The Hijab as a Symbol of Honor and Identity for Muslim Women

The success of the Iranian Islamic Revolution under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 triggered a new wave of Islamic awareness among Muslim youths in several countries, including Afghanistan, Nigeria, Iraq, Indonesia, Egypt, Lebanon, and others. In Indonesia, university students in secular institutions such as UI (The University of Indonesia), ITB (The Bandung Institute of Technology), and UGM (Universitas Gadjah Mada), who had previously regarded religion in a ritualistic manner (such as prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and so on) began to learn more about the teachings of Islam comprehensively.

One of the important consequences of this new awareness of the teachings of Islam was the desire to apply these teachings in practice. For female students, this meant the choice to wear the hijab.

Female students who had previously not covered their hair or certain other parts of their bodies decided to dress in accordance with the teachings of the Qur’an. By wearing the hijab, Muslim women demonstrated their identity and made a conscious choice not to follow Western secular culture, which separates religion from life. This movement, commonly referred to as the “Sea of Hijabs” (Lautan Jilbab), swept across Indonesian campuses in the early 1990s. At that time, it was met with suspicion by the ruling government, who were afraid that the hijab movement might cause political unrest, as had happened in Iran. But their fears were ultimately baseless.

In fact, the tradition of women wearing head coverings was not something new in Indonesia. The traditional dress of women in some regions, such as West Sumatra, Aceh, Makassar, Madura, and others, had long followed Islamic teachings. Unfortunately, this dress was only worn on special occasions (ceremonies) or in religious gatherings (majlis ta’līm). However, Muslim women must always dress modestly, covering their awrah (parts of the body that must be concealed), whenever they are in the presence of men who are not their maḥrām (a close relative whom one cannot marry).

The Revelation of the Command for Muslim Women to Cover

In a hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari from Aisha (RA), it is reported that one day Saudah (one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) left her house for a personal need. Saudah was a tall woman, making her easily recognizable.

At that time, Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) saw her in the marketplace and said, “O Saudah, by Allah, we can recognize you. So, consider why you go out.”

Feeling uncomfortable with Umar’s remark, Saudah quickly returned home. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was at Aisha’s house when Saudah told him what had happened: “O Messenger of Allah, I went out for a need, and Umar reproached me because he recognized me.”

Following this incident, the following verse was revealed to the Prophet:

يٰٓاَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِّاَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنٰتِكَ وَنِسَاۤءِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيْبِهِنَّۗ ذٰلِكَ اَدْنٰىٓ اَنْ يُّعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَۗ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِيْمًا

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments over themselves. That is more suitable so that they will be recognized and not be harmed. And Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Ahzab 33:59)

But after the revelation of this verse, the Prophet told Saudah, “Allah has permitted you to go out for your needs.” (Al-Bukhari 5237)

This verse makes it clear that the order to wear the hijab was to shield Muslim women from harassment. At that time, there was a habit among some immoral men in Madinah to roam around at night in search of women to have immoral relations with. Some women of loose morals would decorate themselves and dress attractively to lure these immoral men.

But after the revelation of Surah Al-Ahzab verse 59, the difference between Muslim women and those of immoral behavior became clear. When men saw women wearing the hijab, they would say, “This is a free woman; do not bother her.” But when they saw women without the hijab, they would say, “This is a slave woman,” and they would harass her.

Later, Surah An-Nur further clarified the rules for Muslim women on modest dress:

وَقُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ يَغۡضُضۡنَ مِنۡ أَبۡصَٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحۡفَظۡنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَاۖ وَلۡيَضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّۖ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ إِخۡوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِيٓ إِخۡوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِيٓ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ أَوۡ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّٰبِعِينَ غَيۡرِ أُوْلِي ٱلۡإِرۡبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفۡلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَظۡهَرُواْ عَلَىٰ عَوۡرَٰتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِۖ وَلَا يَضۡرِبۡنَ بِأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعۡلَمَ مَا يُخۡفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّۚ وَتُوبُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to display their adornment except what ordinarily appears thereof. And let them draw their head coverings over their chests and not reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their fellow women, those whom their right hands possess, male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of women’s private aspects. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.” (Qur’an, Surah An-Nur 24:31)

The Wisdom Behind Wearing the Hijab

First and foremost, wearing the hijab (jilbab) is an act of obedience by a Muslim woman to the command of Allah, the Most Exalted. Allah does not command anything except that it carries benefit and wisdom for His servants.

In this context, the terms hijab and jilbab essentially carry the same meaning and may be used interchangeably. Although some modern discussions attempt to sharply distinguish between the two, both refer to the prescribed modest covering commanded in Islam.

Through wearing the hijab, a Muslim woman expresses her identity as a woman of honor and dignity. She expresses her independence, not only from her own lowly desires that go against the moral standards of Islam, but also from the influences of modern society, which often treats women as objects and targets them as consumers of products that go against the standards of Islam.

In contemporary times, in the Muslim world, the great majority of Muslim women wear the hijab. The Islamic dress has developed into different models and designs, reflecting the diversity of cultures and social growth. Nevertheless, it is important that these clothes conform to the standards of Islam and modesty.

There are several key points to be remembered: the clothes should cover the entire body except for the face and hands; the clothes should be loose-fitting and not transparent, so as not to outline the shape of the body; and most importantly, the clothes should not be worn as a means of self-admiration and competition in fashion and looks. For Muslim women, the intention behind wearing Islamic clothes is solely to seek the pleasure of Allah.

La ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh (There is no power and no strength except through Allah).