Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alaikum

Dear Burhan,

I would like to ask you a question regarding the wearing of the hijab for women. I am well aware that it is required for all women to cover up properly and wear the hijab around their head, however, many of my Muslim friends who wear this only wear it "so no sexual activity will happen between them and the opposite sex or that they would not attract others". However, I see the hijab as a symbol of Islam, and strongly believe that a women should not only wear it because the Quran says so, but should be able to present an exemplary model for Islam, whereas my friends think it is okay to do other things forbidden in Islam (esp. gossiping) as long as they wear hijab because the profess "hijab is the best way to represent youre faith".

So my question for you is, Is Hijab the best way to present your faith in Allah? And is there even any point in wearing it if the woman is commiting other wrong deeds like a possessing a flawed personality?

I`d really appreciate it if you could answer me.

Allah Hafiz. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Hijaab and gossip

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: …. many of my Muslim friends who wear this only wear it "so no sexual activity will happen between them and the opposite sex or that they would not attract others". However, I see the hijab as a symbol of Islam, and strongly believe that a women should not only wear it because the Quran says so, but should be able to present an exemplary model for Islam,

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 59:

O Prophet, enjoin your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons.   It is expected that they will thus be recognized, and not molested.   Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24 Surah An-Noor verse 31:

And O Prophet,  enjoin the believing women to restrain their gaze and guard their private parts and not to display their ‘zeenata hunna’ (beauty, adornment, etc.) except that which is displayed of itself,  and to draw their veils over their bosoms and not to display their ‘zeenata hunna’ (beauty, adornment, etc.) except before their husbands, their fathers,  the fathers of their husbands, their sons and the sons of their husbands,  their brothers,  their brothers sons, their sisters’ sons,  their female associates, and those in their possession and male attendants incapable of sexual desire,  and those boys who have not yet attained knowledge of sexual matters.   Also forbid them to stamp their feet on the ground lest their hidden ornaments should be displayed.

The wisdom behind the Divine Command to the believing women to adorn the ‘hijaab’ fulfills all the three reasons quoted by you and your friends…and more….

• It is indeed the Command of the Lord All-Mighty to do so….
• It helps the believing women to restrain their gaze and guard their modesty
• It is a form of recognition to the others that the sister wearing the ‘hijaab’ is not like the other women of the world…she is one who strives to live her life in obedience and within the prescribed boundaries of her Lord Creator.
• It prevents the undue and unwelcome attraction and molestation from non-mehram men.

Your Statement: ……whereas my friends think it is okay to do other things forbidden in Islam (esp. gossiping) as long as they wear hijab because the profess "hijab is the best way to represent youre faith".

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 120:

120    Eschew (to keep far away, shun, avoid, scrupulously guard agasint, etc.) all sin, whether open or secret: those who earn sin will get due recompense for their "earnings."

Just because one obeys one Command of their Lord Most Gracious does not give them the right to disobey or violate the other prescribed boundaries of the Lord!  Guidance Commands and Demands that one strive to enter into the fold of Islam completely, so that all their beliefs, their acts, their deeds and their talks are well within the prescribed boundaries of Allah Subhanah….

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 2 Surah Baqarah verses 208-209:

208    O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the Shaytaan; for he is to you an avowed enemy.

209    If ye backslide after the clear (Signs) have come to you, then know that Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

Your Question: So my question for you is, Is Hijab the best way to present your faith in Allah?

If one truly wishes to know the absolute ‘best-way’ to present one’s faith in Allah…there is no better guidance than the one comprehensive ‘verse of piety’ as related by the Lord Most Gracious Himself in His Glorious Quran…..

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 177:

177    It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces toward East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah, and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance out of love for Him for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made (with Allah and with mankind); and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and in adversity, and throughout all periods of panic.  Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing.

As obligatory as it is in Islam for a believing woman to honor the Commands of ‘hijaab’, to claim that the adornment of the ‘hijaab’ is the ‘best way’ to present one’s faith in Allah would be to place it in a place of importance which it might not rightfully deserve! In our humble opinion that position of importance in Islam should be reserved for the elements of belief in the Absolute Oneness of Allah Subhanah, in His Last and Final Messenger (saws), in His Last and Final Message, in the concept of the Hereafter, in fulfilling one’s duties unto their Creator as well as the created, in the development of ‘taqwa’ or the fear or constant consciousness of Allah Subhanah, etc…..

Your Question: ……And is there even any point in wearing it if the woman is commiting other wrong deeds like a possessing a flawed personality?

If one acts in obedience of the Laws and Commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), they shall have their due reward for their submission; and if the same person happens to violate one of the Commands of their Lord and His Messenger (saws), they shall have their due accounting….

The best amongst mankind would indeed be those who strive to fulfill all the Commands of their Lord and strive to abstain from all what has been prohibited.  The more one strives to move towards obedience, the more one will strive to move away from disobedience….

Thus if there is a sister who adorns the ‘hijaab’ and has some character flaws……it would only be piety on her part to continue adorning her ‘hijaab’ in accordance with the guidance, fear Allah her Lord, and strive her utmost to eliminate the flaws in her character.

But to say or assume or believe or proclaim that one should not obey and honor the obligatory Commands of the Lord  (‘hijaab’ being one of them) unless and until one has completely removed all the flaws from their character would be absolute and utter misguidance!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan