Many people say that Islam is dictatorial and gives people, especially females, less freedom. But sit and think about it – is that really true?

The One who created the heavens and earth, the Lord of incomparable majesty, has clearly stated in the most superior Book — the Qur’an— that He has not created mankind or the Jinns except for them to worship Him. One of the acts of worship specifically legislated for Muslim females is the Jilbaab, known popularly as the Hijab.

The Hijab, wrongly interpreted by some today as a cultural practice or a wishful adherence, is far from that – it’s a divine command from Allah and has been made compulsory for all female Muslims without exception, this can be referenced from the verses in Suratul Ahzaab and Suratu Nur, and various Ahaadith (an example is the Hadith of Aisha)

The Hijab is one of the tools Shari’a has used to preserve one of the five Maqasid Sharia – protection of one’s Nasl (lineage); it serves to preserve chastity and purity in society. The Hijab is similar to Solaah (prayer) in that both are commandments of Allah; hence, a woman who wears the Hijab is one who has submitted to the command and will of Allah – the definition of a true Muslimah.

Additionally, the Jilbaab serves to distinguish a believing woman from others and prevents harm to them. It is also a means to guard the heart of both the wearer and others against temptation and prevent unlawful acts, which is why some females remove their Hijab when they intend to indulge in any questionable act.

Although some wear the Hijab and still act wrongly, but that doesn’t justify their actions nor condemn the Hijab; rather, it speaks to the individual’s non-adherence to the rights and responsibilities of wearing the Hijab.

A common misconception about the Hijab is that it is a form of oppression for Muslim women. However, it’s worth noting that exposing one’s body is not a form of freedom but rather a degradation of human dignity. As a Muslim woman, you must free yourself from the shackles of Western ideologies that dictate your dressing and behavior. Whenever Western ideologies contradict Islamic principles, those ideologies must be totally rejected and not even adjusted.

It is essential to know the qualities of the prescribed Hijab for a Muslimah, without which the garment wouldn’t serve the purpose of the Hijab and would even be a disobedience to Allah’s clear instructions.

According to scholars like Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen, the Hijab must:
– Cover the entire body except for what is explicitly exempted (the face and palms, according to the majority of scholars).
– Be loose and not reveal the shape of the body.
– Be thick and not transparent.
– Not resemble the clothing of men or non-Muslims.
– Not be a display in itself or a source of attraction.

However, looking at the situation of our Muslim women today, it’s noticeable that many wear a proclaimed Hijab that itself requires another Hijab – in that case, the Hijab they wear has not met the criteria specified by Shari’a.

Finally, O dear sister reading this, your Hijab is not maximally about hiding beauty; it’s about revealing your dignity.

For every Muslim female striving to follow Allah’s command on this, may Allah ease it for you. Do not feel you are disconnected from the world because of this; Rest assured, you are on the right track.