The requirements for hijab and modest dress for Muslim women come from directives in the Holy Qur'an and narrated traditions from the Sunnah.
Islamic dress – particularly the woman’s head covering or hijab – has become the focus of much attention in the West. It is helpful for non-Muslims and new Muslims to understand why many Muslim women observe a modest dress code.
Definition of Hijab
The Arabic word hijab holds a variety of similar meanings: cover, conceal, hide, screen, and shelter. Among Muslims, hijab commonly refers to a woman’s headscarf. In broader terms, hijab refers to her full modest dress.
Modest Dress in the Qur’an and Ahadith
The Islamic dress code for women is based on verses in the the Holy Qur’an and the narrated traditions (ahadith; singular hadith) of the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) and early Muslims.
Verses and narrations which address women's clothing include:
"And say to the faithful women to lower their gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to display their beauty except what is apparent of it, and to extend their head coverings to cover their bosoms, and not to display their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom the nakedness of women is not apparent..." (Surah An Nur: 31)
"O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the faithful to draw their outer garments close around themselves; that is better that they will be recognized and not annoyed. And God is ever Forgiving, Gentle." (Surah al-Ahzab: 59)
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: "Asma bint Abu Bakr entered upon the Apostle of Allah while she was wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah turned his attention from her. He said: ‘O Asma', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this,’ and he pointed to her face and hands." (Sunnan Abu Dawud 32:4092)
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: "Safiyyah, daughter of Shaybah, said that Aisha mentioned the women of Ansar, praised them and said good words about them. She then said: 'When Surat an-Nur came down, they took the curtains, tore them and made head covers of them.'" (Sunan Abu Dawud: Book 32, Number 4089)
Conditions of Hijab
Based on the Qur’an and ahadith, most scholars agree that Muslim women should cover their hair and wear outer garments outside the home and in the presence of men whom they would be eligible to marry.
The late and well-known scholar Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddeen al-Albaani offered the following conditions of hijab:
It should cover the entire body, except the hands and face (some scholars also exclude the feet; other scholars say that the “entire body” includes the face).
It should be loose enough so as not to describe the body.
It should be free from perfume and incense and ostentation so as not to draw attention.
It should not resemble the clothes of men or non-Muslim women.
It should not be a garment of fame or vanity.
How a woman fulfills the requirements of hijab varies from culture to culture. While an outer garment such as a cloak, jilbab, or abaya is deemed mandatory by some scholars, al-Albaani and others have concluded that alternative styles of loose, unadorned garments can achieve the same degree of coverage and modesty required in Islam.
The copyright of the article What Is Hijab? in Quran & Hadith Studies is owned by Christine Benlafquih. Permission to republish What Is Hijab? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Why is that there are so many variations in the
translations of Quranic verses? And often to suit the cause of the writer
or maybe it is simply a lack understanding?
The quote above
(Surah An Nur: 31) is very different to widely accepted translations which
do not include the words 'head coverings', and in fact it is known by many
to have been added by biased male scholars. The verse tells us to draw a
veil over our bosoms but does NOT refer to any other specific body part.
It is because of this kind of ignorance that non hijabi sisters are
ostracised and made to feel that they in some way are not strong in their
faith.
Oct 7, 2008 2:46 AM
Christine Benlafquih :
I'm sorry you're feeling judged. I surveyed a lot of Muslim women who cover
for an article in Islamic Horizons magazine ("Heads on Hijab"
July/August 2007) and the vast majority indicated that they don't judge
their peers who don't cover.
For that article, I also addressed
your specific question about covering the hair to Shaykh Abdur Rahman ibn
Yusuf. His response might help clarify the issue for you.
Shaykh Abdur Rahman pointed out that many opponents of covering the head
do not have scholarly backgrounds in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and are
therefore not qualified to interpret the Qur'an on literal meaning alone.
We need to look at interpretations from scholars closest to the verses at
the time of revelation.
With regard to the verse Quran 24:31,
it's true that the Arabic word in question "khumorihinna" doesn't
mention covering the head specifically. However, "khumorihinna"
implied covering the head as that was the tradition and understood meaning
at the time of revelation. Consider the hadith mentioned in the article
which shows how early Muslim women immediately covered their heads in
public upon hearing the verse.
Also consider the fact that it
wasn't until Western colonization that some Muslims questioned hijab as a
cultural convention rather than a divinely enjoined command. It really
wasn't an issue or point of difference among the early scholars.
Nov 5, 2008 12:12 PM
Guest :
assalam o alikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,its a great article u wrote
mashAllah.please tell me the significance of covering the face in islam.i
know its not obligatory but still... thanking in anticipation.. Samia khan
Nov 5, 2008 1:00 PM
Christine Benlafquih :
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
Covering the face
is considered obligatory by some scholars. You can find the proof for this
position on a number of reliable sites, including islamqa.com. Other
scholars, however, have convincingly argued that covering the face is not
mandatory, but highly recommended. Most of the scholars for whom the
schools of fiqh are named held this position.
In terms of the
significance, the face is obviously a focal point of a woman's beauty, and
a source of attraction. Some women cover their face because they believe it
is incumbent upon them; others choose to cover their face as part of their
effort to observe full modest hijab. Either way, both groups are following
the example of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and
other early pious Muslim women.
Feb 9, 2009 12:43 PM
Guest :
i like this article & i love the islamic horizon magazine!! :D i
think that it's ok to have difference of opinion, afterall there are 4
schools of thought in islam. the thing is that the Qur'an is clear, however
the scholors interpret some of the verses alittle differently. in the
end, we're the ones who have to do what we think in our hearts is the right
thing to do based on the knowledge we accquire when we study. so i
really don't think there's any reason to debate over this type of stuff
like i see people doing sometimes. Allahu Alim.
Apr 15, 2009 10:42 PM
Guest :
i like this article.it's really so nice and helpful.good concept!
Jun 23, 2009 8:41 PM
Guest :
Salam, In the last paragraph of this article it is said
"alternative styles of loose, unadorned garments can achieve the same
degree of coverage and modesty required in Islam."....acccording to
this statement can i sew my dresses in such a way that they r sufficiently
loose and modest....but are however designed and adorned, for wearing them
outdoors? Sumayya Islam
Jun 24, 2009 1:39 AM
Christine Benlafquih :
Albaani's opinion is not shared by all. Many scholars are insistent that a
jilbab, abaya or other full-length one-piece over garment is part of the
hijab requirements, so it's best to direct your question directly to a
scholar you trust. However, I can point out that we see lots of different
clothing styles in the Muslim world...look at the wide variety of dress in
Indonesia, Malaysia, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, etc. My personal
understanding from reading fatwas is that there is a great deal of
flexibility in terms of color and fabric, bearing in mind that what
"blends in" in one culture might stand out as flashy or immodest
in another. So depending where a woman lives, a print or colorful fabric
may not present itself as ornate, but elsewhere it would. Same applies to
beading, trims, and other decorations. Similarly, modified or long, loose
Western attire might present itself as a very modest norm for Muslim women
in one country but look immodest or inappropriate in another. And all
around the world, consider that often devout Muslim women will choose muted
or dark colors because they are the least likely to draw attention.
