INTRODUCTION
ALL praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, the MostMerciful, the Beneficent, and the Master of the Day of Judgment. O Allah! Have Your
Salat
(1)
and
Salam
(peace) and blessing upon Your slave and Messenger Muhammad andupon all of his companions
.
Extraordinary consideration has been given by the IslamicLaw to women's affairs. Such consideration is sufficient to protect her chastity, to honor her and to secure her position inlife. The "restrictions" placed upon her regarding her dress andthe display of her beauty and ornament is only to guardagainst all ways of corruption arising from such dazzlingdisplays. What Islam has established
is not a restriction
onthe freedom of women
but is a firm protection
for her fromfalling down to the lowest levels of humility.In this work, we mention the virtues of a critical aspect of this protection: the
HIJAB
. The characteristics of the Hijab arediscussed, bringing the glad tidings promised (by Allah) tothose women adhering to it. We also point out the danger of dazzling displays of ornaments and beauty as well as theterrible repercussions in this life and in the hereafter for thosewho practice
Tabar'roj.
This is the second edition of this book. It comes at a timewhen more women are throwing away their revealing clothes,and wearing the Hijab. It goes to print when Muslim womenare being raped and tom in their Hijabs in "civilized" Europe
(2)
!and when France
(3)
prevents Muslim women from wearing theHijab at school. These are times of trials for Muslims and particularly for Muslim women. We all have to remember the