Question:
Why hijab is so important for a woman?
Answer:
Bismihi Ta‘ala
Wa ‘alaikumus salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barkaatuh
Respected Sister
The importance of hijaab is due to it being the law of Allah Ta‘ala. As the slaves of Allah Ta‘ala, that is all that we need to be concerned about – that what is the law of Allah Ta‘ala. We should then submit to that command without any question and without delving into the wisdom behind that law.
In any case, Allah Ta‘ala has created a natural attraction between males and females. Hence Allah Ta‘ala has commanded that there be no intermingling of the genders. Men are responsible for working outside the home and earning a living for the family. Thus men will be outside. While women are responsible for the duties indoors, out of necessity a woman will also sometimes have to emerge and be in the presence of men, such as when travelling, when going to some place out of need, etc. The centre of a woman’s beauty is her face. Hence she has been commanded to veil herself so as to prevent any occurrence of fitnah. Where hijaab is ignored, flirting and illicit relationships abound.
Nevertheless, as stated earlier, the wisdom behind the command is not our concern. We must submit without question, as Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) set out to fulfil the command of Allah Ta‘ala, to slaughter his son without questioning the logic or wisdom in the command. Allah Ta‘ala is the All Wise and His commands are filled with wisdom whether we understand it or not.
Answered by:
Uswatul Muslimah Panel of ‘Ulama