The Hijab of Women and its Boundaries

[Saad]

The Hijab of Women and its Boundaries (http://deoband.org/2010/06/hadith/hadith-commentary/the-hijab-of-women-and-its-boundaries/)

Writings on the topic of the veiling and unveiling of women have proliferated in our time. The best that I have seen on this subject is a treatise by my late father Shaykh Mufti Muhammad Shafi' (Allah have mercy on him) which he called Tafsil al-Khitab fi Tafsir Ayat al-Hijab, which is a section from his Ahkam al-Qur'an (3:393-483), in which he examined the verses and hadiths cited on the subject and exhausted the positions of the fuqaha (jurists) and the statements of the exegetes regarding the limits of hijab and its description. The sum of what he concluded after an extensive study is that the hijab that is legislated and commanded in the Book and the Sunnah has three levels, each above the other in hiddenness and concealment. All of them are mentioned in the Book and the Sunnah and none of them have been abrogated, but they have been prescribed for different circumstances.They are:[1] Hijab of the persons (ashkhas) of women in houses and walls, private quarters and howdahs, whereby foreign men do not see any part of their persons, garments or external or internal adornment, or any part of their body, including the face, the hands and the remainder of the body.[2] Hijab with burqa' and jilbab, whereby nothing from the face and hands, the rest of the body and the clothing of adornment are shown, so nothing is seen besides their concealed persons from above the head to the foot.[3] Hijab with jilbabs and items of clothing that resemble them, while exposing the face, the hands and the feet.The default rule in the hijab of women is hijab of the first level which is that she is concealed in the house and does not emerge, except for a need, the explanation of which is to come. This is proven by the statement of Allah Most High, "and stay in your houses" (Qur'an 33:33). It is apparent that this command is not specific to the purified wives because none of the preceding and succeeding rules in this verse are specific to the Mothers of the Believers (Allah be pleased with them) by consensus. Likewise [this is proven by] His statement Most High, "And when ye ask of them anything, ask it of them from behind a veil" (Qur'an 33:53). This verse was revealed during the walimah (wedding feast) of Zaynab (Allah be pleased with her), whereupon a veil was drawn between her and the men.

Read the entire article... (http://deoband.org/2010/06/hadith/hadith-commentary/the-hijab-of-women-and-its-boundaries/)

[muminah]

JazaakAllah for sharing. I had read it in Arabic a couple of years ago and was hoping to translate it myself, but this is even better. Anyhow, he makes some interesting points including:


This slave girl’s face was uncovered as is clear from the context of the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas since he said therein that she was beautiful and al-Fadl was attracted to her beauty. The hadith explains that the Prophet turned the face of al-Fadl away from glancing at her and he did not command the slave girl to cover her face because she was in the state of ihram, and he (Allah bless him and grant him peace) probably feared she would collapse or something else if she was required to conceal her face in such severe crowding, so he did not command her to [do] this. This is a proof that it is permissible for a woman to uncover her face according to a need when the rest of her body is concealed.

[ENIGMA]

JazaakAllah for sharing. I had read it in Arabic a couple of years ago and was hoping to translate it myself, but this is even better. Anyhow, he makes some interesting points including:

i guess the point will always be contested is 'what is classed as need'.

[Sulaiman84]

:salam:

One of those needs would be more pious people.

[e-iqra]

Assalamu alikum

book about The Hijab Of Women ،خواتین کا پردہ written by Hazrat Maulana Mufti Abdul Raof Sakhravi available on this link (http://www.e-iqra.info/muslim-women/womens-hijaab)

[Meraj Hasan]

JazaakAllah for sharing. I had read it in Arabic a couple of years ago and was hoping to translate it myself, but this is even better. Anyhow, he makes some interesting points including:

” The woman in ihram should not wear gloves and should not cover her face” [Tirmidhi].
Its not a 'need'.Its a rule that states women should not cover face during ihram. same for salat. just because women are told not to cover in salat or ihram doesnt mean they are free to uncover their face in other times aswell. Thought i shd convey this hadith in case you didnt know.

Only Allah knows best

[binte azam]

Aslam o alikum
As far as I know the identification between Slave women and Free women was that the free women cover her face ans the slave women does not cover her face this was their identity at the times of prophet s.a.w and sahaba r.a
correct me if m wrong

[Tempest Desh]

So, you're deathly concerned with the 'proper' manner of wrapping a piece of cloth over one's head (if you're a woman)...but little to no concern is given to place an hijab between oneself and sin? While I see the hijab as required (I'm Maliki in fiqh), I can't help but feel at least some level of anger at the pharasaical tendencies that this emphasis on appearance brings with it. We see Muslims AND Muslimahs who go around committing zina, drinking alcohol, doing all sorts of drugs, flirting/teasing members of the opposite sex, and causing all sorts of discord amongst both Muslims and non-Muslims...but who throw on a scarf or grow a beard, to show off to their parents and peers how 'pious' they are. All for what? Praise? Avoidance of punishment? God sees what's in their hearts...and any good character we might have or gain is NOT rooted in some piece of cloth or a set of facial hair follicles, but in our intents and faith. Why can't more emphasis be put on this? When a woman's hair shows, everyone freaks out. But if she is caught breaking someone's heart, by adultery or other means...or committing some sin, everyone is all: "Hush, hush brother...cover her sins and overlook EVERYTHING she has done". The same is done in the case of a man...and in many cases for the worse. Anywho, sorry for the rant. The topic name and discussion kind of set me off...

[hippopatamus]

"Pharasaical"???? What are you Christian to say such thing? You are Muslaman! Begin to act like MuslamanQ What disgrace

[adam12351]

Alsalamu Alikum wa wb

i'm sorry but let me share you and say sth about it

there is a point we all muslims and Imams agree about it , The muslim woman should to cover her body and hair all but about face and hands (also feet ) some said yes you should to cover it and some said no it's up to you , like Imam Malek , also who know Al-Albany he made a book from more than 200 pages prove that face and hands is not private parts and it's up to you to cover them or not

so in the end let's share the opinion with ,the muslim woman should to cover her body but about face and hands it's up to you , you can do or not , and who do can't blame the other who don't do and in the end Alhamdulilah we are muslims

fe aman Allah

[Meraj Hasan]

Alsalamu Alikum wa wb

i'm sorry but let me share you and say sth about it

there is a point we all muslims and Imams agree about it , The muslim woman should to cover her body and hair all but about face and hands (also feet ) some said yes you should to cover it and some said no it's up to you , like Imam Malek , also who know Al-Albany he made a book from more than 200 pages prove that face and hands is not private parts and it's up to you to cover them or not

so in the end let's share the opinion with ,the muslim woman should to cover her body but about face and hands it's up to you , you can do or not , and who do can't blame the other who don't do and in the end Alhamdulilah we are muslims

fe aman Allah

there are tons of authentic ahadith that point to the fact that covering face is obligatory. this is the problem i have with 'madhab' that just because imam malik's madhab says something is so we want to believe that is true. are you quite certain imam malik's teachings havent been tampered over the ages?do you know ahadith have bin tampered with why not imam malik's teachings? covering face is NOT optional its obligatory and one cant afford to not take it seriously. declaring face covering as optional is basically akin to saying praying farz namaz is optional. what kind of a muslim would you be if you think farz is optional?its not blame game but people should be made aware of both sides of the story and should have access to all the authentic ahadith and references from The Quran to make up their own mind. then ofcourse if ur still not sure, u can consult the 'madhab'.

if anyone wishes to know more abt why face covering isnt optional you can have a look here:
http://ibnfarooq.tripod.com/niqaab.htm
less commentary, more direct authentic ahadith.

men must know abt this imp aspect as we are responsible for the women in our home. our wives, our daughters, mothers and sisters.you will be asked on Qiyamat whether you declared for your women something which was farz as something optional. astaghfirullah
Allah knows best and He is the best Judge.

[Hellokitty]

Strange I read an hadiths which says it is permissable to show face and hands. Also what does the Quran? Most scholars agree it says tell the believing women to wrap there head veils over there chest, bosom, breasts etc.

[Ella-rose]

Alsalamu alaikum,

Firstly, Jazak Allah kheir for the topic, your father's studies are very interesting.

However, I'd like to point in one thing that struck me. The "obligation" of covering the face as some say. As a woman, who has worn the Hijab for 8 years, never did I feel the need to wear the face veil whilst I was in Britain unless in a Muslim country. I've had enough of men concentrating on ridiculous aspects such as that, forgetting that I would be receiving more attention and sometimes even rebuke from the non-Muslims for wearing a full black face veil. Of course, you will say to me "you fear rebuke of others but do not fear Allah's commands ?". I think lowering m gaze, being modest, even walking on the side of the street, wearing clothes that merges in with the general society and just being a genuinely "human" girl who allows a free gateway to communication with the 5 senses we so often use is not wrong. Of course, I have no problem with the face veil or anything against it ! In fact, I give respect to the woman who chooses to wear it. But I'm just trying to explain that, with Islamic ruling comes the modern day and how we go about being humble people. My community is literally almost all-white, they don't even look at me with hijab (enough pretty non-hijabis with makeup to look at these days), but if I wore the face veil YES they will look at me and for long long periods ! What's the point ? Seriously ? I think I'll just Istaghfur Allah if I'm wrong in anything I say or do, but I had enough of men speaking on behalf of us and just not understanding what we as women go through in our day to say lives. You men can walk out anytime with mahrem, go study abroad without mahrem, go and show your hair (even though most barely have any easy maintenance), you body is fine to be shown! (apart from navel to the knees - which anybody should cover anyway!), you can even marry more than one female. And then, in the end, you say "wear hijab", we do,,, and then you put more and more rulings on how to cover rather than understanding the real situation we're being out through without any second thought!!!!!!!!!

Also, I have something I could not quite get through in relation to the thread topic. When the Quran mentions women staying in homes. I understand that it was in relation to the prophet's wives as they were more special than other women but your father claims it to be for the gener concern us too (which is a fair point, nothing against). However, and big however, when I go to my home country Libya, I have a great problem. Staying indoors all day is boring and actually almost led me to absolute depression. Literally, I love Allah's creation of the mountains and the sea, I love to smell the fresh air. Here in Britain I can go out anytime to the cafe (without pesky men on the streets), my father doesn't even have to go with me, it's a safe society! I can even ride a bicycle here! Which in Libya the men will laugh, stare at you and say "don't open your legs!". I just hate houses, I like to see the general society. Sometimes, I go to university library or the mall just to see people going about their everyday lives. At home, I stayed for long periods, but I reach to the point that I just think "why do Libyan women have such dull lives? Why can't life just be 'normal' and we can go out nearby without threat, inshallah even just to take a walk?".

Thanks for reading.

[ShamNR]

Salam,

I think culture also plays an immerse role on this. The majority Muslim women in my country only covers their hair and body. Some do cover their face as well though and most come from the indian or pakistani descendants. We have no issues with that though at the work place I rarely seen many with full face covering. The choice to cover full face or not is for me entirely up to the person. It is obviously good if you can cover your face as well but that should NOT be the really pressing issues here.

Allah knows best