1. Fast every Monday and Thursday as much as possible.
2. Pray the five daily prayers on time and make an effort to pray tahajjud
3. Lessen your sleeping time and increase some more time to Quran
4. Fulfill every promise that you make
5. Give sadaqah to the poor and needy
6. Never go near evil places
7. Get away from fiestas and don't ever support or organized it.
8. Dress moderately
9. Talk when needed only and make a habit of making doa
10. Exercise regularly, jogging , swimming, etc
11. Study all kinds of books-Religious, Social, Science, Philosophy, History, Literature, etc
12. Learn theology and Arabic thoroughly
13. Forget all your good deeds and remember your past sins
14. Look at the poor from the material aspect
15. Follow Muslim's development

“Why do Muslim women have to cover their heads?”

This question is asked by Muslim and non-Muslim alike.For many women it is the truest test of being a muslim. The answer to the question is very simple-Muslim women observe HIJAB (covering the head and the body) because Allah has told them to do so.

“O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims) and not annoyed.”

Other secondary reasons include the requirement for modesty in both men and women. Both then will be evaluated for intelligence and skills instead of looks and sexuality.

An Iranian school girl is quoted as saying, “We want to stop men from treating us like sex objects, as they always have always done. We want them to ignore our appearance and to be attentive to our personalities and mind. We want them to take us seriously and treat us as equals and not just chase us around for our bodies and physical looks.”

A Muslim woman who covers her head is making a statement about her identity. Anyone who sees her will know that she is a Muslim and has a good moral character. Many Muslim women who cover are filled with dignity and self asteem; men would not think of them in sexual terms since they were the “Mothers of the believers,” but this requirement was not extended to other women.

The word “hijab” comes from Arabic word “hajaba” meaning to hide from view or conceal. In the present time, the context of hijab is the modest covering of a muslim woman.

The question now is what is the extent of the covering?

The Qur’an says: “Say to the believing man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands..”

These verses from the qur’an contain two main injunctions:

• A woman should not show her beauty or adornments except what appears by uncontrolled factors such as the wind blowing her clothes, and
• The head covers should be drawn so as to cover the hair, the neck and the bosom

Islam has no fixed standard as the style of dress or type of clothing that Muslims must wear. However, some requirements must be met. The first of these requirements is the part of the body which must be covered. Islam has two sources for guidance and rulings: first, the Qur’an, the revealed word of Allah and secondly, the Hadith or the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) who has chosen by Allah to be the role model for mankind. The following is a Tradition of the Prophet:

“Ayesha (R) reported that Asmaa the daughter of Abu Bakr (R) came to the Messenger of Allah while wearing thin clothing. He approached her and said:”O Asmaa! When a girl reaches the menstrual age, it is not proper that anything should remain exposed except this and this. He appointed to face and hands.”(Abu Dawood)

The second requirement is looseness. The clothing must be loose enough so as not to describe the shape of the woman’s body. One desirable way to hide the shape of the body is to wear cloak over other clothes. However, if the clothing is loose enough, an outer garment is not necessary. Thickness is the third requirement. The clothing must be thick enough so as not to show the color of the skin it covers or the shape of the body. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) stated that in later generations of his ummah there would be “women would be dressed but naked and on top of their heads (what looks like) camel humps. Curse them for they are truly cursed.” Another requirement is an over all dignified appearance.

The clothing should not attract men’s attention to the woman. It should not be shiny and flashy so that everyone notices the dress and the woman. In addition there are other requirements: Women must not dress so as to appear as men.

“Ibn Abbas narrated:”The Prophet (s.a.w) cursed the men who appear like women and the women who appear like men.”(Bukhari)

Women should not dress in a way similar to the unbelievers. The clothing should be modest, not excessively fancy and also not excessively ragged to gain others’ admiration or sympathy.

Often forgotten is the fact that modern western dress is a new invention. Looking at the clothing of women as recently as seventy years ago, we see clothing similar to hijab. These active and hard-working women of the West were not inhibited by their clothing which consisted of long, full dresses and various types of head covering. Muslim women who wear hijab do not find it impractical or interfering with their activities in all levels and walks of life. Hijab is not merely a covering dress but more importantly, it is behavior, manners, speech and appearance in public. Dress is only one facet of the total being. The basic requirement of the Muslim woman’s dress apply to the Muslim man’s clothing with the difference being mainly in degree. Modesty requires that area between the navel and the knee be covered in front of all people except the wife. The clothing of men should not be like the dress of women, nor should it be tight or provocative. A Muslim should dress to show his identity as a Muslim. Men are not allowed for women.

For both men and women, clothing requirements are not meant to be a restriction but rather a way in which society will function in a proper Islamic manner.