Hijab Ban: An Ideological War Against Islam and Muslims
بسم الله رحمنرحم
On Thursday, 24 January 2019, the Supreme Court of Kenya overturned the Court of Appeal that on September 2016 that said that school rules could not be allowed to suppress one’s belief or right of worship and so allowed the female Muslim students to wear hijab in school. After the High Court in Kenya on Tuesday, 23 September 2014 banned the wearing of hijab by female Muslim students (The Standard, 28/09/2014). Same instance happened in the State of Oyo in Nigeria when International University of Ibadan was closed indefinitely on Monday, 19 November 2018 due to Muslim students wearing on hijab (Premium Times Nigeria, 19/11/2018). Recently, on Monday, 14 January 2019 in Nigeria in the State of Oyo, students not less than 55 were barred from entering the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology over the use of hijab! (THISDAYLIVE, 15/01/2019)
It is clear that the problem is not hijab but “the ideology guaranteeing hijab and its followers” which are being fought i.e. Islam as a complete way of life emanating from Allah and Muslims who are adhering to their Islam. It is also clear that the whole world is ruled according to invalid secular capitalist that separates religion from life. Therefore, humanity have given themselves the power to legislate and organize issues in life as per their whims and limited intellect! Under this ideology humankind has power to permit and prohibit for instance currently it is permissible to take alcohol and issue interest loans etc! Secular colonial capitalist ideology has reached its expiration, it is struggling to stay put, and so it is the guarantor of the attacks against Islam, Muslims and their crucial symbols that indicate their adherence to Islam including the hijab etc.
Secular liberal viewpoint has labeled hijab as “a scarf worn on the head by Muslim women!” However, the genuine interpretation is that Hijab is a dress that covers the female awrah. Hijab is a combination of a lower and an upper portion. The lower portion is a wide and loose garment that drapes down towards the floor, which a woman must wear over her normal clothes before going out. In addition, the upper portion (head cover) or anything similar must cover the entire head, neck and the opening of the lower portion on the chest. Islam I general is anchored on commandments and prohibitions including the Hijab. Allah (swt) Commands us:﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ﴾ “Oh Prophet! Tell your wives, and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies.” [Al-Ahzab: 59]. ﴿وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ… ﴾ “And let them draw their head coverings over their necks and bosoms. And let them not display (more of) their charms to any but their husbands…” [An-Nur: 31]
The war against Islam and Muslims is aimed at making Islam conform to the secular viewpoint and that Muslims should soften their positions and acquire the secular identity (Shaksiyyatul Ilmaniyya). In other words, Muslims to relinquish themselves from the enslavement of Allah (swt) and become slaves of humanity by accepting to be ruled by fabricated laws that are influenced by interest/benefit/environment! That is why we witnessed the pinnacle of secular ideological deception when it champions for women to walk naked! As was witnessed in the famous campaign entitled “My Dress, My Choice” #MyDressMyChoice that begun on social media on Thursday, 4 September 2014 culminated with demonstrations that took place in Nairobi, Kenya on Monday, 17 November 2014 in the so-called, a call for women to be allowed to dress naked! (World Bank Group, 03/16/2015). Recently, the High Court ordered a student to be allowed back to Olympic High School after she was sent away due to having dreadlocks as a as per Rastafarian belief! (The Star, 30/01/2019). However, when Muslims want to adhere to their Islam, are branded as extremists and terrorists who deserve to be under strict surveillance under the laws of fighting extremism and terrorism for example: Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2012 and The National Strategy to Counter Violent Extremism of 2016.
The radical solution to the ideological war against Islam and Muslims is to resume the Islamic way of Life by establishing the Islamic State of Khilafah (Caliphate) on the method of Prophethood. Only the Khilafah will be able to counter comprehensively and anybody who opposes Islam and harms Muslims when they want to adhere to their Islam strictly as per the Shari’ah (Qur’an and Sunnah). Including the Western Secular States led by America, France, Britain, Germany etc. who are champions of this invalid and stinking secular capitalist ideology and its dirty systems that entrench “liberalism” slogans and sink people to the lowest levels beyond that of animals on the pretext of enjoying their freedoms! Seeking rights in national and international courts would not help Islam or us Muslims, since already Islam and Muslims are viewed as the “guilty until proven innocent.” Because Islam is a threat to the ruling ideology that has failed to manage peoples’ affairs and guarantee them tranquility and instead it is oppressing people and causing them to despair and loose lives due to its ruthless policies!
This situation was already mentioned by the Prophet (saw) almost 13 Centuries ago: «يِأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ الْقَابِضُ عَلَى دينه كالقابض على الجمر» “There will come a day when holding on to your religion will be holding on to hot coals.” [Sahihi Muslim]. Therefore, Muslims must be steadfast in their Islam and at the same time join the call for the return of Khilafah (Caliphate) in a country that has two crucial characters: 1.Ruling by Shari’ah (Qur’an and Sunnah) fully and 2.Internal and External security is under the Muslims entirely. While continuing with the said work they should remember the words of Allah (swt): “فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا (٥) إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرً۬ا (٦) ” “For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.”
Ali Nassoro Ali
Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya