What is adornment/decoration (with respect to rulings of hijab)?
In this Quranic verses 24:31, 33:59 it is mentioned “Women should not display their adornment except that which appears outwardly. ’’
Here the word “Zeenat” is used. The meaning of “Zeenat” is adornment. Adornment does not mean the natural beauty. It means the enhancement of beauty by adopting artificial methods.
The word Zeenat (Adornment) includes things such as using lipstick, wearing jewels, using makeup, wearing colourful dresses etc to enhance the beauty of a person.
So the woman should not display such adornment before others except the persons mentioned in the verses, as it is denoted in the above said Quranic verses.
Certain people think that the meaning for the word “Zeenat” is beauty. They have failed to understand that beauty is different from adornment.
There is already specific information in the Hadith of the Muhammad (pbuh) regarding the dress code, which states that the women can display the face or the hands (from the wrist to the fingers). (Refer holy Quran 33:59, 24:31).
Why Islam does command the women to display their parts except the face and the hands (from the wrist down to the finger) before the strangers.
This is known as “Hijab” of Islam. It is known in our country as “Pardah”, ”Burkah”etc.
Certain people voice their opinion, “Hijab is an additional burden on the women because it not only suppresses their rights but also interferes with their independent functioning”.
“Hijab” has been enforced as a duty for the women in Islam, because it gives respect and safety to the women. It does not ban the women from enjoying their rights.
The labourer (man) performs his work by wearing only a half trouser, without wearing banian and shirt. He displays himself before others in the dress.
A labourer, who is a woman, does not display herself in a half trouser, without wearing the upper garments, before them, while performing her work.
Even those who claim themselves to be modern will not permit their own mother, sister or wife to be present before them in such above mentioned dress.
Similarly, the person, belonging to either middle class or the upper class will not display himself in public with half trousers, but at home he feels comfortable to wear such a dress, particularly in the hot season and while doing some hard work. On the other hand the women who belong to the same middle or upper class are not permitted to be behaving like this. They do not even appear before the human-beings in the above mentioned dress.
Both the men and the women understand clearly that there are certain parts of the body which should not be displayed before anybody.
They also express this by their actions that women have more things to hide than the men.
It is also understood that people from other religions have not allowed their women to go scot free in the name of women’s rights, liberty etc.
The difference of opinion between Islam and other religions lies also regarding the dress code.
We shall analyze how this concept of Hijab is made to protect all the women.
Even though by birth men and women are attracted to each other, there is a difference that exists in their behaviour.
They are generally attracted by the women’s colour or her beauty or by her youth.
So it is natural for the man to look at the women when they appear before them in attractive dresses, which reveal their organs. There may be exception.
The women’s view of the men is different. They are not usually attracted by the physical features of the men. It does not mean altogether; the women do not like the colour, beauty or youth of men.
They also want their husband to be physically fit and handsome. This is because they want to express their pride to other women regarding their personality of their husband.
In business advertisement women are displayed in revealing dresses to attract the attention of the viewers. There are also pornographic scenes in the movies or Books used as business tactic to amass money.
The society where both live together, it is wrong to decide the dress code of these women.
The mindsets of these men, who are attracted by the women, are taken into consideration in determining the dress code of women. Then only there will be morality in this society.
If anybody thinks what is wrong in looking at attractive women, then it is a wrong thinking. Practically it is proved that this type of thinking results in causing calamity in the society.
Certain people do not stop with the first look at beautiful women. But there grows in their mind an illegal desire to enjoy her. We see such activities of rape or murder happening every day.
Even those people who do not dare to indulge in such activities are also affected. They are physically upset while trying to suppress their desires.
A man, however he is ugly in features, bad in character and low in standard, can molest a woman who displays herself in public.
On the other hand a woman with ugly features cannot approach a man to have illegal relationship with her, except by his permission.
From the above argument it is clear that the women are mostly affected because they fail to adapt a decent dress code (as prescribed by Islam).
The modernists and feminists do not consider the dishonour or disrespect caused to the women, when they are molested or exploited sexually by men.
Even certain people, who are against Hijab (Islamic dress code) demand that there should be stringent action against the criminals who commit crimes at women in the form of molestation, rape or torture.
How can they forget that the above adverse effects are due to the wrong dress code adopted by the women? They do not seem to realize it.
We observe that these movements, in the name of women’s rights, agitate against the indecent movies or the posters and also practically indulge in tearing poster and erasing the vulgar scenes displayed in the posters.
The woman who displays vulgarity in public assumes that it is her right. She does not claim that she is forced to display her body indecently. They do not consider the tearing of posters as interference in the rights of such a woman. It shows that they indirectly accept this dress code which stipulates the covering of body of women.
Their actions are clear proof that they accept the Islamic dress code.
Will not this face or the hands (from the face and to the fingers) which are not forbidden to be displayed attract the men?
As a reply to the above question, it can be said that Islam permits the display of the above mentioned parts of the body due to proper reasons.
The percentage of righteous men and women in the world is very less. People observe morals because they fear the society or the people around them. That is why certain people who observe good morals in their place do not care to observe the morals in some other place, where there are no familiar faces.
If a woman covers herself completely including her face then it will be difficult to identity her. When she knows that her identity will not be revealed then she gets the courage to indulge in immoral activities. If she goes with another man in this dress the public will assume that the man who accompanies her is her husband. So, if you hide the face of a woman, assuming the people may get attracted to her, it encourages her to commit illegal acts.
Even if a man is allowed to wear a mask he will commit wrong deeds extensively. Not only the fear of God but also the fear of the society will help and encourage a person to observe morality.
This is the reason that Islam does not command the women to hide their faces. We see in historical records that the women companions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had not hidden their faces.
As hands are used for various works it will cause a lot of inconvenience for the women.
Except these parts other parts will cause great harm because they will tempt the feelings of the man or lead them towards immorality. There is also no use in revealing such facts.
The argument which states that observing the Islamic dress code will hamper the advancement of a woman.
In almost all the countries the presidents, prime ministers, chief ministers and other dignitaries who are men, while wearing their dress, reveal only their face and the hands. Their dress code has not seen a hurdle in performing their duties efficiently.
When they wear such a dress, how can it be accepted that women can wear dress revealing their hidden parts in the name of freedom?
We cannot accept such person’s arguments, thinking in the guise of freedom of rights.
It is a surprising note that when the men who reveal less, are able to promote themselves in all activities, the women on the other hand claim that they will not be able to perform if they cover themselves fully (except their face and the full hands).
It is important to note that “Hijab” does not mean wearing a dress in a particular colour or shape. It can be in any color or shape but it should hide the parts except the face and the hands from the wrist of a woman.
In Islam “Hijab” is emphasized in order to safeguard the women from the evil desires of the men, and to establish morality in the society. Nobody can find fault with “Hijab” after seeing evil effects caused by the indecent dress code in the western world, in the name of freedom or rights.
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