Hijab and Family Life

Allah (swt) has created human beings to act as His vicegerents on earth and, like all other forms of living beings, human beings cannot be complete unless they are in a pair.

This is incomparable to Allah (swt) Who indeed has no need of a partner.

Even the most perfect human being is in need of a partner.

Allah (swt) says in the Holy Qur’an:

And of His Signs is that He created for you mates from your own selves that you may take comfort in them and He ordained affection and mercy between you.

There are indeed signs in that for a people who reflect. (30:21)

One of the signs of Allah (swt)’s wise creation is that He has created spouses for us from ourselves.

A man needs a woman to be complete and vice versa. Even when people go to Heaven, they need to be there with their spouse.

When Adam (a) was asked by Allah (swt) to go to Heaven, Allah (swt) said:

.....O Adam, dwell with your mate in paradise..... (2:35)

Thus, the formation of a family, initially consisting of a man and a woman, is one of the fundamental elements in Allah (swt)’s design for human life.

He (swt) blesses us even more by giving us children.

Children can only be well protected and well brought up in the atmosphere of a family where there is a father and a mother who love each other and their children, and who regard their children as a gift from Allah (swt), bringing them even closer to one another.

Marriage: a sacred covenant

Given that the family is a crucial aspect of creation, marriage is considered as a sacred covenant between the husband and wife and Allah (swt) is the witness above them.

Keeping their marriage and family ties strong is essential.

In a well-known hadith, the Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying:

ما بنی فی الاسلام بناء احب الی الله عزوجل واعز من التزویج

No construction has been built in Islam more beloved in the sight of Allah (swt) than marriage.

On the other hand, divorce is considered as the most disliked permissible act.

The Prophet Muhammad said:

ما من شی ء ابغض الی الله عزوجل من بیت یخرب فی الاسلام بالفرقة

There is nothing more disliked by God than a house which is destroyed by separation.

Hence, marriage is a sacred unity on which we need to build society and needs to be very strong.

To establish and strengthen this unity, Allah (swt) has observed certain aspects in His creation and others observed in His legislation.

These two are very much in harmony with each other.

Ref: Hijab and Family Life, by: Mohammad Ali Shomali.