Why Hijaab for Women?

Question: Why does Islam degrade women by keeping them behind the veil?

Answer: The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The hijaab 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 hijaab, let us first study the status of women in societies before the advent of Islam

1. In the past women were degraded and used as objects of lust

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

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.

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 root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women to be 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.

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.

Egyptian Civilization: The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.

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.

2. 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. People who usually only discuss hijaab in Islam expect women to maintain their status.

However, in the Glorious Quran, Allah (swt) first mentions hijaab for men before hijaab for the women. The Quran mentions in Surah Noor:

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.

On Saturday September 4, 2010, Muslims specially Muslim women all around the world from Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Middle East, Europe and United States Observed the Hijaab Day. This day is observed to tell the world about rights of women in Islam and clearing the misconceptions of the world about women’s hijaab.

This day was first of all observed few years ago when a Muslim woman – Marwa Al-Sherbini – was martyred by a German racist for wearing the hijaab.

Rallies in different country’s big cities took place on September 4 in which most of the women took part. The women in rallies said that they wear hijaab by their choice and they have the right to wear it. They condemned the French Government step of banning the hijaab. They also demanded for the protection of Muslim women in the west who wear hijaab so that no incidents like to Marwa Al-Sherbini happen again.