In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Gracious

As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu

ISLAMIC

RESEARCH AND INFORMATION CENTRE

The Concept of Hijaab (Screening)

The concept of Hijaab (purdah in Urdu) is among the most misunderstood issues of Islam. Therefore, it is explained, here, in details.

Meaning, Necessity and Benefits of Hijaab:

Hijaab means a barrier between male and non-mahram female. It means:

1)      The restriction on free mingling of male with non-mahram female and of female with non-mahram male. Male can mingle freely with his wife and mahram females (i.e. his mother, sisters, daughters, aunts, nieces, grand mother, grand daughters, foster mother, foster sisters et cetera). Similarly, female can also mingle freely with her husband and mahram males (i.e. her father, brothers, sons, uncles, nephews, et cetera).

2)      The restriction on exposing the attraction of female to non-mahram male and exposing the attraction of male to non-mahram female. Woman is free to keep her face, her hands up to the wrists, and her feet up to the toes open in front of mahram males. And she is free to expose her entire attraction to her husband. Similarly, man is free to keep his face, his hands up to the wrists, and his feet just above the toes open in front of mahram females. And he is free to expose his entire attraction to his wife.

These restrictions are for both males and females and must be observed both within and outside the house. Allah says:

1)      “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and protect their private parts (from exposure, illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and protect the private parts (from exposure, illegal sexual acts, etc.), and not to show off their adornment except only that which is obvious, and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks, bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband’s fathers, their sons, their husband’s sons, their brothers or their brother’s sons or their sister’s sons or their (Muslim) women or the slave-women whom their right hands possess or old male servants who lack vigour or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment.” (24:30, 31)

2)      “O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely). That will be better, that they should be known (as modest women who do not like indecency and immodesty) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Merciful.” (33: 59)

3)      “(O men!) When you ask (any non-mahram females) for anything, ask them from behind a screen. That is purer for your hearts and for their hearts.” (33: 53)

4)      “(O women! When you speak to non-mahram males at the time of necessity,) then be not flexible in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease should desire (something evil), but speak in an honourable manner. And stay in your houses and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance and perform As-Salaat and give Zakaat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to keep Ar-Rijs (evil consequences of misdeeds) away from you, O members of the home, and to purify you with a thorough purification.” (33: 32, 33)

Why has Islam imposed these restrictions?

The reasons have been mentioned clearly in the above mentioned Verses of the Holy Quraan. These restrictions have been imposed for the well-being and welfare of individuals, families and society.

Free-mingling of males with non-mahram females often leads both men and women to pre-marital and extra-marital courtship and sex. Similarly, exposing of females to non-mahram males leads to molestation, sexual harassment and rapes. In all these cases, it is woman who suffers.

It is a fact that most males usually view non-mahram female as a sexual object. So, woman, without Hijaab, is insecure. Therefore, to save women from the evil eyes, the evil thoughts and the evil actions of men, Hijaab is made obligatory. Hijaab gives a security to women and eradicates obscenity, illicit relations and illicit sex from the society.

Today, women are actively participating in outdoor activities. So to implement Hijaab for the safety and well-being of females, the state and the private organizers must set up separate schools, colleges, hospitals, offices, etc. for males and females.

Islam wants both men and women to lead a responsible, honest, sincere, clean and pious life, to attain peace, progress and salvation. But modernism does not want people to lead such a life. So, it spreads obscenity by asking women to be nude in front of all. It asked woman to keep her body open to all as much as possible, and whatever of her body has to be covered should be covered nominally with transparent, thin and tight fitting clothes exposing the shape and size of the organs that have been covered, so that males may become more eager to watch that what have been covered. Thus, modernism has made woman a commodity and increased the rate of sexual harassment, rapes, intimacy, pre-marital and extra-marital courtship and sex to the incredible extent.

Some Other Misconceptions Regarding Hijaab

Some people think that Hijaab is a ban on women’s freedom.

This is a misconception that can be clarified from the above-mentioned details. Hijaab is not a ban on women’s freedom, but a barrier between males and non-mahram females and also between females and non-mahram males. Islam gives freedom to both men and women in Ma’roofaat (see the concept of freedom).

Many people think that Hijaab (purdah) means just wearing burq’ah (veil) while going out.

Wearing burq’ah (veil) is a part of Hijaab. It is not the complete Hijaab. To exercise the complete Hijaab, the female must abstain from mingling with non-mahram males and must abstain from exposing herself to other than her husband. Hijaab is observed both within and outside the house.

Why do women have to wear burq’ah (veil)?

It is a well-known fact that males get excited with just viewing non-mahram women. The face, the body and even the voice of non-mahram women appeal sexual urge of men. The sexual urge of men sometimes ends with masturbation and sometimes exceeds the limits of masturbation and leads them to pre-marital or extra-marital courtship or sex, or to harass women sexually or to rape them. The incredible rate of rapes and sexual harassments, even in the most so-called civilized countries of today, is enough to bear witness about it. In such cases, it is the woman who suffers. So, to save women from such calamities, women are asked to cover themselves completely with non-transparent and loose clothes while going out of the house. The veil is to indicate that the women covered in the veil is against the illicit relations with men. That’s why women have to wear veil.

Why don’t men have to wear burq’ah (veil) while going out?

Of course, men don’t have to wear burq’ah (veil) because of the facts that females do not get excited easily. That’s why men have to go through a lot of foreplay to arouse sexual urge of women before going to have a sex with them. Moreover, the rate of masturbation in females is negligible, particularly, in the girls who do not have sexual knowledge, nor did they ever experience a sex. So, for men there is no risk of being harassed sexually and being raped by women, nor do men suffer from rapes. So, men have no need to wear veil. Even women, while among other women and mahram males, do not need to wear veil.

Some people think that Hijaab means confining women to the four walls of house. This is not right (for details, please see freedom and women in the concept of freedom).

The above-mentioned details clarify the following points:

1)      Hijaab is meant for both men and women.

2)      Hijaab is imperative for women to eschew evil men.

3)      Hijaab is necessary for the well-being of individuals, families and society.

4)      Hijaab is not a ban on the freedom of women. It is a ban on free-mingling of males with non-mahram females and of females with non-mahram males.

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