Women's hijab

“Is the hijab requirement for women in Islam—is it derogatory?” This is a question that is often discussed in modern times, especially in the context of the feminist movement, Western human rights philosophy, and secularism. The usual complaint from atheists and non-Muslims is—“Islam forces women to cover their bodies, which is a kind of attack on women’s freedom and individuality. Why does Islam always require women to cover their bodies, not men? Isn’t this discriminatory against women?” To find the answer to this question, we need to go deeper into our Islamic beliefs—why Islam has given such a requirement, and whether it is derogatory at all.

First, we need to understand how Islam defines the dignity of women. In Islam, women are not objects, nor are they consumer goods or objects for men to enjoy. Rather, women are complete human beings, with souls, intellect, willpower, and self-respect. The Quran states that man and woman were created from “a single soul” (Surah An-Nisa 4:1). This view was proclaimed at a time when women were seen as a symbol of humiliation throughout civilization—in Hindu society, widows were sacrificed to death, in Christian society, women were considered the source of sin, and in Arab society, girl children were buried alive. It was in that society that Islam first said to women—“You are honored.”

As a means of preserving this honor, Islam introduced the concept of ‘hijab.’ Hijab is not just a covering of the head, but a complete way of life that sets decency and boundaries in the relationship between men and women. In the Quran, Surah An-Nur (24:30-31), men are first told—“Lower your gaze and guard your modesty”—and then it is said to women—“Let them not display their adornment, which is naturally visible, and let them draw their veils over their bosoms.” One thing is very clear in this verse—it starts with the responsibility of men. This shows that Islam has not only imposed limits on women, but also asked men to restrain themselves.

The question is, why is the commandment of veiling women or hijab in Islam not humiliating? Because it is a preventive measure to protect the dignity of women. No matter how much women’s freedom is promoted in today’s world, the reality is—women have still become commodities, the face of advertisements, the showcase of their bodies, and the center of entertainment. They have been stripped naked in the name of liberation, while their bodies are used for sale. Islam stands against this commodification of women. Hijab has paved the way for women to be valued not by their bodies but by their intellect and character.

Many people say, “Can’t women make decisions about their own bodies?” Islam does not deny this freedom, but rather controls it. Just as a person is not allowed to walk around naked in front of everyone even if they have individual freedom. Some limits are necessary to maintain moral order in society. Hijab is part of those limits, which aim to make society based on character rather than sexuality.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Every religion has a characteristic, and the characteristic of Islam is ‘haya’ (modesty)”—(Sahih Ibn Majah). This modesty is not exclusive to women, but applies to both men and women. Hijab is an outward symbol of modesty, which reveals inner self-respect and self-control.

Those who consider hijab to be humiliating do not understand the spirit and purpose of hijab. When a woman wears the hijab to obey Allah's command, it is an expression of her confidence. It is not a suppression, but a surrender under faith. If what is called freedom in Western society were truly respectable, rape, sexual harassment, and violence against women would not be so rampant there today. Islam has made the hijab mandatory to prevent this degrading reality.

However, it is true that hijab is not the name of a piece of clothing—it is a kind of attitude. Merely covering the head does not constitute veiling if one's behavior, speech, and gaze are not also modest. Therefore, veiling in Islam does not only begin with a woman's clothes, but also in the mind and brain.

Finally, it can be said that Islam has not made it compulsory for women to wear the hijab; rather, believing women accept the hijab as their identity. It is not just a matter of covering the body, but rather the shell of the soul, the nest of the heart, the ladder to gaining closeness to Allah. Those who consider it just a piece of cloth, cannot truly understand the depth of a woman's self-esteem and spiritual identity.