﷽
➖➖➖
THE LEGISLATED HIJĀB
➖➖➖
EPISODE: THE CORRECT VEIL
➖➖➖
Literally, hijāb (Arabic: حِجَاب) means anything that is used to cover something and prevent anyone from reaching it, such as curtains or garments.
Allāh (ﷻ) says in Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59),
(interpretation of the meaning):
O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and the women of the faithful, to draw their Jalabib over their bodies. They will thus be recognised and no harm will come to them…
This command obligates the hijāb upon all Muslim women.
The reason given was so they would be recognized and be distinct in their appearance from the women of the Jahiliyyah. Some jurists view that the Jilbāb is a Rida’ worn together with an Izār, worn over the Khimar. The Rida’ is a garment which is draped over the shoulder, covering the upper portion of the body and the Izār is a big garment covering the lower portion of the body. The Khimar is a garment with which a woman covers her head. Others say the jilbāb is the outer wrapper that completely covers a person.
Therefore, hijāb and jilbāb can be used interchangeably.
Going by the above, the hijāb can be in one piece or two pieces as long as it fulfills the conditions.
➖➖➖
Conditions of the Hijāb
➖➖➖
Shaykh al-Albani (رحمه الله) wrote on the above subtopic in his book, Hijāb al-Marah al-Muslimah:
1️⃣ It should cover all the body except for whatever has been exempted.
This is as Allāh (ﷻ) said in Al-Ahzaab 33:59 (verse above).
It clearly states that it is obligatory to cover, and not show to non-mahrams all of a woman’s adornments, except for what appears unintentionally, so there will be no sin on them if they hasten to cover it up.
2️⃣ It should not be an adornment in and of itself.
“…And not to show off their adornment.” [al-Nur 24:31]
What is intended by the command to wear the jilbaab is to cover the woman’s adornment, so it is not reasonable for the jilbāb itself to be an adornment.
3️⃣ It should be thick and not transparent or see-through.
Concerning this the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “In later (generations) of my Ummah, there will be women who are clothed yet naked…”
(al-Muwaṭṭa’ 1694)
4️⃣ It should be loose, not tight so that it describes any part of the body.
The purpose of the hijāb is to avert temptation, and this cannot be achieved if it describes the body.
A Sahabah narrated that the Messenger (ﷺ), once received a thick garment as a gift. He (ﷺ) gifted it to him, who in turn, gifted it to his wife. When he informed the Prophet (ﷺ), he said:
“Tell her to put a “gholalah” under it (the garment), for I fear that it (the garment) may describe the size of her bones.”
((1/441), Ahmad).
The gholalah is a thick fabric worn under the dress to prevent it from describing the shape of the body.
5️⃣. It should not be perfumed with incense or fragrance.
The Messenger (ﷺ), said:
Any woman who puts on perfume then passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, then she is an adulteress.'”
(An-Nasa’i, 5126)
The reason for this prohibition is clear, which is that women’s fragrance may provoke undue desires. (Fath al-Bari, 2/279)
6️⃣. It should not resemble the clothing of men
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) cursed effeminate men and masculine women. He said, “Throw them out of your houses.”
(Al-Bukhari, 10/274).
This hadeeth clearly indicates that it is forbidden to imitate the opposite sex.
7️⃣. It should not resemble the dress of disbelieving women.
It is not permissible for Muslims to imitate the infidels, whether in their worship, festivals or clothing that is unique to them.
Allāh (ﷻ) says (interpretation of the meaning):
“…We have put you on the right way in the matter (of divine law). So follow it, and do not follow the wishes of those who are ignorant.”
(Al-Jathiyah: 45:18)
Allāh says;
يَآأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزۡوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يُدۡنِينَ عَلَيۡهِنَّ مِن جَلَٰبِيبِهِنَّۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدۡنَىٰٓ أَن يُعۡرَفۡنَ فَلَا يُؤۡذَيۡنَۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورࣰا رَّحِيمࣰا
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
[Al-Ahzab 33:59]
8️⃣. It should not be a garment of fame and vanity.
The Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever wears a garment of fame and vanity in this world, Allāh will clothe him in a garment of humiliation on the Day of Resurrection, then He will cause Fire to flame up around him.”
(Abu Daawood, 2/172)
This means any garment that is intended to show off (possession of) the world and its ornaments.
