মুসলমান, মৌলবাদ এবং সন্ত্রাস – ১

প্রশ্ন:
অনেক মুসলমান কেন মৌলবাদী এবং সন্ত্রাসী?

উত্তর:
This question is often hurled at Muslims, either directly or indirectly, during any discussion on religion or world affairs. Muslim stereotypes are perpetuated in every form of the media accompanied by gross misinformation about Islam and Muslims.  In  fact,  such  misinformation  and  false  propaganda  often  leads  to discrimination and acts of violence against Muslims.

A case in point is the anti-Muslim campaign in the American media following the Oklahoma bomb blast, where the press was quick to declare a ‘Middle Eastern conspiracy’ behind the attack. The culprit was later identified as a soldier from the American Armed Forces.

Let  us  analyze  this  allegation  of  ‘fundamentalism’  and  ‘terrorism’:

১. ‘মৌলবাদী’  শব্দটির সংজ্ঞা

A fundamentalist is a person who follows and adheres to the fundamentals of the doctrine or theory he is following. For a person to be a good doctor, he should know, follow, and practice the fundamentals of medicine. In other words, he should be a fundamentalist in the field of medicine. For a person to be a good
mathematician,  he  should  know,  follow  and  practice  the  fundamentals  of mathematics. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of mathematics. For a person  to  be  a  good  scientist,  he  should  know,  follow  and  practice  the fundamentals of science. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of science.

২. সকল ‘মৌলবাদী’ ই এক নয়

One  cannot  paint  all  fundamentalists  with  the  same  brush.  One  cannot categorize all fundamentalists as either good or bad. Such a categorization of any  fundamentalist  will  depend  upon  the  field  or  activity  in  which  he  is  a fundamentalist. A fundamentalist robber or thief causes harm to society and is
therefore  undesirable.  A  fundamentalist  doctor,  on  the  other  hand,  benefits society and earns much respect.

৩. একজন মুসলমান মৌলবাদী হিসেবে আমি গর্বিত

I am a fundamentalist Muslim who, by the grace of Allah, knows, follows and strives to practice the fundamentals of Islam. A true Muslim does not shy away
from being a fundamentalist. I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim because I know that the fundamentals of Islam are beneficial to humanity and the whole
world. There is not a single fundamental of Islam that causes harm or is against the  interests  of  the  human  race  as  a  whole.  Many  people  harbour
misconceptions about Islam and consider several teachings of Islam to be unfair or improper. This is due to insufficient and incorrect knowledge of Islam. If one
critically analyzes the teachings of Islam with an open mind, one cannot escape the fact that Islam is full of benefits both at the individual and collective levels.

৪. ‘মৌলবাদী’  শব্দটি সম্পর্কে ডিকশনারি কী বলে?

According  to  Webster’s  dictionary  ‘fundamentalism’  was  a  movement  in American Protestanism that arose in the earlier part of the 20th century. It was a reaction  to  modernism,  and  stressed  the  infallibility  of  the  Bible,  not  only  in matters of faith and morals but also as a literal historical record. It stressed on
belief in the Bible as the literal word of God. Thus fundamentalism was a word initially  used  for  a  group  of  Christians  who  believed  that  the  Bible  was  the verbatim  word  of  God  without  any  errors  and  mistakes.

According to the Oxford dictionary ‘fundamentalism’ means ‘strict maintenance of ancient  or  fundamental  doctrines  of  any  religion,  especially  Islam’.

Today the moment a person uses the word fundamentalist he thinks of a Muslim who is a terrorist.

৫. প্রত্যেক মুসলমানের সন্ত্রাসী হওয়া উচিত

Every Muslim should be a terrorist. A terrorist is a person who causes terror. The moment a robber sees a policeman he is terrified. A policeman is a terrorist for the  robber.  Similarly  every  Muslim  should  be  a  terrorist  for  the  antisocial elements of society, such as thieves, dacoits and rapists. Whenever such an
anti-social element sees a Muslim, he should be terrified.

It is true that the word ‘terrorist’ is generally used for a person who causes terror among the common people. But a true Muslim should only be a terrorist to selective

people i.e. anti-social elements, and not to the common innocent people. In fact a Muslim should be a source of peace for innocent people.

৬. একই লোক – একই মানুষ কিন্তু দুইটি পরিচয়; যেমন- ‘দেশপ্রেমিক’ ও ‘সন্ত্রাসী’

Before India achieved independence from British rule; some freedom fighters of India who did not subscribe to non-violence were labeled as terrorists by the British government. The same individuals have been lauded by Indians for the same activities and hailed as ‘patriots’. Thus two different labels have been given
to the same people for the same set of actions. One is calling him a terrorist while the other is calling him a patriot.

Those who believed that Britain had a right to rule over India called these people terrorists, while those who were of the view that Britain had no right to rule India called them patriots and freedom fighters.

It is therefore important that before a person is judged, he is given a fair hearing. Both sides of the argument should be heard, the situation should be analyzed, and the reason and the intention of the person should be taken into account, and then  the  person  can  be  judged  accordingly.

৭. ইসলাম অর্থ শান্তি

Islam is derived from the word ‘salaam’ which means peace. It is a religion of peace whose fundamentals teach its followers to maintain and promote peace throughout the world.

Thus  every  Muslim  should  be  a  fundamentalist  i.e.  he  should  follow  the fundamentals  of  the  Religion  of  Peace:  Islam.  He  should  be  a  terrorist  only towards the antisocial elements in order to promote peace and justice in the society.

কুরআন বলে যে “মায়ের গর্ভের সন্তান ছেলে না মেয়ে তা কি শুধু আল্লাহ ই জানেন” — এর ব্যাখ্যা কি?

Question:
The Qur’an says that only Allah knows the sex of the child in the womb of the mother but now science has advanced and we can easily determine the sex of the child in the womb by ultrasonography. Isn’t this verse of the Qur’an conflicting with medical science?

Answer:

Allah is Omnipotent and Omniscient. Allah has granted knowledge of certain things to humankind. But Allah has knowledge of the seen as well as the unseen.

1. Allah has knowledge of all things

Many people believe that the Qur’an claims that Allah alone knows the sex of the child in the mother’s womb. The Glorious Qur’an says:

“Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone). It is He who sends down Rain, and He who knows what is in the wombs….”
[Al-Qur’an 31:34]

A similar message is given in the following verse:

“Allah doth know what every female (womb) doth bear, By how much the wombs fall short (of their time or number) or do exceed. Every single thing is before His sight, in (due) proportion.”
[Al-Qur’an 13:8]

2. Sex can be determined by Ultrasonography

Today science has advanced and we can easily determine the sex of the child in the womb of a pregnant mother, using ultrasonography.

3. The word ‘sex’ is not mentioned in the verse of the Qur’an

It is true that many translations and commentaries of this verse of the Glorious Qur’an say that only Allah knows the sex of the child in the mother’s womb. If you read the Arabic text of this verse, there is no Arabic word corresponding to the English word ‘sex’. In fact the Qur’an says the knowledge of what is in the womb is with Allah alone. Many commentators have misunderstood it to mean only Allah knows the sex of the child in the womb, which is a mistake.

4. No one besides Allah can determine the nature of the child

This verse does not refer to the sex of the child in the womb but it refers to, how the child in the mother’s womb will be. How will his nature be? Will he be a blessing or a curse to his parents? Will he be a boon or a bane to the society? Will he be good or evil? Will he go to heaven or hell? The complete knowledge of all things is with Allah alone. No scientist in the world, no matter how advanced his equipment, will ever be able to accurately determine the knowledge of these things about the child in the mother’s womb.

কুরআন বলে যে ‘পৃথিবী সমতল’ — এটা কি সত্য ?

Question
Qur’an says that Allah has made the earth for you as a carpet. This gives an indication that the earth is flat. Does this not contradict established modern science?

Answer

1. Earth made as a carpet

The question refers to a verse from the Qur’an in Surah Nuh:

“And Allah has made the earth for you as a carpet (spread out).”
[Al-Qur’an 71:19]

But the sentence in the above verse is not complete. It continues in the next verse, explaining the previous verse. It says:

“That ye may go about therein, in spacious roads.”
[Al-Qur’an 71:20]

A similar message is repeated in Surah TaHa:

“He Who has made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about therein by roads (and channels)….”
[Al-Qur’an 20:53]

The surface of the earth i.e. earth’s crust is less than 30 miles in thickness and is very thin as compared to the radius of the earth which is about 3750 miles. The deeper layers of the earth are very hot, fluid and hostile to any form of life. The earth’s crust is a solidified shell on which we can live. The Qur’an rightly refers to it like a carpet spread out, so that we can travel along its roads and paths.

2. Carpet can also be spread on other than an absolute flat surface

Not a single verse of the Qur’an says that the earth is flat. The Qur’an only compares the earth’s crust with a carpet. Some people seem to think that carpet can only be put on an absolute flat surface. It is possible to spread a carpet on a large sphere such as the earth. It can easily be demonstrated by taking a huge model of the earth’s globe covering it with a carpet.

Carpet is generally put on a surface, which is not very comfortable to walk on. The Qur’an describes the earth crust as a carpet, without which human beings would not be able to survive because of the hot, fluid and hostile environment beneath it. The Qur’an is thus not only logical, it is mentioning a scientific fact that was discovered by geologists centuries later.

3. Earth has been spread out

Similarly, the Qur’an says in several verses that the earth has been spread out.

“And We have spread out the (spacious) earth: how excellently We do spread out!”
[Al-Qur’an 51:48]

Similarly the Qur’an also mentions in several other verses that the earth is an expanse:

“Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse”
“And the mountains as pegs?”
[Al-Qur’an 78:6-7]

None of these verses of the Qur’an contain even the slightest implication that the earth is flat. It only indicates that the earth is spacious and the reason for this spaciousness of the earth is mentioned. The Glorious Qur’an says:

“O My servants who believe! truly. spacious is My Earth: therefore serve ye Me –(And Me alone)!”
[Al-Qur’an 29:56]

Therefore none can give the excuse, that he could not do good and was forced to do evil because of the surroundings and circumstances.

4. Earth is geospherical in shape

The Qur’an mentions the actual shape of the earth in the following verse:

“And we have made the earth egg shaped”.
[Al-Qur’an 79:30]

The Arabic word Dahaha means egg shaped. It also means an expanse. Dahaha is derived from Duhiya which specifically refers to the egg of an ostrich which is geospherical in shape, exactly like the shape of the earth.

Thus the Qur’an and modern established science are in perfect harmony.

হুর সম্পর্কিত ভ্রান্ত ধারণা

The Qur’an has mentioned the word ‘Hoor’, in no less than 4 diffrent places.

1. Surah Dukhan Ch. No. 44, Verse No. 54
So; and We shall join them to Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes.

2. Surah Tur, in Ch. No. 52, Verse No. 20,
They will recline (with ease) on Thrones (of dignity) arranged in ranks; and We shall join them to Companions, with beautiful big and lustrous eyes.

3. Surah Rehman, Ch. No. 55, Verse No. 72,
Companions restrained (as to5218 their glances), in (goodly) pavilions;

4. Surah Waqia, Ch. No.56, Verse No. 22,
And (there will be) Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes,

The above translations are by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
His comments about the Hur is –
“Hur implies the following ideas: (1) purity; possibly the word Hawariyun, as applied to the first Disciples of Jesus, is connected with this root; (2) beauty, especially of eyes, where the intense white of the eyeballs stands out against the intense black of the pupil, thus giving the appearance of lustre, and intense feeling: as opposed to dullness or want of expression; and (3) truth and good will.”

But many of the translations, specially the Urdu translations have translated the word ‘Hoor’, as beautiful maiden. If the word ‘Hoor’, means a beautiful maiden, then what will the woman get, in Paradise?

Actually the word ‘Hoor’, is a plural for ‘Ahwar’, which is applicable to the man, and ‘Hawar’, which is applicable to the women. And it signifies the characteristic of ‘Hawar’, which means ‘big, white beautiful eye’, and describes especially, the whiteness of the eye.

The similar thing is mentioned as ‘Azwajur Muthaharin’ in many places in the Qur’an, in Surah Baqrah, Ch. No. 2, Verse No. 25, and in Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 57 – It says… ‘Azwajur Muthaharin’, which means companion, pair.

So the word ‘Hoor’, is rightly translated by Mohammed Asad as… ‘Spouse’ and also by Abdullah Yusuf Ali… Abdullah Yusuf Ali as… ‘Companion’ – So ‘Hoor’ actually means a ‘Companion’ or a ‘Spouse’ – It has no gender. For the man, he will get a good lady with big beautiful eyes – and for a woman, she will get a good man with big beautiful eyes.

So please don’t try to misguide others with the wrong translation and mis-interpretation of the verses. If something seems to be wrong to you then consult others to get the right thing. Please don’t be biased… try to learn with open mind and positive approach.

N.B.1
the writing is taken from Dr. Zakir Naik’s lecture, “Women’s Right in Islam”

মুসলমানেরা অমুসলিমদের ‘কাফির’ বলে গালি দেয় কেন?

Kafir means one who rejects.

‘Kafir’ is derived from the word ‘kufr’, which means to conceal or to reject. In Islamic terminology, ‘Kafir’ means one who conceals or rejects the truth of Islam and a person who rejects Islam is in English called a ‘non-Muslim’. So, Kafir means non-muslim which is not an abuse at all.

For example, if a Hindu calls a Muslim a non-hindu, is it an abuse to that muslim person? Surely not. Similar for all other religions.

So, if a ‘non-Muslim’ considers being called a ‘non-Muslim’ or ‘Kafir’, which are one and the same, an abuse, it is due to his misunderstanding about Islam.  He or she needs to reach out to proper sources of understanding Islam and Islamic terminology. Then he or she will not feel abused but appreciate Islam in the proper perspective.

ইসলাম যদি সর্বশ্রেষ্ঠ ধর্ম হয় তবে অনেক মুসলমান বিভিন্ন অন্যায় কাজে লিপ্ত কেন?

1. Media maligns Islam

a. Islam is without doubt the best religion but the media is in the hands of the westerners who are afraid of Islam. The media is continuously broadcasting and printing information against Islam. They either provide misinformation about Islam, misquote Islam or project a point out of proportion, if any.

b. When any bomb blasts take place anywhere, the first people to be accused without proof are invariably the Muslims. This appears as headlines in the news. Later, when they find that non-Muslims were responsible, it appears as an insignificant news’ item.

c. If a 50 year old Muslim marries a 15 year old girl after taking her permission, it appears on the front page but when a 50 year old non-Muslim rapes a 6 year old girl, it may appear in the news in the inside pages as ‘Newsbriefs’. Everyday in America on an average 2,713 cases of rape take place but it doesn’t appear in the news, since it has become a way of life for the Americans.

2. Black sheep in every community:

I am aware that there are some Muslims who are dishonest, unreliable, who cheat, etc. but the media projects this as though only Muslims are involved in such activities. There are black sheep in every community. I know Muslims who are alcoholics and who can drink most of the non-Muslims under the table.

3. Muslims best as a whole:

Inspite of all the black sheep in the Muslim community, Muslims taken on the whole, yet form the best community in the world. We are the biggest community of tee-totallers as a whole, i.e. those who don’t imbibe alcohol. Collectively, we are a community which gives the maximum charity in the world. There is no community as a whole in the world which can show even a candle to the Muslims where modesty is concerned; where sobriety is concerned; where human values and ethics are concerned.

4. Don’t judge a car by its driver:

If you want to judge how good is the latest model of the “Mercedes” car and a person who does not know how to drive sits at the steering wheel and bangs up the car, who will you blame? The car or the driver? But naturally, the driver. To analyze how good the car is, a person should not look at the driver but see the ability and features of the car. How fast is it, what is its average fuel consumption, what are the safety measures, etc. Even if I agree for the sake of argument that the Muslims are bad, we can’t judge Islam by its followers? If you want to judge how good Islam is then judge it according to its authentic sources, i.e. the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith.

5. Judge Islam by its best follower i.e. Prophet Mohammed (pbuh):

If you practically want to check how good a car is put an expert driver behind the steering wheel. Similarly the best and the most exemplary follower of Islam by whom you can check how good Islam is, is the last and final messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Besides Muslims, there are several honest and unbiased non-Muslim historians who have acclaimed that prophet Muhammad was the best human being. According to Michael H. Hart who wrote the book, ‘The Hundred Most Influential Men in History’, the topmost position, i.e. the number one position goes to the beloved prophet of Islam, Muhammad (pbuh). There are several such examples of non-Muslims paying great tributes to the prophet, like Thomas Carlyle, La-Martine, etc.

ইসলামী আইনে কেন মেয়েরা ছেলেদের তুলনায় অর্ধেক সম্পদ পায়?

1. Inheritance in the Qur’an

The Glorious Qur’an contains specific and detailed guidance regarding the division of the inherited wealth, among the rightful beneficiaries.
The Qur’anic verses that contain guidance regarding inheritance are:
* Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse 180
* Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse 240
* Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 7-9
* Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 19
* Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 33 and
* Surah Maidah, chapter 5 verse 106-108

2. Specific share of inheritance for the relatives

There are three verses in the Qur’an that broadly describe the share of close relatives i.e. Surah Nisah chapter 4 verses 11, 12 and 176. The translation of these verses are as follows:

“Allah (thus) directs you as regards your children’s (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females, if only daughters, two ormore, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; If only one, her share is a half.

For parents, a sixth share of the inheritance to each, if the deceased left children; If no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers (or sisters) the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye know not whether your parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit. These are settled portions ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

In what your wives leave, your share is half. If they leave no child; but if they leave a child, ye get a fourth; after payment of legacies and debts. In what ye leave, their share is a fourth, if ye leave no child; but if ye leave a child, they get an eight; after payment of legacies and debts. If the man or woman whose inheritance is in question, has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or a sister, each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more than two, they share in a third; after payment of legacies and debts; so that no loss is caused (to anyone). Thus it is ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowing Most Forbearing” –[Al-Qur’an 4:11-12]

“They ask thee for a legal decision. Say: Allah directs (them) about those who leave no descendants or ascendants as heirs. If it is a man that dies, leaving a sister but no child, she shall have half the inheritance. If (such a deceased was) a woman who left no child, Her brother takes her inheritance. If there are two sisters, they shall have two thirds of the inheritance (between them). If there are brothers and sisters, (they share), the male having twice the share of the female. Thus doth Allah (swt) makes clear to you (His knowledge of all things).” –[Al-Qur’an 4:176]

3. Female some times inherits same or more than male counter part

In most of the cases, a woman inherits half of what her male counterpart inherits. However, this is not always the case. In case the deceased has left no ascendant or descendent but has left the uterine brother and sister, each of the two inherit one sixth.

If the deceased has left children, both the parents that is mother and father get an equal share and inherit one sixth each. In certain cases, a woman can also inherit a share that is double that of the male. If the deceased is a woman who has left no children, brothers or sisters and is survived only by her husband, mother and father, the husband inherits half the property while the mother inherits one third and the father the remaining one sixth. In this particular case, the mother inherits a share that is double that of the father.

4. Female usually inherits half the share of that of the male counter part

It is true that as a general rule, in most cases, the female inherits a share that is half that of the male. For instance in the following cases:

a. daughter inherits half of what the son inherits,
b. wife inherits 1/8th and husband 1/4th if the deceased has no children.
c. Wife inherits 1/4th and husband 1/2 if the deceased has children
d. If the deceased has no ascendant or descendent, the sister inherits a share that is half that of the brother
5. Male inherits double than the female because he financially supports the family

In Islam a woman has no financial obligation and the economical responsibility lies on the shoulders of the man. Before a woman is married it is the duty of the father or brother to look after the lodging, boarding, clothing and other financial requirements of the woman. After she is married it is the duty of the husband or the son.

Islam holds the man financially responsible for fulfilling the needs of his family. In order to do be able to fulfill the responsibility the men get double the share of the inheritance.

For example, if a man dies leaving about Rs. One Hundred and Fifty Thousand, for the children (i.e one son and one daughter) the son inherits One Hundred Thousand rupees and the daughter only Fifty Thousand rupees. Out of the one hundred thousand which the son inherits, as his duty towards his family, he may have to spend on them almost the entire amount or say about eighty thousand and thus he has a small percentage of inheritance, say about twenty thousand, left for himself. On the other hand, the daughter, who inherits fifty thousand is not bound to spend a single penny on anybody. She can keep the entire amount for herself. Would you prefer inheriting one hundred thousand rupees and spending eighty thousand from it, or inheriting fifty thousand rupees and having the entire amount to yourself?

দুঃখ, দুর্দশা ও হতাশাকে জয় করার শিক্ষা

হযরত মুহাম্মাদ (সঃ) নিম্নোক্ত দু’আ আমাদেরকে শিখিয়েছেন যা আমাদের হতাশা, দুঃখ, দুঃশ্চিন্তা দূর করতে সাহায্য করবে ইনশাআল্লাহ -

1.
O Allah, I am Your servent, son of Your servent, son of Your maid servent, my foreluck in Your hand, Your decree over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You named Yourself with or revealed it in Your book or You taught it to any of Your servent (any of Your creation) or You have preserved it in the knowledge of the unseen with You that You make the Quran the life of my heart, the light of my chest and the departure for my sorrow and the release for my anxiety.
১।
হে আল্লাহ, আমি তোমার বান্দা, তোমার এক বান্দা ও এক বান্দীর সন্তান, আমার ভাগ্য তোমার হাতে, আমার জন্য তোমার বিধান পূর্ব নির্ধারিত এবং তা অবশ্যই ন্যায় ও সঠিক; আমি তোমার সেইসব নাম ধরে প্রার্থনা করছি, যেসব নাম তুমি নিজেকে দিয়েছ অথবা তোমার গ্রন্থে প্রকাশ করেছ অথবা তোমার কোন সৃষ্টিকে শিখিয়েছ অথবা তোমার অপ্রকাশিত জ্ঞান ভান্ডারে সংরক্ষিত রেখেছ; আমি প্রার্থনা করছি যে তুমি পবিত্র কুরআনকে আমার আন্তরের নূর বানিয়ে দাও এবং তা যেন আমার দুঃখকে দূরীভূত করে ও সমস্ত উৎকন্ঠার অবসান ঘটায়।

2.
We all belong to allah and we shall return to him; O allah, reward me with my sorrows and replace it with a better one.
২।
আমরা সবাই আল্লাহর অধিকারভুক্ত এবং সবাইকে তাঁরই কাছে ফিরে যেতে হবে; হে আল্লাহ, আপনি আমার দুঃখকে আশীর্বাদে পরিণত করুন এবং আরো ভাল ফল আমাকে দান করুন।

বিঃদ্রঃ
উপরের দু’আ দুটো Ahmad Shehab প্রদত্ত ভাষণ “Tragedy Awating You: Turn it into Blessings” থেকে নেয়া।
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পুরুষের জন্য পর্দা (হিজাব)

হিজাব বা পর্দার কথা আসলে আমরা সাধারণত মহিলাদের কথাই ভাবি। কিন্তু মহান আল্লাহ পবিত্র কুরআনে প্রথমে পুরুষের জন্য এবং তারপর মহিলাদের জন্য হিজাবের কথা বলেছেন -

সুরা নূর এর আয়াত ৩০ এ আল্লাহ বলেন -
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.” –[Al-Quran, 24:30]

অতএব ইচ্ছাকৃতভাবে কোন মেয়ে বা মহিলার দিকে তাকানো মোটেই ঠিক নয়। সকল মুসলমান ভাইদের অবশ্য কর্তব্য মহান আল্লাহর এ আদেশ মেনে চলা।

পরবর্তী আয়াত এ আল্লাহ বলেন
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons…” –[Al-Quran, 24:31]

অতএব মহিলাদেরও উচিত মহান আল্লাহর এ আদেশ যথাযথভাবে মেনে চলা।

কুরান ও সুন্নাহ অনুসারে হিজাবের ৬ টি দিক রয়েছে

১. পুরুষের জন্য (কমপক্ষে) নাভি থেকে হাঁটু পর্যন্ত এবং মহিলাদের জন্য সমস্ত শরীর (মুখমণ্ডল ও হাতের কবজি ব্যাতীত) ঢেকে রাখা

বাকি ৫ টি দিক পুরুষ ও নারীর জন্য একই

২. ঢিলাঢালা পোষাক পরা
৩. স্বচ্ছ পোষাক না পরা
৪. এমন পোষাক না পরা যা অন্যকে আকৃষ্ট করে
৫. পুরুষের জন্য মহিলাদের পোষাক এবং মহিলাদের জন্য পুরুষের পোষাক পরা নিষেধ
৬. অন্য ধর্মাবলম্বীদের পরিচয় বহনকারী কোন কিছু না পরা

তবে শুধু পোষাকেই নয়, আমাদের আচার-ব্যবহার, চাল-চলন সর্বক্ষেত্রেই হিজাব অপরিহার্য।

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Hijab for Men

Hijab for men

People usually only discuss ‘hijab’ in the context of women. However, in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijab’ for men before ‘hijab’ for the women.

The Qur’an mentions in Surah Noor:
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.” [Al-Qur’an 24:30]

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

Hijab for women

The next verse of Surah Noor, says:
“ And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they
should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons…” [Al-Qur’an 24:31]

Six criteria for Hijab
According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing hijab:

1. Extent:

The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male is to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the extent of covering obligatory is to cover the complete body except the face and the hands upto the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body. Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands are part of the obligatory extent of ‘hijab’. All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.
2. The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.
3. The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see through them.
4. The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.
5. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.
6. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they should not wear clothes that are   specifically identities or symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.

Hijab includes conduct and behaviour

Complete ‘hijab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijab’ of the eyes, ‘hijab’ of the
heart, ‘hijab’ of thought and ‘hijab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.