question23This is a good question and there is a beautiful answer! Allaah, the Almighty, has commanded us with actions that are good for us and prohibited us from performing actions that are bad for us. Allaah, the Almighty, orders the Muslim woman to wear the Hijaab when she steps out of the security of her home or when in the presence of strange men.

Therefore, my dear Sister, to wear the Hijaab is a source of great good for you – the Muslim woman - for many reasons. Among them are:

1. In Pursuit of Allah's Pleasure.

You are obeying the commands of your Lord when you wear the Hijaab and you can expect great rewards in return.

2. It is Allaah’s protection of your natural beauty.

You are too precious to be "on display" for each man to see.

3. It is Allaah’s preservation of your chastity.

4. Allaah purifies your heart and mind through the Hijaab.

5. Allaah beautifies your inner and outer countenance with Hijaab.

Outwardly your Hijaab reflects innocence, purity, modesty, shyness, serenity, contentment and obedience to your Lord. Inwardly you must try your best to cultivate the same.

6. Allaah defines your femininity through the Hijaab.

You are a woman who respects her womanhood. Allaah, the Almighty, wants you to be respected by others, and for you to respect yourself.

7. Allaah raises your dignity through the Hijaab. When a strange man looks at you, he respects you because he sees that you respect yourself.

8. Allaah protects your honour through your Hijaab.

Most men will not gaze at you in a sensual way, they won't approach you in a sensual way, and neither will they speak to you in a sensual way. Rather, many men will hold you in high esteem and that is just by one glance at you!

9. Allaah gives you nobility through the Hijaab.

You are noble not degraded because you covered not naked.

10. Allaah demonstrates your equality as a Muslim woman through the Hijaab.

Your Lord bestows upon you equal worth as your male counterpart, and gives you a host of beautiful rights and liberties. You express your acceptance of these unique rights by putting on the Hijaab.

11. Allaah defines your role as a Muslim woman through the Hijaab.

You are someone with important duties. You are a reflection of a woman of action not idle pursuits. You display your sense of direction and purpose through your Hijaab. You are someone that people take seriously.

12. Allaah expresses your independence through the Hijaab.

You are stating clearly that you are an obedient servant of the Greatest Master. You will obey no one else and follow no other way. You are not a slave to any man, nor a slave to any nation. You are free and independent from all man-made systems.

13. Allaah gives you the freedom of movement and expression through the Hijaab.

You are able to move about and communicate with less fear of harassment, in comparison to other women. Infact, your Hijaab gives you a unique confidence.

14. Allaah wants others to treat you – a Muslim woman - with kindness.

The Hijaab will bring about the best treatment of many men towards you.

15. Allaah wants your beauty to be preserved and saved for just one man to enjoy – your husband.

16. Allaah helps you to enjoy a successful marriage through wearing Hijaab.

Because you reserve your beauty for one man alone, your husband’s love for you, Allah Willing, will increase. He will cherish you more, respect you more and honour you more. Therefore, your Hijaab will contribute towards a successful and lasting marriage relationship.

17. Allaah brings about peace and stability in the society through the Hijaab!

Yes, this is true! Men will not cause corruption by forming illegal relationships because you - the Muslim woman - calm their passions. When a man looks at you, he feels at ease, not tempted to fornicate and date.

***

Therefore, a Muslim woman in Hijaab is dignified, not dishonoured, noble, not degraded, liberated, not subjugated, purified, not sullied, independent, not a slave, protected, not exposed, respected, not laughed at, confident, not insecure, obedient, not a sinner, rather: a guarded pearl.

Dear Muslim sister! Come towards the gates of Paradise with us! Fulfil your duties towards Allaah ('azza wa jall), put on your Hijaab, and race towards Paradise by doing this good actions. You should agree by now that wearing Hijaab is extremely beneficial – it must be - because Allaah only commands what is good.

{Their reward is with their Lord: Gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow wherein they will dwell for ever; Allaah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him; this is (in store) for whoever fears his Lord.}

(Sooratul-Bayyinah, [98]:8)