Assalamualaikum wbt.
Hijab has sadly become a largely distorted order of Allah, and it's really, nothing but worrying to see what the Hijab has become in the recent past.
I know everything undergoes some kind of evolution with time, but the commands in Islam are timeless, and it's meant to be upheld and not distorted over time. So what evolution has the Hijab undergone? For a start, Google "Hijab fashion show" and "Hijab styles".
Done?
So now you can see for yourself what the Hijab has been reduced to. From everything starting from "Summer Hijab Fashion" to "Hijab trends 2012", they have it all. And what's more than sad to see is that our women are falling headlong into the trap of these Hijab trends and fashion.
So basically, Hijabis can be narrowed down to 5 categories. Choose for yourself which category you fall into:
1- HALF/INCOMPLETE HIJABI
How has the Hijab been ordered by Allah?
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers todraw their cloaks ("Jalabib") veils all over their bodies that is most convenient that they should be known (as such) and not molested: and Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful." [Surah Al-Ahzab: 59].
So you see, this Hijab ordered by Allah in the Quran is the complete Hijab. Any Hijab that falls short of this definition is an incomplete Hijab.
Which brings us to the Hijab of the present. Somehow, most people, Muslims included, perceive the Hijab to be merely a headcover, but this verse above clearly says that we should "draw our cloaks over all their bodies". Doesn't this simply refer to the Jilbab or the Abaya?
If you don't thing so, fine. But ask yourself if wearing the Hijab headcover with tight-fitting skinny jeans, short T-shirts and transparent clothing is ok. Well it's not. This kind of Hijab is simply NOT the correct Hijab and in my opinion, this type of Hijab that has picked up popularity in the recent past, is what I'd call a half/incomplete Hijabi.
And what is the correct Hijab? I'll come to that.
2- GLITZY HIJABI
Ever come across pages online that give advice on how to 'glam up your Hijab'? Well, that's exactly what I'm talking here. Accessorizing the Hijab is simply unacceptable. Why? Because it has not been allowed in Islam. See this verse here:
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; That they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what is apparent of it and that they should draw their veils over their bosoms.” (Surah Noor 24:31)
So, do you think that 5 layers of make-up, fancy brooches and Hijab pins and whatever other accessories that Hijabis put up nowadays is allowed? It has clearly been stated in the Quran "Not display their beauty and adornments" and we still find it acceptable to glam up our Hijabs?
3- PART-TIME HIJABI
Islam isn't a seasonal or part-time commitment. No way! If we call ourselves Muslims, we should practice Islam every moment of our lives at any place, anywhere. Period.
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).
So, taking off your Hijab in the presence of men who are not mentioned in this verse also falls intp the category of part-time Hijabis.
So what about these part-time Hijabis? Wearing the Hijab only when they are in the company of 'religious' people and taking it off when they feel ashamed of wearing the Hijab in front of their friends or in certain places. This is not something that is even marginally acceptable. How can you fulfil a command of Allah only when you feel like it and walk away from it when you don't feel like it?
4- RELUCTANT HIJABI
As I've said countless times before, the Hijab is an order from Allah and if you know anyone who doesn't wear the Hijab, you should try your best and advice them to wear it.
So, reluctant Hijabis are as you might have guessed already, those Muslimahs who are not ready for the Hijab yet, but are forced to wear it because their parents want them to. You see sisters, you should wear the Hijab with love and pride. It's a beautiful blessing from Allah to us, and we should be able to wear the Hijab with our heads held high. What's the point of wearing the Hijab when you don't want to?
5- A COMPLETE HIJABI
This is the best, most beautiful, most honourable, most respectful and most amazing Hijab ever! And although only a few women are ready to put on the complete Hijab, those who do so are undoubtedly earning numerous rewards from Allah!
So what's a complete Hijabi? Well, it's the Hijab worn by the wives and daughters of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasallam and the Sahaba women. How was their Hijab? Refer to this Hadith below:
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: “The riders used to pass by us when we were with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in ihraam.When they came near, each of us would lower her jilbaab from her head over her face, and when they passed by we would uncover (our faces).” [Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1833; Ahmad, 24067]
They wore the Jilbab and the Niqab and this, my
dear sisters in Islam, is the Hijab worn at the time of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasallam and this fact alone makes it the complete Hijab.
So, which category do you fall into? If it's anything but the last, I suggest that you correct your Hijab and your intentions. You may not want to wear the Niqab, but even if you do wear your Hijab with an Abaya or loose fitting clothes, that's good MashaAllah. But wouldn't you want to take that one step forward and wear the kind of Hijab worn by the Sahaba women and the wives and daughters of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasallam?
Choose for yourself which kind of Hijabi you'd want to be. And choose wisely.
