HIJAAB: Not a fashion statement of Islam

I’m sure I’m not the only one to have noticed but these days the Muslimah seem to have taken on a trend that is more fashion than Islam. There are Islamic principles to follow and this really goes against those principles. I’m talking about the way Muslimahs are wearing their hijaabs, which actually does the opposite of what it is intended for – it attracts attention rather than protect the dignity of a woman. But that’s not the only thing that needs addressing – wearing hijaab with leggings and tight fitting clothes is not what you would imagine the wives of the Prophet (pbuh) to have done. So why are Muslimah of today doing this?

Sadly, our younger sisters are mistakenly thinking that, by wearing hijaab in this fashion, (without thinking about the rest of their attire), they are fulfilling one of their Islamic duties. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to see more and more sisters wearing hijaab. But it’s time we got this right and looked at hijaab in the way the Wives of the Prophet (pbuh) adopted it – they are our role models.

Don’t make Hijaab trendy

The Islamic principles of Hijaab include protecting the dignity of women and saving her beauty for her husband – not for every hot-blooded guy in the vicinity. I think it’s great that more Muslimah are wearing the hijaab but which do you think is better? Wearing hijaab and loose clothing that does not reveal the shape of a woman? Or wearing hijaab and tight clothing, such as leggings, which reveals the shape (and which attracts a man’s attention)?

Above I have drawn two figures – on the right is a drawing of hijaab (with loose clothing), on the left is a drawing of hijaab (with tight clothing). I didn’t want to put an actual picture up of a woman in leggings or tights or jeans, and so this is the best alternative I could come up with. The drawing on the right is the better way to adopt hijaab, not the one on the left. Sisters, reflect on the following:

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known so as not to be annoyed.” [Surat Al-Ahzab v59]

“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 their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juhubihinna (ie. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment 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 brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (ie. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, 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. All all of you beg Allah to forgive you, O believers, that you may be successful.” [Surah 24 (An-Nur), verse 31]

Narrated Safiyah bint Shaibah: ‘Aishah used to say: ‘When the Verse: “And to draw their veils all over Juhubihinna (ie. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)” (V24:31) was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their heads and faces with those cut pieces of cloth. [Sahih Bukhari, Vol 6, Hadith No. 282]

Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are two types of the people of Hell whom I have not seen: men with whips like the tails of cattle with which they strike the people, and women who are clothed but naked, walking with an enticing gait, with something like the humps of camels on their heads. They will not enter Paradise nor even smell its fragrance, and its fragrance can be smelled from such and such a distance.” [Sahih Muslim]

Sisters, the evidence above is clear (although there are even more evidences that go into this issue in more detail). For those who still may feel like questioning this, then please do look further inot the issue. But once you realise the evidences, I remind you of the verse in the Qur’an:

“It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any option about their decision. If anyone disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path.” [Surat Al-Ahzaab v36]

Further information on the ruling of hijaab and it’s conditions

Come on sisters, you’ve already taken one step to wearing the hijaab – now go one step more and do away with the leggings and tight clothing, wear full hijaab and be a real role model for the Ummah. And if you think that wearing hijaab with tight clothes is fulfilling your duty and not attracting men, then why not ask (in a halaal manner) brothers themselves? I am sure they will tell you what they find attractive (you might be surprised).

Other posts for Sisters

Sisters are proud to be Identified as Muslimah!

We don’t need to be saved from the Burka!

Stand Up 4 Islam!

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Ramadan 2011: Some Do’s and Don’t's

DO…	make intention before the start of each fast.	This is obligatory
DO…	take suhoor (the meal before fasting starts). The difference between the fast of a Muslim and the fast of others is the taking of suhoor (from Muslim)	This is recommended
DO…	delay the suhoor to as close to Fajr as possible.	This is recommended
DO…	hasten to break the fast at Maghrib time	This is recommended
DO…	try to break your fast with dates, as this is a sunnah. If dates aren’t available, break your fast with water	This is recommended
DO…	make a dua at the time of breaking the fast, eg. ‘O Allah, for you I have fasted and on Your Provision I have broken the fast’ [Abu Dawud]‘The thirst is gone, the veins are moisten and the reward is certain, insha’Allah’ [Au Dawud]‘Indeed there is for the fasting person, when he breaks his fast, a supplication which is not rejected.’ [Ibn Majah, al-Hakim]	This is recommended
DO…	Use a miswak during fasting, as this is sunnah	This is recommended
DO…	Exercise patience
DO…	Ask Allah for His Mercy and Forgiveness
DO…	Engage in Islamic acts of worship and good, eg. Give in charity, be good to your neighbour, show good character
DO…	Read the Qur’anThe Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: ‘The best among you is he who learns the Holy Qur’an and teaches it.’	From Bukhari & Muslim
DO…	Increase your Islamic knowledge
DO…	Get rid of any innovated practices from your habits
DO…	Make dua to Allah frequently during the day and night
DO…	Be generous‘The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was the most generous of men and he was the most generous during Ramadan when Jibreel would visit him every night and recite the Holy Qur’an to him.’	From Bukhari & Muslim
DO…	Provide something to a person who is fasting, to break his fast‘He who provides something to the observer of fast for breaking the fast earns the same reward as the one who observes the fast, without diminishing.’	From Ahmad & Tirmidhi
DO…	Pray the night prayer
DO…	Practice I’tikaf (seclusion in the masjid) in the last 10 days of RamadanAishah (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) used to perform I’tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah the Mighty and Majestic, took away his life, then his wives  followed this practice after him.’	From Bukhari & Muuslim
DO…	Seek Laylatul Qadr in the last 10 days of Ramadan
DO…	Give your Zakat-ul-Fitr before Eid	This is obligatory
DON’T…	Deliberately eat anything during the fast, unless you are not physically able to complete the fast . You are forgiven if you have forgotten you were fasting	This breaks the fast
DON’T…	Deliberately drink anything during the fast, unless you are not physically able to complete the fast. You are forgiven if you have forgotten you were fasting	This breaks the fast
DON’T…	Deliberatley engage in sexual intercourse during the fast. You are forgiven if you have forgotten you were fasting	This breaks the fast
DON’T…	lie	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Slander	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Backbite	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Swear or use other bad language	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Raise your voice or argue	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Engage in indecent actions	From Bukhari
DON’T…	Forget that if you are travelling, you have the option to not fast and make up for that fast later on.Aisha reported that Hamzah Ibn Amr Al-Aslamee (ra) asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah (pbuh) I am a person who fasts often, so should I fast while travelling?’ Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) replied, ‘Fast if you wish and refrain from fasting if you wish.’	From Bukhari & Muslim
DON’T…	Fast if you are on your menstrual cycle (women). You must make up for this fast later
DON’T…	Deliberately make yourself vomit	This breaks the fast
DON’T…	Take injections  or drugs that are used instead of food	This breaks the fast
DON’T…	Delay breaking your fast
DON’T…	Smoke or take drugs
DON’T…	Worry about the following: swallowing saliva, putting on perfume, gargling water in your mouth and nose for things like cleaning and wudhu, putting eye drops in your eyes putting kohl on eyelashes having a bath/shower tasting food whilst cooking (as long as nothing goes down the throat) bleeding (unless it is menstrual)	These acts do not break the fast
DON’T…	Fast on Eid
DON’T…	Forget that if you are very ill, you are excused from fasting and can make up the fast later or give fidyah (a compensation to feed people)
DON’T…	Forget that if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you do not need to fast, although you can if you feel able to and it won’t harm the baby.
DON’T…	Worry, it is not a sin to not perform taraweeh. However, praying is of great benefit

Stand Up 4 Islam!

Other Ramadan Posts:

Ramadan 2011: Make a change in this month of fasting

Ramadan 2011: The significance and benefits of Fasting & Ramadan

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Ramadan 2011: The significance and benefits of Fasting & Ramadan

Ramadan is the 9^th month of the Islamic calendar. It is during this month that the Shayateen are locked away in chains, that the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed and Laylat-ul-Qadr is to be found:

‘The month of Ramadan, in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the  criterion (between what is right and wrong)’ Surat Al-Baqarah v185

‘Verily! We have sent it (the Qur’an) down in Laylat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree). And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than one thousand months..’ Surat Al-Qadr, v1-3

‘When the month of Ramadan arrives, the doors of Heaven are opened, the doors of Hell are closed and the devils put under chains.’ [Bukhari and Muslim]

Benefits of Fasting and Ramadan

Allah Commanded us to fast. It’s the one deed that is purely for Allah alone. And the benefits of fasting are many:

The Prophet (pbuh) said that Allah said: ‘The Fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My Sake. Fasting is a screen (from hell), and there are two moments of pleasure (moments of happiness or joys) for a fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. And the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better in Allah’s Sight than the smell of musk.’ [Bukhari]

Allah declared: ‘O you have believed! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was ordained for those before you, so that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious).’ Surat Al-Baqarah v183

‘Whoever observes (fasts) during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s Rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.’ [Bukhari & Muslim]

Abu Ayyoob al-Ansaari narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be like fasting for a lifetime.” [Sahih Muslim]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadaan, a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.” [Ahmad]

‘Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said: My nation is given 5 privileges in the month of Ramadan that no nation was given before:

• The khaloof (odour of the mouth of a fasting person) is sweeter in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk
• The angels keep praying to Allah to forgive the fasting people until they break their fast
• Allah decorates Paradise every day saying to it ‘My righteous slaves are about to be comforted of their burdens and sufferings and enter you’
• The Shayateen are chained during this month
• Sins of the believers are forgiven  by the last night of Ramadan. [Muslim]

Stand Up 4 Islam!

Other Ramadan Posts:

Ramadan 2011: Make a change in this month of fasting

Ramadan 2011: Some Do’s and Don’t's

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Ramadan 2011: Make a change in this month of Fasting

Another Ramadan is on us, Alhamdulillah. The timetables are distributed, food is being prepared. We get the duas out, the Qur’ans, the nasheeds and qiraats. We know our routines, so let’s not spend this post discussing that. Instead, let’s look at what’s going to change. Change? What do you mean ‘change’?

Ramadan is a Blessed Month; one where we can get into new and good habits, get rid of bad habits and move the ummah forward. It’s not just about doing some extras for one month and then back to our old ways. Ramadan cleanses you, increases your imaan and should mean that you come out stronger than when you started.

Sisters are proud to be identified as Muslimah!

If there’s one thing that Islam and Muslims gets attacked for, it’s women!

It’s made out, in the ‘western world’, in the non-Muslim media and by ordinary people on the streets, that Muslim women are oppressed by Islam and by Muslim men. This is simply not true!

This is no different than Muslims being slammed for forced marriages. For a long time, people thought that having a forced marriage was normal in Islam and it was something that Islam supported. They thought that Muslim women were being oppressed, by the men, and being forced into marriages, against their wills. It took years of Muslims speaking out before it actually started to sink into the minds of the public at large, that Islam was against forced marriages and that this was a custom, a tradition, that was prevalent in cultures throughout the world – but not in Islam.

The Muslim World continues to be attacked where women are concerned. The latest attention has focused on the clothing of a Muslimah – not a new topic but one that’s been gaining momentum in Europe and the UK. The western world is complaining and campaigning hard against the Burqa, also known as the niqaab or chadur, and it has been banned in France, Belgium and is being heavily debated in the UK, Spain and other countries. The main thrust is that it is oppressive, poses a security threat and divides communities. I have already written a post on this:

http://standup4islam.wordpress.com/2010/08/14/we-dont-need-to-be-saved-from-the-burka/

Sisters! Stand Up!

The thing is sisters, if a Muslim man argues about the merits and benefits and blessings of hijaab, niqaab/burqa or jilbaab, he’ll just be seen as one of the oppressors. This situation requires for sisters to act, for sisters to stand up and defend their rights, the rights given to them in Islam by Allah, subhana wa ta’ala.

So stand up sisters. Be proud of being a Muslimah, of looking like a Muslimah, of being identified as a Muslimah. Stand up and tell the disbelievers that they are wrong. Ask them why they don’t ask the hundreds of thousands of Muslim women, who do wear Islamic dress, if they are oppressed. I don’t recall Muslim women asking the west for help!

• Tell them that you are not oppressed.
• Tell that that you don’t need their ‘protection’, that you don’t need to be ‘saved’ from Muslim men and Islam.
• Tell them the many reasons why you wear your hijaab, your niqaab, your jilbaab.
• Tell them that those who think the hijaab, niqaab or jilbaab are oppressive, are those who don’t wear it and those who want to show themselves off to a society that lusts after women.

And don’t stop there. Challenge them about their morals, about how they portray women in this society and what a lowly position they give to women. Don’t be a feminist – there is a better and higher position than that – that of Islam and the high status that it gives to Muslim women.

Some non-Muslims understand the benefits of being covered up, as can be seen from the link below:

http://www.savethemales.ca/180902.html

This is a non-Muslim speaking – surely Muslim women can say more!

Don’t be apologetic – you have nothing to apologise for.

And sisters, don’t look down on other sisters who are not yet practising this – insha’Allah they will learn and grow in deen and take strength from women like yourselves – help them to understand. And sisters, don’t speak out against those who are trying to wear Islamic dress in a society that frowns upon them. Support your sisters, wherever you are – don’t undermine them.

It won’t stop at the Niqaab!

Sisters, you need to realise that the attacks won’t stop. Now it’s the burqa and niqaab. What will it be tomorrow? If you don’t stand up now, the disbelievers will continue to walk all over us, spreading ‘their version’ of our deen.

Sisters, you are the cornerstone of the family! Do you want your children, nephews and nieces, to grow up without seeing their mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts protected by the Commands of Allah? Do you want them to see you in the same ilk as the disbelieving women? Think about what separates the believing women from the disbelieving women.

Stand Up 4 Islam!

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Some Notes: Proofs for the veil

Surah 24 (An-Nur), verse 31:

“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 their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juhubihinna (ie. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment 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 brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (ie. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, 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. All all of you beg Allah to forgive you, O believers, that you may be successful.”

Sahih Bukhari, Vol 6, Hadith No. 282:

Narrated Safiyah bint Shaibah: ‘Aishah used to say: ‘When the Verse: “And to draw their veils all over Juhubihinna (ie. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)” (V24:31) was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their heads and faces with those cut pieces of cloth.’

Four Schools of Thought:

There is a difference of opinion amongst the Maaliki, Hanafi, Hanbali and Shaafi’ee, over whether a Muslim woman should cover her face and hands. I will not go any further into the fiqh of this issue, as it is not needed here and there are more learned people that you can get an answer for this on. And it’s especially not needed for the non-Muslims. The point is though that we should not undermine the sisters who choose to wear burqa/niqaab but recognise that they are doing a good thing.

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Story of a pious Sister

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ9TOq1OUBY

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We don’t need to be saved from the Burka!

There has been so much media attention lately on a piece of cloth. That’s right, a piece of cloth.

What harm is a piece of cloth to anyone? Well apparently, to some, it’s offensive and degrading and against human rights.

What are we talking about? We’re talking about the Burka (and Niqaab).

The Burka is a face veil, worn by Muslim women throughout the world. They’ve been wearing this for over 1400 years, as a sign of their faith and to follow the Commandments of God. There are many many Muslim women who are happy to wear the burka, understand the freedom it gives them, understand the respect it gives them, as opposed to the non-Muslim culture of exploiting women and living a life that is seemingly ‘free’ and ‘liberal’.

THE BURKA PROTECTS WOMEN

Yes, that’s right, the burka respects and protects women – it doesn’t exploit them nor make them second class citizens. It helps to maintain the value of women, their beauty, their respect, their honour, by protecting women against the abusive behaviour of others, protecting them from sexism, chauvinism and bias.

THE ACCUSATIONS

They say the burka is cruel and invasive – how?

They say the burka is about keeping the woman subdued and oppressed – yet many thousands and millions of Muslim women, who wear the burka, don’t complain of this.

They say that wearing the burka is humiliating – who says? Muslim women who wear the burka? No. It’s women who don’t wear the burka, men and women who aren’t Muslim, men and women who haven’t taken the time to understand the issues and benefits of the burka. Men and women who have little respect for Islam. And they get those so-called scholars, whom they have influence over, to declare some ruling publicly that the burka is not Islamic, just to justify their position. These so-called scholars have no right to try to change laws in Islam and mis-lead people.

They say the burka restricts communication. Burkas have been worn by Muslim women in many institutions in the middle east – hospitals, law courts, schools, universities – this has never been a problem. So why are you trying to turn it into a problem? How is it a problem? Why should Muslim women change? Why can’t non-Muslims just change their attitude towards Muslim women?

They say that the burka is segregative and stops women from participating in society. How? There are many Muslim women in the UK, who wear the burka and hold professional roles and are contributing to society. So why the scaremongering? Shouldn’t a Muslim woman be able to choose who she interacts with? Should a Muslim woman, or even any woman, open herself up to the whole of society? Where is the respect for women in the modern world, in a non-Muslim society?

CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDES TOWARDS MUSLIMS AND MUSLIM WOMEN!

So where’s this coming from? Why do non-Muslims feel the need to come to the defence of women who haven’t asked for their help, don’t need their help, don’t want their help and don’t agree with the ideals of these non-Muslims?

This isn’t about women’s rights. It’s about the worldwide hatred and intolerance towards Islam and Muslims.

This is just another example of Islamophobia! People judging us and treating us unfairly and acting as though they know what is better for the Muslims, than the Muslims themselves!

The wearing of clothing is, on top of this, a personal choice. What right does France or anyone in the world have to impose their values on someone else? Impose their choices on anyone else? I don’t see anyone complaining of Sikh turbans, or even the small swords that devout Sikhs carry on their person, as part of their religion. Surely that’s more of a threat than anything – to go around armed? So why the double standards?

The vast majority of people who are complaining against the burka are those who haven’t even come across it in real life, have never had to deal with a Muslim woman who wears the burka – so why are they talking about something they have no experience of, no dealings of and where the burka doesn’t even affect their lives?

On top of this, Muslim women have been wearing the burka for decades in the western world and for hundreds of years in the Muslim world. We’ve gotten by without any major problems before. So why make such a fuss about it now?

Simple – people in the world look down on Muslims and Islam. They give way to their prejudices, discrimination, biases, racism and intolerance. So we don’t need to be saved from the Burka. Rather, we need to be saved from people with these kinds of attitudes.

Leave our Muslim women alone. Muslims and Islam has been around for centuries and been the height of civilisation, when the western world was in the dark ages. How can you accuse Islam and Muslims of being degrading to women, when we have put the woman at the centre of our society, we have raised women’s rights to a new level, we have female scholars who have guided many of the rulings established in Islam, we have women role models who are amongst the best in the history of the world – women like Mary (Mother of Jesus).

Learn about Islam before your start to criticise it and try to interfere in Muslims’ lives. Respect the way that Muslims live. Anyone who disagrees with the Burka would never in their life, agree to anyone imposing their will on them. So why do it to Muslims?

Follow-up article: http://standup4islam.wordpress.com/2010/08/29/sisters-are-proud-to-be-identified-as-muslim/

Stand Up 4 Islam!

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