At a on e-day public lecture organised by Bodija Muslim Youth Forum (BOMYOF) in Ibadan Muslim women were urged to see wearing of hijab as an act of faith and obedience to their Creator.
Head of Department, Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Prof. Kamil Oloso, said hijab wearing was an injunction from Allah as contained in the Holy books of both Muslims and Christians.
Oloso, who doubles as the Chairman of Board of Religious Affairs (BORA) of Bodija Estates and Environs Muslim Community (BEEMC), said it was surprising for anybody or institution to be antagonising or legislating against the divine commandment.
The Islamic scholar and university don said it was ignorance on the part of those criticising against the wearing of hijab as it does not in any way diminish the status of those wearing it.
Having listed major advantages of wearing the hijab, Oloso encouraged Muslim girls and women wearing it not to be despair or intimidated as they are protected under both the divine law and Nigerian constitution.
"Hijab is an injunction from Allah. It does not diminish your intellect, instead, it enhances your beauty and dignify you as a Muslim woman'', Oloso said.
Another cleric, Malam Abdulhakeem Ishola, traced the origin and types of hijab, saying it is a dress code prescribed for female Muslims who have reached puberty.
Ishola, who quoted various portions of the Qur'an and Hadith to justify his position, said hijab was a commandment from Allah and thus wearing it was an act of obedience to His commands.
He said wearing of hijab, like any other commandments of Allah, brings the wearer closer to her Creator and give her a sense of satisfaction and contentment.
He discountenanced the call for ban on hijab for security reasons in Nigeria, insisting, "hijab promotes modesty, decency and seeks to minimise immorality in the society.''
He therefore said that banning hijab under any guise in Nigeria would be tantamount to denying Muslim women of their God-given fundamental human rights.
According to him, Muslim women followed the example of righteous women in the past such as Mary, the mother of Jesus, as evidenced in 1 Corinthians 11:3-6 and 1 Timothy 2: 9-10.
He appealed to Muslim women not to be intimidated or shy away from Allah's commandment as hijab enables them to have confidence in themselves and increases their self- esteem.
Ishola added that hijab is an "act of liberation, purity and most importantly, belief. Respect for women is an important aspect of Islamic teachings, and this is illustrated through the use of hijab''.
The chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun said the lecture was to sensitise members of the public on the importance of hijab globally and correct the erroneous mindset on those wearing it.
Balogun, therefore, urged the Muslim women to continue to wear their hijab without fear and abide by the rules guiding it.
The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) said Nigerian Muslim women in hijab, just like their co-citizens, have championed social justice, equality, and tolerance, and over the decades they have been at the forefront of defending these values.
The Executive Chairman, Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC, Disu Kamor said: "They are exemplars in both the sacred and secular knowledge and have won major prizes in various professions as well as being leading lights in their respective areas of specializations whether in science or the arts.
"Despite their glorious achievements and contributions, Muslim women continue to face untold hardship and challenges due only to their choice to fulfill one of the obligations in their faith," he said.
