A non-hijabi more religious…or is she???

By Guest Author Nourin Nafih

The concept has been playing up in my head since I saw a picture on facebook. Half of the picture  showing  two sister (one hijabi and the other non hijabi) reading.The latter half of the image is reveling that the hijabi has kept her mobile in front of her Quran and reading it and the non-hijabi with her ipad is reading Quran.

I know my readers are wondering why I m explaining this instead of posting the image.The reason is that I do not want to post that picture and pass on a negative idea about Islam, as not necessary everyonewill read an article but all will see the image.

I saw the headings saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” on it  and went on to say that the non-hijabi sister may know about Islam more than a hijabi sister.

I totally agree with the statement. But my question is  “What is the use of knowledge which you cannot act upon?”

I was disappointed to see the number of likes and shares for that facebook post. It was like the non-hijabis got a green signal saying what they are doing is right. At the same time there were people protesting  against it, but the number was very low compared to the “LIKES”.

We all should firstly learn about our religion and Quran (reminder for me first and foremost).

Its not about comparing a hijabi and non-hijabi but  it’s just about practising the religion, in order to attain higher levels as  Muslims. We have to accept the fact that we are learning to act upon it and not for passing our precious time or to show the society we are doing it.

It may be true that a sister who does not wear her hijab knows much more than a hijabi, but what use?

We should be aware of the fact that Allah is watching us and he is providing us with the knowledge so that we obey him by acting upon it (not just the case of hijab).

Wearing hijab for ladies, is mentioned in the Quran, and it is made compulsory not a sunnah.(Wearing hijaab identifies us Muslim women, and protects our modesty and the possibility of molestation)…

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, or their brothers’ sons or their sisters’ sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (Quran 33:59)

We do not know what is the intention of a woman when she wears a hijab.Some are wearing it just as a part of culture, some because they are told to do so by their parents and some solely because they want to please Allah.

There are girls who even use it as a shield to do haraam things (may Allah guide us all). If your intentions are good and you are wearing it after absorbing its positive sides in dunya and akirah YOUR HIJAB BECOMES PERFECT. Allah knows best.

Let me also specify that hijab is just a part of islamic living and we cannot call ourselves believers just cause of it. Inner  personality is always much more important than outward appearance.

May Allah subhana wa ta’ala grant us knowledge to better ourselves inside out.