HIJAB (The Veil) is a means of Honor And Protection for Women
Islam honored the woman by appointing her as the educator and developer of the generations and bound the goodness of the society to her goodness and made the Hijab mandatory upon her to protect her from evil men, and to protect the society from her exposure. Hijab is a means of maintaining love and mercy between husband and wife, because when a man sees other women more beautiful than his own wife, it affects his relationship with his own wife negatively, perhaps even leading to divorce.
Hijab is mentioned in the Qur’an in the following passages,
Allah (SWT) said:
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed…” (V. 33: 59)
And the Qur’an speaks about the covering of a woman’s head using the command form:
“… and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment…” (V.24: 31)
And Allah forbid women from displaying their charms in the various ways that occur, stating:
“.. and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance…” (V.33: 33)
Women in pre-Islamic period used to cover their heads and drape their scarves onto their backs, leaving their necks and the upper portion of their chests exposed, as well as their ears, and jewelry such as ear-rings etc. This verse prohibited that and ordered the believing women to cover these parts also.
From these verses and others, the proper covering (Hijab) for a Muslim woman becomes clear. The following points must be observed for the proper implementation of Hijab:
1. The woman’s clothing should cover her entire body including the hands and the feet.
2. The outer covering should not be tight; revealing the shape of her body especially the breasts.
3. The material should not be thin or transparent so that one can make out what is underneath.
4. A woman’s clothing should not resemble a man’s clothing.
5. It shouldn’t be flashy or brightly colored or having eye catching designs which attract attention or stir desire.
6. It should not resemble the dress of disbelieving women, because who ever imitates a people, is one of them.
7. The clothing should not be perfumed. The Prophet (SAW) said:
“Any woman who applies perfume, then goes out and passes by people so that they can smell her scent is an adulteress, and every eye (that looks at her) is adulterous.”
(Ahmad and others).