Covering the ‘Awra is not a democratic right: It is an order of Allah (swt)
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Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem
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Hijaab (or Jilbaab) has been banned in Turkey as a result of the policy of opposition to Islam since 28th February 1997. This ban was extended from government university students to include the public sector. It also includes private studies and driving license centres.
When an amendment is made to the law of banning the Hijaab, it will the ban will then include all sectors of public life and it will cross over to the remaining issues of the Deen. Even the identity card will not be given to a Muslim woman unless she submits her private photo, without wearing the Hijaab. We will be banned from giving our children Islamic names, growing a beard, praying our Salat. The Azan will be banned or tampered with such that it loses its form and content. They will reach the point of misguidance such that they will punish the one who does not go to the entertainment centres and public houses. They will mock those fasting as they do in the army. This process is not only occurring in our country, but in every country which has committed itself to fight against Islam. The matter does not stop at the ban of Hijaab. Rather they give no importance to the honour and dignity of the Muslims. What is more dangerous is that they wish to weaken the bond between Muslims and Islam. They will continue in their transgression until they destroy Islam if they can, and until the relations between the Muslims are corrupted and they lose their identity and become a toy in the hands of the enemies of this Deen.
These are the people whom Allah has defined by His (swt) saying:** ‘And they will never cease fighting against you until they turn you back from your Deen if they can.’[2:217] **And His (swt) saying: **‘O you who believe! Take not into your entourage those outside your Deen, since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayaat (proofs, verses) if you understand.’[3:118]
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As for the arguments used by Muslims to oppose the ban of Hijaab they are the following;
- covering the ‘Awra relates to personal freedom which includes the freedom of clothing.
- covering the ‘Awra is a democratic right.
- covering the ‘Awra is a part of human rights.
- covering the ‘Awra is approved by the constitution.
Thus, they made these points the basis for opposing the ban of Hijaab. They also made them the basis in opposing other issues which contradict Islam, and this is not correct.
The correct proofs for this subject come from the following points:
1- Rejection of making the freedoms as the basis in wearing the Hijaab and covering the ‘Awra or anything else which comes form the Shari’ah rules.
2- The basis of covering the ‘Awra is a Shari’ah order which has come from Allah (swt).
3- The basis in all actions of a Muslim, and not just with regards to covering the ‘Awra, is that it should be restricted to the rules of Islam.
As for the freedoms they emanate from the idea of separating religion from life. When the Church granted the kings of Europe the authority to rule as dictators and subjugate the people and oppress them, the people distanced themselves from the church and the distorted religion. In this manner religion in Europe became a basis of colonisation, oppression and suppression. A conflict broke out between the people and the church. In the end the ideology of secularism was adopted, which means the separation of religion from life. It was from secularism that the four freedoms originated, which are: the freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of ownership and freedom of the individual. Thus man is free in his behaviour. God, the state or anybody has no authority over him as long as he does not transgress the freedom of others.
This is the basis of the freedoms. It is an invalid western thought. The people had a right to rebel and disobey the Church and the unjust rulers. But this cannot be extended to the Islamic religion. They thought that the Islamic religion was like the distorted religion of the church. Thus they fell in misguidance and they misguided others. Then they propagated their idea in the Islamic world, which was, unfortunately, deceived by it. Islam is submission to Allah and servitude to Him only. Allah has honoured the people with the revealed laws. The last of these laws is the noble Shari’ah of Muhammad (saw) which has abrogated what has come before. It makes lawful the good things and prohibits the things that are evil. It is the Shari’ah, that anyone who deviates from it will perish, and with which the blessing has been completed. Allah (swt) mentioned those in the past who played about with the previous religions and distorted them. He (swt) said:** ‘O people of the Book! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad [saw]) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the scripture and passing over (i.e. leaving out without explaining) much. Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light (the Prophet Muhammad [saw]) and a plain Book. Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way.’[5:15-16]
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The Shari’ah of Islam does not permit man to live according to his whims and desires. Rather it obliges man to restrict his life according to the Law of Allah (swt). Thus, the Muslims do not make the covering of the ‘Awra (Hijaab) a democratic right, a personal freedom or a constitutional right. Such a course will distance them from the Islamic thought and lead them to adopt the invalid western thought. This itself is contrary to the meaning of servitude to Allah (swt) because Hijaab is an order from Allah (swt).
It is not right that people should make the covering of the ‘Awra as one of the personal rights, because that means following one’s own desires. Wearing the Hijaab is not a matter of custom for certain people. Likewise one does not look at the covering of the ‘Awra from the viewpoint of beauty. Rather covering the ‘Awra, in terms of content and form, is one of the orders of Allah (swt) which is obligatory on us to act upon. Allah (swt) has legislated the Fard (duty) and obliged us to act upon it, and He has legislated the Haram and forbade us from it. Islam has clarified to the people the actions which they should do and must act upon just as Islam explained to them how they should perform them. The rule of covering the head and body of women is established in the Noble Qur’an. He (swt) said:** ‘And let them draw their Khimaar (head scarves) over their bosoms.’[24:31]** And He (swt) said:‘O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (Jilbaabs) all over their bodies.[33:59] Every woman should understand that adhering to the Hijaab in origin is not a democratic or constitutional right and nor a symbol of personal freedom. All of these angles are invalid. Thus, covering the ‘Awra is an order from Allah (swt). It is an order which Allah (swt) has made obligatory on the people and obliged that they act upon it. The Hijaab should only be worn in this manner. Muslim women have been applying the rule of covering their ‘Awra for hundreds of years and it has not been debated in any of the Islamic societies, defending this rule should only rely on the Islamic basis.
Regarding this matter, the Muslims in Turkey are being fought with a severe injustice and terrible oppression just as they are fought in other places. This is because they have no one to protect them. They have become a target for attacks from every direction. The Kaafir rulers (of Turkey) are issuing decrees to control the way in which the Muslims live. They are the ones who cause corruption (mufsidoon) on the earth but they do not realise that they cause corruption. They think that women are a commodity for business, sex and satisfaction of instincts, so they are the lucrative tools of business. In their contempt for women, they reached the point where they collect taxes from the ones who earn their living by selling their bodies. Instead of protecting their honour, you see them using them in low and vile jobs just like any other commodity. They see her as a promotion for their projects, so they display her at the show windows of the entertainment houses, to the point that the institutions, government departments and education centres became centres of indecency. Instead of rectifying the morals of women you find them providing them with the necessary documents so that they can be exploited. Then, as soon as their exploitation is finished you will find them discarded on the streets. You see the rulers fighting against Islam and the Muslims to hide their failure and their inability to manage the issues of ruling. They have driven the country into decline and collapse where the number of those facing starvation has reached 31 million. As for the poor people they are a third of the population. Every day these figures go up. As for the domestic and foreign debt it increased to a point that drove the country to the bottom of the list in the whole world. Security is non-existent and fear has become common for the people. They are afraid that they would lose their livelihood and they fear for their future. This is in addition to the intellectual decline and moral decadence, where the drugs, fornication and indecent actions invaded even the primary education levels. Despite all of this, those rulers still suppress and harm the Muslims in all types of ways.
The Muslims defence of themselves and preventing assaults on them is an obligation and not just a right for them. It is incumbent on them to struggle against their enemies and rise up for their Deen. This struggle cannot take place in the manner that pleases Kufr and its helpers rather it must take place in the manner which pleases Allah and draws them closer to Him. The struggle against them does not cancel out in any manner whatsoever the rule of Allah regarding the Hijaab, even if laws were passed by those enemies to ban it, for there is no obedience to the created in disobedience to the Creator. The matter is not confined to the issue of Hijaab only. The whole system is a system of Kufr. The rulers who apply it are all Kaafirs. So it is imperative that we overthrow this system and these rulers and establish the rule of Allah. Then Muslims will be able to live with dignity and carry the pure Message of Islam to the world.
It is time for the Muslims to look at their future optimistically and know that the Kaafireen are in a state of confusion all over the world. Every day they face a bigger dilemma. Their aspirations and efforts will end in failure. They will be led to the Hellfire together. This is the glad tidings from Allah (swt) to the believers when He (swt) said:**‘Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be defeated. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell.’[8:36]
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***Hizb ut-Tahrir ***
Wilayah of Turkey
22 Jumada II AH
20/9/2000