Hijabs

WHY IS WEARING THE HIJAB IMPORTANT IN ISLAM?

Posted on by Ina editorial staff
30
Jul

Fortunately, in Anglo-Saxon countries the Islamic headscarf is fully accepted, but unfortunately this is not the case everywhere. The issue of the hijab has recently received a lot of attention due to legislation and proposed legislation in several European countries (e.g. France and Germany) that prohibit its use in government institutions as well as in educational establishments.

Despite repression and stigmatisation, the wearing of the hijab is becoming more widespread in Europe and is expected to develop further in the future. 

What does the hijab mean to a Muslim woman? Why is it a strong symbol in religion? what does it really bring to the Muslim woman? These are the small questions we try to raise through our article.

The hijab as a synonym for modesty

It is important to understand several points related to the hijab and modesty. The first point is that modesty has been the norm throughout history until the end of the last century. If we look at historical works from different times and ages, we can see that women cover themselves modestly in almost all societies. The other point is that modesty is a component of many world religions, especially Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Many may be surprised to learn that it was not Islam that invented modesty or the hijab. It existed in the laws of religions revealed before Islam, and vestiges of it can still be found in the altered books of these religions. 

With the last message given to Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), the order of hijab was confirmed and finalised. This is a reality since all these revelations came from the same source, Allah. Mary, the mother of Jesus (may Allah exalt their mention), is rarely shown without a traditional head covering and one would assume that she is a Muslim (Which she was, of course.). Even today, we find Jewish and Christian women covering themselves in the same manner as Muslim women. This is one of the common links between these three great religions.

More than a religious symbol

The hijab represents a woman’s submission to her Creator and her connection to the faith. The hijab brings the Muslim woman back to the good morals and wholesome behaviour advocated by the Islamic religion, so that she respects it and does not offend it with bad behaviour.
The hijab encourages the Muslim woman to adhere to other Islamic duties such as prayer, fasting and others.

The hijab in the Qur’an :

“And enjoin believing women to cast down their looks and guard their private parts and not reveal their adornment except that which is revealed of itself, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their husbands, or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands,or of their own sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or the sons of their sisters, or the women with whom they associate, or those that are in their bondage, or the male attendants in their service free of sexual interest, or boys that are yet unaware of illicit matters pertaining to women. Nor should they stamp their feet on the ground in such manner that their hidden ornament becomes revealed. Believers, turn together, all of you, to Allah in repentance that you may attain true success” [Qur’an, Surah 24: verse 31].

Allah also says: “O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way it is more likely that they will be recognized ˹as virtuous˺ and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Qur’an, Surah 33: verse 59].

A woman who wears the Islamic hijab frees herself from the vain and selfish desire to show off her beauty and compete with other women around her.

This is an innate desire that is exacerbated by gratuitous display and tamed by modesty. With the hijab, a woman does not have to conform to society’s expectations of her desires, nor does she have to use her beauty to gain recognition or acceptance from those around her.

Thus, one of the functions of the hijab is to protect women from abuse and harm. This includes various forms of sexual abuse and harassment, which are prevalent in societies where few women cover up. 

Men often receive mixed signals and think that women want advances by the way they expose their bodies. The hijab, on the other hand, sends a signal to men that the wearer is a modest and chaste woman who should not be not to be bothered.

Is it possible to be both modest and beautiful?

As mentioned above, the hijab is a symbol of modesty that aims to protect the Muslim woman. However, this does not mean that the veiled woman is deprived of being well dressed and elegant. Modest Fashion is the marriage between modesty and fashion, and this is what we aim to convey at Ina Collection.

Our commitment is to offer the hijab that meets the foundation of the hijab but allows the hijabi to feel confident, beautiful, free and proud. A demonstration that yes, it is possible to be beautiful, elegant while being in accordance with our religion.

Finally, the hijab has evolved a lot in recent years, becoming more modern and fashionable. The fabrics and colours offered have improved greatly. We are now witnessing the emergence of new high quality fabrics, totally unknown a few years ago, such as Medina silk, but also the evolution of existing fabrics, such as jersey or muslin.  With a choice of colours and fabrics for all tastes, the veiled woman can therefore benefit from a good quality hijab while remaining in accordance with her religion.

Ina editorial staff

One thought on “WHY IS WEARING THE HIJAB IMPORTANT IN ISLAM?”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
More info