Islamic Dress,
The Hijab
The issue of what is Islamic dress
for women is becoming a
problem for Muslims especially those living in the west. Some countries
like
France have even passed laws preventing Muslim women from wearing the
head scarf in
public. Many views have been voiced concerning this matter as to what
is the
lawful dress for women in Islam.
In Islam the rule is very clear! We must consult the
Quran for guidance.
On this issue the Quran is very
clear. Please read the Verse
shown below. Also shown are the English translations from three
accepted
translators.
These are the only verses in the
Quran that relate to women’s
dress directly. These verses state clearly the need for modesty in
dress. This
need for modesty applies to both women and men. The Quran does not give
any
example of what is meant by modest dress. It simply states
women
are advised to cover their breasts and put on their outer
garments in a way that enables them to avoid harassment. In addition,
women are
advised not to draw attention to their "beauty" (zeenah). This term
has been translated as both beauty and ornaments (as women used to
strike their
feet to draw attention to hidden ornaments such as ankle bracelets).
There
is much discussion around this
subject with strong opinion on both sides. So the best advice is to
dress modestly.
The decision whether or not to wear a hijab is the woman’s
alone. No one has
the right to force a woman to do anything against her will.
Remember we can only offer guidance. In the end each Muslim must
decide, as on the Day of Judgement only the individual can
answer for his or her deeds.
Iqbal : 20-1-2010
This matter has been dealt with in much more depth by women in Islam
and we would recommend further study at the Muslim Women’s
League website which can be found here.
http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/dress/hijab.html
Sura 24 - Al-Noor (MADINA) :
Verse 31
سُوۡرَةُ النُّور
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
وَقُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ يَغۡضُضۡنَ مِنۡ
أَبۡصَـٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحۡفَظۡنَ
فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ
مِنۡهَاۖ
وَلۡيَضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِہِنَّۖ وَلَا
يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ
إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآءِ
بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ
أَبۡنَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ إِخۡوَٲنِهِنَّ
أَوۡ بَنِىٓ
إِخۡوَٲنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَٲتِهِنَّ أَوۡ نِسَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ مَا
مَلَكَتۡ
أَيۡمَـٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّـٰبِعِينَ غَيۡرِ أُوْلِى ٱلۡإِرۡبَةِ مِنَ
ٱلرِّجَالِ
أَوِ ٱلطِّفۡلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَظۡهَرُواْ عَلَىٰ عَوۡرَٲتِ
ٱلنِّسَآءِۖ وَلَا
يَضۡرِبۡنَ بِأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعۡلَمَ مَا يُخۡفِينَ مِن
زِينَتِهِنَّۚ
وَتُوبُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ
تُفۡلِحُونَ (٣١)
Translation
: Eng-Yusuf Ali
Al-Noor
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
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
(ordinarily) appear thereof; 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
slaves
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
ye Believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain
Bliss. (31)
Translation
: Eng-Pickthal
Al-Noor
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
And
tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to
display of
their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils
over their
bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or
fathers
or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their
brothers
or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their
slaves, or
male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's
nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they
hide of
their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order
that ye
may succeed. (31
Translation
: Eng-Dr. Mohsin
Al-Noor
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
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 dress like veil, gloves, head-cover,
apron,
etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. 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 (i.e. their sisters in Islâm), or the (female)
slaves whom their
right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small
children
who have no sense of the feminine sex. And let them not stamp their
feet so as
to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg
Allâh to
forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful[] (31)
Sura 33 - Al-Ahzab (MADINA) : Verse 59
سُوۡرَةُ الاٴحزَاب
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ
ٱلرَّحِيمِ
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل
لِّأَزۡوَٲجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ
وَنِسَآءِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يُدۡنِينَ
عَلَيۡہِنَّ مِن
جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّۚ ذَٲلِكَ أَدۡنَىٰٓ أَن
يُعۡرَفۡنَ فَلَا يُؤۡذَيۡنَۗ
(٥٩)وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورً۬ا
رَّحِيمً۬ا
Translation
: Eng-Yusuf Ali
Al-Ahzab
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O
prophet! tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that
they
should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that
is most
convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested: and
Allah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (59)
Translation
: Eng-Pickthal
Al-Ahzab
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O
Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the
believers to
draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be
better,
so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever
Forgiving,
Merciful. (59)
Translation
: Eng-Dr. Mohsin
Al-Ahzab
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O
Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the
believers to
draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e.screen themselves
completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be
better,
that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be
annoyed.
And Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful[] (59)
Sura
24 - Al-Noor (MADINA) : Verse 60
سُوۡرَةُ النُّور
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
وَٱلۡقَوَٲعِدُ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ٱلَّـٰتِى لَا
يَرۡجُونَ نِكَاحً۬ا
فَلَيۡسَ عَلَيۡهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَن يَضَعۡنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيۡرَ
مُتَبَرِّجَـٰتِۭ
بِزِينَةٍ۬ۖ وَأَن يَسۡتَعۡفِفۡنَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّهُنَّۗ
وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ۬
(٦٠)
Translation
: Eng-Yusuf Ali
Al-Noor
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Such
elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage― there is no blame
on them
if they lay aside their (outer) garments, provided they make not a
wanton
display of their beauty: but it is best for them to be modest: and
Allah is One
Who sees and knows all things. (60)
Translation
: Eng-Pickthal
Al-Noor
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
As
for women past child-bearing, who have no hope of marriage, it is no
sin for
them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to
show
adornment. But to refrain is better for them. Allah is Hearer, Knower.
(60)
Translation
: Eng-Dr. Mohsin
Al-Noor
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
And
as for women past child-bearing who do not expect wed-lock, it is no
sin on
them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to
show their
adornment. But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is
better
for them. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (60)
Sura
33 - Al-Ahzab (MADINA) : Verse 55
سُوۡرَةُ الاٴحزَاب
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
لَّا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡہِنَّ فِىٓ ءَابَآٮِٕہِنَّ
وَلَآ أَبۡنَآٮِٕهِنَّ
وَلَآ إِخۡوَٲنِہِنَّ وَلَآ أَبۡنَآءِ إِخۡوَٲنِہِنَّ وَلَآ
أَبۡنَآءِ
أَخَوَٲتِهِنَّ وَلَا نِسَآٮِٕهِنَّ وَلَا مَا مَلَڪَتۡ أَيۡمَـٰنُہُنَّۗ
وَٱتَّقِينَ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ شَهِيدًا
(٥٥)
Translation
: Eng-Yusuf Ali
Al-Ahzab
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
There
is no blame (on these ladies if they appear) before their fathers or
their
sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons,
or their
women or the (slaves) whom their right hands possess. And, (ladies),
fear
Allah: for Allah is Witness to all things. (55)
Translation
: Eng-Pickthal
Al-Ahzab
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
It
is no sin for them (thy wives) (to converse freely) with their fathers,
or
their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or the sons of
their
sisters or of their own women, or their slaves. O women! Keep your duty
to
Allah. Lo! Allah is ever Witness over all things. (55)
Translation
: Eng-Dr. Mohsin
Al-Ahzab
In
the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
It
is no sin on them (the Prophets wives, if they appear unveiled) before
their
fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers sons, or
the sons
of their sisters, or their own (believing) women, or their (female)
slaves, And
(O ladies), fear (keep your duty to) Allâh. Verily,
Allâh is Ever All-Witness
over everything. (55)