The Islamic modest clothing known as the hijab, which conceals the body's natural features and attractive areas, offers a number of well-known positive aspects. Both men and women must adhere to the Islamic modest dress code since it is a divine command that is required of all Muslims. The scientific aspects of wearing a hijab will be briefly covered in this short article.
Let's first take a quick look at the verses in the Qur'an where Allah orders believers, both men and women, to uphold specific moral standards in their daily lives:
﴿ قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴾
Say to the believing men that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts; that is purer for them; surely Allah is Aware of what they do. [24:30]
﴿ وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَىٰ عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِنْ زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴾
And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or those whom their right hands possess, or the male servants not having need (of women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of what is hidden of women; and let them not strike their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may be known; and turn to Allah all of you, O believers! so that you may be successful. [24:31]
Allah mandates the following in these verses (underlined):
1) For believing men and women, conceal your appearance and protect your privates parts.
2) For believing women:
A) To keep their jewellery, ornaments hidden (with exceptions).
B) Avoid striking their feet until their ornaments is discovered.
One recurrent instruction for both men and women is to "cast down their appearance," and women are also not to "show" their jewelry. What connection does this have to the hijab's mandate? What relevance does this have to the purpose of the hijab? In a society where there is no such thing as a modest clothing code, what impact may "keeping down" one's appearance have? Let's address it scientifically.
With more than 100 billion neurons, the human nervous system is a computer that was divinely created. Scientists have not yet been able to precisely determine the exact storage capacity and processing speed of even a single neuron, which makes these neurons similar to very complex microchips.
The brain gets information from sensory organs including the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and so on. This data is subsequently processed and stored in various brain regions that are linked together and serve as the foundation for further mental processes, the growth of fresh concepts, decision-making, and the production of physical activities. As a result, the brain's input and output typically coincide. The most startling statistic is that the human brain receives more than 80% of all sensory information only through the eyes.
Controlling the input of sensory stimuli from the eyes can therefore have a significant impact on the nervous system's overall performance as well as subsequent tasks like memory, analysis of stored information, thought processing, learning, and emotional and social aspects related to received information.
The processing and storage of all information in the proper brain regions so that it may be accurately and quickly retrieved in the future is a key function of neurons. The last phase is dependent on the one before it and results in the output that is visible in the form of words, behavior, and physical activities. Therefore, if the brain receives erroneous or improper sensory input, the neurons will store and process that information, which will result in negative ideas, thoughts, and ultimately terrible words and behaviors.
A simple model of it is presented in figure below:
Therefore, when there is a surplus of provocative impulses in the environment, particularly from the eyes and visual system, appropriate aggressive and provocative statements, behaviors, and actions result. The tendency for vulnerable people and young, immature minds that lack proper training and self-control and cannot handle the sensory information entering their brains is to instinctively produce words, behaviors, and actions that are consistent with the sensory input.
For instance, children or teenagers who watch violent movies or play video games with violent themes engage in comparable types of aggressive and impulsive conduct.
The majority of sensory information in today's world enters the eyes through unique environmental scenes at events like parties, gatherings, and university settings, interactions between men and women at work and in other settings, and exposure to media like movies and television, magazines, TV and computer screens, iPod and mobile phone screens, and other similar gadgets.
The information cannot be avoided from entering the brain unless a person actively chooses not to expose himself to a particular environment, controls his eyes and where he looks, or actively blocks the unwelcome information from entering his brain.
This is far more challenging in societies without modest dress codes or where liberal culture is predominant since the brain is constantly bombarded with sensory cues. The only option for the males and females in this situation to prevent their thoughts from becoming tainted is to control their sight.
Additionally, women can prevent provocative sensory input from reaching a man's brain by behaving modestly and decently, wearing an unprovocative, loose, and simple dress that perfectly conceals body contour and attractive spots, and engaging in the least amount of social interaction that could have negative emotional or social repercussions.
In Western civilizations, aggression and sexual assault against girls and women are a common occurrence and are acknowledged as such as being a part of Western culture. In the US, Europe, and other liberal democracies, about 98% of women experience sexual violence by the age of 21.
These communities have adjusted to the unjust and degrading treatment of women, which is accepted as a normal aspect of life in these countries. If a victim requires immediate assistance, there are emergency phone numbers available. There are also particular centers to deal with sexual abuse and treat individuals who suffer on a daily basis. NGOs or various governmental groups also help the girls and women who have been the victims of sexual assault.
However, the fundamental problem mentioned earlier in this essay, namely managing the environmental cues that result in these crimes against women in the form of output, has not been addressed by these civilizations. Islamic guidelines regarding appropriate clothing for women and the control of one's gaze serve as effective filters to prevent the brain from being exposed to enticing stimuli and keep it safe from becoming corrupted by obstructing all of the previously described steps. As a result, the brain does not comprehend negative thoughts and ideas, store negative stimuli as memories, or build undesirable emotional or social ties. Thus, the result is manifested in the form of well-regulated, logical, and controlled speech, conduct, and action.
Perhaps for this reason, Qur'anic verses addressing the hijab or Islamic dress code say that these actions—looking down and shielding oneself—will result in cleanliness for believing men. The majority of stimulating stimuli are generated by women, thus for believing women and men, it is eternal success [by not exposing their jewels, according to the dress code and so defending themselves]. If Islamic dress code and Islamic precepts for proper behavior are followed, a society can truly become forever successful, safe for women, and pure for both men and women.
"Whenever the eye looks at something forbidden, a knot of desire is tied in the person's heart, and that knot will only be untied by one of two conditions: either by weeping out of grief or regret in true repentance, or by taking possession of what one desired and looked at," said Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (as).
If eyes aren't turned toward what is illegally exposed in the name of liberalism, modernity, and fashion to be seen, inciting lust in men, and if women understand that adhering to Islamic modest dress is in their own interest and for their protection, then undoubtedly many crimes and illegal actions against women can be prevented.
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Credit: Amuda Rasheed A™.
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