Why should I wear hijab?

I cannot answer your question better than this answer by Dr. Zakir Naik:-


If its too long then just hop to "hijaab for women" subtitle

Question: Why does Islam degrade the women by keeping her in the veil?

Answer: The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The ‘hijab’ or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the ‘subjugation’ of women under Islamic law. Before we analyse the reasoning behind the religiously mandated ‘hijab’, let us first study the status of women in societies before the advent of Islam

I. 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Egyptian civilization

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

5. Pre-Islamic Arabia

Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon the women and very often when a female was born she was buried alive.
II. 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. Islam expects women to maintain their status.
Hijab for men

People usually only discuss ‘hijab’ in the context of women only. However, in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijab’ for men before ‘hijab’ for the women. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Al 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-Qur’an 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.

Hijab for women.

The next verse of Surah Noor, says: “ And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.” [Al-Qur’an 24:31]

III. Six criteria for Hijab.

According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing hijab:

i. Extent

The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male is to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the obligatory level of covering is to cover the whole body except the face and the hands upto the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body. Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands are part of the obligatory extent of ‘hijab’. All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.

ii. Should not reveal figure.

The second criterion is that the clothes they wear should be loose and should not reveal the figure.

iii. Should not be transparent.

The third criterion is that the clothes they wear should not be transparent such that one can see through them.

iv. Not attract opposite sex.

The clothes they wear should be not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.

v. Should not resemble the clothes of the opposite sex.

The fifth criterion is that the clothes they wear should not resemble that of the opposite sex.

vi. Should not resemble the clothes of the unbelievers.

The clothes they wear should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.

IV. Hijab includes conduct and behaviour among other things

Complete ‘hijab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijab’ of the eyes, ‘hijab’ of the heart, ‘hijab’ of thought and ‘hijab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves etc.

V. Hijab prevents molestation

The reason why Hijab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Qur’an in the following verse of Surah Al-Ahzab: “O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Al-Qur’an 33:59]

The Qur’an says that Hijab has been prescribed for the women so that they are recognized as modest women and this will also prevent them from being molested.

VI. Example of twin sisters

Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down the street. One of them is attired in the Islamic hijab i.e. the whole body is covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, a skirt or a mini. Just around the corner there is a hooligan or ruffian who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? The girl wearing the Islamic Hijab or the girl wearing the skirt or the mini? Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt or the mini. Such dresses are an indirect invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. The Qur’an rightly says that hijab prevents the women from being molested.

VII. Capital punishment for rapist

Under the Islamic Shariah a man convicted of having raped a woman, is given capital punishment. Many are astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence. Some even say that Islam is a ruthless, and barbaric religion! I have asked a simple question to hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose, God forbid, someone rapes your wife, your mother or your sister. You are made the judge and the rapist is brought in front of you. What punishment would you give him? All of them said they would put him to death. Some went to the extent of saying they would torture him to death. To them I ask, if someone rapes your wife or your mother you want to put him to death. But if the same crime is committed on somebody else’s wife or daughter you say capital punishment is barbaric. Why the double standards?

VIII. Western society falsely claims to have uplifted women

Western talk of women’s liberalization is nothing but a disguised form of exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honour. Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’ women. On the contrary it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies who are employed as mere tools at the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers hidden behind the colourful screen of ‘art’ and ‘culture’.

IX. USA has one of the highest rates of rape

United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape of any country in the world. According to an FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average 1756 cases of rape were committed in U.S.A alone. Later another report said that on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes are committed in USA. The year was not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans got ‘bolder’ in the following years.

Consider a scenario where the Islamic hijab is followed in America. Whenever a man looks at a woman and any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic hijab, that is the whole body is covered except the face and the hands upto the wrist. After this if any man commits rape he is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such a scenario, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?

X. Implementation of Islamic Shariah will reduce the rate of rapes.

Naturally as soon as Islamic Shariah is implemented positive results will be inevitable. If Islamic Shariah is implemented in any part of the world, whether it is America or Europe, society will breath easier. Hijab does not degrade a woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity.

EDIT...never mind

Assalaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,

The Qur’an compassionately commands women to wear the veil of modesty so that they will be treated with respect and those mines of compassion will not be trodden under the feet of low desires, nor be like worthless goods for the excitement of lust. Civilization, however, has drawn women out of their homes, rent their veils, and corrupted mankind. For family life continues through the mutual love and respect of man and wife. But immodest dress has destroyed sincere respect and affection, and has poisoned family life. While worship of the human form in particular has shaken morality in appalling fashion, causing the abasement of man’s spirit.

Please read this and see how veil of modesty is appropriate to the nature of women:

http://www.lightofquran.info/24flash.htm

I think the answer can best be found in asking those who do not wear the hijab to justify why they are not wearing it. When you look deep into their answer you will almost always find it is because they have forgotten how to be sincere in their following Islam.

The reasons (Excuses) are usually something similar to these:

The weather is too hot--
It is a culture thing
The Quran does not say we are required too
None of my friends wear it

But those are excuses not reasons. None of them are genuine facts, just grasping at straws to justify their actions.

The one about being too hot is almost ridiculous. Go to any hot climate any you will find even non Muslim women will wear some type of head covering to protect their heads from the heat. As for being a culture thing, that is correct. Islam is our culture, it is part of being Muslim. So, are those girls saying they do not want to be Muslim? If they say it is not in the Quran, they do not understand the Quran. While you will not find the word hijab, you will find that we all are required to dress modestly. That entails covering the hair. The Hijab is simply one way and probably the easiest and most comfortable way to do so.

And the most probable real reason "NONE OF MY FRIENDS WEAR IT" peer pressure is a very powerful force and often we follow it instead of thinking.

format_quote Originally Posted by Aprender

Where I live there are so many young Muslim women today who tell me that it doesn't exactly say in the Qur'an that a woman should cover her hair.

I will do some research on where it says exactly in the Quran that I should breath in and breath out, then I will let you know what I think about this attitude.

format_quote Originally Posted by Aprender

Woodrow, can you give me an example of why covering the hair is included in dressing modestly? I am still learning much about Islam but this idea of covering the hair is really the point that I keep coming back to with some sisters. I am not knowledgeable enough in Islam to provide them with better answers about this.

We can begin with tradition that is common to all of the monotheistic faith. We can see that head covering was and in many cases still is required in Judaism, Christianity Sabians and Islam. It has only been within the past 200 years that any women in all four faiths began stopping to do it.

We can look in the Quran and we find

Surah an-Nur verse 31 reads:

And say to the faithful women to lower their gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to display their beauty except what is apparent of it, and to extend their head coverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms, and not to display their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom the nakedness of women is not apparent, and not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments. And turn in repentance to God together, O you the faithful, in order that you are successful.

We can also look at the Sunnah which is how people lived during the time Muhammad(PBUH) we can see that the woman of the sunnah wore head coverings, yet there is no place in the Quran that they were forbidden when the Quran was revealed.

Now to verify how thew woman of the Sunnah dressed we can look at the ahadith.

When Allaah revealed the words (interpretation of the meaning) –
“…and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)…” [al-Noor24:31] – they tore the edges of their aprons and covered their heads with them.’

(narrated by Abu Dawood, 4102, from the hadeeth of Ibn Wahb).

So based upon tradition and Ahadith we know that, as an act of modesty, woman did cover their hair. We also know that the Quran did not forbid this or contradict this. Therefore it can be safe to assume that covering the hair was a long established act and belief, that the Quran did not end. By contrast: Drinking alcohol was a long established part of Arabic culture and acceptable to the Arabs, the Quran slowly forbade it over a series of Surahs.

format_quote Originally Posted by Aprender

Aside from that, the other women who don't wear the hijab choose not to do so because living in America they think they won't be able to find a job so they just don't wear it and they use the justification that "well the Qur'an doesn't say verbatim that I should cover my hair, just to dress modestly and that's what I'm doing." They leave it at that, but I always get a sense that they still feel a little left out of the ummah so to speak. For example, people like to talk about how Islam is a religion that appeals to intellect and hijab is one of those cases that you can debate about. That's the way that they justify it to me when I ask them why they don't wear the hijab.

In a sense, Woodrow, yes they are saying they don't want to be Muslim because they don't want the outside world to identify them as such. Life is easier because since no one knows that they are Muslim, they can get more "acceptance" and they say Allah (swt) knows what is in my heart and what I believe. This is just the vibe I got from one sister I spoke to.

I agree with your observation. when a woman stops wearing the Hijab, she is making a very loud statement she does not want to be Muslim. While that may not be in her heart, it is the message she is sending to the world.

Hijab doesn't only mean head scraf. It is the way a muslim woman should dress in public. It means loose, non-see through, unattractive, clothes which covers the whole of the body, leaving the face, hands and feet, in order to not reveal the figure in any angle.
Many women use heavy make-up on their faces, they don't feel it's wrong because they have been given permission to leave their faces open. And perfume is another thing, women are not allowed to wear perfume in public as it attracts people.
So hijab isn't all about clothes, make-up, nail polish and perfume also is included in it.
As far as veil is concerned, it's optional.

As far as the question 'why should we cover our hair', it is crystal clear. When there are verses from the Quran supporting it, what do they need more? I'm not sure about hadeeths though.

Muslim women who do not cover their head, just because they don't want to be recognized as muslims, there's nothing to say more than, they are delibrately felling into the trap of satan.

The answers I get from those women are that hijab comes from the heart. I don't see how this is satisfying, since it's plain nonsense. I understand when they say Iman comes from the heart but, hijab?
Islam is a practical religion and hijab comes under it.

I know people want reasons for what hair must be covered. It's the same way as covering the rest of the body. Why do we cover the body? It is most importantly to avoid the attraction of the opposite sex. As we all know, hair is also very attractive and flattering.

Forget about everything, we muslim women wear hijab because our religion commands us to. We follow everything from the Quran and Sunnah, we don't doubt and question what Allah has commanded us to do, neither should anyone.

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):


Commentary and reference on Surah Nur 24:31


Note 38 (Quran Ref: 24:31 )
</I>
The noun khimar (of which khumur is the plural) denotes the head-covering customarily used by Arabian women before and after the advent of Islam. According to most of the classical commentators, it was worn in pre-Islamic times more or less as all ornament and was let down loosely over the wearer’s back; and since, in accordance with the fashion prevalent at the time, the upper part of a woman’s tunic had a wide opening in the front, her breasts cleavage were left bare. Hence, the injunction to cover the bosom by means of a khimar, (a term so familiar to the contemporaries of the Prophet) does not necessarily relate to the use of a khimar as such but is, rather, meant to make it clear that a woman’s breasts are not included in the concept of "what may decently be apparent" of her body and should not, therefore, be displayed.(Quran Ref: 24:31 )
http://www.islamicity.com/quranSearch