every man who sees you becomes desirous and aroused. How can you think your righteous deeds will outweigh those sins?

These are the orders of Allah, The All-Knowing, The Ever-Wise, Who disposes all the affairs of this universe. In fact, He knows well how the reckoning of your deeds will be. I’m afraid you are clinging to shallow dreams and vain thoughts. Your righteous deeds will be depleted, as if putting your good deeds in a broken basin, through which the deeds are lost from the break. The hijab is the seal of that break sister!

Here comes the third specious argument. Some women say, “ I can't put on the veil in such a hot weather.” Others might claim, “I suffer from alopecia (loss of hair) because of the veil. Dermatologists advised me not to put it on.”

In this respect, it is noteworthy that Allah (SWT) said what could be translated as, “Say, “The fire of Hell is strictly hotter.” (TMQ, 9:81). Moreover the Prophet (SAWS) said, “Paradise is encompassed with things abhorrent (to mankind) and the hellfire is encompassed with Desires.”[9]

Every Muslim should tolerate abhorrent things, if it is paradise that he or she wants to be rewarded by in the hereafter. You think it is tough for you to put on the veil, but the more you tolerate it in this life, the greater your reward will be in the hereafter.

There is a fourth baseless argument. Some women claim that veiled women are ill mannered. Notwithstanding, this claim is refutable. O Muslim woman! Don’t misguide yourself! All of us find some Muslims who observe obligatory prayers yet they commit grave sins (as, for example, adultery) and some pilgrims commit grave sins and they even go on pilgrimage as a disguise. These instances of perversion do not make us abstain from praying or going on pilgrimage (to Mecca)!

We must not project our faults onto acts of worship. Every Muslim sister should know that it is the fault of the ill-mannered woman who does not respect her veil. You should not deceive yourself with such erroneous pretexts. Allah says what can be translated as, “.. and no encumbered self is encumbered by the encumbrance of another self;” (TMQ, 6:164).

The fifth hollow argument is laden with an erroneous rationale. Some women say, “I'll put on the veil when Allah guides me to the right path. I’m convinced that a Muslim woman is obligated to put on the veil (and abide by the Islamic manner of dressing), but may be in my fifties I will put on the veil.” These words are totally illogic.

Allah says what can be translated as, “Surely Allah does not change what is in a people until they change what is in themselves,” (TMQ, 11:13). Therefore, you should change your condition (with your own soul) and seek Allah’s pleasure. Secondly, what is your guarantee that you will live until you are fifty.

Every Muslim woman should realize that the core of Allah’s guidance to the right path depends on her willingness to change what is in herself. Instead of claiming that Allah (SWT) has not guided her to the right path, a Muslim woman should have the good intention to be guided. Allah (SWT) opened gates of guidance when a Muslim woman recites or listens to the Qur’anic verses, or when she attends a religious lecture or reads words like these. Allah says what can be translated as, “And as for Thamû‍d, so We guided them, yet they showed love for blindness above guidance;” (TMQ, 41:17).

I think any Muslim woman who abstains from putting on the veil (and abiding by the Islamic manner of dressing), should feel that the previous verse addresses her. Something inside her should direct to her this accusation, “You yourself prefer blindness over guidance, and you show love for your charms over putting on the veil and abiding by Allah’s orders!” Allah (SWT) gives everyone His guidance. That is why you should beware of claiming that Allah did not guide you to the right path.

Other Muslim women cherish another fallacious argument. A young woman may declare that she will put on the veil after getting married. She wants to guarantee that she will have a good catch by getting the best husband.

Firstly, there are many virtuous men searching for veiled women for wives (to propose to) rather than unveiled ones. Moreover, marriage is something that Allah (SWT) had preordained since eternity. That’s why your worry is futile. Allah will provide you with a virtuous man when you entrust your entire future to Allah. It was reported that a man came to al-Hasan al-Basary and asked him, “How can I select a good match for my daughter?” Al-Hasan al-Basry said, “Give her off in marriage to a religious man, because so long as he loves her he will honor her, and if (one day) he dislikes her he will not wrong her.” On choosing a good match for yourself, do your best to get married to a man who rejoices and respects your veiling, because only then can you trust him to protect you.

Another group adopts another dubious and sophistic opinion. One of them might defend her stance and say, “I’m too young to put on the veil.”

I understand that she forgot something central to the whole issue. One never knows when he or she will die. If we examine the Death Tribute Page in the newspapers, we will find that 40% of daily mortality is youth mortality. It seems that this is a divine reminder sent as a message to every one of us. I want every woman who thinks that she is too young to put on the veil to listen to the next story.

A friend from Alexandria told me this story, “My wife is veiled and religious. She had a neighbor who was an unveiled young woman yet she was virtually good in her heart. My wife was aware of that. One day, the unveiled girl was going shopping (in fact she was going to buy a jeans suit) and she asked my wife to go with her. My wife accepted provided that she would escort her to a religious lecture first. The girl did not have any objections to this and they attended the jurisprudent lecture. The Islamic Speaker dealt with repentance, a subject that totally concerned the unveiled girl and had a great impact on her. She burst into tears and went on sobbing at the end of the lecture. She reiterated only one sentence, ‘O my Lord! I turn repentantly to You!’ Eventually, she refused to leave the place except after putting on the veil. She kept on saying, ‘Give me a veil! Cast a veil over me!’ All the women attending the lecture tried to calm her down telling her that she can get veiled when she goes home, but to no avail. So they brought her a veil, which she wore. Surprisingly, the moment she left the lecture, she got knocked over by a car and died.”

She was really fortunate. Indeed, she was endowed with a blissful end! Therefore, a young woman should not think herself too young to put on the veil!

There is another dubious issue. Some women abstain to abide by Allah’s orders and wear the veil because it does not adhere to the latest trends in styles and fashion. In this respect, let me broach a question. How come we put Allah's orders on the same level with fashion? How come we prefer the ephemeral to the eternal? This is not sane! How can we belittle Allah's orders and make worldly pretensions so endeared to us in this way?

Obeying Allah's orders makes the Muslim’s face resplendent and enlightens his heart. When a woman puts on the veil, her beauty is augmented and her chastity will be protected and dignified. Being in vogue has nothing to do with putting on the veil because it is suitable for every time and place. Even so, one should not prefer people’s contentment to the attainment of Allah’s bliss and contentment. Everything will perish and Allah, the Ever-Living, the Superb Upright Sustainer remains. Allah’s orders are far more precious and significant than anything else even yourself.

O Muslim sister, why don't you put on the veil? It is possible that you are imitating the westerns. Well, the Westerns do not respect the rights of women but Islam does. In the West, they pride themselves in distributing pictures of naked women, and in an attempt to relieve people of repression they call for the dissemination of profligacy. In the West, there is the highest rate of homosexuality and rape in the world! How come Muslim women prefer these traditions of the west filled with all this chaos and filth?

Now is the right time for you to decide! Who saves the bodily beauty and charms of women from being absorbed in a cheap business that insults and is diminutive to her as a human being? It is evident that Islam (not the West) is the one that preserves your chastity.

Still some Muslim women abstain from abiding by the Islamic manner of dressing, from fear that they might eventually forsake it. Praise be to Allah (SWT). Why not try hard instead to abide by the orders of Allah (SWT)! It is a grave sin to forsake the Islamic manner of dressing. If you do this you will not be the only one who has strayed from Allah’s path. You will spread disorder and mislead dozens of women by making them abhor the veil. Beware of this entrapment! When you abandon the manner of dressing every Muslim woman is obligated to abide by, you will make these erroneous opinions disseminate among the believing women and they will eventually abstain from bashfulness.

You will be a model embodying the renunciation of Allah’s orders. If you are keen to abide by the Islamic manner of dressing, I will guide you (Allah willing) to the main points that will help you attain this. You have to do the following:

1) Befriending righteous and pious women, and this is the best means that will help you persevere and abide by Allah’s orders.

2) Attending jurisprudent classes, and listening to Islamic lectures.

3) Invoking Allah and seeking His help. You may say, ‘O my Lord! Verily, You are the One Whose Omnipotence can turn and change (the likings of) our hearts and eyesights! May You set firm my abidance by Your religion and make me persevere to adhere to the Islamic manner!”

Hence, other Muslim women claim a ninth unfounded argument. They claim that they could not face their relatives and friends after putting on the veil because they will be the only veiled ones among them. Such women think that they will be estranged at their school, in their institute, or at their university because their colleagues are modernized.

Narrated Umm-Salamah, “I heard many people mentioning the ‘basin’, yet I have never heard the Prophet (SAWS) mentioning it. One day, while the slave girl was combing my hair, I heard the Prophet (SAWS) saying, ‘O ye people!’ Hence, I told the slave girl, ‘Leave me alone!’ She said, ‘He (i.e. the Prophet) summoned men not women.’ I said, ‘I am part and parcel of people!’ The Prophet (SAWS) said, ‘I will precede you to the basin. Beware! Let no one of you be driven away from me as the straying camel when it is driven away! Then, I will ask, ‘Why are they driven away?’ It will be said to him, ‘You know not what they did after you (i.e. after your decease). The Prophet (SAWS) would tell them, “Away with them! Away with them!’”[10]

If they feel embarrassed and ashamed of themselves because of such worldly pretensions and trivialities, they will be more ashamed of themselves in the presence of the Prophet (SWS) on the Day of Judgment. Thirst will make them hurry to the Basin of the Prophet to drink. The Prophet (SAWS) would permit them to quench their thirst and make them drink therefrom with his own blessed hands so that they will never be thirsty again. The angels will block their way, and the Prophet will seek their rescue because they are from his Ummah (the Islamic nation). Nevertheless, the angels will inform him (SAWS) what they did after he had deceased. They will tell him that they renounced the veil and did not abide by Allah’s orders. The Prophet (SAWS) will tell them, “Away with them! Away with them who altered (my principles) in the wake of me!”

If you have not put on the veil (cast the veil over your person) because you felt ashamed to face people, I will remind you of what the Prophet (SAWS) said, “Away with them! Away with them!”

This was my advice and word about the significance of putting on the veil. Now an advice remains from me to every Muslim woman.

First, you should progress by gradual but sure steps in abiding by Allah’s orders. You have to live up to the grand responsibility of putting on the veil. How? The only means is by abiding by the Islamic manner of dressing. At the same time, you cannot do this without observing the obligatory prayers. Your manners on dealing with people should accord with the responsibility of wearing the veil and being bashful in the presence of men. You should adorn your manners with the ethics and moral values of Islam. If you can put on the veil and at the same time ameliorate all your manners and acts of worship, you have to proceed on and lead your way of piety. Start by performing the obligatory prayers when the time of prayers come and stay in the company of veiled women who are keen to obey Allah’s orders, and recite some of the verses of the Noble Qur'an. Moreover, try hard to remember Allah much with your heart and tongue.

If you manage to observe these things and abide by them, you will be a model for the Muslim women to follow. I think it is evident that putting on the veil and abiding by the Islamic manner of dressing is enjoined on every Muslim woman. All pretexts are refuted.

Secondly, don’t ever think that abiding by the Islamic manner of dressing is the final stage of piety. It is the starting-point of a long journey through which you obey Allah’s orders and devote yourself to your Lord.

Thirdly, remember at all times that you are an exemplar of the true Muslim woman, and that you call people to Allah‘s Straight Path through your actions. When men pass by you wherever you go, you will not have a sensual impact on them. Your manners, knowledge, culture and your abidance by Allah’s orders will be a tribune calling for Islamic teachings. You will have a wonderful influence on people through your virtuousness. Possibly, you will be a symbol that guides many people just by them catching a glimpse of you. Your respectful appearance will encourage others to imitate you.

O Muslim sister, you should be confident of your veil and of your own self. You will lend people a helping hand solely by abiding to the Islamic manner of dressing. Verily, you will be the cause of guidance of many young women to the Straight Path, even if they mock at you at the very beginning. Islam, the True Religion, is a mighty and powerful religion. Allah (SWT) will endow you with a great reward, and eventually, the entire society will be guided to the Straight Path. Indeed, you are the ideal standard and the radiant light of directing others to Paradise.

The veil encompasses a comprehensive meaning. I do not enjoin on women a certain manner of dressing. Nevertheless, I will mention certain conditions of hijab that every Muslim woman should abide by.

The scholars mentioned some conditions for a Muslim woman’s hijab:

1) It should not give a representation of a woman’s figure nor give an outlining of her body. It should be loose. If the garment depicts any part of your body, then it contradicts with the specifics of the Islamic manner of dressing.

2) It should not be transparent.

3) It should cover the whole body.

4) It should be different from men’s way of dressing.

5) It should not be perfumed (redolent with scent).

We have been dealing hitherto with bashfulness and modesty as a significant part of woman’s ethics. The veil is the most important manifestation of woman’s bashfulness.

We will now deal with a very significant aspect of man’s bashfulness that is, lowering his gaze. To start with a young man should not claim that he could not lower his gaze because women are not veiled.

Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Say to the (male) believers, that they cast down their be holdings, (i.e., “modestly” cast down their eyes) and preserve their private parts; that is more cleansing for them,” (TMQ, 24:30). This inundates the youth’s heart with purity.

If you do not lower your gaze you will trouble yourself with desires that are unattainable for you. Whenever you glance brazen stares at feminine charms your heart will be saddened, troubled, and you will eventually forsake the Path of Allah. You will lose the purity of your heart so you will stray away from the path of Allah. In addition, you will miss your mental peace, your joy and your modesty. For instance, if you happily finish an exam and then dart these brazen stares at charms of women in the street before going home, you become sad and depressed, as these are charms that are inaccessible. On the Day of Judgment you will be called to account for these gazes. You will be the loser, as you neither got the rewards for lowering your gaze, nor did you fulfill your carnal desires. In all this turmoil, Satan is the only winner.

Surprisingly, you will get used to this foul habit so that you will habitually glance at beautiful women and plain ones. Satan will make you do this filthy habit even if you no longer enjoy it. Amidst all these trials, the only escape is to resist all seductions.

The eye is the messenger of the heart, and a brazen stare is a venomous (poisoned) arrow that stabs the heart. Continuously stabbing your heart will weaken it and pull it away fro Allah’s path.

You should resort to Allah, and strive hard against yourself to conquer your desires and the evil insinuations and whispers of Satan. In this respect, let me bring up a question. Is ‘lowering one’s gaze’ an act of worship? Scholars agreed that an individual who can curb his desires and lower his gaze would be more pious. He will be able to persevere more and more in observing enjoined obligations and acts of worship. If a man lowers his gaze, he will be closer to Allah (SWT) as He will flood his heart with divine light and resplendence.

Thus, if you try to lower your gaze just for one week, you will find yourself more sincere and more devoted to Allah. Furthermore, you will taste the spiritual pleasure of this in your heart, the pleasure and bliss of Faith as the Prophet (SAWS) says, “The brazen stare is one of Iblis’ venomous arrows. Whoso forsakes it for the sake of Allah, Allah will reward him with faith the sweetness thereof lurking in his heart.”[11]

Allah will endow you with great means and abilities so that you will be able to observe acts of worship, such as, mentioning Allah with your heart and tongue. You will find yourself preoccupied with invoking Allah, and will be able to stand through the night in prayer. In all, Allah will endow you with piety to the extent that you might shed tears for fear of Him. All this is attainable by virtue of lowering your gaze. Don’t be surprised! Whoever deserts something for Allah’s sake will be provided with things better than what he deserted.

Nevertheless, beware of Satan! He adorns for you things that you do not own, even if what you own is better. He makes them more endeared to you than what you already have. For instance, Satan can make women more beautiful for you than your wife. Nevertheless, you should believe that your wife is purer, better and more beautiful. Don’t pave the way for Satan who adorns the forbidden, making it appear far better than what is lawful. The Prophet (SAWS) was asked about the stare when someone sees (a woman) for the first time, the Prophet said, “Don’t dart a brazen stare again, for you will not be called to account for the first (stare), but you will be for the second (one)!”[12].

Moreover, The Prophet (SAWS) said, “Whoever spies on the house of some people without taking their permission, and they gouge his eye out, will not have any right in blood money nor laws of equality in retaliation!”[13]

The Noble Prophet (SAWS) said, “The son of Adam was predestined to have his share of adultery that he will get inevitably. The eyes commit adultery by darting a brazen stare. The ears’ share of adultery is by listening to forbidden things. The tongue’s share of adultery is by articulating (forbidden words), the hand’s share of adultery is by attacking, the legs’ share is by walking on (towards forbidden things) and the heart likes and desires, then the genitalia proves these desires or disprove them.”[14]

The starting- point (of adultery) is by darting brazen stares at women’s beauties. Your ears will commit its share of adultery by listening to seductive words. If a man touches the hand of a woman not allowed for him, this would be the hand’s share of adultery. Your legs will fulfill their share of adultery by frequenting places where forbidden things prevail. The tongue’s share of adultery will be by articulating atrocious words or talking with a friend about carnal desires and charms of women or even when you chat with a woman. These are not complete acts of adultery but they lead to the foul path of adultery. That’s why ‘lowering your gaze’ will protect you from falling in the abysmal precipice of adultery. All the afore-mentioned offences make a young man on the verge of committing adultery.

I wish my advice that dealt with abidance by Allah’s orders and bashfulness will not be futile.

O Muslim brother! O Muslim sister! Two advices sum up all what we dealt with in this lecture. Before stating them, I profess that some parents phone me and say that their sons frequent the mosques and observe acts of worship. Nevertheless, they remain ill mannered. Now, the following two advices are highly important.

First, every Muslim should lower his/her gaze to protect himself/herself from the disgrace of feeling too ashamed to face Allah. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “He knows the treacherous (look) of the eyes and whatever the breasts conceal.” (TMQ, 40:19).

Scholars interpreted this verse and said that if a man sits with a group of people, they will not know that he darts a brazen stare at the charms of a woman. Where is your shyness from Allah (SWT)?

Secondly, every man has to advice his wife, daughter and sister in a gentle way. In this context, Allah says what can be translated as, “And say to the female believers to cast down their be holdings,” (TMQ, 24:31). .

I have a parting Word for parents. Don’t ever prevent your daughters from putting on the veil so that you do not incur upon yourselves shame and disgrace. The Prophet (SAWS) said, “Three persons will not enter paradise: the disobedient (son or daughter) (who shows filial impiety), the procurer and mannish women.”[15]

Do you know the meaning of “procurer”?

He is the man who sees his daughter disobeying the orders of Allah regarding her clothing (SWT) yet he does not care nor reproach her. He sees her actions and appearance that can lead men astray, yet does not move an inch.

O parents, beware of preventing your daughters from putting on the veil because it will be a grave sin, and great disobedience.

Aren’t you ashamed to face Allah? All parents are obligated not to prevent their daughters from abiding by the Islamic manner of dressing and putting on the veil. Instead they should encourage them to follow what Allah ordained.

We have come now to the end of our lesson, so may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), and peace be upon you all.

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[1] The word Allah is the Arabic term for God. Although the use of the word "Allah" is most often associated with Islam, it is not used exclusively by Muslims; Arab Christians and Arabic-speaking Jews also use it to refer to the One God. The Arabic word expresses the unique characteristics of the One God more precisely than the English term. Whereas the word "Allah" has no plural form in Arabic, the English form does, and the word 'Allah' in Arabic has no connotation of gender. Allah is the God worshipped by all Prophets, from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. (the translator).

[2] TMQ=Translation of the Meaning of the Qur'an. This translation is for the realized meaning, so far, of the stated (Surah:Ayah) of the Qur'an. Reading the translated meaning of the Qur'an can never replace reading it in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed.

[3] SWT=Suhanahu wa Ta'ala = Glorified and Exalted Be He.

[4] Hijab: literally “cover”. It describes the self-covering of the body for the purposes of modesty and dignity. Broadly, it should be regarded as a prescribed system of attitudes and behavior regarding modesty and dignity. (the translator)

[5] SAWS=Sala-llahu Alaihi Wa-Sallam = All Prayers and Peace of Allah be upon him.

[6] Authentic, incompletely transmitted hadith reported by Al-Bahaqy in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra page/number 7/82 and narrated by Sulaiman Ibn Yassar.

[7] Authentic hadith reported by Muslim in Al-Musnad Al-Sahih page/number 2128 and narrated by Abu Huraira.

[8] Narrated by Aly Ibn Aby-Taleb (RA): weak, Page/Number 6457.

[9] Authentic hadith reported by Muslim in Al-Musnad Al-Sahih page/number 2822 and narrated by Anas Ibn-Malek.

[10] Authentic hadith reported by Muslim in Al-Musnad Al-Sahih in page/number 2295 and narrated by Umm Salama Bint Aby Umaya.

[11] Narrated by Huzaifa Ibnul-Yaman. The line of narrations has Ishak Ibn Abdul-Wahed. On the authority of Al-Zahaby, from Mizan Al-I'tidal. Page or number 1/194.

[12] Authentic hadith reported by Ahmad Shakr in Musnad Ahmad, page/number 2/351 and narrated by Ali Ibn Abu-Taleb.

[13] Authentic hadith reported by Al-Albani in Sahih Al Nisa’y, page/number4875 and reported by Abu Huraira.

[14] Authentic hadith reported by Muslim in Al-Musnad Al-Sahih, page/number 2657 and narrated by Abu Huraira.

[15] Narrated by Abdullah Ibn-Omar on the authority of Al-Baihaki. As-Sunan Al-Kubra, 10/226.