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In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful .
About the Dress of Muslim Women
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"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers (Muslim women) to draw their veils over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgivig, Most Merciful." (The Qur'an 33:59)
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Hijab is a Symbol
of Islam.
Often hijab is thought of as just a headcovering, but actually
hijab is so much more than that! Proper hijab includes the way a
woman carries herself, her attitude, her manners, and yes her way
of dress. It took me a while after embracing Islam to fully
understand the concept of hijab. It was easier to just describe
it to others as a scarf.
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers (Muslims) to draw their cloaks* (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free and respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Qur'an 33:59]
*the arabic word here is Jalabeeb (plural of Jalbaab), which is the loose outer garment that covers all of a woman's body. Scholars say this verse means to use the Jalbaab to cover her head (agreed upon by all scholars) and her face (agreed by many scholars, not all) and to also cover one or both eyes, in order for it to be known that she is a free woman and so not to be exposed to any harm.
'Aisha, the wife of Prophet Muhammad, peace be
upon him, used to say: "When (the Verse): 'They should draw
their veils over their necks and bosoms,' was revealed, (the
ladies) cut their waist sheets* at the edges and covered their
faces with the cut pieces." Hadith - Bukhari 6:282
*A waist sheet is what a woman wore to cover her lower body, like
a modern day ladies half under-slip. During the time era of
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, the waist sheet (half slip)
was what the women wore for underwear, they didn't have panties
as we have in modern times. Even the men wore an izar (a man's
waist sheet) under their clothing. Narrated Ibn Abbas: The
Prophet said (speaking to the men), "Whoever has no Izar (waist
sheet), can wear trousers; and whoever has no sandals, can wear
Khuffs." (but cut them short below the ankles) [Hadith -
Sahih Bukhari 7:744]
Muslim women should not display themselves, Muslim women get respect for who they are, not for how they look.
Narrated Dihyah ibn Khalifah al-Kalbi:
The Apostle of Allah was brought some pieces of fine Egyptian
linen and he gave me one and said: Divide it into two; cut one of
the pieces into a shirt and give the other to your wife for veil.
Then when he turned away, he said: And order your wife to wear a
garment below it and not show her figure. [Hadith - Abu Dawud]
The lower half of the hijab is a garment that does not show the woman's figure. Jeans and certain obvious garments do not meet this requirement.
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: The Prophet said, "A woman should be concealed, for when she goes out the devil looks at her." [Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #3109]
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Ok, so
you've read the religious requirements of the Muslim woman's
dress and maybe you still don't fully understand. In Islam,
contrary to what many people believe, a woman is thought of as a
treasure. When you have a treasure you want to keep it away from
harm, away from theives, you want to make sure no one else
touches your treasure, so you hide it from people.
That's how I feel when I'm out in public and wearing full hijab,
I feel like I'm protected from harm. I have seen how people treat
me with much more respect than they did in the days before I knew
about Islam. Oh sure, I get stared at and hear some comments, but
the good results of me wearing hijab far outweigh the comments
and stares.
Look at the crime statistics in the United States of women being raped. Regardless of what we want to believe, it has been shown time and time again that rape victims are asked what they were wearing at the time the crime occured. The way a rape victim was dressed at the time is often used during the testimony in court.
Women in the United States are crying out for respect, yet all too often when they 'go out' they dress as though to leave nothing to the imagination about how they look. It's like they are inviting others to judge them by their looks. Sorry if that statement offends anyone reading this, but look at it logically. If a woman wants to be known for her mind or her accomplishment, then why is she showing her beauty to people? It is a well known scientific fact that men are the type who are visually attracted to something or someone. If a woman doesn't want to be looked at for her beauty, then she shouldn't flaunt it in front of others.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that all men are attracted to a woman's body, nor am I saying that I think all women dress in a way to entice men, just look at the times we live in and reflect on why things are happening.
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There are so many
misunderstandings about why a Muslim woman dresses the way she
does. First and foremost, Muslim women cover themselves to please
God. God has told us in his final revelation, the Qur'an:
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers (Muslims) to draw their cloaks* (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free and respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Qur'an 33:59]
Wearing proper hijab is not an issue of culture. It's a matter of religion. The above ayah (Al-Ahzab 33:59) tells us that we should cover ourselves to be known....The hijab of Muslim women in the West should be no different than our Sisters in the Middle East. No, we're not trying to imitate them, just that we should all be wearing proper hijab as defined by the Qur'an and Sunnah.
I am not an opressed woman, I wear hijab solely for the pleasure of Allah, The All-Mighty. I do not wear hijab for any man or other person on this earth. I cover myself out of choice, no one has forced, coerced or talked me into wearing the Islamic hijab. It is true that in some countries women must cover themselves when they are outside. This is the law of those particular countries.
A woman covering her body and head has been a practice throughout history, especially Judeo-Christian history. It has only been in modern times that the Christian religion has eased up on this dress requirement.
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female companions were known to wear black and dark colors as we
can see from the hadith;
Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin:
When the verse "That they should cast their outer garments
over their persons" was revealed, the women of Ansar came
out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer
garments. [Hadith - Abu Dawud]
But, we can see from the following hadith that other colors are also permissible for a woman to wear.
...'Aisha said that the lady (came), wearing a green veil ... [Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.715]
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
that he had seen Um Kulthum, the daughter of Allah's Apostle,
peace be upon him, wearing a red silk garment. [Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari
7.733]
I find this hadith very interesting since there are many who say
Muslim women shouldn't wear red because it is too showy.
The Prophet (saaws) was given some clothes including a black Khamisa. The Prophet said, "To whom shall we give this to wear?" The people kept silent whereupon the Prophet said, "Fetch Um Khalid for me." I (Um Khalid) was brought carried (as I was small girl at that time). The Prophet took the Khamisa in his hands and made me wear it and said, "May you live so long that your dress will wear out and you will mend it many times." On the Khamisa there were some green or pale designs (The Prophet saw these designs) and said, "O Um Khalid! This is Sanah." (Sanah in a Ethiopian word meaning beautiful). [Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.713]
While it is permissible for a woman to wear
clothing of a yellowish-red color, it is not a color permissible
for men.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:
We came down with the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) from a
turning of a valley. He turned his attention to me and I was
wearing a garment dyed with a reddish yellow dye. He asked: What
is this garment over you? I recognised what he disliked. I then
came to my family who were burning their oven. I threw it (the
garment) in it and came to him the next day. He asked: Abdullah,
what have you done with the garment? I informed him about it. He
said: Why did you not give it to one of your family to wear, for
there is no harm in it for women. [Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood
4055]
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I am not a scholor of Islam. I feel strongly that
it is not my place to give rulings as I am not qualified. What I
want to do in this section is share with you what I know about
the issue of wearing a face veil. This has been a 'hot' debate
for some time now. If you are faced with the decision to veil or
not, pray to Allah ta'ala for help in this decision. Ask HIM to
guide you to what HE wants you to do.
The group majority of scholors agree that it is a highly recommended act to cover the face. The scholars also agree that a woman must cover her adornment, yet some scholars say that this does not include the face.
Too many times I've heard men and women say that wearing a veil is undesirable , especially in America, because it draws too much attention to the woman. Well, if a womans face is covered, what will others see if they look at her? We must base our decisions on the Qur'an and Sunnah, not on current cultural dress standards.
The general understanding regarding the Sunnah, is that if Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, or any of his wives, or his companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) are recorded in authentic hadith to have engaged in an act that is not prohibited (haram) as defined by Qur'an or Sunnah, then the act is declared permissible (halal). If the companions engaged in an act that the Prophet was aware of and the Prophet did not speak out against that act, then it is considered permissible.
It is a well-known fact that the wives of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, covered their faces any time non-related men were near. 'Aisha, the wife of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to say: "When (the Verse): 'They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms,' was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces." [Hadith - Bukhari 6:282]
I've heard many people ask how can niqab (a
face veil) be necessary for Muslim women when it is clear that we
can not wear niqab in a state of ihram (a part of performing Hajj).
However, according to several scholars even when a Muslim woman
is in a state of ihram, the Muslim woman should lower her head
covering or cloak over her face when she is in the presence of
non-related men.
Narrated 'Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her,:
"A woman in a state of Ihram (during Hajj and Umrah) should
stretch her head-cloth over to her face to hide it." [From
Fathul Bari, chapter Hajj]
'Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "The riders would pass us while we were with the Messenger of Allah. When they got close to us, we would draw our outer cloak from our heads over our faces. When they passed by, we would uncover our faces." [Hadith - Recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and ibn Majah]
Should you decide (after much prayer and reflection) that wearing a niqab (attatched face veil) isn't for you, then at least try to follow the example of the female companions by using your hijab or other items to cover your face when a non-related man approaches. And Allah knows best.
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A Muslim woman should not uncover her adornment in
front of any non-Mahrahm male.
Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allāh is All-Aware of what they do. 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 (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils* all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islām), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allāh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.
In addition, a Muslimah should not uncover
that which she normally uncovers, in front of any non-Muslim
female whom she fears may describe her to others. She may also
choose to remain covered around any Muslim female whom she fears
may describe her physical attributes to their husband or others.
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, "A woman should
not look at or touch another woman to describe her to her husband
in such a way as if he was actually looking at her." [Hadith
- Bukhari 7:167]
If a gay male is aware of female body parts, he should not be allowed to view a woman uncovered. And, of course, a bi-sexual male should not be allowed to view a woman without proper covering.
Narrated Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her: A eunuch used to come to the wives of Allah's Apostle and they did not find anything objectionable in his visit considering him to be a male without any sexual desire. Allah's Apostle one day came as he was sitting with some of his wives and he was busy in describing the bodily characteristics of a lady and saying: As she comes in front four folds appear on her front side and as she turns her back eight folds appear on the back side. Thereupon Allah's Apostle said: I see that he knows these things; do not, therefore, allow him to enter. She (Aisha) said: Then they began to observe veil from him. [Hadith - Muslim]
Muslimahs should especially be careful and
remain covered, modest, and quiet around in-laws.
The Prophet said, "The in-laws are death." [Hadith -
Bukhari and Muslim]
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Allah has truely blessed us by giving us clear rules
which to live our life by. A woman past child-bearing age, who
does not expect to marry is permitted to give up wearing her
overgarments if she wishes to do so.
"Allah has told us: And as for women past child-bearing 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." (Qur'an 24:60)
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