This page hopes to clarify certain misconceptions about Islam in the hope that  'Terrorism' does not become a synonym Of 'Islam' itself. To even give this a chance it is very important that we clarify certain things for ourselves.  

Note: "This page is not intended to put down or question the ethics of any faith. It is merely in the interest of improving the understanding of Islam." 

            To start this section  with the importance it demands we intend to give you answers to questions posed often by Non-Muslims. We hope you will be able to give the answer the next time you are asked such questions.....

            Many times we come across non Muslims posing this particular question on HIJAB for women and thus most of the time, a common Muslim who is not much aware of Islam isn’t able to answer them in a proper way which can leave a doubt in the non Muslim’s mind. Therefore I am giving you an answer which u could by heart and tell whenever u face such situation and thus defend and show the beauty of Islam to non-Muslims

• Why is hijab necessary for women?

           ANSWER:    The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks of the secular media. The ‘hijab’ or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the subjugation of women under Islamic law. Before we analyze the reasoning behind the religiously mandated ‘hijab’, let us first study the status of women in societies before the advent of Islam.

 I) IN THE PAST WOMEN WERE DEGRADED AND USED AS OBJECTS OF LUST

 The following examples from history illustrate the fact that the status of women in earlier civilizations was very low to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity:

1) BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION:

 The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife was put to death.

 2) GREEK CIVILIZATION:

 Greek civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations. Under this very ‘ glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called ‘Pandora’ is the roots cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity of women was precious, and women were held in high esteem, the Greeks were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitution became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.

3) ROMAN CIVILIZATION:

 When roman civilization was at the zenith of its ‘ glory’, a man even had the right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common amongst the Romans.

4) EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION:

 Here women were considered evil and as a sign of a devil.

 5) PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA:

 Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and very often when a female child was born, she was buried alive.

II) ISLAM UPLIFTED WOMEN AND GAVE THEM EQUALITY AND EXPECTS THEM TO MAINTAIN THEIR STATUS

 Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.

 HIJAB FOR MEN: People usually only discuss ‘hijab’ in the context of women. How ever in the glorious Quran, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijab’ for men before ‘hijab’ for women. The Quran mentions in Surah Noor, chp 24, verse 30 that

“say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them: and ALLAH is well acquainted with all that they do”. {Al-Quran 24:30}

 The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

 HIJAB FOR WOMEN: The next verse of Surah Noor, chp 24, verse 31 says:

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw veils over their bossoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands fathers, their sons…” {Al-Quran 24:31}

III) SIX CRITERIAS FOR HIJAB:

 According to Quran and Sunnah, there are basically six criteria for observing hijab:

 EXTENT: The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male is to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the extent of covering obligatory is to cover the complete body except the face and the hands up to the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body. Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands are part of the obligatory extent of ‘hijab’.

 All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.

1) The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.

2) The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see thought them.

3) The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.

4) The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.

5) The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers, i.e. they should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.

IV) HIJAB INCLUDES CONDUCT AND BEHAVIOUR AMONG OTHER THINGS

  Complete ‘hijab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behavior, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijab’ in a limited sense. ‘HIJAB” of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘ hijab’ of the eyes, ‘hijab’ of the heart, ‘hijab’ of thought and ‘hijab of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.

 V) HIJAB PREVENTS MOLESTATION:

   The reason why hijab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Quran in the following verses of Surah Al-Ahzab, chp 33, verse 59, that

“O prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is OFT-FORGIVING, MOST MERCIFULL.” {Al-Quran 33:59}

 The Quran says that hijab has been prescribed for the women so that they are recognized as modest women and this will also prevent them from being molested.

 VI) EXAMPLE OF TWIN SISTERS:

Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down the street. One of them is attired in the Islamic hijab, i.e. the complete body is covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, a mini skirt or shorts. Just around the corner is a hooligan or ruffian who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? The girl wearing the Islamic hijab or the girl wearing the skirt of the mini?

Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt or mini. Such dresses are an indirect invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation.

The Quran rightly says that hijab prevents women from being molested.

VII) CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR THE RAPISTS:

Under the Islamic shairah, a man convicted of having raped a woman, is given capital punishment. Many are astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence. Some even say that Islam is a ruthless, barbaric religion! I have asked a simple question to hundreds of nonmuslim men. Suppose, God forbid, someone rapes your wife, you’re mother, or your sister. You are made the judge and the rapist is brought in front of you. What punishment would you give him? All of them said they would put him to death. To them I ask, if someone rapes your wife or your mother you want to put him to death. But if the same crime is committed on somebody else’s wife or daughter you say capital punishment is barbaric. Why should there be double standards?

VIII) WESTERN SOCIETY FALSELY CLAIMS TO HAVE UPLIFTED WOMEN:

  Western talk of women’s liberalization is nothing but a disguised form of exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honour. Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’’ women. On the contrary it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketers, hidden behind the colorful screen of ‘art’ and ‘culture’.

IX) USA HAS ONE OF HIGHEST RATES OF RAPE:

  United states of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any country in the world. According to a FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average 1756 cases of rape were committed in U.S.A alone. Later another report said that on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes ore committed in USA. The year was not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans got ‘bolder’ in the following years.

Consider a scenario where the Islamic hijab is followed in America. Whenever a man looks at a woman and any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic hijab, that is, the complete body is covered except the face and the hands up to the wrist. After this if any man commits rape he is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such a scenario, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?

Naturally as soon as Islamic shariah is implemented positive results will be inevitable. If Islamic shariah is implemented in any part of the world, whether it is America or India, society will breathe easier. Hijab does not degrade a woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity.

         ' Well folks hope this has been an educational experience for everyone. Feel free to write in your comments and suggestions for questions to be answered in this section for the weeks to come. Take Care.'