Clearly The Proper Hijaab

 

 

Clearly the Proper Hijaab (Face Veil) is From the Practice of the Female Companions and Not Simply Arabian Culture

Bismillah wa salaatu wa salaamu 'ala nabiyyinaa Muhammad, wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallam, wa ash hadu an laa ilaha illa Allah wahdahu laa shareeka lahu wa ash hadu ana Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluhu, salla Allahu 'alaihi wa sallam, wa ba'd:

Below you will find some proofs that the proper hijaab is not simply a practice of the Arab people, but rather, it is a practice of the female companions of the Prophet (SAAWS).

This article is not meant to establish whether or not the wearing of proper hijaab is Waajib or Mustahab (i.e. obligatory or highly recommended), for that is an issue which the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah still debate about. Instead, the focus of this article is to establish that the proper hijaab is indeed a practice of the Sahabiyaat and it should serve as a refutation of those modernists who claim that the proper hijaab is an expression of Arabian culture and that it is not from Islam and that it is a hinderence to the our Da'wah efforts in Western nations (i.e. they claim that proper hijaab wearing women work against Da'wah as their "strict" dress scares away potential interested non-Muslims!).

After reading this information, Insha-Allah you will have to conclude that the proper hijaab is a beautiful aspect of the Muslim woman's dress and it is in no way a hinderence to the true Da'wah of Islam.

The Mufassireen, such as Al-Qurtubi, site in their Tafseer of the Ayah on Jilbaab (Al-Ahzab 33:59), that the Jilbaab is: "a cloth which covers the entire body... Ibn 'Abbaas and 'Ubaidah As-Salmaani (RU) said that it is to be fully wrapped around the women's body, so that nothing appears but one eye with which she can see." [Tafseer Al-Qurtubi].

However, aside from this Tafseer, we do in fact have an authentic Hadeeth mentioning proper hijaab. The Prophet (SAW) commanded: "A woman (pilgrim) does not cover her face with a proper hijaab (i.e. does not tie or affix) nor should she wear gloves." [Al-Bukharee; Muslim; Saheeh Abi Dawood #1600; authenticated by Al-Albaanee].

Thus, from this authentic Hadeeth, we can clearly see that the Sahabiyat (RA) were accustomed to covering their faces with proper hijaab otherwise, there would not have been any need for the Prophet (SAW) to specifically forbid it during the state of Ihram. Likewise, during Ihram, men are forbidden to cover their heads which shows that outside of being in the state of Ihram they were accustomed to covering their heads, and Allah knows best.

The above Hadeeth should not be used to say that Muslim women should uncover their faces during Hajj. The Hadeeth is warning against affixing a niqab, however the 'Ulama allow for a woman to cover her face with non-affixed material. Our mother 'Aisha (RA) said: "Pilgrims were passing by us while we were with the Prophet of Allah (SAW). When they came close to us we would draw our garments from the head to cover the face." [Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah. Ad-Daraqutni reports a similar Hadeeth on the authority of Umm Salamah (RA)]. Thus, we see that covering the face was a priority of the Sahabiyat and it is certainly a characteristic of the women who opt to follow their righteous path.

When the Ayah in Surah An-Noor (24:31) was revealed, 'Aisha (RA) narrated: "May Allah bestow His Mercy on the first Muhajirat (emigrants). When Allah revealed, '...and draw their Khumur over their Juyubihinna...', they (i.e. the women) tore their material and covered themselves with it." [Saheeh Al-Bukharee].  Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalanee, who is known as Ameer Al-Mu'mineen in the field of Hadeeth, said that the phrase, "covered themselves", in the above Hadeeth means that they "covered their faces". [Fath Al-Bari].

Clearly many of our contemporary 'Ulama, such as Shaikh 'Abdul-'Azeez 'Abdullah bin Baaz, Shaikh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen, may Allah give them both life (Ameen), feel that the proper hijaab is indeed Waajib upon the believing women and their argument is strong and convincing, in my humble opinion. Others from amongst our 'Ulama, such as the Muhaddith of our time, Shaikh Muhammad Naasiru-Deen Al-Albaanee, may Allah give him life (Ameen), clearly feel that the proper hijaab is not Waajib but rather Mustahab (highly recommended). Refer to his book, "Jilbaabul Mar'atul Muslimah". This argument is also strong and convincing.

Regardless of which opinion one follows, I would say that there is no doubt concerning the benefits of proper hijaab, and the scholars do not differ in this regard. In fact, today we hear many cries against the proper hijaab for many reasons which do not make much sense.

For example, the argument that proper hijaab is counterproductive to Da'wah in non-Muslim lands. After having established that the proper hijaab is indeed an authentic part of Islam, we must then conclude that to hide it is what is counterproductive to Da'wah. No one would dare think that the Sahabah spread Islam throughout the lands of the earth by concealing the practices they learned from the Messenger of Allah (SAW); thus, as 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA) declared: "LET THE SUNNAH GO FORTH AND DO NOT STOP IT WITH OPINIONS." Other modernist Du'at claim that the proper hijaab is in fact Makruh or disliked! How strange! They stand upon their own 'Aql (intellect) which is weak in light of the authenticated reports we have above.

Subhanaka Allahummah wa bihamdika, ash hadu an laa ilaha illa anta, astaghfiruka wa atoobu ilayk. Wa Salaamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatu Allahi wa Barakaatuhu.


Information Provided By

Abu 'Abdul-Fattaah Salaah bin Bernard Brooks

Contact Him At

bernard@city-net.com