Alhamdulillah (all praise is due to Allah), the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the One who guides us to the straight path.

We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, and we testify that Muham­mad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and Messenger.

May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and all who follow him in righteousness until the Last Day.

Introduction

Dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam, today’s khutbah ad­dresses an essential act of worship that embodies submission, modesty, and obedience to Allah: the “Hi­jab”.

While the Hijab is an explicit command from Allah, it is also a human right protected under local and international laws.

It is imperative that Muslim women are allowed to observe Hijab freely, especially in public institu­tions such as universities, banks, ministries, public health institu­tions, and government agencies.

Definition and Meaning of Hijab

In Islam, Hijab refers to modes­ty in appearance and behaviour. For women, this includes covering the body, except for the face and hands, in non-revealing clothing (not skin-tight), while for men, it includes covering from the navel to the knees and dressing modestly.

The Hijab extends to lowering the gaze, avoiding indecent speech, and conducting oneself with dignity.

Allah commands:

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not to display their adornment except that which [ordinarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests.”

(Quran 24:31).

Essence of Hijab as an Act of Worship and Modesty

The Hijab is an act of worship rooted in obedience to Allah. It is not a cultural practice but a divine command. Allah says:

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”

(Quran 33:59).

The Hijab is a reflection of one’s faith, modesty, and inner character. It shields the individual from immo­rality and contributes to the moral fabric of society.

Lowering the Garments and the Gaze

The Hijab also encompasses low­ering the gaze and maintaining puri­ty in interactions between genders. Allah says:

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. In­deed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.” (Quran 24:30).

By lowering the gaze, both men and women protect themselves from sin and maintain mutual respect.

Social Menace and Immoralities Due to Lack of Hijab

The absence of Hijab in society has led to numerous social issues, including:

Zina (Adultery and Fornication): Unrestricted interactions and immodesty increase the likelihood of adultery and fornication, which Allah explicitly prohibits:

“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.”

(Quran 17:32).

Exploitation and Objectification:

When modesty is neglected, individuals, especially women, are objectified and exploited, result­ing in an increase in harassment and sexual abuse, a phenomenon that has plagued many organissa­tions such as Universities, Banks and other public institutions. The introduction of Sexual Harassment Policies with its attendant harsh punishments has done very little in resolving this menace.

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai

Region, has initiated an awareness campaign to prevent chol­era outbreak within the municipality.

Mrs Wilhemina Tiwaah Duah Mort­tey, the Municipal Health Director for Tarkwa Nsuaem, announced this when the directorate had a meeting with the District Risk Communication Team at Tarkwa.

The meeting reviewed the cur­rent cholera situation and assessed the environmental conditions of the municipality, particularly as they approached the rainy season.

She recalled that the Western Re­gion experienced a cholera outbreak during the fourth quarter of last year, adding that, during that same period, the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality re­corded 167 cases with three deaths.

“As the rains have set in, we are commencing our advocacy and sensi­tisation campaign to raise awareness and address potential health con­cerns.

“Residents must stop dumping sewage and waste into open drains and gutters because this unaccept­able practice spreads cholera infec­tion, as flies can transport the vibrio cholera bacteria from contaminated areas to food,” Mrs Morttey indicat­ed.

The Municipal Health Director reiterated that to prevent cholera, food sold should be properly cov­ered, while food vendors must always ensure their foods were served hot to avoid contamination.

Mrs Josephine Owusu Yeboah, the Municipal Disease Control Officer for Tarkwa Nsuaem, explained that sever­al activities were carried out by the directorate to eliminate the disease from the municipality.

Mrs Yeboah said by working to­gether with key stakeholders in­cluding the National Commission for Civic Education, Information Services Department, National Disaster Man­agement Organisation, Red Cross and the media, they were able to com­municate preventive measures to the various communities.

She stressed that “Despite our cur­rent success in managing the condi­tion, the presence of cases in nearby districts and municipalities pose a risk of the disease returning to our municipality”.

Mr. Benjamin Osei Nti, the Assis­tant to the Munici­pal Environmental Health Officer, on his part stated that it’s not a good idea to dispose of waste in gutters, as the rains could carry it to other areas and cause problems for others. –GNA