Hijab - Modest dress for Muslim women INTRODUCTION People think that hijab is the head scarf that Muslim women wear, but hijab is more than that. It is not only covering the hair but also dressing, speaking and acting modestly. Modesty is required of men too. Muslim men have to be modest in their dress. Traditional men's clothing in Muslim countries are all very modest. The minimum requirment for men's dress in Islam is to cover from the navel to the knees. Muslim men also have to be modest in their speech and actions, and have to lower their gaze when they see a non-mahram* woman. * mahram = the spouse and the opposite sex whom the person cannot marry, such as: one's parents, siblings, uncles, aunts … etc. WHAT is Hijab? Hijab is clothing that fulfill the following conditions : - It must cover the whole body except for the face and hands. - It must be loose and not show the shape of the body. - It must not be see-through. - It must not be fancy, because then it would defeat the purpose of hijab which is to not beautify oneself and attract unwanted attention. WHY do they have to wear it? Muslim women wear hijab in submission to the command of our Creator, Allah (God). But why did God command us to wear it? The main reason is to avert sexual attention. But there are also other benefits, such as: - Obliges women to respect themselves and obliges others to respect them. - Reminds men to treat women as human beings and not as sexual objects. - Makes women realize that their beauty is sacred and not for any random man to look at for pleasure. - Obliges others to judge women by their worth and not their appearance. .. etc. WHEN? Muslim females are obligated to wear hijab when they reach the age of puberty. WHOM? A Muslim woman does NOt have to wear hijab in front of the following people: - Women in general. - Her Husband. - Men who she cannot marry; and they are her : > Father, grandfather, and upwards > Sons, grandchildren, and downwards. > Siblings. > Uncles > Nephews > Step father and step son > Father-in-law and son-in-law