A Lesson from History: Attack upon Hijab by Mawlana Afzal Ismail

In Bukhara, the Red Army forced Muslim women to remove their hijabs. Families of those women who refused were punished, hence these women also removed their hijabs to save their families. The hijabs were burnt by the Communists.

In Afghanistan, the leader Zaahir Shah who was a stooge of the Russians, launched a movement against hijab. A Muslim woman’s hijab was trampled upon in a public gathering and it was then announced, “Darkness has now been brought to an end.”

In Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk instituted a ban on the hijab. Wearing hijab was declared illegal and women were forced to dress openly. Women in hijab were accused of being prostitutes. Hijab removal ceremonies were organised in public places across the country.

In recent times, France and Belgium have passed laws to ban the hijab, popularly described as the "burqa ban".

Modern media frequently show images of women in hijab to portray the hijab as a symbol of oppression, retrogression and hindrance to progress.

Lessons:

1. The enemies of Islam have often attacked the institution of hijab in their greater attack upon Islam. They know that hijab is the cornerstone of a strong Muslim society. When hijab goes, various immoral actions take its place. 

2. In today’s world, Western forces seek to penetrate all sections of Muslim society, but Muslim women in hijab play a crucial role in resisting Western domination. Therefore, the removal of hijab is an important step towards gaining complete control over Muslim society.

3. The attack on hijab serves to create an inferiority complex so that practicing Muslims abandon it and others are discouraged from adopting it.

Muslim women should never abandon their hijab. 

Muslim society should vehemently guard the institution of hijab. 

Attempts to downplay the importance of hijab by modern-minded Muslims should be opposed.

When hijab is abandoned, the strength of the Muslim family and society is compromised. The kuffaar know this. Unfortunately, some Muslims don’t.