Qualities of Those who Wear Hijaab

It is well known that the Muslim woman is a creature of modesty. Allaah loves for our Muslim women to be shielded by their Hijaab. It is their outer protection from the decadence of this life. Allaah’s Messenger  said: “Allaah is modest and covering. He loves modesty and privacy.” [Ahmad and Others]

Thus, as modesty is a quality that is loved by Allaah, our sisters must take comfort in knowing that they are modest and not like those women who show themselves off to the world. Such women will not be

shielded from Allaah’s wrath. Allaah’s Messenger  said: “Any woman who takes off her clothes in other than her husband’s home, has broken Allaah’s shield upon her.”[Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi[

Therefore, we see that the Hijaab of the Muslim woman is indeed part of modesty. Modesty accompanies Eemaan (faith); this is why the Messenger of Allaah  said: “Modesty is part of Eemaan and Eemaan is in Paradise.” [At-Tirmithi] Also: “Modesty and Eemaan are (intimate) companions: when one departs, so does the other.” [Al-Haakim and Others]

The Muslim woman must know that the disbelieving women who beautify themselves for the whole world to see possess no modesty; thus, they are void of any Eemaan. Instead of looking to the latest fashion models for guidance, she should look to the wives of the Prophet .

Look at the regard for modesty that our mother, ‘Aa’ishah  possessed, even in the presence of the deceased; she said: “I used to enter the room where the Messenger of Allaah  and my father, Abu Bakr, were buried without wearing my (outer) garment, saying that it was only my husband and my father. But when ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab was later buried (in the same place), I did not enter the room except that I had my outer garment on, due to being shy of ‘Umar.”

It could be quite difficult for the Muslim woman to go out wearing Hijaab in a society that mocks and torments her. She would certainly feel strange and incongruous. However, if she realises the status of those who are mocked by the disbelievers, then she would continue to wear her Hijaab with dignity.

Allaah Says in His Book (what means): “Indeed, those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed. And when they passed by them, they would exchange derisive glances. And when they returned to their people, they would return jesting. And when they saw them, they would say: 'Indeed, those are truly lost.'

But they have not been sent as guardians over them. So Today [i.e., the Day of Judgement] those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers, on adorned couches, observing. Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded [this Day] for what they used to do?” [Quran: 83:29-36]

These words of Allaah should serve as a support for you, my dear sister. Also, take comfort in being a stranger among these lewd and sinful women. Allaah’s Messenger  said: “Islam began as something strange, and it will revert to (its old position of) being strange, so good news is for the strangers.” [Muslim]

 

The Characteristic of the Exposed:

Instead of wearing the Hijaab (covering), the disbelieving women expose themselves, making a dazzling display of themselves for others. Such a display is an attribute of ignorance. Allaah Says in His Book (what means): “And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance…”[Quran 33:33]

Allaah’s Messenger  said: “The best of your women are the affectionate, the fertile, the comforting, and the agreeable – if they fear Allaah. The most evil of your women are those who expose and display themselves, and those who strut (to show off), and they are the hypocrites. Those who enter Paradise are like the red beaked crow.” [Al-Bayhaqi] The mentioning of this kind of crow is to highlight that those who enter Paradise will be as rare as this kind of crow.

We see from the above verse and Hadeeth (prophetic statement) that it is certainly unlawful for a Muslim woman to make a display of herself. Further, it is a quality of the most evil of women. Therefore, do not be envious of the disbelieving women. They only have this life to enjoy, while the believing women will have Paradise. There is nothing in your Hijaab to be ashamed of as it is the garment of the righteous and pious female worshippers of Allaah.

In order to truly show how evil those women who expose themselves are, let us ponder over the following statement of Allaah’s Messenger : “Of the people of Hell, there are two types that I have never seen; the first are those holding whips like the tail of an ox with which they flog people. The second are women who would be naked despite being dressed (i.e. either partly dressed or wearing translucent clothes), who are seduced and who seduce others. Their hair is high like the humps of a camel. These women will not enter Paradise, nor will they smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be smelled from such and such a (very far) distance.”[Muslim]

These women who expose themselves are common among us today. These are women that even the Prophet  did not see! Look around you and you will see those women who are clothed but naked! Look at the hair styles of the women who expose themselves – are they not high like a camel’s hump?

Perhaps we are the first generation since the time of Aadam  to witness such women. If one ponders over photographs taken thirty to fifty years ago, he will see that the disbelieving women did not

expose themselves in the manner that their offspring do today! These women are among the people of the Fire! Thus, how can you envy them?

Therefore, the Muslim men should not let the people of the Fire affect the modesty of their wives, daughters and sisters. Such lewd women will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise, so our women must avoid their path.

Another lesson from the above Hadeeth is that it confirms that what the Prophet came with is indeed the truth! This is a prophecy that has come to pass in front of our very eyes. Hence, will we continue to envy these evil women, or should we be grateful to our Lord for the Hijaab, which brings modesty which leads to Paradise?