THE HIJAB PALAVER

It is the norms of polytechnics for ND’s (National Diploma students) to undergo a year Industrial Training (IT) program in any well established firm before coming back for their HND (Higher National Diploma). For those in the university, depending on their department and school, they go for their industrial training in the second year of their studies.

The purpose of this IT is for the students to be exposed to practical experiences in his/ her field of study to enhance his/her understanding of the profession. But what has Hijab (head cover) done wrong to this program?

It’s all about a female colleague of mine who,
after sending her IT letter to the firm, was called for an interview. After several minutes of interview where she proves to be qualified for the training was told:

“CAN U REMOVE YOUR HIJAB?”.

No sir,.

I am sorry, for you to have your industrial training here, you must comply with our dress code: no Hijab, no ……

That is just the issue of industrial training. If I start writing about the issues of job placement itself, it will run over a very long number of lines and will be difficult to read all at one sitting.

I asked myself, what has the Hijab got to do with her working with them there? Does that mean she covered her senses or what? Are you telling me she cannot work with her Hijab on her head? can't an hijabite who has been educated and trained on how to use the computer effectively work on the system with her head cover? There must be probably something hidden about their avoidance of Hijabites in their company, I thought as much.

They must be using these ladies for advertisement since they do not recognize what a sin is. Today, in our own time, one pathetic fact about sin is that it is being repackaged with alluring names and beautiful slogans so that the sinners psyche is gradually relieved or the burden of guilt. Is female nudity not called a fashion style? Is interest not called profit? Is intermingling of sexes not called women liberation? Is musical lyrics not called entertainment? Is stealing not called misappropriation of funds?

The word ‘immoral’ is replaced with the phrase sexually active, ‘homosexual’ with gay, ‘adultery’ with extra marital affair and ‘fornication’ with fun. OH!, she(the Hijabite) is modest! she gives no room for all of these. no wonder! What a mess!

Since this IT letter from the firms is required by the school for your HND, you are no doubt still a student. Are these world destroyers above the national constitution? or are they not aware of it? no! they do! They ultimately rubbishthe constitution by placing their companies’ constitutions over the nation’s constitution which is said to be:

“’SUPREME’- That is, the highest law in the country, and every individual of whatever status or position must conform or abide by its provisions.”

If it is actually followed, the Hijab sister, who has chosen to be chaste and dress morally shouldn’t be told to remove her Hijab, because according to the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, Section 38 subsection (1),

“Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom either alone or in community with others and in public or in private to manifest and propagate this religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”

The individuals have right to profess, propagate and practice their religions without let or hindrance from any quarters, saved for secret society.

What a pity for my dear sister. Simply because she’s trying to be a submissive servant of God and complying with the injunctions and dictates of the holy book, Qur'an, Was denied what she qualifies for:

In Q33 VS 59

“O prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves part of their jilbaab. That is more suitable that they will be known (as chaste believing women) and not be abused. And ever is Allah forgiving and merciful.”

The jilbaab, is defined as a cloak covering the head and reaching to the ground, thereby covering the woman’s entire body.

Q24 VS 31 talks more

“and tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment (both natural beauty, such as hair or body shape, and that with which a woman beautifies herself of clothing, jewelry etc) except that which (necessarily) appears thereof and to wrap (a  portion of) their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment (beauty) except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers,  their brothers’ son, their sisters’ son, their women, that which their right hands possess (slaves) or those male attendants having no physical desire or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.”

From the second source of the Islamic jurisprudence, the Hadith, Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The woman is ‘Awrah’”

This is a clear-cut proof that every part of a woman is Awrah (i.e. must be covered) in front of male strangers whether that includes her face or any other part of her body. In fact, her face and hands have the most right to be covered since they are the areas that are sought after by men and the places of enticement from women.

Imam Ahmad Ibn Hambal (may Allah be pleased with him) understood well the aforementioned Hadeeth of Ibn Mas’ood, as he said:

“A woman’s fingernail is Awrah i.e. it must be covered. so when she goes out from her home, she must not reveal any part of herself, not even her khuff (socks), for the khuff describes the foot. What is preferred, in my opinion, is that she put a button on her sleeve where her hand is, so that nothing could be exposed from her.” (Four essays on the obligation of veiling, sheikh Zayd Ibn Muhammad Ibn Haadee Al Madkhalee.)

(As opposed to what the ignorant say that “wearing Hijab is the Arab culture”).

TO THE SISTERS: now that you know the challenges out there for you, you need not quit (for winners never quit) but study hard as much as you can.. trust me, there's hope, for the path to greatness is basically rough,tortuous, and in most cases, long.

TO THE EMPLOYER: This is unfair. you had better stop the discrimination before the wrath of their lord descend on you!! I talk my own o!!!

ENUF IS ENUF!!!

Join us in promoting d NOBLE CAUSE of Allah.

 "SAY NO TO DISCRIMINATION"

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