The Quranic Concept
of Hijaab
Islam has based its social structure on the
institution of family. For the development of such a society in which the basic unit is
the family, it is essential to regard chastity and modesty as fundamental values. It is to
safeguard and protect these values that the Shariah has laid down a whole code of social
etiquette and communal conduct. These directives have been discussed in the Quran very
minutely. Since, their interpretation, in recent times, has often touched the two
extremes, it is, once again, necessary to contemplate on the Quran in quest for the
ariston metron — the golden mean.
A deep deliberation on the Quran reveals that these
directives, which have been dealt with in detail in Surah Ahzaab and Surah Noor, are
basically of three categories. Following is a brief analysis of these directives.
- The first category of directives pertains to safe and
secure places. According to the Quran, such secure places may either be residential ones
(bait-i-maskoona) like houses and apartments or non-residential ones (bait-i-ghair
maskoona) like offices and schools. It says that if some friends, relatives or
acquaintances visit one another, they should follow a certain decorum. If the visited
place is residential in nature, the visitor should first of all properly introduce himself
by paying salutations to the residents of a house. In this regard, the Prophet (sws) has
instructed the visitor to knock three times at the door and if he hears no reply, he
should turn back and not start an incessant session of pounding the door. Furthermore, if
the residents are not in a position to welcome him and they ask him to return, he should
withdraw without any ill-will towards them. However, in case the visited place is
non-residential, no formal permission is required. Once a person has entered his
destination, the men and women who are present, should observe two regulations: they
should guard their gazes from taking undue liberty and take care that the dress they are
wearing properly covers them. Women should observe one additional regulation as well: they
should not display their finery except those which is evident, that is their clothes or
any adornments worn on the face and hands. For this purpose, the Quran says they should
cover their chests by their head-coverings and should not strike their feet in a manner
which draws attention to any ornaments they may be wearing. Furthermore, the Quran says
that it is not necessary to observe this third regulation with mahram relatives, but as
far as the first two regulations are concerned they must be observed without exception to
anyone whosoever. It is evident, therefore, that men and women while observing these
regulations can eat and converse together. The Quran says:
“O ye who believe! Enter not the
houses other than your own until you have introduced yourselves and wished peace to those
in them. That is best for you that you may be heedful. If you find no one in the house,
enter not until permission is given to you. If you are asked to go back, go back, for it
is purer for you. Allah has knowledge of all which you do. It is no sin for you to enter
non-residential places in which there is benefit for you. And Allah has knowledge of what
you reveal and what you conceal. [O Prophet!] tell believing men to restrain their
eyes and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. And Allah is well aware of
what you do. And tell the believing women to restrain their eyes and to guard their
private parts and to display of their finery only that which is apparent by drawing their
coverings over their bosoms. They should not reveal their finery to anyone save their
husbands or their fathers or their husbands’ fathers or their sons or their husbands’ sons
or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or their sisters’ sons or other women of
acquaintance or their slaves or male servants lacking in physical needs or children who
have no awareness of the hidden aspects of women. [In order not to reveal their finery
except which is apparent], they should [also] not stamp their feet in order to draw
attention to their hidden ornaments. Believers turn to Allah in repentance that you may
prosper.” (24:27-31)
- The second category of directives pertains to places
which are not secure and unprotected from people of lewd character. Markets, road sides,
shops and parks are examples of places where such people might create nuisance for women.
The Quran tells Muslim women to wear large cloaks when they go out so that a part of the
cloaks covers their faces as well, for this is the way dignified women dress up when they
go out. This dress will identify them as decent women and they will not be teased. The
Quran says:
“O Prophet! tell your
wives and daughters and the wives of the believers to draw a part of their cloaks on their
faces [when they go abroad]. That is more proper so that they may be recognized and are
not harmed. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (33:59)
- The third category of these directives relates to the
leading women of a society, who set an example for others. Owing to the special position
of the Prophet (sws), his wives occupied this place in his times. Consequently, these
directives have been addressed to them. It is clear that the leading women of a society
play a very essential role. The values which they adopt become the values of the society,
and the trends they set become the trends of the society. If they falter, the whole
society falters and if they remain on the right path, the whole society remains on the
right path. It is due to the special position of such women that some additional
directives have been given to prevent any scandal mongers from spreading mischief. - Firstly, womenfolk of such stature must refrain from
openly exhibiting their embellishments. The Quran strictly forbids them to adorn
themselves and go about displaying themselves. It says:
“Wives of the Prophet!
stay in your homes and do not display your adornments as women used to do in the days of
ignorance.” (33:33)
Secondly, they should take care that whenever, they
have to say something to people in whose hearts there is the ailment of lewdness, they
should speak without showing any softness to them:
“O Wives of the Prophet! you are
not like other women. If you fear Allah do not be too complaisant of speech lest one in
whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire.” (33:32)
These are the Quranic directives of Hijaab. The
social etiquette they depict is poised magnificently between the extremes human
civilizations have often witnessed. Like all other directives of Islam their object is to
purify the soul and to purge it from evil, which is essential if man has to become worthy
of the eternal life Heaven — the eternal life for which the Almighty actually created
him.
Home Page
Use this “Home
Page” link only if you have opened this page by following an external link