Hijab is an Arabic word that means “curtain“.
It is used to describe the general rules of dress and modesty for women.
All Muslim women must wear a hijab in the presence of any man who is not a part of their immediate family.
The word hijab is mentioned many times in the Quran. Our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also emphasized wearing a hijab.
In modern times, hijab refers to the headscarf, whereas in classic Arabic, hijab means a curtain or barrier.
Many countries like France banned the hijab for women. Muslim countries give freedom of wearing a hijab to all women; in fact, women are encouraged in Muslim countries to wear a hijab.
All the women who wear hijab deserve to be respected and honored.
Their courage should be appreciated if they follow a dress code that is not so common in many countries.
In this post, we’ve shared the benefits of the hijab. After reading this post, you’ll know why Islam encourages women to wear hijabs.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Hijab in the Quran
In the Holy Quran, Allah (SWT) commands Muslim women to wear hijabs. Allah (SWT) orders Muslim men and women to dress modestly.
The Quran mentions that Muslim women should observe the hijab in the presence of any male who is not directly related or who is not from the immediate family.
There are multiple places in the Quran where the hijab is mentioned.
1. “O you Children of Adam! We have bestowed on you raiment to cover your shame as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness, that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah that they may receive admonition.” [Quran 7:26]
2. “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]
3. “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 recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” [Quran 33:59]
Quran also tells us about the benefits of wearing a hijab.
Let’s see some of those benefits:
- The hijab acts as a protective shield for women. by covering the body, the hijab protects the women from being seen as sexual objects. Women get treated for who they are instead of how their body looks.
- Women who wear hijab are honored and respected.
- Wearing a hijab shows obedience toward Allah (SWT). Women who wear hijab fulfill the command of Allah (SWT) because, in the Quran, Allah (SWT) has ordered the women to wear hijab multiple times.
- Hijab is worn as an act of modesty. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Modesty is a branch of faith.”
- The Quran mentions that women who wear hijab gain purity of heart.
- All the women who wear hijab gain spiritual piety.
- Wearing a hijab is an act of great virtue and righteousness. The wives of our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also observed the hijab.
- Allah (SWT) has promised the women of faith a place in paradise. Women who wear hijab depict their faith through the hijab.
Punishment of not wearing hijab in the Quran
Hijab is an obligation for all Muslim women.
Allah (SWT) commands in the Quran that it is essential for women who believe to observe the hijab.
Hijab provides women protection and safety. It is a sign of modesty.
“and not to show off their adornment.” [al-Nur 24:31]
Those who do not obey Allah (SWT) and follow His commands will be punished on the day of judgment.
“and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform As Salah (Iqamat as Salah), and give Zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger.” [al-Ahzab 33:33]
A Muslim should obey the order of Allah (SWT) as soon as he knows about it. No Muslim men or women have the right to delay following their Lord. Those who act upon the command of Allah (SWT) immediately get closer to Allah (SWT).
“It is not for a believer, man or woman when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision.” [al-Ahzab 33:36]
“The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah (His Words, the Quran) and His Messenger, to judge between them, is that they say: “We hear and we obey.” And such are the successful (who will live forever in Paradise). And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger , fears Allah, and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful.” [al-Nur 24:51-52]
As soon as the ayahs related to the hijab were revealed, all the women immediately acted upon the command of Allah (SWT). They searched for whatever piece of cloth they found and covered their heads and bodies.
In Sura Ahzab, Allah (SWT) says:
‘O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments around them’ (33:59).
Some women may think that this is a minor sin. Indeed Allah knows the best about it, and we know nothing. But we should think about who we are disobeying. He is the Lord of the universe. He is in control of everything. We should fear Him before even thinking about the disobedience towards Him.
“…you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.” [al-Nur 24:15]
Allah (SWT)’s punishment is severe. He has already told us many times in the Quran about the hellfire and the punishments He has prepared for the ones who disobey Him.
“The Fire of Allah, kindled which leaps up over the hearts.” [Al-Humazah 104:6-7]
Scientific benefits of hijab
Hijab is the best way for women to protect themselves from harassment. No man will ever sexually harass a woman when the body is fully covered.
A woman who observes the hijab is considered pure.
Hijabi women are protected from all the evil out there.
Hijab ensures the dedication of a woman towards their faith and God because they are obeying the command of their God.
On the other hand, the hijab depicts a woman’s dedication to her husband. No other man can see her. Only her husband has this right.
Islam tells us that only inner beauty matters. The outer beauty is not permanent and is not something to be proud of.
Women who wear hijab hide their outer beauty and keep their focus on enhancing their inner beauty.
Modern fashion is one of the biggest reasons to spread immodesty and immorality.
Women who observe hijab keep themselves out of this race of fashion. They focus on their faith. They do not get judged for what they wear.
The hijab improves the self-esteem of women. It adds to their confidence and makes them more comfortable wearing what they wear.
From a hygienic point of view, the hijab contributes to keeping women clean/safe from all the dust and viruses spreading outside.
Hijab also keeps the head warm during winters, preventing catching a cold.
A hijab hides all the ornaments and beauty of a woman from other men. So, it becomes easier for other people to focus on the intellect of a woman rather than her outer beauty.
A woman who wears a hijab feels calm and peaceful because she is all covered and safe from evil. She is also pure from all the sins.
Wearing a hijab gets the woman closer to Paradise because she is doing so in the obedience of her Lord.
Health benefits of hijab
The hijab protects women from many skin deceases that are caused due to exposure to UV radiation.
These diseases include Skin cancer, premature skin aging, and under-eye damage.
Covering the body will save the woman from getting harmed by intense sun rays.
If the body and head are not protected from intense heat in hot weather, it can lead to various brain and health issues.
The hijab covers all body parts to protect women from all the harmful effects of extreme weather.
In frigid weather, the hijab protects the body from getting cold. Catching a cold may lead to flu, body aches, and other issues.
Hijab also protects women from catching viruses and dust from the environment.
Social benefits of wearing a hijab
Women who wear hijab have a lower chance of getting harassed. Men around them see the hijab as a sign that these women cannot be reached easily.
So, men stay at a distance from hijabi women as they know that the beauty of this woman can only be revealed to her husband.
A hijab makes a woman feel secure and protected whenever she steps out of her home. The hijab shields this world’s evil and that modest woman. Hijab depicts the purity of that woman.
A woman who observes hijab knows she does not have to impress anyone. She works on her inner self and Imaan instead of her outer, physical self. She is free from all the competition this temporary world offers women.
People around these modest hijabi women do not focus on their beauty and clothing. Instead, they focus on their intellect and mind. These women are not seen as a showpiece.
Self-esteem and confidence of a woman who observes hijab are way more than those women who pay too much attention to their clothing and fashion.
Most of all, the hijab makes women content and happy in their personal lives because they know they are obedient to their Lord. These women stay satisfied because the hijab becomes a barrier to avoiding all evil.