The Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque (LSCCM), Alausa and Shamsi Adisa Thomas Central Mosque, Old Secretariat, Ikeja, recently joined their counterpart across the world to commemorate the Y2024 World Hijab Day with the theme: “Veiled in Strength”.
In her welcome address at the event, the Women Affairs Secretary, Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Hajia Rahmotallahi Lawal-Ajayi said World Hijab Day was conceptualised to sensitise the people on the use of hijab as service to Almighty Allah.
According to her, in some places around the world women who wear hijabs are subjected to humiliation and denied their rights because they use hijabs. As such it was decided that there is a need to set aside a day to sensitise people that Muslim women in hijab should not be denied their right but treated equally like other women.
Lawal-Ajayi emphasised that the use of hijab empowers Muslim women and gives them the needed inner strength to toe the path of righteousness while solidifying their belief in the Almighty Allah. In Islam, hijab is a very important aspect of dressing for women because it inculcates in them the right attitude as they should not be found wanting in their way of life.
Noting that Islam encompasses all aspects of life, be it spiritual and moral disposition, particularly for Muslim women, she advised Muslimahs to learn more about hijab as it is the Almighty Allah’s commandment to the Holy Prophet Muhammed to call his wives and the believing women to use hijab so that they would be rightly guided and not be molested.
On his part, Dr. Ismail Abdulsalam, the Chairman, Shamsi Adisa Thomas Central Mosque, Old Secretariat, said Hijab day is very significant in the life of mankind and Muslims. It is a description from Almighty Allah and is done to upgrade the dignity and modesty of women in Islam to stand tall and above others as well as be trailblazers.
“Muslim women should not see hijab as a burden or as being enforced on them. The hijab itself is both internal and external. The internal aspect of the hijab in women is the character trait of women which should be different from the moral coverage and the external part of the hijab is what people see physically. People using hijab are highly exemplary”, Abdulsalam said.
In her presentation on the event theme: “Veiled in Strength”, Dr. Noimat Badru-Balogun, a Public Health Communicator and the founder of Linka.NG, a Health Relationship Company, said the use of hijab does not make Muslim women become second-class citizens, rather, it empowers them and teaches them the act of showing kindness to people.
She implored the audience to sensitise all Muslims and non-muslims on the importance of using hijab.
Dr. Aminat Ige-Ariyibi of the Department of Mathematics, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, shared her experience on how the use of hijab has been the major and motivating factor to her achievements as the best PhD Student in the University which eventually distinguished her from her colleagues.
She said Muslim women should not only cover their heads but also exhibit good character towards others to differentiate them from non-muslims
