To Be A Mohsinah…To Be A Mohsinah…

Importance of Hayaa Importance of Hayaa and Hijab and Hijab

in Our Lives in Our Lives Saadia Z. YunusSaadia Z. Yunus

Who is a Mohsinah?Who is a Mohsinah?

Surah An-NisaaSurah An-Nisaa Mohsinah is a pure, Mohsinah is a pure, believing womanbelieving woman

Mohsinah=chaste/pureMohsinah=chaste/pure

Main Quality of a Mohsinah is Main Quality of a Mohsinah is

HayaaHayaa

What is Hayaa? What is Hayaa? DictionaryDictionary Modesty: freedom from Modesty: freedom from

vanity, being shy or bashful, being vanity, being shy or bashful, being decent, not calling attention to one’s decent, not calling attention to one’s bodybody

IslamIslam True modesty - especially the True modesty - especially the one before Allah Most High - is not a one before Allah Most High - is not a mere feeling or issue of character.  It has mere feeling or issue of character.  It has concrete results:  it leads one to fear and concrete results:  it leads one to fear and obey Allah in all things large and small, obey Allah in all things large and small, public and private public and private

HijabHijab The head-covering of a Muslim The head-covering of a Muslim woman; literally means “barrier”woman; literally means “barrier”

What is the Importance of What is the Importance of Hayaa?Hayaa?

Imran bin Husain (R) reported: Imran bin Husain (R) reported: Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wa Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: sallam said: ““Shyness does not bring anything except Shyness does not bring anything except good” (Muslim, Bukhari)good” (Muslim, Bukhari)

Barrier against Barrier against evil/spiritual evil/spiritual wallwall

Importance of Hayaa Importance of Hayaa cont’dcont’d

Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: ““Every way of life has an innate Every way of life has an innate

character. The character of Islam is character. The character of Islam is hayaa” (Abu Dawood)hayaa” (Abu Dawood)

““Surely Allah (is One who) has hayaa and Surely Allah (is One who) has hayaa and is the Protector. He loves hayaa and is the Protector. He loves hayaa and people who cover each others’ faults” people who cover each others’ faults” (Bukhari)(Bukhari)

Light of hayaa VS. Smoke of the lack of itLight of hayaa VS. Smoke of the lack of it

Modesty—Essential Part of Modesty—Essential Part of FaithFaith

Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “Iman has wa sallam: “Iman has sixty odd or seventy odd sixty odd or seventy odd branches. The uppermost branches. The uppermost of all of these is the of all of these is the testimony of Faith: La testimony of Faith: La ilaha illallah, while the ilaha illallah, while the least of them is the least of them is the removal of a harmful removal of a harmful object from the road. And object from the road. And shyness is a branch of shyness is a branch of iman” (Bukhari, Muslim)iman” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Indecency of Today’s World Indecency of Today’s World Problems in today’s Problems in today’s

society:society: GamblingGambling DrinkingDrinking NudityNudity Prostitution Prostitution PornographyPornography Fornication/AdulteryFornication/Adultery And more…And more…

These problems These problems have infiltrated into have infiltrated into Muslims as well…Muslims as well…

What is the Solution? HAYAA!What is the Solution? HAYAA! Learning and practicing hayaaLearning and practicing hayaa Guarding our chastity and Guarding our chastity and

modestymodesty Constantly reminding ourselves of Constantly reminding ourselves of

what is right and what is wrongwhat is right and what is wrong Keep learning and absorbing Keep learning and absorbing

more and more knowledge of our more and more knowledge of our deendeen

Surrounding ourselves with those Surrounding ourselves with those who practice hayaawho practice hayaa

Teaching others the importance Teaching others the importance of hayaaof hayaa

Holding hayaa DEAR to our Holding hayaa DEAR to our heartshearts

Hayaa as a Blessing Hayaa as a Blessing

We should never see it as a burden, but We should never see it as a burden, but rather a GIFT from Allah (swt) rather a GIFT from Allah (swt)

Yes, it is difficult, but with a few things in Yes, it is difficult, but with a few things in mind, it becomes easymind, it becomes easy

Allah (swt) enjoined hayaa upon us for Allah (swt) enjoined hayaa upon us for reasons that we should be grateful for:reasons that we should be grateful for: Protection Protection Chance to SacrificeChance to Sacrifice Love of His servantsLove of His servants Peaceful SocietyPeaceful Society Successful FamiliesSuccessful Families

How Do We Acquire Hayaa?How Do We Acquire Hayaa?

Taking light from Surah Nur/Surah Taking light from Surah Nur/Surah AhzabAhzab

Lowering our gazeLowering our gaze Lowering our voicesLowering our voices Covering our beautyCovering our beauty

Since it is part of hayaa, it becomes dear Since it is part of hayaa, it becomes dear to us and therefore, something we strive to us and therefore, something we strive forfor

Lowering Our GazeLowering Our Gaze

"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty, that will make for greater purity for them...Say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...O you believers! Turn you all together towards Allah that you may attain success" (24:30,31 excerpts)

Detrimental Effects of the Detrimental Effects of the Gaze and the Virtue of Gaze and the Virtue of

Controlling itControlling it The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam

stated that Allah (swt) says:stated that Allah (swt) says: "Verily, evil glancing is an arrow from the "Verily, evil glancing is an arrow from the

poisonous arrows of Shaytaan. Whosoever poisonous arrows of Shaytaan. Whosoever fears Me and refrains from it will receive fears Me and refrains from it will receive from Me (Allah) such Iman, the sweetness of from Me (Allah) such Iman, the sweetness of which he will feel in his heart” which he will feel in his heart” (Hadith (Hadith Qudsi)Qudsi)

Lowering Our VoicesLowering Our Voices ““O wives of the Prophet! You are not like O wives of the Prophet! You are not like

any other women. If you keep your duty (to any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in Allah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner” (Surah Al Ahzab 33:32)honorable manner” (Surah Al Ahzab 33:32)

The command applies to us as wellThe command applies to us as well Wives of the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa Wives of the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa

sallam are our ultimate role modelssallam are our ultimate role models

Lowering Our Voices cont’dLowering Our Voices cont’d

Examples:Examples: With friends in publicWith friends in public In front of men In front of men Talking to professors/co-Talking to professors/co-

workers/classmates/neighborsworkers/classmates/neighbors Over the phoneOver the phone MoreMore

Preventative measurePreventative measure Protection!Protection!

Covering Our BeautyCovering Our Beauty ““And say to the faithful women to lower their And say to the faithful women to lower their

gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to display their adornment except what is apparent display their adornment except what is apparent of it, and to extend their headcoverings (khimars) of it, and to extend their headcoverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms (jaybs), and not to display to cover their bosoms (jaybs), and not to display their adornment except to their husbands, or their their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers, or their or their husband's sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom the nakedness of women is not apparent, and not the nakedness of women is not apparent, and not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments. And known what they hide of their adornments. And turn in repentance to Allah together, O you the turn in repentance to Allah together, O you the faithful, in order that you are successful” (Nur:31)faithful, in order that you are successful” (Nur:31)

Continued Explanation—Continued Explanation—Ayah of HijabAyah of Hijab

““Not to display their adornment Not to display their adornment (zeena)…”(zeena)…”

“…“…except what is apparent of it…”except what is apparent of it…” “…“…extend their headcoverings over extend their headcoverings over

their bosoms…”their bosoms…”

Who Are Our Mahrams?Who Are Our Mahrams?

What is a What is a Mahram? Mahram?

HusbandHusband FathersFathers Father-in-lawFather-in-law SonsSons Husband's sonsHusband's sons BrothersBrothers Brothers' sonsBrothers' sons Sisters' sonsSisters' sons

WomenfolkWomenfolk What their right hands What their right hands

possess (slaves)possess (slaves) Men who do not feel desireMen who do not feel desire Small children to whom the Small children to whom the

nakedness of women is not nakedness of women is not apparentapparent

Two More AyaatTwo More Ayaat ““O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters, O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters,

as well as all [other] believing women, that they as well as all [other] believing women, that they should draw over themselves some of their should draw over themselves some of their outer garments [when in public]: this will be outer garments [when in public]: this will be more conducive to their being recognized [as more conducive to their being recognized [as decent women] and not annoyed. But [withal,] decent women] and not annoyed. But [withal,] God is indeed much- forgiving, a dispenser of God is indeed much- forgiving, a dispenser of grace! (Surah Ahzab:59) grace! (Surah Ahzab:59)

““And [know that] women advanced in years, And [know that] women advanced in years, who no longer feel any sexual desire, incur no who no longer feel any sexual desire, incur no sin if they discard their [outer] garments, sin if they discard their [outer] garments, provided they do not aim at a showy display of provided they do not aim at a showy display of [their] charms. But [even so,] it is better for [their] charms. But [even so,] it is better for them to abstain [from this]: and God is all-them to abstain [from this]: and God is all-hearing, all-knowing (Surah Nur:60)hearing, all-knowing (Surah Nur:60)

Summary—Covering Summary—Covering ProperlyProperly

Simple, loose-fitting material that Simple, loose-fitting material that goes over the clothes we have ongoes over the clothes we have on

Does not reveal the shape of the bodyDoes not reveal the shape of the body Keep appearance simple and modestKeep appearance simple and modest

Muslim dress code is not a hindrance Muslim dress code is not a hindrance but an honor for usbut an honor for us

Not a means to put us down, but to Not a means to put us down, but to uplift usuplift us

This is freedom, not oppressionThis is freedom, not oppression

What is Modest Dress?What is Modest Dress?

Hayaa in Dress cont’dHayaa in Dress cont’d

Other Issues Related to Other Issues Related to HijabHijab

Satr in front of a man and satr in Satr in front of a man and satr in front of a woman front of a woman

What is niqaab?What is niqaab? Facing Issues at work/school such Facing Issues at work/school such

as shaking hands, patting on the as shaking hands, patting on the backback

Mixed gatherings, mingling, and Mixed gatherings, mingling, and how organizations differhow organizations differ

Things to Things to Consider…Consider…

Talking to our children/spouse/familyTalking to our children/spouse/family Safe internet and television useSafe internet and television use Reminding ourselves of the beauty of Reminding ourselves of the beauty of

hijab, holding it dear to our heartshijab, holding it dear to our hearts Taking small steps towards proper Taking small steps towards proper

hijabhijab Remembering our Lord and the Remembering our Lord and the

afterlifeafterlife Righteous friendsRighteous friends Inculcating in ourselves and others Inculcating in ourselves and others

the love of Qur’an and Hadith—the love of Qur’an and Hadith—gaining knowledge!gaining knowledge!

Praying for this Lost Praying for this Lost Virtue…Virtue…

The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:said:

““Hayaa and trustworthiness will be the first Hayaa and trustworthiness will be the first to go from this world; therefore, keep to go from this world; therefore, keep asking Allah (swt) for them” (Bukhari)asking Allah (swt) for them” (Bukhari)

Final Encouragement!Final Encouragement!

““The only response of The only response of believers, whenever they believers, whenever they are summoned unto God are summoned unto God and His Apostle in order and His Apostle in order that [the divine writ] that [the divine writ] might judge between might judge between them, can be no other them, can be no other than, “We have heard, and than, “We have heard, and we pay heed!”- and it is we pay heed!”- and it is they, they who shall attain they, they who shall attain to a happy state” (Nur:51)to a happy state” (Nur:51)

May Allah (swt) make us May Allah (swt) make us the shining examples of the shining examples of

hayaa in the world, make hayaa in the world, make us true mohsinahs, and us true mohsinahs, and give us success in this give us success in this

life and in the hereafter..life and in the hereafter.. AMEEN…AMEEN…