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>…………………………… jazakallahukhoyr………………………………<

The status of the Muslim woman in Islam is a very noble and lofty one, and her effect is very great in the life of every Muslim. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the initial teacher in the building of a righteous society, providing she follows the guidance from the Qur’aan and the Prophetic tradition, since adherence to the Qur’aan and the Prophetic tradition distances every Muslim, male or female, from being misguided in any matter. So in the course of practicing her faith, the Muslim woman knows that she must cover herself as an act of obedience to her Creator. But to what extent and what are the conditions of the correct Islamic veil?
Here are eight conditions to enlighten the reader with the conditions of the hijaab based upon textual proofs with the understanding of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)

The First Condition:

“TO COVER THE WHOLE OF THE BODY EXCEPT THAT WHICH IS ALLOWED TO BE-UNCOVERED”.

And this is mentioned in the statement of Allaah, the Most High, “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and protect their private parts from lewd acts and not to show off their beauty except that which is apparent, and to draw their scarves (i.e. the khimaar) over themselves and not to reveal their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands fathers, their sons, their husbands sons, their brothers or their brothers sons, or their sister ‘s sons, or their (muslim) womenfolk, or the female servants whom they possess, or old male servants who do not possess desire, or small children who have no sense of sexuality. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornments. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you, 0 believers, that you may be successful.”(An-Noor24:31)

There is also His statement,

“0 Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the believing women to draw their cloaks (i.e. Jilbaabs) all over their bodies. 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.” (Al-Ahzaab 33:59).

The Second Condition:

“THE JILBAAB SHOULD NOT BE BEAUTIFYING”. This is based upon the statement of AIlaah, “and not to show off their adornments…” (An-Noor 24:31)

The Third Condition:

“THAT THE JILBAAB SHOULD BE THICK AND NOT TRANSPARENT”. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “There will be in the latter part of my nation women who will be dressed yet undressed. Their heads will resemble the humps of camels. Curse them, for indeed they are accursed. They will not be admitted to Paradise nor smell its fragrance” (combined report by at-tabaranee and muslim).The meaning of transparent as far as the Jilbaab is concerned is that the colour of the skin underneath or the garments underneath can be seen through it.

TheFourthCondition:

“THAT THE JILBAAB SHOULD BE WIDE AND NOT TIGHT SO AS TO REVEAL THE SHAPE OF THE BODY”. And the reason for this is that the purpose of the outdoor garment of the woman is to prevent temptation and arousal of desires, and this will not be achieved except by a wide spacious garment. So even if the beauty underneath cannot be seen because the garment has fulfilled the previous condition, it must also fulfill this important condition whereby the shape and size of the bodily parts of the woman are not described, such as her breasts and waist, due to the tightness of the Jilbaab. For indeed if the Jilbaab is tight, then it’s oblective is lostl

The Fifth Condition:

“THAT THE JILBAAB SHOULD NOT BE SCENTED AND PERFUMED”. There are many narrations from Allaah’s Messenger (sollallaahu ‘olayhi wo sollom) that forbid the women from leaving their homes whilst perfumed. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Any woman who perfumes herself and passes amongst the people so that they may smell her scent, has (resembled) a fornicator.” (Reported by An-Nasaa’ee, Abu Dawood, and At-Tirmidhee)

The Sixth Condition:

“THAT THE JILBAAB SHOULD NOT RESEMBLE THE CLOTHING OF MEN”.

This condition is based upon extensive authentic narrations forbidding women from resembling men and from men resembling women. Abu Hurayrah stated, “Allaah’s Messenger cursed the man that wears the clothing of the woman and the woman that wears the clothing of the man.”
(Reported Abu Dawood, lbn Maalah and Al-Haakim). And ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Amr said that he heard Allaah’s Messenger (sofIa!loahu ‘olayhi wa sallam) say, “Not from us are the women who take to resembling men and nor the men that take to resembling women.” (Reported by Ahmad).

The Seventh Condition:

“THAT THE JILBAAB SHOULD NOT RESEMBLE THE CLOTHING OF THE UNBELIEVERS”.

The texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah establish for the Muslims that they have their own identity that must be preserved. The Islamic legislation therefore forbids the believers from resembling the unbelievers in that which is specific for them in their worship, their celebrations and clothing.

The Eighth Condition:

“THAT THE JILBAAB SHOULD NOT BE OSTENTATIOUS & SEEKING FAME OR REPUTE”.

The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever wears clothing seeking to stand out and seeking fame in this world, Allaah will dress him with clothing of humiliation on the Day of Resurrection, then it will be set ablaze.” (Reported by Abu Dawood and lbn Maajah).

(Sources: “Jilbaab Al-Mar’atil-Muslimah fil Kitaab wa Sunnaah” by Shaikh al-Albanee and the Madeenah Dawrah (1428H) of sheikh ‘Ubaid al-Jabiree)

The Story of Umaymah Bintu Ruqayqah
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