According to a survey, one woman is sexually abused every 98 seconds, and one in six women is raped in her life. Sexual exploitation does not happen in an air space. Women face sexual harassment at every level of society, at home, in domestic gatherings, in offices, in educational institutions, so there is no place where women can live freely without fear and danger.
In the case of sexual harassment, just blame the victim. She is accused, her dress has been criticized. Let’s admit that the reason was the woman’s inappropriate dress, because of which the man turned towards her and raped the woman. If a woman did not wear such a dress, a man would not pay attention to her, and no one would rob her honor. Islam has commanded the woman to wear a veil, which is to protect her.
This is what Allah has commanded in Surah Al-Ahzab:-
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
“O Prophet! Tell your wives, and your daughters, and the believers’ women to lengthen their garments. That is more proper, so they will be recognized and not be harassed. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
That is, if we women want to protect ourselves, we have to cover ourselves according to the Qur’an. There is only one source of protection from every evil eye and every evil intention and that is the veil. We have to cover ourselves from anyone who is not a mahram for us according to the Qur’an. If we fail to do so, we will surely become the food of a hunter. And who are the non-mahrams that we have to cover? So the Qur’an guides us in this matter too:
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women’s nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.” (Surat al-Noor: 31)
We have to protect ourselves, except our husbands, our fathers and our husbands ‘fathers, our husbands’ sons, our brothers, our nephews, our nieces, Muslim women, slaves, eunuchs, and minors. The veil is a shield for a woman that protects her from the evil of men.
The cause of sexual abuse of a woman is the dress of the woman and her character. But what is the cause of the sexual abuse of innocent children? Is the cause of sexual exploitation of children also inappropriate clothing, and is their behavior also inappropriate towards men due to which men make them the target of their lust? Isn’t it the man’s fault but the fault of three or four-year-old children? Adultery is a crime in which a man is 100% responsible. No explanation can be given for this crime.
Are the rules of hijab in Islam only for women? Is there no rule for men? Are they exempted from shame and modesty? Are they free in their actions like an animal? Whatever they do, they will not be held accountable. No, not at all. The Qur’an also contains clear commands from Allah to make a men real human:
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ (٣٠)
“Command the Muslim men to lower their gaze and to protect their private organs. This is a matter of great purity for them; indeed Allah is Aware of their deeds.” (Surat al-Noor, 30)
Allah has also made laws for them. He has also been ordered to keep his eyes down. Allah did not even allow them to see non-mahram women. It is a far cry to be sexually exploited. And there are Islamic laws about what to do with men who disobey Allah’s commands. Under which the culprit is severely punished.
