By Salma T. Wahdy

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters,

and the believing women

that they should cast their outer garments over their persons:

That is most convenient,

that they should be known (as such) and not molested.

And ALLAH is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

HOLY QUR’AN 33:59

ISLAM IS BEAUTIFUL IN ALL ITS ASPECTS.

It appeals to the common sense and to the spirituality in one’s heart. One of its most beautiful ethos is the way it regards prevention to be better than a cure. For example, it is better to prevent adultery, than later have to solve the problem of it already being rampant in one’s society. ISLAM gives a sensible deterrent for this: women and men ought not to mix outside of their families, both should dress conservatively and the women should wear hijab to protect themselves from wayward men. Hijab is a covering of ones entire body and comes in the form of a jilbab, a long outer garment that does not reveal the shapes and contours of the body.

When others see me in my hijab, they regard me as eccentric and some express their sympathy that I must be forced into a “second class” citizenship by wearing the hijab. But what they do not understand is that the hijab is a form of self-respect. A Muslim woman regards herself as being too noble to allow others to stare at her with lust. Indeed, it was only the slaves who did not wear hijab, and it therefore distinguished between them both.

Hijab is not to necessarily restrict the liberty of women, but to protect them from harm and molestation. It also helps in protecting their thoughts and body from impurities. Maintains modesty between the two sexes, therefore eliminating any possible attraction between them outside of marriage; and preventing such social ills of great magnitude such as adultery and fornication.

The family structure is most important in ISLAM. At all costs, it must be protected. A good strong family produces good strong children, who in turn are good strong citizens. Adultery strikes at the core of this family structure and shakes its foundations. Its evils cannot be enumeration. The hijab, therefore, is a safeguard against such a sin, which is punishable by death according to all orthodox Abrahamic religions.

Because I was born and have lived in the U.S. since, I astonish many when my unaccented English comes from behind my veil. “You are not back home anymore,” some tell me. “Why do you still wear it?” I explain to them that the hijab is not a cultural fashion, but rather a Godly ordinance. Maryam (may God be pleased with her), the mother of Jesus, also wore this, or something similar thereof. It is something that ISLAM has not invented; ISLAM is the ne plus ultra of all the monotheistic religions, the vortex of the Abrahamic traditions. God says in His Book, the HOLY QUR’AN:

“. . .This day have I perfected your religion for you,

completed My favor upon you,

and have chosen for you

ISLAM as your religion . . . .”

HOLY QUR’AN 5:3

ISLAM is the culmination of all God’s teachings to His Prophets and Messengers, given to the Final Messenger, the Seal of Prophets, Muhammad (Upon Whom Be God’s Peace). God used Muhammad (pbuh) to remove the man-made additions to God’s Law and made it pure once more for man to follow, if he yearns to please His Creator and to enter Paradise, the abode of the righteous and the thankful.

A woman does not have to work as strenuously to attain her Paradise. ISLAM recognizes her as being different yet equal to the men, a concept foreign in the other religions where it was debated if a woman had even a soul. Women are not considered as evil temptations for men, but rather as their lawful partners in life, who deserve to be provided for and protected all their life. ISLAM is truly ‘chivalrous’ for it does not make it mandatory for the women to go out and provide for her family, though if she does so, she is entitled to keep all her earnings for herself. On the other hand, the man must take care of his family, and must give his wife all she is accustomed to from her father’s house in regard to material possessions. Just as a man is considered doing worship when he does his duty by working, a women has the same reward by keeping herself and what is her husband’s safe from evil, and by raising and teaching her children to be God-fearing and righteous. During times of battle, a man must go to fight, but a women attains the same reward if she stays behind and watches over their property, i.e., their home, their children and by protecting herself against adultery.

ISLAM recognizes that a women is inherently maternal and it makes it easier for her to stay at home with her children and raises her station as a mother to a rank surpassed by none but God Himself. Paradise lies at the feet of one’s mother (as provided by hadith), and one’s duty to her is trine one’s duty to one’s own father or other kith and kin. For a man to stay behind and serve his parents is better for him than to participate in battle. One can understand the significance of this when one realizes that to die fighting in the Way of God is to ascend immediately to heaven, without worrying over one’s deeds.

And if a woman is as righteous as a man, she will also receive the same reward. God says in His Holy Book:

“For Muslim men and Muslim women¾

for believing men and women,

for devout men and women,

for true men and women,

for men and women who are patient and constant,

for men and women who humble themselves,

for men and women who give in charity,

for men and women who fast (and deny themselves),

for men and women who guard their chastity,

engage much in ALLAH’S praise¾

and for men and women

who for them

has ALLAH prepared forgiveness and great reward.”

HOLY QUR’AN 33:35

By such teachings that are natural in their very essence, ISLAM gives peace to the spiritual heart and it is with ease that one completely submits oneself to God’s Will and becomes a Muslim. This is why I am in a state of perpetual thankfulness¾that God has allowed me to be a Muslim. God is Great and Unto Him is all worthy Praises and Thanks. I testify there is no Deity but Him and that Muhammad (May God’s Blessings be upon him) is His Servant and His Final Messenger. Peace Be Upon All Followers of Righteous Guidance.

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