Hijab Is A Shield

The Prophet (PBUH) said,

إنَّ الله حَييٌ سِتَّير يُحِبُّ السِتْر

Allah, Most High, is Ha'yeii(1), Sit'teer(2), He loves Haya'(Bashfulness) and Sitr(3) (Shielding; Covering)

The Prophet (PBUH) also said:

إيما إمرأةٌ نَزَعَت ثِيابَها في غير بيتِ أهلِها، خَرَقَ الله عزَّ وجَلَّ عَنها سِتْرِها

"Any woman who takes off her clothes in other than her husband's home (to show off for unlawful purposes). has broken Allah's shield upon her"(4)

The hadeeth demonstrates that depending upon the kind of action committed there will be either reward (if good) or punishment (if bad).

(1) Ha'yeii: Allah is Bashful: He does not unravel the acts of disobedience by His slaves. They openly disobey Allah while they are in need of Him, yet He (being Ha'yeii) is ashamed of humiliating them leaving the door of repentance opened for them. If, however, they become arrogant and persist on the spread of evil, and disobedience, Allah certainly is All-Just in His infliction of punishment.

(2) Sit'teer: Allah is Sit'teer: He provides means that shield against the uncovering of disobedient acts. The slaves commit acts of disobedience while Allah is providing them with many of His favors. He (SW) gives the opportunity for each one of us to return to Him in repentance and to seek His forgiveness. He loves those who do not like the spread of sin. He dislikes the Muslim who publicizes his acts of sin and disobedience. He loves the Muslim who does not unravel the sins of his brother in Islam while at the same time calls him to repent. The Hijab is something beloved by Allaah because it is a shield against the spread of evil manifested in the display of beauty to strangers.

(3) Collected by Abu Dawoud, An-Nissa'ee, AI-Baihaqee, Ahmed, and in Sahih An-Nissa'ee.

(4) Collected by Abu Dawoud and At-Tirmidhi who said: it is a good hadith".