The Arab News, in one of its recent editions, hit the nail on the head when it declared: “Hijab or veil takes the center stage whenever there is battle between truth and falsehood.” A few topics would rank above hijab on the count of the most discussed global issues in recent times, which have drawn attention and distraction alike. The concern about hijab has grown beyond the specific to the general, far above religion to politics, economy, culture and philosophical interests.

Whatever the reason for the worldwide attraction to this topic at this particular time may not be as necessary as the ignorance, misconceptions and mischief that have been displayed by many while trying to participate in a discussion that is certain to shape the faces of many things for a long time to come. It is pertinent to start by stating that hijab belongs to Muslims. If this is the case, it behooves anyone with desire to contribute to the discourse to either devote time to learn or ask those who are versed on the subject. Islam is a religion from Allah, the Creator of the earth and the heavens and all that isbetween the two, Who, in fact, gave the religion its name. All actions and inactions of Muslims without exceptions have connection with the dictates of Allah, in theQur’an, and as explained by the last prophet, Muhammad, in his Sunnah. Islamis a guide to its adherents on their ways of life, and one of the mandatory beliefs in thereligion is to have certainty in the appearance of the Day of Judgment wherethe deeds of man will be reviewed. Those who conform with the dictates of the Creator will be rewarded while man will be punished for his deeds that go contrary. Hijab is only one of such.

Perhaps the gap that has existed between the facts and figures on this topic can be traced to people’s ignorance on the workings of Islam. Hijab represents a woman’s submission to her Creator and her connection with the faith. It is disheartening to note that despite the fact that relevant Qur’an verses, Hadith (Prophetic traditions) as well as scholarly works of pious predecessors on the topic reveal a strict emphasis on the need for Muslim women to observe modesty in their dressing when they appear in public, by covering all of their bodies and any ornaments or other means of beautification they might wear, many people still think that Muslim women are only having fun with their mode of dressing. Allah, the Exalted, says in Surat an-Noor (Qur’an chapter 24), ayah (verse) 31: “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not show of their adornment except only that which is apparent, and draw theirveils over their (necks and) bosoms and not reveal their adornment 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 their slaves, or male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no knowledge of women’s private parts. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn you all toAllah in repentance, O believers, that you may be successful.”

And He says in Surat al-Ahzab (chapter 33), verse 59: “Oh Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments close around them. That will be better, thatthey may be known and so not be bothered. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Sadly, for exercising their right to religious association and practice by following the dictates of their religion regarding dressing, Muslim women have been made objects of ridicule, condemnation and harassment. Examples abound in the various sections of the society. Higher institutions of learning are supposed to be havens of freedom of expression, of intellectual thought and opinion. It is unfortunate to note that Muslim students in hijab are sometimes taunted by their fellow students and oppressed by some of their lecturers on Nigerian campuses. Some of these students eventually graduate as the best or one of the best in their departments. This is an indication of the fact that the hijab does not in any way prevent aiming for the best in life. These Muslim women are not spared at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps as they are sometimes physically assaulted or decamped due to their refusal to put on skimpy dresses that go against the dictates of their religion.We condemn in its entirety the idea of expecting a woman who had covered herself up all her life to now resort to putting on a pair of shorts not up to her knees all because she wants to serve her country. Section 38 (1) of the 1999 Constitution states that “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedomto change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.” Also, Section 42 (1) says that“no citizen shall be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical applicationof any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to any form of disabilities or restrictions by reason of belonging to a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex.””

Muslim women are also insulted and ridiculed by officials of federal agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps and Nigerian Immigration Service during image capturing and biometrics. These officials insist that they remove their head covers or expose their ears even when the face is visible. Nigeria belongs to all and so all Nigerians should be protected by thelaws guiding the different government agencies.

The use of hijab by Muslim women is an expression of fundamental rights protected by the constitution and a number of international human rights conventions. Therefore, the recent statement of the president during a media chat that security concerns might warrant a ban on hijab is a violation of the constitution which he swore by the Qur’an to protect. As a matter of fact, the absence of and the failure of local intelligence-gathering mechanisms have allowed evil doers to resort to the use of various disguises, including niqab, hijab and several other attires by Boko Haram and others on their missions.

Inasmuch as we subscribe to the fact that the safety and security of every Nigerian is germane, we strongly believe that rather than ban hijab, the government should findsolutions to the security challenges facing the country. It is an incontrovertible fact that the Nigerian constitution guarantees every citizen freedom of dressing and Muslim women are no exception. Advocating banning the hijab is, in our view, a case of over-generalisation. Hijab is worn by millions of women who cut across diverse social, political and economic strata in the society. Can these millions be considered to be security threatto the nation? Should the law-abiding Muslim female teacher, trader, journalist, lawyer, doctor, accountant be deprived her right to religion?

Military intelligence, security beef-up, community involvement, renewed strategies, among others, are what the government needs to focus on in order to eradicate Boko Haram and its dastardly activities, not stigmatization of law-abiding, useful citizens of Nigeria. We are aware of the various attempts to discredit Islam and tarnish the image of Muslims in Nigeria. The Boko Haram scourge and the recent strategy of using hijab-donning Muslims is one these. It is an irony that though this deviant group claims to represent Islam, they not only destroy churches, they unleash mayhem on Muslims and burn mosques as well. This means there are brains behind this group whose motives are far from being religious. Thus, rather than make innocent Nigerian Muslim women scapegoats, the government should intensify efforts at wiping out the group. We hereby state categorically that Muslim women in hijab are exercising their God-given and constitutional

endowed right. The hijab isa garment of honour and apparel of modesty.

Muslims who wear hijab are doing so not because their fathers or husbands command them but because it is a divine commandment, enshrined in the Qur’an, tobe worn when they leave their homes or in company of people who are not close family members. To consider banning the hijab is like considering stopping Muslims from observing daily salat (prayers) or fasting in Ramadan. It is like stopping us from breathing, snuffing the life out of Muslim women.

While celebrating this year’s World Hijab Day (on Monday), we call on the government to allow us exercise our rights. We also enjoin all Muslim women inhijab to continue to be law-abiding and uphold the tenets of Islam by being models of dignity and uprightness in all spheres of life.

Courtesy: Al Mu’minaat (The Believing Women) Organisation, Oyo State.
http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/hijab-between-fact-and-fiction