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Sunday, May 13 at 05 14 PM
The world we are living in is a changed world from the one we grew up in. While growing up, I hardly remember women wearing Hijab. Most of the women in Pakistan used to wear Shalwar Qameez with a long dupatta, while only a few percentage of women used to wear Niqab.
But these days you see more and more women wearing Hijab in normal life. I think it is a good trend, but I also see things concerning Hijab which makes me believe that for more and more women (specially from subcontinent) it is becoming a fashion rather than an Islamic Ritual.
What is Hijab? What defines Hijab? Normally in Pakistan if a women is covering her head with a scarf, with no or very little hair being displayed we say that she is wearing a Hijab. Is that is what Hijab is? Contrary to this Hijab in Islam is a much broader term than just covering the head.
Hijab is the Arabic term for "cover" (noun), based on the root Hijb meaning "to veil, to cover (verb), to screen, to shelter"
In Islam hijab is given the wider meaning of modesty, privacy, and morality. Hijab includes not only the covering of body, but methods of behavior before members of the same or opposite sex, promoting privacy for females to ensure modesty, decency, chastity and above all, respect and worship of Allah.
Minor differences exist among the scholars regarding the actual number of the requirements because of varying methods used in codifying them. The ones mentioned here represent the ones agreed upon by the overwhelming majority of scholars and are all solidly backed by firm evidence taken from the Qur'an, the Sunnah and the practice of the Sahabah (the Companions). There are 7 basic requirements that needs to be fulfilled for Hijab
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The Extent of Covering:
Hijab requires women to wear a Cover over their head, neck and bosoms and do not show any parts of their body except face and hands. This requirement is validated by the following verses and sunnah.
Allah says:
" And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts from sin and not show of their adornment except only that which is apparent, and draw their headcovers over their necks and bosoms and not reveal their adornment except to And that they should not I strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And 0 you Believers! Turn you all together towards Allah in repentance that you may be successful." (24:31)
Surah An-Nur spells out specifically the commands concerning the fact that a woman's natural beauty and her adornments are to be concealed from strangers except by what may show due to accidental or uncontrollable factors such as the blowing of the wind, etc., and what has been exempted
Allah says: "0 Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments above themselves ( when they go out). That is better so that they may be recognized and not molested. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (33:59)
Abu Dawood narrates that Aishah (raa) said: " Asma'a the daughter of Abu Bakr (raa) came to see the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) wearing a thin dress; so Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) turned away from her and said: "0 Asma'a, once a woman reaches the age of puberty, no part of her body should be seen but this -and he pointed to his face and hands."
Thus we can safely say that the dress worn in public must cover the entire body except what has been specifically excluded, based upon the above proofs.
The major point of difference among the scholars concerns the covering of the face and hands by women.
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Thickness:
The garment should be thick and opaque so as not to display skin color and form of the body beneath it. Delicate or transparent clothing does not constitute a proper covering
Following hadith makes this point graphically Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “There will be in the last of my Ummah (nation of believers), scantily dressed women, the hair on the top of their heads like a camels hump. Curse them, for verily they are cursed.”
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.”
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Looseness:
The clothing must hang loosely enough and not be tight-fitting show the shape and size of the woman's body
The following hadith proves this clearly: Usamah ibn Zaid said: “ Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) gave me a gift of thick Coptic cloth he had received as a gift from Dahiah Al-Kalbi, and so I gave it to my wife. Thereafter, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) asked thy didn't you wear the Coptic cloth? I replied: I gave it to my wife. Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) 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. “ narrated by Ahmad, AI-Bayhaqi, and AI-Haakim)
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Color- Appearance -Demeanor:
Allah says: "O' wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women; if you fear ( Allah) , then do not be too pleasant of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should feel desire (for you) ." (33:32)
The reason for the revelation of this verse is not the fear of distrust nor misbehavior on the part of the women, but rather to prevent them from speaking invitingly, walking seductively, or dressing revealingly so as to arouse sexual desire in the heart of lecherous and evil men.
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Difference from Men's Clothing:
The clothing of a Muslim woman must not resemble the clothing of men. The following hadith helps to explain this. Abu Hurayrah (raa) said: Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) cursed the man who wears women’s clothes and the woman who wears men’s clothes. (Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah-Saheeh)
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Difference from the Clothing of Unbelievers:
Her clothing must not resemble the clothing of unbelievers
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No Vain 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 humble. Ibn Umar (raa) reported that Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) 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 Dawood)
Take a look around you. How many women do you actually see meeting these requirments for Hijab. I have witnessed a large number of women which although having a scarf over their head do nothing else to fulfill rest of the requirements. They wear thinly scanted clothes, tight jeans and tshirts. Make no attemps of using a longer headcovers covering their neck and bosoms. Wear clothes that immediately seeks the attention of men around them. There is absolutely very little difference between their attire and men attire. They practically trash all other teachings of Islam and by just wearing a Head Scarf they believe they are much better than Women who are not wearing them. They are bunch of Hypocrites. I would rather be with a woman who wears western clothes but know her Islam then these kind of women.
Lets be honest with ourselves. We as grownups fully know what parts of women body attracts us. Does that include only the hair ? If I pose this question to 100 Muslim Men , almost 90% of them will say no. So who these women are trying to kid by just wearing a scarf over their Head and thinking that they are wearing Hijab and following the teachings of Islam.
Islam has clearly stated that what is required to constitute a Hijab. And to think of it, it makes common sense. By covering the head, neck and bossom with a cover, wearing thick, loose and long clothes, women practically cover all parts of their body which are attractive to men. And that is what Islam is trying to preach to women to dress in a way so as not to arouse sexual desire in the heart of men. But Alas "Common sense is not so common"
I also clearly want to state that there are plenty of women who wear Hijab the way it should be and they make me proud of the fact that I am a muslim. In short I wrote this blog to actually increase my own knowledge what constitutes a Hijab. In my humble opinion, a woman should not necessarily wear hijab, if she is wearing soemthing decent that should do it. But if some woman wants to wear Hijab then atleast do it the right way. Dont interpret Islam in your own way and distort the spirit of Hijab. Its like us men, who have beard on their face proclaiming they are following the sunnah of Mohammad(pbuh) yet are doing all other prohibited things in islam.
In the end I would like to say that Hijab also applies to men not only to women. This is another topic which I would discuss some another day. To finish off the blog I would repeat a much talked about quotation in Pakistan (with little modification)
"Islam mein Hijab hai, Hijab mein Islam Naheen"
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Comment By: Abdul Muneeb
Date: Thursday, July 17 at 11 29 AM
Dear Muneeb,
Thanks for your blog which is very informative.
But let me add onething to what you said.
Ask any men what is the most attractive part of Woman to be covered and 100% of them will say Face.
It is the face which distinguishes attractive woman from ugly one so the covering of the face is the right way of hijab otherwise it is meaningless
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Comment By: Abdul Muneeb
Date: Thursday, July 17 at 11 29 AM
Dear Muneeb,
Thanks for your blog which is very informative.
But let me add onething to what you said.
Ask any men what is the most attractive part of Woman to be covered and 100% of them will say Face.
It is the face which distinguishes attractive woman from ugly one so the covering of the face is the right way of hijab otherwise it is meaningless
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Comment By: it doesnt matter
Date: Monday, April 21 at 03 05 PM
first of all hijab being a requirement from islam is a controversial thing to say and secondly its not that much of a problem.we have far more serious problems to deal with so if a woman is wearing a hijab for fashion that isnt that much of bigger deal and she has the right to do that.
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Comment By: QH
Date: Tuesday, November 27 at 09 23 PM
www.queendom-hijabs.com
Check it out
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Comment By: captive-91
Date: Friday, November 09 at 08 11 PM
i really liked ur blog entry - its really clearly explained and uve reffered 2 da quran and sunnah very well. may allah bless u, and e.1 taking time 2 read it!
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Comment By: liberalsistah
Date: Thursday, November 01 at 09 21 AM
here's another thing that we have failed to point out...if HIjab is all abt modesty, what abt modesty in expense? I know one tramp of a woman who married into the family,who spends a hundred dollars on a headscarf and twice as much on her loose, baggy hijabed clothing. She goes for expensive facials and refuses to pay for her bills, letting the rest of her sinful, half naked relatives pay for her. And when we ask for her share, she says 'I have no money' ! Strangely enough you'll find a lot of Muslimahs marrying for money which I don't find modest and frankly I would rather don on lingerie in the streets, work hard with the rights that Allah has provided for me, then turn out like some headscarved hypocrite who thinks she's going to heaven just because she dresses 'right'.
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Comment By: Mohamed Munavar
Date: Friday, May 25 at 10 25 PM
Yes, Mr.Fraz i do exist and i am in orkut too in dinky's friends...
Its only that our thoughts are kinda same.
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Comment By: Fraz
Date: Friday, May 25 at 01 05 PM
I dont think (again with due respect) that Mohamed Munavar exists ... how come he always agree with your blogs.
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Comment By: Mohamed Munavar
Date: Friday, May 25 at 09 01 AM
Right...My suggestion is "women should wear burkha", if not they should wear a hijab which is long enough till there elbow with loose fit Salwar Kameez.
Best way is to settle down in a place where there is cold 24/7. lol
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Comment By: Fraz
Date: Monday, May 21 at 02 09 PM
Well said .... Maulana Muneeb ... now i know exactly why arent u getting time ;)
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