The Virtues of Hijab

1. An act of obedience.

The hijab is an act of obedience to Allah and to his prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Allah says in the Quran:

"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), has indeed strayed in a plain error." [Noble Quran 33:36]

Allahu Ta'ala also said:

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc) and not to show off their adornment except what must (ordinarily) appear thereof, that they should draw their veils over their Juyubihinnah." [Noble Quran 24:31]

Juyubihinnah: The respected scholars from As-Salaf As-Saleh (righteous predecessors) differed whether the veil cover of the body must include the hands and face or not. Today, respected scholars say that the hands and face must be covered. Other respected scholars say it is preferable for women to cover their whole bodies.

2. The Hijab is Iffah (Modesty).

Allah made the adherence to the hijab a manifestation for chastity and modesty. Allah says:

"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies (when outdoors). That is most convenient that they should be known and not molested." [Noble Quran 33:59]

In the above Ayah there is an evidence that the recognition of the apparent beauty of the woman is harmful to her. When the cause of attraction ends, the restriction is removed. This is illustrated in the case of elderly women who may have lost every aspect of attraction. Allah made it permissible for them to lay aside their outer garments and expose their faces and hands reminding, however, that is still better for them to keep their modesty.

3. The hijab is Taharah (Purity)

Allah had shown us the hikmah (wisdom) behind the legislation of the hijab:

"And when you ask them (the Prophet's wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and their hearts." [Noble Quran 33:53]

The hijab makes for greater purity for the hearts of believing men and women because it screens against the desire of the heart. Without the hijab, the heart may or may not desire. That is why the heart is more pure when the sight is blocked (by hijab) and thus the prevention of fitnah (evil actions is very much manifested. 

The hijab cuts off the ill thoughts and the greed of the sick hearts:

"Be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner." [Noble Quran 33:32]

4. The hijab is a Shield

The prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah, Most High, is Hayie (Bashful), Sittir (Shielder). He loves Haya' (Bashfulness) and Sitr (Shielding; Covering)." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "Any woman who takes off her clothes in other than her husband's house (to show off for unlawful purposes), has broken Allah's shield upon her." The hadith demonstrates that depending upon the kind of action committed there will be either reward (if good) or punishment (if bad).

5. The hijab is Taqwah (Righteousness)

Allah says in the Quran:

"O children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc) and as an adornment. But the raiment of righteousness, that is better." [Noble Quran 7:26]

The widespread forms of dresses in the world today are mostly for show off and hardly taken as a cover and shield of the woman's body. To the believing women, however the purpose is to safeguard their bodies and cover their private parts as a manifestation of the order of Allah. It is an act of Taqwah (righteousness).

6. The hijab is Eeman (Iman = Belief or Faith)

Allah did not address His words about the hijab except to the believing women, Al-Mo'minat. In many cases in the Quran Allah refers to the "the believing women". Aisha, the wife of the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), addressed some women from the tribe of Banu Tamim who came to visit her and had light clothes on them, they were improperly dressed: "If indeed you are believing women, then truly this is not the dress of the believing women, and if you are not believing women, then enjoy it."

7. The hijab is Hayah' (Bashfulness)

There are two authentic hadith which state: "Each religion has a morality and the morality of Islam is hayah'" AND "Bashfulness is from belief, and belief is in Al-Jannah (paradise)". The hijab fits the natural bashfulness which is a part of the nature of women.

8. The hijab is Gheerah

The hijab fits the natural feeling of Gheerah, which is intrinsic in the straight man who does not like people to look at his wife or daughters. Gheerah is a driving emotion that drives the straight man to safeguard women who are related to him from strangers. The straight MUSLIM man has Gheerah for ALL MUSLIM women In response to lust and desire, men look (with desire) at other women while they do not mind that other men do the same to their wives or daughters. The mixing of sexes and absence of hijab destroys the Gheerah in men. Islam considers Gheerah an integral part of faith. The dignity of the wife or daughter or any other Muslim woman must be highly respected and defended.

Qana'ah - Sifat Mulia Yang Harus Di Miliki Para Istri

Sikap qana'ah atau menerima apa adanya (nrimo) pada masalah kebendaan (duniawi) dalam kehidupan suami istri sangat dibutuhkan.  Terutama bagi seorang istri tanpa adanya sifat qana'ah maka bisa dibayangkan bagaimana susahnya seorang suami. Setiap tiba dirumah maka yang terdengar adalah keluhan-keluhan, belum punya ini, belum punya itu, ingin beli perhiasan, pakaian baru, sepatu baru, jilbab baru, perkakas rumah tangga, furniture, dan lain-lainnya.

Apabila sang suami tidak memiliki banyak harta maka yang terjadi adalah pertengkaran dan perselisihan, melihat kedudukan suami dengan sebelah mata karena gaji yang kecil. Terkadang keluar keluhan, “Bila si Fulan bisa mendapatkan pekerjaan dengan gaji besar mengapa engkau tidak?!”  Sehingga impian membina rumah tangga yang sakinah, mawaddah warrahmah semakin jauh. Hati menjadi resah dan gundah lalu hilanglah rasa syukur, baik kepada suami maupun kepada Allah. Bila hal ini sudah menimpa pada seorang istri maka waspadalah ya ukhti ... sesungguhnya engkau telah membebani suamimu diluar kemampuannya.

Engkau telah membuatnya terlalu sibuk dengan dunia untuk memenuhi segala keinginanmu. Berapa banyak kaum suami yang meninggalkan majelis ilmu syar'i demi mengejar uang lemburan? Sebelum menikah rajin datang ke majelis-majelis ilmu namun setelah menikah jarang terlihat lagi, mungkin tadinya datang setiap minggu sekarang frekuensinya menjadi sebulan dua kali atau sekali bahkan mungkin tidak pernah datang lagi! Atau berapa banyak kaum suami yang rela menempuh jalan yang diharamkan Allah Ta'ala demi membahagiakan sang istri tercinta. Yang terakhir ini banyak ditempuh oleh para suami yang minim sekali ilmu agamanya sehingga demi ''senyuman sang istri'', ia rela menempuh jalan yang dimurkai Allah Ta’ala. Wal'iyyadzu billah.

Duhai, para istri ... engkau adalah sebaik-baik perhiasan diatas muka bumi ini. Bila engkau memahami dienmu, maka jadilah wanita dan istri yang shalihah, dan itu semua bisa dicapai bila engkau mampu mengendalikan hawa nafsumu, bergaul dengan kawan-kawan yang shalihah dan berilmu, tutuplah telingamu bila engkau mendengar ha-hal yang menarikmu ke sisi keduniawian/ghibah/fitnah, serta tutuplah matamu bila engkau melihat sesuatu yang tidak mungkin bisa engkau raih, lihatlah ke bawah masih banyak yang lebih menderita dan lebih miskin hidupnya dibandingkan engkau. Maka akan kau temui dirimu menjadi orang yang mudah mensyukuri nikmat-Nya, mensyukuri atas segala sesuatu yang engkau dapatkan dan engkau miliki.

Sifat qana'ah ibarat mutiara yang terpendam di bawah laut, barangsiapa yang bisa mengambilnya dan memilikinya maka beruntunglah ia. Seorang istri yang memiliki sifat qana'ah ini akan dapat membawa ketentraman dan kedamaian dalam rumah tangganya. Suami merasa sejuk berdampingan denganmu, rasanya ia akan enggan menjauh darimu.

Betapa bahagianya para suami yang memiliki istri yang qana'ah, para istri bisa memiliki sifat ini bila ia mau berusaha sekuat tenaga dan berdo'a kepada Allah semata. Ya, Allah janganlah kau jadikan dunia satu-satunya keinginan utama kami, amin. Wallahu'alam bishawwab.

Ummu Raihanah

The Beauty of a Woman

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,

the figure that she carries,

or the way she combs her hair,

or the style she does her make-up.

The beauty of a woman must be seen in her Hijab, and her eyes,

because that is the doorway to her heart,

the place where love to ALLAH SWT resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,

but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

The beauty of woman is in her modesty,

and the real glamour of her is her honesty.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives,

and the passion that she shows.

And the beauty of a woman, with passing years - only grows!