Episode 11 - How Can Your Heart Do It

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah. Brothers and sisters, in the previous episodes, we took examples from the live response to Allah's command... all of them were from men. Today, we want to inspire our sisters by showing the speed of the female companions' response to their Creator and Beloved's command, may He be glorified and exalted. Allah the Almighty says: ((And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to display their adornments except that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their chests)). Before this, the woman used to show her hair, her neck, and part of her chest, which is called the 'jayb'. Then the command came from Allah the Almighty to cover all of that with the khimar, and the khimar linguistically is what covers the head, different from the niqab which covers the face. So, what is required of the Muslim woman after this verse is to cover her head, neck, and chest, and we will not discuss the disagreement about covering the face.

How did the Muslim women respond to this verse? Did they say: (But O Messenger of Allah, the world is hot)? Especially in the hot climate of Medina... Did they say: (We will wait until the seamstress sews a hijab)? No, the response was as narrated by Al-Bukhari that Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, used to say: When this verse ((And to draw their veils over their chests)) was revealed, the women - meaning the Muslim women - took their izars and tore them from the edges and covered themselves with them... meaning one of them heard the verse while she was in her sister's or mother's house or buying from the market. As soon as she heard the verse, she tore a piece from her long garment's cover and covered what Allah commanded her to cover, out of love for Allah, obedience, and hope for the reward, and fear of punishment.

My Muslim sister, how can your heart read this verse from Allah the Almighty, which says to you: ((And to draw their veils over their chests and not to display their adornments except to their husbands, or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons))... and mentions twelve types you are allowed to show without a veil... how can your heart read this verse in Ramadan and outside of Ramadan, then after this you disobey the command of your Creator and Beloved, may He be glorified, as if you are saying: (No, my Lord, I will also show my adornments to the building guard, the car driver, the shop seller, my colleague at university and work, the pedestrians on the streets, and to everyone)! As if the command of Allah does not concern you! Do you expect to be affected by the Quran and increase your faith after that? Do you prefer to follow your desires over the pleasure of the Quran and the sweetness of faith? ((Do you exchange what is worse for what is better))?

My dear sister, notice the call of Allah, the Almighty, at the end of this verse, the verse of the hijab... He calls you and says to you: ((And repent to Allah, all of you, O believers, that you may succeed (31)) (An-Nur)).

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.