In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Statement Regarding the Ban on the Hijab in Azerbaijan Schools
On World Chastity Day, which was chosen to coincide with the birthday of Aqila Zainab bint Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (peace be upon him), the foremost lady of chastity after her mother, the pure truthful one Fatima al-Zahra (peace be upon her), we express our deep pain, sorrow, and anger at the decision of the government of Azerbaijan to prevent veiled female students from attending schools, depriving them of education, which is a legitimate right of every citizen. They have been forcibly removed from their classrooms while shedding bitter tears, and their classmates share their grief, standing stunned at the school gates with eyes looking in sorrow and disappointment at the safe sanctuary of learning from which they have been barred.
The decision may also include veiled female teachers — so what crime have they committed to deserve punishment? If the pretext is the secularism of the state, does secularism mean stripping the people of their freedom and preventing adherence to the religion of the overwhelming majority of the Azerbaijani people? The hijab is not an anomalous or strange phenomenon there that it should be banned — quite the contrary, for it is stated in the noble tradition: "Chastity is the head of all good."
I believe that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has seen these cruel scenes that pain the heart of every compassionate, merciful father and that he would not accept for his own daughters. Perhaps the decision was not explicit in this measure, but school administrations interpreted it as such — in which case they must be held accountable for this grave sin. The President is a father to all the children of his people, and among the most important commandments of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) to Amir al-Mu'minin Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) was that he be a father to the nation. Fatherhood is the most important quality of a successful leader. He said to him: "O Ali, I and you are the two fathers of this nation." The name of President Aliyev is derived from the name of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (peace be upon him), so let him take this beautiful quality from him. These veiled female students are the daughters of the Lady of the Women of the Worlds, Fatima al-Zahra (peace be upon her), and they follow her path — so do not cause pain to her pure heart. Muslims rejected such a decision when it was issued by a European state known for its hostility to Islam, so how can they accept it in a country where the percentage of Muslims reaches 96%?
The stripping of chastity in various arenas is the very purpose of the conflict with which Iblis and his human devils have challenged humanity since the beginning of creation. He whispered to Adam (peace be upon him) and Eve until they ate from the forbidden tree so that their chastity would be taken away. God, Blessed and Exalted, said: "So Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts" (Al-A'raf: 20). And He said: "He strips them of their clothing to show them their private parts" (Al-A'raf: 27). And He said: "And when they tasted of the tree, their private parts became apparent to them" (Al-A'raf: 22).
Therefore, we see that correcting this decision and reversing it contains no diminishment or weakening, but rather it is a virtue, courage, and a wise stance that averts the anger of the Muslim Azerbaijani people, spares the state any violence or sedition that those lying in wait might provoke, and preserves for this dear country — which has produced scholars throughout history — its history, authenticity, and the deep-rootedness of Islam therein from being tarnished.[1]
Insisting on this decision is an injustice that may not be committed. We are all Muslims who believe in accountability and recompense on the Day of Judgment. God, the Most High, said: "And stop them; indeed, they are to be questioned" (As-Saffat: 24).