Does anybody know what Hijaab means?
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The word "hijaab" in Arabic (حجاب) occurred in the Quraan 4 times. If we examine the context in which the word is used, we will surely find out that "hijaab" cannot mean just a flimsy piece of cloth; it is an impenetrable barrier:
- Q7:46. And between them (dwellers of Paradise and dwellers of Hell) will be a barrier/screen (HIJAAB) and on Al-A‘râf (a wall with elevated places) will be men (whose good and evil deeds would be equal in scale), who would recognize all (of the Paradise and Hell people), by their marks (the dwellers of Paradise by their white faces and the dwellers of Hell by their black faces), they will call out to the dwellers of Paradise, " Salâmun ‘Alaikum " (Peace be on you), and at that time they (men on Al-A‘râf ) will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it) with certainty.
- Q33:53. O you who believe! Enter not the Prophet’s houses, unless permission is given to you for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation. But when you are invited, enter, and when you have taken your meal, disperse without sitting for a talk. Verily, such (behavior) annoys the Prophet, and he is shy of (asking) you (to go); but Allaah is not shy of (telling you) the truth. And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a barrier/screen (HIJAAB): that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not (right) for you that you should annoy Allaah’s Messenger, nor that you should ever marry his wives after him (his death). Verily, with Allaah that shall be an enormity.
- Q41:5. And they say: "Our hearts are under coverings (screened) from that to which you invite us; and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a barrier/screen (HIJAAB): so work you (on your way); verily, we are working (on our way)".
- Q42:51. It is not given to any human being that Allaah should speak to him unless (it be) by Revelation, or from behind a barrier/screen (HIJAAB), or (that) He sends a Messenger to reveal what He wills by His Leave. Verily, He is Most High, Most Wise.
Narrated Umm Salamah, (Mother of the Believers): I was with the Messenger of Allaah while Maymunah was with him. Then Ibn Umm Maktum came. This happened when we were ordered to observe the veil. The Messenger of Allaah said: (إحتجبا) Observe veil against him. We asked: O Messenger of Allaah! Is he not blind? He can neither see us nor recognize us. The Messenger of Allaah said: Are both of you blind? Do you not see him?
Here the word (إحتجبا) may very well mean: go behind a wall (into a room), not just cover the head and/or the face.
[24:30] Tell (O Prophet) the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.
[24:31] And tell (O Prophet) the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof.
3005 - حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ نَبْهَانَ مَوْلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ حَدَّثَتْهُ أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَيْمُونَةُ قَالَتْ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَهُ أَقْبَلَ ابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ وَذَلِكَ بَعْدَ مَا أُمِرْنَا بِالْحِجَابِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
«احْتَجِبَا مِنْهُ»
فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلَيْسَ هُوَ أَعْمَى لاَ يُبْصِرُنَا وَلاَ يَعْرِفُنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
«أَفَعَمْيَاوَانِ أَنْتُمَا أَلَسْتُمَا تُبْصِرَانِهِ»
قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
“O mankind, indeed We (Allaah) have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allaah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allaah is Knowing and Acquainted.”
Nobody should think that The Creator is male-biased. Allaah created the male and the female for specific functions and fitted them with the necessary capabilities. It is Allaah's will that there should be generations of human beings living this life on the earth for a predetermined time. Like electricity there is the negative and there is the positive; here we have the male and the female. Male and female are charged with a set of duties and enjoy a set of rights, but both are answerable before Allaah on the Day of Judgment.
Chapter 4 of The Quraan is titled "WOMEN". There is no chapter in The Quraan titled "men". While men deal with lifeless materials, plants and animals in order to secure a living, women according to The Quraan are venerated by charging them to handle the human side of life by upbringing children.
Isslaam made women human after being enslaved for ages. Allaah said that men cannot inherit women (pre-Islam rule) against their will. The Quraan has a chapter named after women (chapter 4). Allaah said that He created mankind of male and female. A woman is entitled to a dowry. Man spends on wife even if he is poor and she is rich. Taking any of woman's property is unlawful. Prophet Muhammad said women are the sisters of men. He also said the best among you are those who are best in treatment to their women.
Narrated Abu Huraira: A man came to Allaah's Messenger and said, "O Allaah's Messenger! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your father."