THE VIRTUES OF HIJAB

All praise is due to Allah, Who said: “O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember. “ (7:26) I bear witness that there is no deity worthy to be worship except Him alone, without partner. I equally bear witness that our leader and our master, Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah shower your peace and blessing upon Muhammad (SAW), his household, his companions, and those who follow them in righteousness till the Day of resurrection. Thereafter, O servant of Allaah, I admonish you and myself to fear Allaah, Allah said: " يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ وَجَاهِدُوا فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ " (المائدة :35) . O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek the means [of nearness] to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed. (5: 35) My brothers and sisters in faith, today’s sermon is titled: “The virtues of the Hijab” having discussed “The Claim to Women Liberation” and “Rights and Status of the Woman in Islam” The virtues of Hijab 1- Hijab is obedience to Allah. Allah made obedience to His commands an obligation. Allah said: (وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُبِينًا (36) [الأحزاب: 36، 37] ) It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error. (33: 36) فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا (65) [النساء: 65] ) “But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.” (4: 65) Allah commanded women to adorn the Hijab: (وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ [النور: 31] ) “And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests” (24: 31) (وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَى [الأحزاب: 33] ) : “And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.” (33: 33) (وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ [الأحزاب: 53] ) “And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.” (33: 53) (يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ [الأحزاب: 59] ) “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. “ (33: 59) The prophet said: “The woman is nakedness” (i.e: she must be covered) Uqbah bn ‘Aamir (RA) said that he asked the Prophet (pbuh) concerning her sister who made a vow to perform the hajj barefooted without the khimaar (veil) and he responded: “Instruct her adorn the khimaar (veil), and to mount the ride (for pilgrimmage), and she should fast for three days.” (Imam Ahmad in the Masnad (4 \ 145). Al-khatobiy said: The instruction that she should put on the khimaar is to exemplify that the vow did not have any impact on it, because that was a sinful act for women are commanded to adorn khimaar and cover themselves.” "Ma’alim Sunan" (4 \ 376). The Hijab is faith: The command for hijab was addressed to believing women alone. Almighty Allah said: (Say to the believing women) He also said: (and the women of the believers). Some women came to ‘Aishah- mother of the faithful, putting on light dresses. She said: “If you are believing women, this is not the dressing of believing women but if you are not believing women, then enjoy it.” (Tafsir qurtubiy 14/ 244). Also a bride was brought to her (Aishah) putting on a safflower coloured Coptic veil and she (R.A) said: “A woman that wears this does not believe in Suratul-n-Nur” (Tafsir Qurtubiy 14/ 244) 3- The hijab is Purity Allah said of the wisdom in legislating Hijab thus: وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ [الأحزاب: 53] “And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.” (33: 53) As explanation, when the eye sees not, the heart desires not. But when the eye sees, then the heart may desires or may not. Meaning that the heart is purer when it sees not, that affirms its safety from temptation. Sighting causes inclination and temptation, whereas the Hijab purer for the heart, most negating for doubt, farthest from accusation, strongest for protection and immunity. 4- The hijab is chastity Islam commands chastity and being modest. Chastity refers to a situation where the heart is immune from desire. The chaste person requires practical exercise, drill and doggedness. Abu Sufyan told Heraclius when he asked him of what does he (the prophet) commands: “I said: He says: “Worship Allah alone, join no partner with Him, shun what your fathers do say, and he commands solat, charity, modesty, and joining of family ties. …” (Bukhari). Seeking modesty also forms the content of the prophet’s prayer: “O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, and modesty” (Muslim). Islam has also made chastity a condition for permissibility to marry of the people of the book. Chastity is as well the character and symbol of believing women and the veiled Muslim women. The Hijab stands also as symbol of chastity protecting one from injurious accusation: “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused.” (33: 59) “…suitable that they will be known”- to be known as chaste and virtuous. “and not be abused” – i.e: that the unchaste person may not cross their path with immoral words, or acts. The verse shows that knowing the beauty of a woman is an abuse to her and her family exposing her to temptation and evil. Allah says: “And women of post-menstrual age who have no desire for marriage - there is no blame upon them for putting aside their outer garments [but] not displaying adornment. But to modestly refrain [from that] is better for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (24: 60) Allah permits women of post- menstrual age to put aside their outer garment but concluded that for them to be modest is better for them than going out with display of their beauty and privacy. That means this rule will be more compelling and deserving for youthful ladies The Hijab as a cover: The Prophet said: “Verily Allah is Shy, Covered, He loves shyness and cover” (Abu Dawud) Allah describes the grace of cover on Adam and Hawaa thus: (إِنَّ لَكَ أَلَّا تَجُوعَ فِيهَا وَلَا تَعْرَى (118)) [طه: 118] “ Indeed, it is [promised] for you not to be hungry therein or be unclothed.” (20: 118) (يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ) الآية [الأعراف: 26] “ O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. … “ (7: 26) Abdur-Rahman bn Aslam said: (when he fears Allah he conceals his private parts, that is the clothing of righteousness) For this reason, you find that those who do not fear Allah and do not have shyness or chasteness like the westerners, the major concern for clothing is only for beauty and adornment. But the believers wear clothes firstly to cover their private parts out of shamefulness, secondly for beauty and adornment. Sins are defects that one must distance himself from and conceal oneself against it. In the same way private parts are defects that must be concealed and taken away from all forbidden things. Perhaps those deepened into sins do not care of what is exposed of their privacy, however, believers that desist from sins they distance themselves from the act of exposing their privacy. Obligation to conceal the private parts (يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ) [الأعراف: 31] Allah says: O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid,” (7: 31) (قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ (30) وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا) [النور: 30، 31] “Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.( 31 ) And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof …” (24: 30- 31) The prophet said: “We are forbidden that our privacy be seen” (Hakim) The love of concealing the privacy was the habit of the prophets of Allah. Abu Hurairah narrated that: “Verily Musa was a man who had shamefulness, concealed his privacy, none of his flesh was seen” (Bukhari) The prophet (pbuh) do pray thus: “O Allah conceal my private parts, give me security in my fears” (Tirmidhi) The prophet said: “A woman should not come close to another woman and then describe her to her husband as if he is looking at her.” (Ahmad) The Hijab is shamefulness Shamefulness or shyness is derived from the Arabic word- life. The prophet said: “Shynes brings good” “Shyness is totally goodness” SECOND KHUTBAH All praises are due to Allah, Who says: " وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَنْ تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا مُؤَجَّلًا...(آل عمران :145 ) “And it is not [possible] for one to die except by permission of Allah at a decree determined… “ (3:145) " وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ (169) فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ (170) يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (171) {آل عمران : 169- 171} “And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision,( 170 ) Rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those [to be martyred] after them who have not yet joined them - that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. ( 171 ) They receive good tidings of favor from Allah and bounty and [of the fact] that Allah does not allow the reward of believers to be lost –“(3: 169- 171) Peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) raised to perfect good characters for men, his household, companions and those who follow them till the day of recompense. Thereafter, Servants of Allah, I call on you to direct our attention to the events in Egypt affection our brothers in Islam- The Muslim Brotherhood. Allah says: " وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ (155) الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ (156) أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ (157) {البقرة :155- 157} “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, ( 156 ) Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return." ( 157 ) Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. " أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُمْ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ (214) {البقرة : 214} “Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, "When is the help of Allah?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.” (2: 214) Presently 520 of their members were sentenced to death on Monday, 23-5-1435 (24-3- 2014). The following day, Tuesday, the same court sentenced another 680 to death! Subhaana Allah. Allah says: " وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ (8) الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ (9) إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ الْحَرِيقِ (10) إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْكَبِيرُ (11) إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ (12) {البُرُوج : 8- 10} ” And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy, ( 9 ) To whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And Allah, over all things, is Witness.( 10 ) Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.” (Buruj: 8- 10) Dear Muslims, we are certain that Allah gives and takes life: " وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَنْ تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا مُؤَجَّلًا...(آل عمران :145 ) “And it is not [possible] for one to die except by permission of Allah at a decree determined… “ (3:145) If it means their time is up, then they are matyrs … " وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ (169) فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ (170) يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (171) {آل عمران : 169- 171} “And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision,( 170 ) Rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those [to be martyred] after them who have not yet joined them - that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. ( 171 ) They receive good tidings of favor from Allah and bounty and [of the fact] that Allah does not allow the reward of believers to be lost –“(3: 169- 171) Oh Allah descend peace; flowing with continuous tranquility and security upon Nigeria and all other Muslim nations. O Allah accept the worship of the pilgrims of hajj and Umrah, and grant us all Your pleasure, And the last of our call will be, "Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!"