By Ibrahim Poncardas Romas

leaflets # 08


WHICH IS BEST TO BE OBEYED: GOD OR HUMAN DESIRES?

A person who believes the existence of God (The Creator) should have to agree with me that His command should be followed and be implemented. Otherwise, if we only obey our own desires and passions, we are not obeying the Creator but ourselves. On the day of Judgement we will not be judged according to man-made laws and norms, rather in accordance with God's laws, whether they appear bitter or sweet to men and women.

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their headcovers over their bosoms,…" Qur'aan 24:31


Hijab is the covering for woman's body from head to ankle, loose and long. It is an apparel that conceals the physical beauty which induces lustful looks from opposite sex.


THE ISSUE AGAINST WOMEN'S DRESS

Constantly, I encounter attacks and insults concerning the Hijab (Islamic dress) for Muslim women: "that Muslim women have no freedom in dressing, and the reason Muslims forcefully require their ladies to wear Hijab is because their men's hearts are too fragile to resist the beauty of women." We Muslims do not order our women to wear Islamic dress because of that ground (fragility). Rather it is an obligation before God, that every woman should cover and wear dress with deceny according to God’s order. We know for sure that when God gives laws these will benefit human beings. On the other hand, to disobey His laws will endanger human beings on this earth, and in the Hereafter will make them punishable with Hell.


FREEDOM OF DRESS

When someone asserts freedom of dress, you have the right to question him about what exactly this freedom means. Is this freedom according to the Americans, Indians, Germans, French, Chinese, Japanese, Africans, or according to God?


Among some animists in Africa, you will be a laughing stock and the object of criticism if you wear a piece of cloth: They will think that you have physical infirmities, especially when you cover your private parts. In Germany, NUDISM, was founded by Richard Ungewitter in 1906, and according to him "HAD A HIGHLY TONIC EFFECT ON BOTH BODY AND MIND." In the United States of America, in 1929, nudism had flourished so much that they named it "AMERICAN LEAGUE OF PHYSICAL CULTURE" and in 1945 it made advances into Canada. There are beaches in Europe in which you cannot get inside when you do not follow their code of dress: to be completely nude. Today, nudists have organized the AMERICAN SUNBATHING ASSOCIATION with headquarters in Kissimmee, Florida, and the CANADIAN SUNBATHING ASSOCIATION has its headquarters in London. I am proving to you that following the human code of dressing will contradict the Will of God. Women who do not maintain Hijab, especially the non-Muslim women are prone to fashion designers' exploitation. Millions of dollars worth of new dresses have been wasted every season due to "New Fashion Sickness." There are some women who believe that Hijab is prescribed by God in the sacred books (especially in the Qur'aan) but they reject it due to arrogance and extravagance. Some believe that the code of dressing for women has nothing to do with religion and faith.


VICTIMS OF LUSTFUL ACTS

Let us presume that two ladies are walking along the street, one wearing Hijab and the other one wearing either of the following; tight clothes (exposing her beauty), short pants, two-piece, London-look, etc. If lustful men are waiting for a prey, whom will they choose to molest between the two? Is it not correct that Hijab protects a woman's honor and dignity, and prevents the lustful looks and actions of men? If there are men who stare at women out of countenance even if they are wearing Hijab, then how much more would they if the women are not in Hijab?


In the offices or other working places where intermingling of genders (male and female) is allowed, between a Muslim woman wearing Hijab and a non-Muslim woman exposing her seductive beauty, which of the two has more tendency to be molested or sexually harassed? God orders Muslims to protect the weak and the oppressed: when a lady wearing Hijab and another wearing short pants are harassed, the faithful Muslim will naturally come to the rescue of that lady who wears Hijab. Is it not correct that Hijab obliges sincere Muslims to save her from the claws of the devil?


All things created by God exist according to laws. Look at our physical bodies: blood circulation, heartbeat, nervous system, and the perfect movement of the universe. God commanded us to obey our parents, set rules for food, social obligations and marriage laws, yet would you believe that God failed to order a code of dress?


Limitations: A woman's clothing must have limitation. A wife can expose her whole body to her husband, but not to her children. She can wear seductive clothes before her husband but not for her children's eyes. In Islam, women can wear good clothes for the eyes of other women but they are not for the eyes of men. Non-Muslim women have special apparel for marriage, funeral, sports, parties, and celebrations. Then how about for worship? Now, if they do have a dress for worship, who orders it so? Why do the nuns and other non-Muslim women devoted to their faith and religion have different attire compared to that of common women? If the nuns or other devoted non-Muslim women have had the attire symbolizing sincerity to their religion, is it not correct that all women should cover similarly and be sincere to their Lord? In Islam, worship does not only mean kneeling, prostrating or fasting, but wearing Hijab in public is also considered worship.


The motive of most women who wear seductive attire, transparent, "hot", shorts, etc. is to attract the opposite sex. If a woman and her beauty are neither for public advertisement nor for sale, then it is better to behave reasonably and hide it.


Is it good that men will marry women only because of their complexion and seductive figures? If not, then do not display! The reason to reject religious clothes (loose and long, covering the beauty of womanhood) is to be ready for worldly and fleshy meetings. If a woman wears Hijab, she would be ashamed to go to disco houses, dancing halls, cinemas, and gambling houses. Understandably, Hijab prevents women from doing irreligious acts.


GOD’S KNOWLEDGE IS INCOMPARABLE

If according to human reason, the laws of God are invalidated and outdated, is it believable to say that man is wiser than God? Did the Prophets of God commit incorrect understanding because in their time women were required to wear Hijab? When we obey the will of human beings, but rejecting the Will of God, so can we consider ourselves faithful and righteous? What is the use of being correct by our own standards, yet we are wrong in the sight of God?


Women in Islam possess high value. There are aspects of the woman that a man cannot equal: endurance of pregnancy, sacrifices, patience towards children, etc. In Islam, a woman's beauty is not for public consumption; rather it is sacred, reserved only for her husband. O men who love God above all things, let us respect the dignity of women. Let us not abuse the beauty of women: beauty is a gift of God, which men will desire legally for decent generations to come.