Book Review: Hijab by Dr. Mohammad Ismail Memon Madani

[eat-halal guy]

Hijab by Dr. Mohammad Ismail Memon Madani (Book Review)

"Live for Islam", sunniforum.com


In this day and age we see the Jahiliyah (ignorance) currently present has far by exceeded that of former times. This has come as a direct result of abandoning the Hijab, neglecting the Commands of Allah and following the immoral ways of the West. Unfortunately, ‘liberal’ Muslims and many of those who are ignorant have convinced themselves that Hijab is a cultural or Arab tradition and is not part of Islam. Thus Hijab has become a very controversial issue and has resulted in the lay person often becoming confused as to what Islam really says in this regard. But the reality is that Hijab is very much part of Islam and its negligence is the cause of today’s Jahiliyah. By following a scholarly approach, using verses from the Qur’an along with their tafsir, as well as Ahadith and its background, Dr. Ismail Madani, through this book, expertly proofs beyond a doubt that Hijab is most definitely a Command of Allah, which the Wives of the Prophet (SAW), the Sahabiyat and those who came after them all practised and observed. Dr. Ismail further goes on to compare the women of the East to those of the West, and shows how appealing a society whose womenfolk observe Hijab is, whilst those who abandon it end up not only destroying themselves and their families but ultimately cause the destruction of the entire society. Hijab, by Dr Muhammad Ismail Memon Madani, is one book that should be on the bookshelf of every Muslim home. Highly recommended for all those seeking to find out truly what Islam’s position on Hijab is.


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[Raeesa]

Nice one :) mashallah...

I havent read it yet, inshallah will try to :)

[UmmZaid]

Salaam 'Alaikum


I found the book useful in some ways but very confusing in others, and didn't appreciate the stereotyping of Western women. I'm a woman of the West, proud of it, and am not mired in a culture of endless, brainless lust. And never was. And no one around me lives like that either. His writing about how a woman should dress in the home and the niqab was also unclear to me. Maybe this book is only meant to be read by women in a particular society and culture, who knows.

[Live for Islam]

Salaam 'Alaikum


I found the book useful in some ways but very confusing in others, and didn't appreciate the stereotyping of Western women. I'm a woman of the West, proud of it, and am not mired in a culture of endless, brainless lust. And never was. And no one around me lives like that either. His writing about how a woman should dress in the home and the niqab was also unclear to me. Maybe this book is only meant to be read by women in a particular society and culture, who knows.

Wa alaykumus salaam Wr Wb,

I think he meant that the West has gone a bit too far in their immorality, I mean just look at all that has been legalized these days in the name of so-called modern civilization...everything and even more that the past ages of Jahiliyah practised, all is present today. Living in such a mahul (environment) can have a negative impact, and what Dr. Ismail Madani does is highlights the extent of indecency in the West that we witness today, and compares that to how beautiful, peaceful a society where all the commandments of Hijab are observed, would be. Alhamdulillah, I have to say reading his book it is entirety, it really did make me realise that the extent of Hijab we observe today is nothing in comparison as to what we should be doing...Ghadd al Basar (lowering of gaze), not being over-soft in speech (Surah Ahzab), Hijab bil Buyut (observing Hijab by staying at home)...SubhanAllah, you look at the examples he bought forward of the Prophet's (SAW) Wives, and just see how they used to observe Hijab uncomplaining.

What part/s of his Kitab did you find unclear...? I found it to be very detailed, in depth.

Wassalam.

[UmmZaid]

Salaam 'Alaikum

I'm sorry, I just did not read it the same way, and it's a book that I *personally* would not recommend. That's just me. Maybe I am a little more sensitive to anti-Western rhetoric. I also think it is a straw man in many cases (generally speaking).

I don't have the book with me now, it is packed away, so I can't go and look at it to give you some exact examples. What I do remember is that the section on how to dress at home seemed a little to me to hint that even a father or brother could be tempted by a girl's / woman relative's charms, and that kind of bothered me. I seem to remember that the idea of "madhab" was never mentioned. Was the book intended to be pan - Islamic or was it meant only for people living in Pakistan following the Hanafi madhab (I say Pakistan b/c I remember him mentioning Pakistan)?

Personally, I think one area where the whole "traditional" movement (I dislike labels like this but find they are necessary) has fallen off is the hijab area. If you are an English speaker, you can find either Selafi books or "Progressive" books on the matter, but nothing in the way of "traditional" books. I didn't find 'Reliance' to be detailed and helpful on it either. Alhamdulillah, Sunni Path's scholars did write two different summaries of what hijab is and what it means, and that is helpful, but I still think a lot needs to be clarified for sisters who do not understand what is wajib, what is fardh, what is mustahhab, how they should dress, etc. I still hear a lot of "Well I think that..." and "In my opinion we should..." Well ,of course, and it would also be very useful for a book to be written on how men are supposed to dress and behave, but I guess now I'm really off topic.

[Live for Islam]

Salaam 'Alaikum

I'm sorry, I just did not read it the same way, and it's a book that I *personally* would not recommend. That's just me. Maybe I am a little more sensitive to anti-Western rhetoric. I also think it is a straw man in many cases (generally speaking).


Wa alaykumus salaam,

I think you might be reading too much into this West thing. Dr Ismail talks about the negative influences of the West. I've heard a lot of other scholars talk in the same way, lol you should listen to Shaykh Ahmed Ali's bayans.

Hijab by Dr Ismail Memon has been recommended by the Islamic Da'wah Academy (http://www.idauk.org), as they've published an extract of his book (you can read it here (http://www.idauk.org/pub/publeaf23.htm)). Anything the Islamic Da'wah Academy recommend is more than good enough for me :).


I don't have the book with me now, it is packed away, so I can't go and look at it to give you some exact examples. What I do remember is that the section on how to dress at home seemed a little to me to hint that even a father or brother could be tempted by a girl's / woman relative's charms, and that kind of bothered me.

I think what he meant there was that even in front of our mahrams we should maintain haya (modesty). This sentiment is echoed by a lot of Jamaatis for example wearing short sleeved dresses etc in front of your own dad/bro is not approved of.


I seem to remember that the idea of "madhab" was never mentioned. Was the book intended to be pan - Islamic or was it meant only for people living in Pakistan following the Hanafi madhab (I say Pakistan b/c I remember him mentioning Pakistan)?

The book was meant primarily for those living in western countries as the translator mentions. Hijab was never a controversial issue before, there was almost complete consensus amongst the scholars on it (as mentioned in the kitab). Dr Ismail, brings verses of the Qur'an and hadith after hadith after hadith to back his points and for interpretation of the verses he uses; Tafsir ibn Kathir, Ahkam ul Qur'an, Tafsir Qurtubi, Ma'arif ul Qur'an etc. Alhamdulillah.


Personally, I think one area where the whole "traditional" movement (I dislike labels like this but find they are necessary) has fallen off is the hijab area. If you are an English speaker, you can find either Selafi books or "Progressive" books on the matter, but nothing in the way of "traditional" books. I didn't find 'Reliance' to be detailed and helpful on it either. Alhamdulillah, Sunni Path's scholars did write two different summaries of what hijab is and what it means, and that is helpful, but I still think a lot needs to be clarified for sisters who do not understand what is wajib, what is fardh, what is mustahhab, how they should dress, etc. I still hear a lot of "Well I think that..." and "In my opinion we should..." Well ,of course, and it would also be very useful for a book to be written on how men are supposed to dress and behave, but I guess now I'm really off topic.

I agree with you that there should be a kitab dedicated to how men should dress/behave. Dr Ismail does draw briefly on that, mentioning Ghadd al Basar (lowering of gaze) for men.

About Dr Mohammad Ismail Memon Madani; Born in 1935. Dr Ismail completed his formal education in Medicine in Karachi. He learnt the Arabic language and other religious subjects in the Darul Uloom in Karachi. He has been closely related to Shaykhul Hadith Maulana Zakariya (r.a) and Shaykh Abul Hassan Ali Nadwi (r.a). I think all four of his sons are scholars, graduating from Darul Uloom Bury, England. He established two Islamic schools, one in Canada, the other Darul Uloom al-Madania (http://www.madania.org), New York. That's where he resides presently. You can read some more of his kitab 'Hijab' on the Darul Uloom Madania website (http://www.madania.org) under the magazine section.

Wassalam.

Maryam