WHY SHE CHOOSES TO COVER
In life you come across many paths on your life’s chosen quest and thus you meet people, gain knowledge and get influence positively and negatively. No sweat, it’s all part of the growth you will encounter in order to overcome the uncertainties that lies ahead.
I believe that different strokes moves the boat, but the journey of the traveller is controlled by the tide. But who is the traveller? Why is he/she on a journey ? And how will The All- Powerful tide decide his/her fate?
I am no other person but the Traveller and I introduce myself simply to you as The Muslimah. Hi! Or better still Assalaamu Alaikum (peace be unto you). I am on a journey through life (duniyah) in preparation for the life of the here-after (Ahkirah) and My All- Powerful tide is non other than My Lord, The One and Only God worthy of worship, creator of the seven heavens and the seven earths, bestower of mercy upon all His Creations; the likes of the Jinn, Malaikah and Man as He did not create them for any other purpose than to worship Him with sincerity in worship and with the acknowledgement of the truth lies bounties of rewards fid duniyah wal ahkirah (both in this life and in the hereafter).
On My journey lies tests and hardships, trials and tribulations because the garden of flowing rivers is surrounded by hardships while the hollow of molten and burning skins is surrounded by the illusionary goodness of this world, but alas! I have been promised relief because “With every hardship comes ease” (Q .94 Vs. 5) and because “whoever Allah swt wishes good for He will surely test him”. (saheeh Bukhaari wa’ Muslim)
Thus in order to survive on this journey of mine, I strive to acquire the gears and gadgets of protection and navigation like Iman (faith), Ikhlas (sincere devotion), Tawakkul (reliance), Taqwa (piety), Sabr (Patience), Salah (performing prayers), Sawm (fasting), Sadaqqah (charity), Zakat (giving charity to the poor and needy), Hajj (pilgrimage) and dutifulness and kindness to the likes of my mother, father, siblings, husband, relatives, neighbours as well as the stranger(s) I come across along the way.
But truthfully, why do I chose to cover? First and Foremost I chose to because it is a religious obligation and a sign of Inqiyad (submission) that earns me the mercy of my Lord when done sincerely for His sake as Allah (swt) stated in Surah An- Nur Vs. 31:
“And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, 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.”
And in Surah Al-Ahzab Vs. 59:
“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
Also I choose to because it shields me from being identified as a vessel of physical features alone. I also choose to in order to perform my Ibadah (worship) comfortably, consciously and at their prescribed time E.g Salah (The Daily Prayers) and sincerely I choose to because of my Mahabba (love) for it and for the absolute joy I derive in doing so. Therefore, I cover because it is an important aspect of being my true self i.e A Muslimah.
©Umm’Zaneerah
2018.