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‘AL-Hijab’ - The veil and its Conditions
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Introduction
One of the
controversies of today is the issue of the
veil or hijab, what is commonly known as the
covering of the Muslimah (Muslim women).
The west looks upon Muslim countries that
encourage the covering of its women as
something oppressive, barbaric and demeaning;
this point was clearly seen when the Taliban
regime was in power in Afghanistan, and the
condemnation it received from countries such
as Britain and America. France has even
outlawed the hijab in its schools and
government institutions. Countries such as
Turkey and Tunisia had taken similar steps
long before even France, and they are
supposed to be Muslim countries! In the name
of modernism and feminism many groups have
risen in Muslim countries to dissuade Muslim
women from covering, apparently this
reformation will bring Islam into the 21st
centaury.
This treatise has
been written in order to provide
clarification on the issue of the hijab.
Why do Muslim women cover?
Muslim women
cover in order to fulfil an obligation from
Allah (swt), and that is to cover all that
is considered awrah (parts of the body that
are not supposed to be exposed to others)
and to leave exposed all that is allowed to
be apparent, which the scholars of Islam
agree are the face and hands of a woman.
* The
evidences supporting the request to cover
- Allah (swt)
says in the Qur’an,
﴿ قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ
أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ
ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ
بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴾
“Say to the
believers to lower the gaze and to protect
and cover their awrah, [Surah An Nur 24:30]
The above
verse is general for both the believing men
and women; the two main points being:
1. To lower
the gaze and
2. To cover
the awrah.
- And in another verse,
﴿ وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ
أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ
فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ
إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا
وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى
جُيُوبِهِنَّ ﴾
And tell the
believing women to lower their gaze (from
looking at forbidden things), and protect
their private parts (from illegal sexual
acts, etc.) and not to show off their
adornment except only that which is apparent
(face and hands), and to draw their veils
all over Juyubihinna (i.e. necks and bosoms,
etc.) [Surah An Nur 24:31]
* This verse specifically addresses the believing women and mentions
four points:
1. Lowering
the gaze
2. Chastity
3. Covering
all except hands and face
4. Special
reference to ensure chest area is covered.
The correct manner of covering
Though the
command to cover is accepted by most Muslim
women, we find there are different
interpretations to what is considered
covering. For some just wearing western
clothes such as a trouser suit or jeans and
tee-shirt is enough. For others a more
traditional look of shalwar and khameez
(loose trouser and shirt), or the sari (one
piece wrap) is considered covering.
The fact is
whatever is worn must fulfil the divine
requirements for covering, which is to leave
only the hands and face of a women showing.
What must be considered?
1: The Extent of Covering
Amongst the
authentic ahadith which clarify this point
is the following:
Ibn `Umar (raa)
reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw)
said,
“On the Day of
Resurrection, Allah will not look at the man
who trails his garment along out of pride.”
Umm Salamah then asked: “What should women
do with (the hems of) their garments?” He
replied: “Let them lower them a hand span.
She said: Their feet would be exposed! He
then said: Let them lower them a forearm’s
length but no more.” [At-Tabarani-Sahih]
2: Thickness of the Garment
The garment
should be thick and opaque so as not to
display the skin color and form of the body
beneath it. Delicate or transparent
clothing does not constitute a proper
covering.
Imam Al-Qurtubi
reports a narration from
‘Aiesha (ra) that some women from
‘Banu Tameem’ (an Arab tribe) came to see
her wearing
transparent clothing. ‘Aiesha said to them:
‘If you are believing women, these are not
the clothes of believing
women.”
He also
reports that a bride came to see her,
wearing a sheer, transparent ‘Khimaar’
whereupon ‘Aiesha (ra) said,
“A woman who
wears such clothing does not believe in
‘Surah An-Nur’.
Moreover, the
following
‘hadith’ (narrative) makes this point
graphically clear. The Messenger (saw) said,
"There
will be in the last of my ‘Ummah’ (Muslim
Nation), scantily dressed
women, the hair on the top of their
heads like a camel’s hump. Curse them, for
verily they are
cursed.”
In another
version, the Messenger (saw) said:
“…scantily dressed women, who go astray and
makes others go astray;
they will not enter Paradise nor smell its
fragrance, although it can be smelled from
afar.” [At-Tabarani]
[Muslim]
“Scantily
dressed women” are those who wear clothing
which reveals
more than it conceals, thereby increasing
her attractiveness while opening the
path to a host of
evils.
3: Looseness of the Garment
The clothing
must hang loosely enough and not be so
tight-fitting as to show the shape and size
of the woman’s body. This
obviously includes such things as skin-tight
body suits, etc. The following hadith
proves this point clearly:
Usama
ibn Zayd (ra)
said, ‘The Prophet (saw) gave me a gift of
thick Coptic cloth he had received as a gift
from Dahiah Al-
Kalbee, and so I gave it to my wife.
Thereafter the Prophet (saw) asked me: “Why
didn’t you wear
the Coptic cloth? I replied: I gave it to my
wife. The Prophet (saw) then said: Tell her
to wear a thick gown
under it (the Coptic garment) for I fear
that it may describe the size of her limbs.”
[Ahmad] [ Al Bayhaqi] and
[Al-Hakkim]
4: Color, Appearance and Demeanor of the
Garment
A
garment which is intended to conceal a woman
and her beauty from public view cannot be a
thing which enhances her beauty. Therefore,
the garment cannot contain bright colors,
bold designs or shiny and reflective
material that draws men’s attention to the
wearer, this is called Tabarruj.
The Arabic
word, ‘At-Tabarruj’ means not only “to
display oneself” but also “to spruce up
one’s charms for the purpose of exciting
desire”.
Imam
Adh-Dhahabi says in his book Kitab Al-Kaba’ir
(The Book of Major Sins):
“Amongst the
deeds which a woman is cursed for are
displaying the adornments she wears, wearing
perfume when she goes out, and wearing
colorful clothes...” Hence, the Muslim woman
is encouraged to wear muted, somber colors
and to avoid bright designs, patterns and
colors.
5: Difference from Men’s Clothing
The
clothing of a Muslim woman must not resemble
the clothing of men. The following two
hadith explain this.
Abu Hurairah (ra)
said, “The Prophet (saw) cursed the man who
wears women’s clothes and the
woman who wears
men’s clothes”. [Abu Dawud] and [Ibn Majah]
Abdullah ibn `Umar
(ra) said he heard Allah’s Messenger (saws)
say, “The man who resembles a woman and the
woman who resembles a man is not of us
(i.e., not of the believers).” [Ahmad] and
[At-Tabarani-Sahih]
Additionally,
Abu Dawud relates a narration from Umm
Salamah (ra) which shows that the Prophet
(saw) forbade women to bundle their Khumoor
on their heads in such a way as to resemble
the turban of a man.
6:
Difference from the Clothing of Unbelievers
Her clothing
must not resemble the clothing of the
unbelievers. This is a general ruling of the
‘Sharia’h which encompasses
not only dress but also such things as
manners, customs, religious practices and
festivities, transactions,
etc. Indeed,
dissimilarity with unbelievers is a
precedent that was established by the first
generation of Islam.
‘Abdullah
ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-’Aas
said, “The Prophet (saw) saw me wearing two
saffron colored garments, so he said:
“Indeed, these
are the clothes of ‘Kuffar’ (unbelievers),
so do not wear them.” [Sahih Muslim]
7:
The garment must not be perfumed
On the
authority of Ad’Diya Al-Maqdisi, the Prophet
(saw) said,
“Any woman who
perfumes herself and
passes by some people that they smell her
scent, then she is a ‘Zaniyah’
(adulteress).”
8:
No Vanity or Ostentatious Dressing
The woman’s
dress must not be an expression of
ostentation, vanity or as a status symbol by
being excessively showy or
expensive, nor must it be excessively
tattered so as to gain admiration and fame
for being extremely humble.
Ibn
‘Umar (ra)
reported that the Prophet (saw) said:
“Whoever dresses for ostentation in this
world, Allah will dress
that person in a dress of humiliation on the
Day of Resurrection, and then set it on
fire.” [Abu Dawud]
In Summary
The command to
cover is one that should not be taken
lightly. The fact is in Islam anyone who
does not fulfil an obligatory act is sinful
and liable for punishment of Allah (swt) in
whichever manner He chooses. The Messenger
(saw) has elaborated many times the correct
manner of covering as well as the
consequences or erring. That is why the
Sahabiyat (female companions) are best
example to follow in this issue, as they
were present in the time of the Messenger
(saw) and the closest to understanding the
revelation.
This treatise
has in no way covered the topic in its
totality and the reader may wish to explore
the topics mentioned at the footnote for
further reading.
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