Over the past several days there have been
active discussions in social media on the use of hijab in NYSC orientation
camps. The discussions followed an incidence that occurred in one of the camps.
A Muslim youth corper wore a ‘long’ hijab and was consequently beaten by an Army
officer. The NYSC authorities did not deny it and immediately redeployed the officer
and according to the Director-General of the NYSC, more punishment will follow.
How far that is true remains to be seen. My intention here is to look at the
issue from a Muslim observer’s point of view.
Hijab is the dress stipulated by Islam for a
Muslim woman when she is to appear before men who do not belong to the category
of male relations known as maharim. The dress may be of any colour but
it must satisfy certain conditions. In the first place, it must not be
transparent. Second, it must cover all parts of her body in such a way that her
shape is not revealed. The hijab must not resemble any dress known to be exclusively
used by men and should not be attractive. A dress that portrays a woman as a
follower of another religion is also not allowed just like any dress that
depicts arrogance. By this, therefore, the so-called ‘short hijab’ that exposes
the shape of the lower parts of a lady does not qualify as a proper hijab.
Opponents of the use of proper hijab by Muslim corpers
have expressed different kinds of arguments. One of them is that Nigeria is a
secular state and the use of hijab by Muslim corpers will depict it as an
Islamic state. Another argument is that the NYSC camp is a paramilitary camp
and since women in paramilitary agencies like immigration and Customs do not
use long hijab, it is wrong for Muslim lady corpers to be allowed to use same. Another
argument expressed in a Newspaper editorial is that the NYSC has never allowed
the use of long hijab and what the DG has done is simply to continue with what
he has met.
To start with, the meaning of the secularists’
argument is that since Nigeria is a secular country, no one is allowed to
practice his/her religion. If that is the case, then all churches and mosques
should be demolished and Nigerians should become pagans. What this group of
people do not understand is that hijab is an integral part of a practicing
Muslim life and Muslim women who use hijab are happier in it and do not use it
for any other reason than the satisfaction of a religious requirement.
To compare the NYSC with paramilitary agencies
is not acceptable. While women who apply to serve in paramilitary outfits have
by implication accepted not to use proper hijab, following a degree or a HND
programme does not imply that a Muslim woman has accepted to remove her hijab.
The implication of the continuation of the ban on proper hijab is that Muslim
women who insist on practicing this religious obligation are denied access to
employment in their own country. It is noteworthy that completion of NYSC is a
requirement for employment and admission into postgraduate programmes in
Nigeria.
Perhaps the most laughable of all arguments is
the one stating that since the wrong practice of banning proper hijab has been
on for a long time, the wrong thing should continue to be. Even if the ban on
the use of hijab were a written law, there is nothing wrong in taking it back
to the National assembly to repeal it the moment it is discovered that the law
denies a section of Nigerians the right to practice what they believe.
In effect, therefore, the issue of ‘long hijab’
is never dead as claimed in some quarters and can only die with Islam. The best
thing to do, therefore, is to solve it once and for all. Certain steps can be
taken in this direction. For instance, why must men and women be combined in
the same camp if they must all participate in paramilitary activities? If those
of us who participated in NYSC orientation before are to speak with honesty, we
will say that the kind of immoralities that take place on NYSC orientation
camps are not compatible with the basic teachings of Islam and we do not expect
a decent and respectful Muslim woman to give in simply because she wants an
employment or the rest of us to keep quite because we don’t want to be accused
of being extremists. Another question is that must the women take part in those
activities? The NYSC can do justice to this problem by making paramilitary
activities optional for women.
If the NYSC cannot be creative in providing a
solution, my expectation is that the Government will come in and provide
justice for the Muslim ladies that are yearly being harassed in the name of
serving their country. It is well known that justice is the only panacea for
peace and when people cannot get justice in peace they resort to violence. It
is needless to state that religion is a volatile issue for which many Nigerians
are ready to kill and die as demonstrated in the past. The continuous silence
of Muslim leaders on this issue does not help matters. I cannot imagine a
Christian lady being molested anywhere in Nigeria in the name of religion and
the Christian Association of Nigeria keeping mum simply because she is not a
daughter of CAN President or a Christian VIP. This is how the Emirs who are the
leaders of both JNI and SCIA have continued to lose their respect in the eyes
of public because of their selective approach to issues that affect Muslims.
Thanks
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