Greetings to the Messiah, the Sign of God and the Harbinger of peace and justice; Greetings to the Messiah, the Fresh Flower of the Virgin Mary; Greetings to the Messiah who brought the message of kindness to mankind. He came and he breathed the divine light of glad tidings into the motionless corpse of human societies.
By the Qur'an we mean the verses, phrases, sentences and chapters uttered by the Holy Prophet of Islam, not as his own words, but as the Word and the Book of God revealed to him; this he claimed as his Everlasting Miracle which bears testimony to his Prophethood; and with this he challenged not only those who doubted its origin, and not only humankind alone, but even the Jinns, saying that even if the Jinns and men joined forces to produce the like of it, they would never be able to do even a small part of it This challenge was made not to any particular age, but to all ages.
In this section we will be pondering over the history of Head covering or Hijab as general, particularly looking at the ancient times. Our focus would be:
Whether in past history of civilizations Hijab used to exists or not?
Whether the concept of Head covering or Hijab is purely coming from Islam Prospective?
Now we will discuss the Quranic verses and after we clarify what traditional commentators have explained about the verses, then, with the help of traditions which have been narrated on this topic and the edicts of the religious jurisprudents on this issue, it will become clearer. The verses relating to the modest dress are found in Surah Nur and Surah Ahzab. We will mention all of them.
We will begin our discussion with the verses from Surah Nur. Of course the verses which relate directly to the modest dress are verses 30 and 31 of Surah Nur but there are three verses before this which are more or less introductory to the modest dress and relate to this issue.
At a time when the rest of the world, from Greece and Rome to India and China, considered women as no better than children or even slaves, with no rights whatsoever, Islam acknowledged women's equality with men in a great many respects. The Quran states:
"And among His signs is this: that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest and peace of mind in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Certainly, herein indeed are signs for people who reflect." [Noble Quran 30:21]
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Imam Ali (as) always ate and dressed in such a simple way that even the poorest could afford better. It was not because he was poor, but it was because he wanted to lead the life of the poorest person and spend all that could thus be spared on the poor. I have noted below certain cases quoted by the historians. These incidents are of the time when he was the ruler of the entire Muslim Empire, except Syria.
I Take Refuge In Allah From The Stoned Satan. In Name Of Allah The Source Of Mercy To All Of Creation; The Source Of The Mercy To The Believing Congregation. Oh Allah Bless Muhammad’s Soul, And Rain Down Peace on His Household. “Why We Cry” Don’t think our cries are too extreme. There’s good reason for grown men to scream. Our actions aren’t of those insane, we weep in zikr (remembrance) of Hussein. When the guilty kills the innocent to usurp Islamic Government, Should not a Muslim cry in pain? Hussein! Hussein! Hussein! Hussein! Reflect on Hussein’s flawless fame. Reflect on Yazeed, steeped in shame. Shall not the heart be pierced by woe when the Khalif is Al-Islam’s foe? Oh what a dark, sad thought to bear, It breaks the heart, moves joy to tear. That’s why our tears fall down like rain. Hussein! Hussein! Hussein! Hussein! A heart of stone’s too hard to cry. A mind that’s closed won’t wonder why. A foolish man is deaf and blind. A coward always stays in line. But a soul that prostrates on its face. With trembling heart, seeking God’s Grace Won’t hide from Truth, can’t hide the pain. Hussein! Hussein! Hussein! Hussein! The Khalif chose vile tricks, and lies. Hussein chose death, not compromise. This Prophet’s son would not bow down; Preferring death to being bound to evil hind’s Satanic Son. So with his death The Imam won. Islam’s loss was Islam’s gain.
In the month of Muharram (approx. 20 October 680 AD), an event took place in Iraq at a place known as Karbala on the bank of the river
It seemed in those days insignificant from the historical point of view. A large army which had been mobilized by the Umayyad regime besieged a group of persons numbering less than a hundred and put them under pressure to pay allegiance to the Caliph of the time and submit to his authority. The small group resisted and a severe battle took place in which they were all killed.
In the house of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), a child who benefited humanity as if he was Divine Impression reflecting the earth was born on the 3rd night of the month of Sha'ban. His father was Imam Ali (PBUH), the best model of kindness towards his friends and the bravest against the enemies of Islam, and his mother was Lady Fatima (PBUH), who had as universally acknowledged, inherited the qualities of her father. When the good news of his birth reached the Holy Prophet (PBUH), he came to his daughter's house, took the newly-born child in his arms, recitedazaan andiqamah in his right and left ears respectively, and on the 7th day of his birth, named him Hossein, in compliance with Allah's command. Hasan (PBUH) and Hossein (PBUH), the two sons of the Holy Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (PBUH) and Lady Fatima (PBUH), our Lady of Light, were respected and revered as the"Leaders of the Youths of Paradise" as stated by the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Since the advent of Islam and the revelation of the Qur'an in the early years of the seventh century AD, the Muslim Holy Book has been the subject of many extensive analytical studies. The focus of the great majority of these studies has been the theological and legislative aspects of the Holy Book, for the Qur'an provides Muslims with detailed guidance on their everyday problems. Together with the sayings, actions, and recommendations of Prophet Muhammad (saws), the Qur'an has been the ultimate source of legal authority for Muslims over the past fourteen centuries.
Amir al-mu"minln Ali (upon whom be peace) was the son of Abu Talib, the Shaykh of the Banu Hashim. Abu Talib was the uncle and guardian of the Holy Prophet (sawas) and the person who had brought the Prophet (sawas) to his house and raised him like his own son. After the Prophet (sawas) was chosen for his prophetic mission, Abu Talib continued to support him and repelled from him the evil that came from the infidels among the Arabs and especially the Quraysh. Ali was present in all the wars in which the Prophet (sawas) participated, except the battle of Tabuk when he was ordered to stay in Medina in place of the Prophet (sawas). He did not retreat in any battle nor did he turn his face away from any enemy. He never disobeyed the Prophet (sawas), so that the Prophet (sawas) said:
"Ali is never separated from the Truth nor the Truth from Ali."
Virtue or piety is meant to protect and keep oneself from what it fears.
So, the most common use of this word in time of ignorance was in the subject of war and the subsequent discussions of it.
Keeping oneself from war and its probable damages was the main purpose of those people who were always in the expose of danger and invasion of peripheral ethnic groups and tribes.
First the "World of Ordeal", then the "Resurrection". We are not destroyed at death, we just go from this world to another world called the "Hereafter".
Why do we do it? As societies worldwide flourish and Islam stands to be the fastest growing religion of the world, we sometimes see a disturbing deviation within the Muslim Ummah. Forget society, forget those who are converting and reverting, forget those who are just introducing themselves to Islam. I'm talking about us: those born and raised into Muslim families and taught the values of Islam and the teachings of the Prophets and Imams (peace be upon them). For everything that we have been taught and nurtured with, we find ourselves constantly doubting the actions we perform and the teachings we follow. But Islam stands to be a religion of logic, from the time of Muhammad, and it will remain so till the mountains crumble, the Earth flattens, and the final trumpet is blown.
One of the most asked questions within our community today is, ‘Why do we have to pray?’ More often than not, we see arrogance taking over people's minds, boasting that there is no need for prayer. And if they do pray, it is ritualistically and taken very lightly.
So people ask, why do we have to pray? And I only respond, ‘
Do you not find it worthy to thank Him, the One who has given you everything, and the One Who can take all that away from you if He so wishes overnight?’
