HIJAB! HIJAB! HIJAB!

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim

Assalam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatu

Hijab in Arabic means a screen, a curtain, a barrier or partition. In Islam however, it has a broader meaning as a principle of modesty which not includes a modest dressing but also behavior for both males and females.

The most visible form of hijab is what the women of Islam wear that goes beyond the covering of just the head. It actually refers to covering everything except the face and hands (others include the feet) with a long and non-see through garment as one of the Islamic school of thought interpret it.

Allah says in Surah An-Nur (Q24:30-31), “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for them greater purity: and God is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard modest…” From this portion of the Qur’an, the meaning should be derived as both men and women must behave and carry themselves humbly between one another. The term ghadd means to reduce, shorten or lower down something. Accordingly ghadd basar generally translates to lowering the gaze or keeping it lowered but the command does not imply the gaze should always be kept lowered and rather it implies that one should restrain his gaze and avoid casting off looks freely. This means if it is not desirable to look at one should avoid having a look at it. Example men gazing upon women except his wife or other mahram women of his family, casting looks at the satar of other people, or fixing the eyes at indecent scenes. In a hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) he talked of a glance, that which the first one is pardoned but the second look is a sin, the look which one casts when one feels the lure of the object. Adding on to, if a chance (first) look is cast, one should turn away their eyes or lower their gaze. And he also termed such gazing as wickedness of the eyes [zinah of the eyes is when look at that which is forbidden (non-mahram)]. Thus it has been used to metaphorically refer to a person’s inner character and capabilities to grasp and respond to the outside world correctly. Same case goes to women. The fact of the matter is that we live in a hyper- sexualized world obsessed with appearances, and this presents severe challenges upon the Muslim spiritual psyche. We are bombarded with immodest images (oftentimes against our will) of the human body that affect us consciously and unconsciously, making it an uphill battle to be a chaste and modest human-being. Nevertheless, the definition of a righteous Muslim is one who fights against their lowly desires and purifies their souls from the tarnishes of this world.

After behaving in a modest manner, the inner character then the body should also equal to the same by the ‘guard their modesty’. Dress code is part of the overall teaching and that’s where the modesty of women in terms of dressing is insisted but not because it’s a sign of oppression like the ignorant claim it to be, but is a symbol of honoring the women of Islam and to avoid any harm coming to them or view them as a tool of liking and desires. And the aayah continues, “…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, their fathers, their husband’s fathers, their sons, their husband’s sons, their brothers or their slaves who their right hands possess, or male servants free from physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, You turn all together toward God, that you may attain Bliss.” Therefore Muslim women are required to observe the Hijab in front of any man they could theoretically marry (non-mahram or ajnabi). Our hijab remember is a barrier, a cover and when it’s about our garments (clothing) we should choose what accords to Islamic mode of dressing.

Then again even when the covering is more emphasizes on women, men are also commanded to cover their awrah. Hence there are certain regulations listed out. For men, the basic principle concerning everything that is worn is that it is halaal and permissible, except for that concerning which there is a text to state that it is haraam, such as silk for males, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “These two [gold and silk] are forbidden for the males of my ummah and permissible for the females.” Narrated by Ibn Maajah. Similarly it is not permissible to wear the skin of a dead animal (one that has died of natural causes) unless it has been tanned. With regard to wearing clothes made of wool, goat hair and camel hair, these are pure and permissible. It is not permissible to wear thin, see-through clothing. It should not imitate the non-believers. It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw ‘Ali wearing two garments dyed with safflower and said: “These are garments of the kuffaar; do not wear them.” (Muslim). It should not imitate the opposite gender because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed the men who imitate women and the women who imitate men. (Bukhari). It should not hang down beneath the ankles. It is haraam for the Muslim man to let any garment he wears hang down beneath his ankles (an action known as isbaal); the limit for any garment is the ankles (no wearing shorts). It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said; “Whatever of the lower garment is beneath the ankles is in the Fire.” (Bukhaari). It is haram to wear garments of fame and vanity, which means that stands out from others so that people will look at the wearer and will become known to it. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever wears a garment of fame and vanity, Allah will dress him in a garment like it on the Day of Resurrection.” According to another version, “…then set it ablaze.” And according to a third version, “will dress him in a garment of humiliation.” (Abu Dawood)

Muslim men should have a higher standard or modesty than any man from any religion, act like gentlemen through modesty which comes with respect as well as akhlaq, and appreciate the greater qualities within women and their modesty in order battle out immorality in the Muslim community.

Whereas for women, it should cover all of the body. Allah says in the Qur’an, “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” This aayah clearly states that it is obligatory to cover all of a woman’s beauty and adornments and not to display any part of that before non-mahram men except for whatever appears unintentionally, in which case there will be no sin on them if they hasten to cover it up. And in a hadeeth it was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever lets his garment drag out of pride, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.” Umm Salamah said, “What should women do with their hems?” He said, “Let it hang down a hand span.” She said, “What if that shows her feet?” He said, “Let it hang down a cubit, but no more than that.” (Tirmidhi). This hadeeth indicates that it is obligatory for women to cover their feet, and that this was something that was well known among the women of the Sahaabah (may Allah be pleased with them). Some scholars say it is permissible to uncover the face and hands as long as there is no fitnah caused by the action. The hijab must not be a display. It should cover the body and beauty of a woman not show it off or attract people’s gaze and be a source of fitnah. Allah says, “… and not to show off their adornment…” The general meaning of this phrase includes the outer garment, because if it is decorated it will attract men’s attention to her. In Surah Al-Ahzab (Q33:33) it says, “And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance” It is also supported by the hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are three, do not ask me about them: a man who leaves the jama’ah, disobeys his leader and dies disobedient; a female or male slave who runs away then dies; and a woman whose husband is absent and left her with everything she needs, and after he left she made a wanton display of herself. Do not ask about them.” It must not be transparent or see-through. The purpose of hijab must be achieved and in order to be a proper hijab, it must not be made of a transparent material. In a hadeeth reported by Abu Huraira, “During the last days of my ummah there will be women who are clothed but naked, with something on their heads like the humps of camels. Curse them, for they are cursed.” Another hadeeth adds: “They will not enter Paradise or even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be detected from such and such a distance.” (Muslim). Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said: what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) meant was women who wear clothes made of light fabric which describes and does not cover. They are clothed in name but naked in reality. It should not resemble the dressing of a man. It was reported in the saheeh ahaadeeth that a woman who imitates men in dress or in other ways is cursed. There follow some of the ahaadeeth that we know: Abu Hurayrah said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed the man who wears women’s clothes, and the woman who wears men’s clothes.” ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: ‘They are not part of us, the women who imitate men and the men who imitate women.’” It should not be similar to the dressing of the non-believers. It is stated in sharee’ah that Muslims, men and women alike, should not resemble or imitate the kuffaar with regard to worship, festivals or clothing that is specific to them. This is an important Islamic principle which nowadays, unfortunately, is neglected by many Muslims, even those who care about religion and calling others to Islam. This is due either to ignorance of their religion, or because they are following their own whims and desires, or because of deviation, combined with modern customs and imitation of kaafir.  It should not be for fame. The garment implies it’s precious and show admiration. It should be loose not to show the body and thus not tight or thin to reveal her awrah. The purpose of clothing is to prevent fitnah (temptation), and this can only be achieved if clothes are wide and loose. Tight clothes, even if they conceal the colour of the skin, still describe the size and shape of the body or part of it, and create a vivid image in the minds of men. The corruption or invitation to corruption that is inherent in that is quite obvious. So the clothes must be wide. It should not have perfume such that when passing others can smell it. There are many ahaadeeth which forbid women to wear perfume when they go out of their houses. We will quote here some of those which have saheeh isnaads: Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Any woman who puts on perfume then passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, is an adulteress.” Zaynab al-Thaqafiyyah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If any one of you (women) goes out to the mosque, let her not touch any perfume.” Abu Hurayrah said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Any woman who has scented herself with bakhoor (incense), let her not attend ‘Ishaa’ prayers with us.” Moosa ibn Yassaar said that a woman passed by Abu Hurayrah and her scent was overpowering. He said, “O female slave of al-Jabbaar, are you going to the mosque?” She said, “Yes,” He said, “And have you put on perfume because of that?” She said, “Yes.” He said, “Go back and wash yourself, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: ‘If a woman comes out to the mosque and her fragrance is overpowering, Allah will not accept any prayer from her until she goes home and washes herself.’ ” Just as the prohibition covers perfume applied to the body, it also covers perfume applied to the clothes, especially in the third hadeeth, where bakhoor (incense) is mentioned, because incense is used specifically to perfume the clothes. The reason for this prohibition is quite clear, which is that women’s fragrance may cause undue provocation of desires. The scholars also included other things under this heading of things to be avoided by women who want to go to the mosque, such as adorned clothes, jewelry that can be seen, excessive adornments and mingling with men.

Allah says in Surah An-Nur (Q24:60), “And as for women past childbearing who do not expect wedlock, it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment. But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them. And Allah is All‑Hearer, All‑Knower” The evidence from this verse is that Allah states that there is no sin on old women who have no hope of marriage because men have no desire for them, due to their old age (if they discard their outer clothing), subject to the condition that their intention in doing so is not to make a wanton display of themselves and should remain modest.

The black dressing is not a must because it’s not in the condition of a woman’s garment that it should be black; a woman can wear what she wants as so long as it’s under the conditions mentioned. Women may wear other colors that are worn only by women, do not attract attention and do not provoke desire. Wearing black is not a must but many choose to wear it because it is farthest removed from being an adornment. There are also reports which indicate that the women of Sahaabas used to wear black. When the aya is Surah An-Nur was revealed, the women of the Ansaar went out looking as if they were crows on their heads because of their garments. It was classified as Sahih in Sahih Abu Dawood. The standing committee said: This is to be understood as meaning that those clothes were black in color.

As for men, it is mustahabb to wear white clothes. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Wear white clothes, for they are the best of your clothes, and shroud your dead in them.” (Tirmidhi). This is what the scholars regarded as mustahabb. Also narrated by Abu Dawood.

In addition it is Sunnah for a Muslim to start with the right when dressing, and to say, Bismillaah (In the name of Allah), and to start with the left when taking clothes off. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When you get dressed and when you do wudoo’, start on the right.”

What we decide to put on should resemble as Muslims not ‘half-way’ measures, we should then be mindful of our dressing. We are a symbol of what Islam is. We should appreciate and be proud it and remember our reward is with Allah. Hijab is not an option but mandatory in Islam that must be observed by both male and female, even though dressing is stressed upon women, it should be in our best interest to denounce evil and block the means that leads to it. Shaytan flows through the son of Adam like blood, may Allah guide us and keep us away from his whispers.

And Allah knows best.