Hijab - Unveiling the Mystery

[bamalli]

Hijab - Unveiling the Mystery
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One of the most common questions today, asked by Muslims and non-
Muslims alike, is: "Why do Muslim women cover their heads?" The
answer is very simple - Muslim women observe hijab because Allah has
told them to do so:

"O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to
draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among
men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims)
and not annoyed..." (Qur'an chapter 33:verse 59).

Muslims believe that their sole purpose in life is the worship of God
alone, according to His instructions, as revealed in the Holy Qur'an,
and through the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). As such,
wearing the hijab is an act of obedience to God and, hence, forms the
primary basis for wearing it.

Muslim women today are rediscovering the pristine Islam as revealed
by Allah, (God), to the Prophet Muhammad, more than 1,400 years ago,
but without any of the contradictions of culture.They are
rediscovering their own selves – what it means to be a human and more
so, a Muslim woman. Wearing a head-covering (hijab) is an important
part of their spiritual journey.

Muslim women in headscarves are frequently unfairly stigmatized in
the media. They are regarded on the one hand as oppressed, and on the
other, as fanatics and fundamentalists. Both depictions are wrong and
imprecise. Such portrayals not only misrepresent these women's strong
feelings towards hijab, but also fail to acknowledge their courage
and the resulting identity hijab gives them.
Aminah Assilmi, a Christian convert to Islam, said: "To ask me to go
out without my hijab would be like asking a nun to go topless. It
amazes me, and I cannot help but wonder, if they would have ordered
Mary, the mother of Jesus to uncover her hair."

Another misconception is the belief that Muslim women are forced to
wear hijab. For the vast majority of Muslim women, nothing could be
farther from the truth. Wearing hijab is a very personal and
independent decision, coming from appreciating the wisdom of Allah's
command and a sincere wish to please Him.

While the hijab identifies women as followers of Islam, with it comes
tremendous responsibility. Hijab is not merely a covering dress, but
more importantly, it is behavior, manners, speech and appearance in
public. The headscarf is an outer manifestation of an inner
commitment to worshipping Allah – it symbolizes a commitment to
piety. Self or inner morality is what gives meaning to the external
scarf. This can be perceived from the overall demeanor of any Muslim
woman – how she acts, dresses, speaks, and so on. In a land where
misinformation about Islam and Muslims abounds, Muslim sisters have
the opportunity to portray Islam in its true light, inshallah.