Hijaab

Modernists and anti-Hijaab votaries are at pains to convince us that the veil for concealing the faces of women in public was not in vogue during the time of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam), but it was a later accretion of aristocrats. The following statements of the authorities of the Shariah refute the fallacy of this notion. The Qur’aan Shareef states in Surah Ahzaab:

“O Nabi! Say to your wives, your daughters and the women of the believers to lower over them their jalaabeeb…”

Explaining the term jalaabeeb Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radhiyallahu anhu), the great Sahabi and Mufassir of the Qur’aan, says: “It (the jilbaab) is the garment which conceals from the top to bottom.” (Tafseer Ruhul Ma’aani)

“A woman should cover her face from above her head with the jilbaab…” (Ruhul Ma’aani)

Hazrat Imam Ghazaali (Rahmatullahi alaih) states in his Ihyaa-ul Uloom: “Women during the time of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would emerge with their faces covered.”

In Ahkaamul Qur’aan the explanation of Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallahu anhu) regarding the Aayat is mentioned: “This aayat indicates that young women are commanded to conceal their faces from strangers.”

In Abu Dawood Shareef, in a Hadith, the following appears, “A woman by the name of Umme Khallaad came to Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) with her face covered.”

Hazrat Aishah (Radhiyallahu anha) speaking of the occasion when she was in Hajj says: “When men (ghair-mahrams) passed near to us, we would draw our jilbaabs from over our heads onto our faces (thus concealing the face).” (Abu Dawood)

A Muslim’s attitude should not be the justification of personal weaknesses by acting rebelliously. Regret over shortcomings, repent and seek Allah’s aid to enable one to practice the Shariah.

(From The Majlis Archives)