For The Muslim Women

My Hijab, My Choice

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware 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) and not to show off her adornment except only that which is apparent and to draw their veils all over juyubihinna (neck, bosom and some scholars say it includes the face) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband sons, or their brothers, or their brother’s sons, or their women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hand possesses, or old male servants who lack vigor, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful’’ (Surah Al-Nur: 30-31)

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) 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.” (Suratul Al-Ahzab: 59)
Because of the controversy surrounding hijab, it pushed me to do a research on it. To me, hijab is the most debated topic in Islam, between Muslims and non-Muslims. 

First, the big question – why do we wear hijab? That’s simple. It’s simply a commandment of Allah to the Muslim women. By saying that we are Muslims, we are automatically obligated to obey Allah and His Messenger. So whatever rule or command that Allah gives us through His book, we follow them as devout muslims. Also, all of Allah’s rules are there to protect us, guide us and enable us to live a good life. Hijab is just one of the commandments of Allah that is there for our benefit.

Then, the next big question, what is hijab?

This is what made me do my research, because I couldn’t take the so much controversy that surrounds hijab. I mean, isn’t it just another commandment in Islam, why does it have to be something that people just have to have their opinion on. Especially the topic of niqab (face cover), is it compulsory, optional, or not even part of Islam at all? I wanted to make sure that I was wearing the right hijab, obeying the commandment of Allah.

So from my research, I got the conditions of hijab which is agreed upon by most scholars.

Shaykh Al-Albaani said the conditions of hijab are: It should cover all of the body apart from whatever has been exempted, it should not be an adornment in and of itself, it should be thick and not transparent or “see-thru”, it should be loose, not tight so that it describes any part of the body, it should not be perfumed with bakhoor(incense) or fragrance, it should not resemble the clothing of men, it should not resemble the dress of kaafir (disbelievers, non-Muslims) women and it should not be a garment of fame and vanity.

Then, what is the position of niqab in Islam?

During my research, I stumbled upon many books and articles, some saying that niqab is compulsory in Islam, some saying that niqab is optional, and some saying that niqab is recommended.

Those who argue that niqab is compulsory in Islam quote the hadith of the Prophet (S.A.W) where he said “The woman is awrah (private part, one who is forbidden to be exposed)” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi]

They also use the following hadith to support their claim; The Prophet (S.A.W) said: “A woman who is on the state of ihram (during hajj or umrah) must not wear a niqab or gloves” [Reported by Al-Bukhari, Malik, At-Trimidhi, Abu Dawood and Ahmed]

They say that the above hadith proves that niqab and gloves were known among the Muslim women to be part of hijab and it isn’t allowed to wear them during ihram because it fits over the face and hands, and it is not allowed to wear fitting clothes in the state of ihram, but it isn’t an excuse to not cover those parts of the body if a non-mahram (a male whom a woman can get married to, in terms of shariah) is present.