The Hijab as Daw'ah

Most Muslims are familiar with the variousreasons that Allah has
required women to wear hijab: The hijab reflects modesty, purity and
respect; it lessens temptation so that more serious sins will be
avoided; it protects women from the harm and molestation of evil men;
a woman who wears hijab will be evaluated for her intelligence and
skills rather than her appearance.
One important aspect that is often overlooked,however, is that the
hijab is a symbol of Muslim identity. A woman who covers her head is
making a statement that she is a member of the Muslim community and
that she follows a particular codeof moral conduct.
Allah says: "O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the
believing women to draw their outer garments around them. That is more
suitable that they will be known (as Muslims and chaste believing
women) and not be abused." [Qur'an, 33:59]
"...that they will be known..." In America, where Islam is the fastest
growing religion (alhumdullilah), many people are coming to know what
this head covering really signifies and to understand the religion
that mandates it. The hijab, in effect, is an amazingly powerful tool
for dawah; one that Muslims themselves are probably not even aware of.
As with any tool, the key for effectiveness is appropriate and
knowledgeable use.
The most obvious first step would be for Muslim women to actually wear
the hijab. It is a tragic and upsetting phenomenon to see so many
Muslims dressing in the manner of the disbelievers (blue jeans,
T-shirts, short skirts, even shorts). The Prophet, sallalahu allahe wa
salam, said;"Whoever resembles a people is one of them." (Abu Dawood).
This is not only happening in America and other Western countries as
people attempt to assimilate and adopt thepractices of the prevailing
culture, but it is also occurring in Muslim countries at an alarming
rate.
A woman who refuses towear the hijab is disobeying Allah and
committing a serious sin,putting worldly pleasures above
spiritualattainment, and neglecting her duty to the religion of Islam.
Many scholars agree thatthe only reason a Muslimmay live in a
non-Muslimcountry is to conduct dawah and bring peopleto the true
religion. Howcan a woman perform dawah for Islam when she is not even
practicing it herself? To do this would be a form of hypocrisy and it
will not be successful.
Once a woman begins towear hijab she completes a large portion of her
responsibility for dawah with very little effort. Each time that she
goes to the grocery store, the library, to work, to school, or to any
other public place, she is spreading the magnificent message of Islam.
This is not only because of the outer hijab that she wears, butmore
importantly, the modesty of her behaviorthat accompanies it. When a
woman refrains from flirting with men, limits physical contact, and is
reserved and respectful, people may become curious and want to learn
more about this intriguing faith. It may just sow theseeds of
something wonderful.
At the University where I teach (which happens tobe a private,
Catholic school), women are often interested in my manner of dress and
demeanor. Each semester I have at least one student who requests my
involvementin a project for another class, usually comparative
religions. They are surprised whenthey learn the rationale for this
injunction and the fact that it was part of their religious heritage
as well. If I chose not to wear hijab, I would miss these wonderful
opportunitiesto share the beauty, peace and universality of my faith.
When there is the possibility for further discussion with those who
are interested, knowledge and understanding of the topic are
imperative. A very effective technique is to relate the concept to
something that is familiar to the other person. Some examples of
questions that could be posed include:
*. "Did you every wonderwhy Mary, the mother Jesus (alayhes salam)
wore clothing very similar to that of Muslims?"
*. "Why do Catholic nuns dress the way they do?"
*. "Did you know that in the Canon laws of the Catholic church today
there is a law that requires women to cover their heads in church?"
*. "Have you read in I Corinthians (Bible, 11:3-10) the verses
thatPaul wrote: 'Every man who prays of prophesies with his head
covered dishonors his head. And evey woman who prays or prophesies
with her head uncovered dishonors her head - it is just as though her
head were shaved. If a woman doesn't cover her head, she should have
her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair
cut off or shaved off, she should cover her head."
*. "Did you know that there are some Christian denominations, namely
the Amish and the Mennonites, who still require women to wear the head
covering?"
*. "Were you aware that is was the custom of Jewish women to go out in
public with a head covering and thatsome denominations still practice
this today?"
These discussion points demonstrate the obviousfact that the head
cover was not introduced by Islam, but rather that this requirement
has been in place for thousands of years. This can also be a cogent
segue to more crucial topics such as the fact that Moses, alayhes
salam, Jesus, alayhes salam and Muhammad, sallalahu allahe wa salam,
were all prophets of the same God and that they each carried the same
basic message. Islam corrected the errors that had been introduced
into previousrevelations by humans and completed the process that was
planned by Allah.
We should be proud to be Muslim. We should also be grateful for the
gift that Allah has given to each one of us: The perfect truth of
Islam that is our key to paradise. All others are being deluded by
Satan and following paths to destruction. With our gift comes the
responsibility to share the truth with those who are less fortunate.
We are all responsible tocarry the light of Islam. The hijab is an
outward manifestation of this light that burns within, and it can be
an effective tool for fulfillment of our obligation. We choose whether
to develop this light into a bright, radiant star or let it be
extinguished by foolish and selfish desires. May Allah guide each of
us to the true path.