Tips for Beginning to Wear Hijab

Tips for Beginning to Wear Hijab 

Written by A Revert Muslim Sister who dorns Hijab  

Deciding to wear Hijab

This is where the difficulties usually come in. For many sisters, it truly is a jihad. I remember very vividly how scared I was the first day I put on the headscarf and went out into public. As long as you are just wearing the modest clothes, nobody has to know that you are a Muslim. Once you complete your hijab with the headscarf, you are suddenly announcing to everyone who sees you that "I am a Muslim". Here is some advice based on my own experiences.

Wear it for the sake of Allah SWT

Various statements are made about why you should wear hijab, such as for modesty or for protection, but the real reason that we wear hijab is that Allah SWT has commanded it. Whenever anyone asks you, why do you dress like that, that's the only answer you need to give them.

Allah SWT is the source of everything we have, our existence, our life, our capability, even our goodness. If He ever stopped sustaining us, we would vanish in that instant. If He ever took away what he gives us, we would never have even a speck of it. If we worked for millions of years, we could never repay Him for all that He has given us. And yet He does give it to us, and all He asks in return is that we do our best to obey what He has commanded us. Surely wearing hijab is a very small thing that you can do for Him compared to what He does for you!

Wear it for the hope of Jannah

Allah SWT makes tests for us in this world. He makes things difficult for us. He wants to see if we will remember Him, if we will have faith in Him, and if we will trust in Him. These qualities are what is meant by "sabr".

Allah SWT does not lose the work of anyone, ever (see Surah Ali Imran ayah 195). Even if it seems like nobody is paying attention to you or notices or appreciates good things that you do, Allah SWT has seen them, and He will not forget them. Even when it seems like the whole world is against you, Allah SWT is always there for you when you turn to Him. Remember this.

Allah SWT always wants the best for us and in His wisdom He knows why each thing that happens to us is in fact best for us. When it seems like everything is going wrong and life is just one disaster after another, it is easy to forget this and to become bitter and skeptical. Yet we must remember always to have faith that Allah SWT knows best why He has willed this for us, and we must always ask Him only "Make me pleased with what You have willed for me".

This world we live in, although it seems at times to be the only real thing, is actually fleeting compared to the Hereafter, which is better and more abiding. The trials of this world will seem as fleeting as a nightmare when seen from the Hereafter, and the pleasures of this world will also seem as fleeting as a dream when seen from the Hereafter. It's our happiness in the Hereafter that we should be most worried about attaining, because it is what will last forever; and it's our suffering in the Hereafter that we should be most worried about avoiding, because it also will last forever.

Allah SWT has promised Jannah to those who remain steadfast in their faith in Him and who trust in Him. The more difficult it is for you to have sabr, the greater the reward for it. So what will it be? Ease in this world, and perhaps the eternal sufferings in Hell? Or difficulty in this world, and inshAllah the eternal bliss of Jannah? Let's face it, the old cliches are true: there's no such thing as a free lunch and you can almost never have your cake and eat it too. We've all got to face difficulties some time. Better by far that they be in the world than in the Hereafter.

So that's what you should set your mind to. Yes, it's difficult to wear hijab. You may be rejected by your family or your friends, you may face harassment and persecution or be fired from your job. These are very scary thoughts. But if you have sabr and keep trusting in Allah SWT, I swear to you sister, this is the path to Jannah, and when you look back on the Day of Qiyamah you will know that it was worth it and have no regrets.

Wear it today and trust in Allah SWT for tomorrow

What do I mean by that? What I mean is that you should take it one day at a time, or even one outing at a time. Sometimes the future seems to stretch on forever and ever and you don't think you can make it that long. You want to give up before you even begin.

So sometimes the best thing to do is to keep you mind focused on what is immediately at hand. Allah SWT will take care of the future. If you have to go out to the market, then concentrate on being able to wear hijab just for this activity and on getting through it. If you do get through it and nothing bad happened, then give thanks to Allah SWT for making it easy for you, and turn your mind to your next outing.

Or if you have to go out to school or work, then concentrate on being able to wear hijab just for this one day and on getting through it. And give thanks to Allah SWT when you have made it, and turn your mind to the next day.

Eventually the outings will turn into days and the days into weeks, and the weeks into months. One day you will realize that you have been wearing hijab for quite a long time and it isn't really as bad as you feared, and Allah SWT helped you get through it. Don't be ashamed. Sometimes it is like this. The most important thing is to have sabr and keep your trust in Allah SWT always.

Wear it and spite the shaytan

My dear sister, the worries and fears in your mind are the whisperings of the shaytan. He wants to talk you out of obeying Allah SWT.

It is very easy to keep going around in circles in your mind and to dwell on all the things that could go wrong. I know that I myself have a tendency to do this, I put it off and I dither and I wait for "the perfect time". If I let myself, I would never do anything at all!

So the thing you have to remember is that you do not need to be perfect in iman to wear hijab. If perfection were a qualification, where is the sister who could wear it??

You must also not fall into the trap of thinking that you should wait until all your worries and fears have disappeared. They never will! Trust me on this, sister.

True courage is going ahead to do what's right even though you are still nervous and scared. So don't listen to the shaytan. Ignore the worries and fears he whispers into your mind. Tell him that you will not let him keep you from obeying Allah SWT and you will not let him rule your life.

Make the decision to wear it

Once you have come to know in your heart that you must wear hijab, then you have to set a day and

JUST DO IT !!

This is the only way. Set a day and when that day comes, you have to do it. Don't back down. Don't give up. Do it.

Offer salat al-istikhara. Make du'a. Make lots of du'a. Do not stop making du'a. Ask Allah SWT to give you strength. Ask Him to make it easy for you. Ask Him to help you. He will, I swear it to you. He is always there for you when you turn to Him. Remember how much He has given you, how everything that you have, even your very existence, is due to Him. Remember that He deserves this from you. Remember the promise of Jannah. Remember that remaining patient and faithful through difficulty now may lead to Jannah, inshAllah. Even if bad things happen, keep these thoughts in your mind. Don't worry about tomorrow. Just concentrate on getting through today, and leave tomorrow to Allah SWT until it gets here.

That's how you do it.

Final Words of Encouragement

I have been wearing hijab since September 1999. I do not regret it. I have never for one instant regretted it. I do not regret it even one iota. InshAllah, you will discover that you feel the same. Even within a few months I came to feel that I would not be properly dressed if I went out not wearing hijab. This is when you know that you have made it!

Never feel that you are alone, or that you are the only one who is scared and worried and nervous. Just about every other sister who has travelled down this road has gone through the same things. I know I have. Your sisters are here for you. We have been where you are. We are encouraging you and cheering you on. We know what it takes because we had to find that in ourselves too. We are praying for your success just as we prayed for our own.

Come and join us.

Allah does not burden a soul except what it can bear. For it is what it has earned, and upon it is what it has made due. "Our Lord and Sustainer, do not condemn us if we forget or do wrong. Our Lord and Sustainer, do not put a burden on us like the burden You put on those who were before us. Our Lord and Sustainer, do not put a burden on us that we cannot endure. And blot out (our sins) and forgive us, and be gentle to us. You are our Protector. So help us against the rejectors." (Surah al-Baqarat ayah 286)

Source Reference: Al-Muhajabah

Courtesy: everymuslim.net

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Why I wear Hijab is Cause I Love and am Proud to Be a Muslim

Why I wear Hijab is Cause I Love and am Proud to Be a Muslim

"As Muslims we must be stronger and wiser.. Why should you be ashamed because you don't want your body to be for every man's eyes, and because you strive to do God's will?... Be a trailblazer, that's how change is made.."

"It's a beautiful way of dress and we, as Muslim women, need to understand that. It is comfortable, feminine, and noble and shows our respect for our bodies and our faith.."

"We cover for our Lord, not for the admiration of the public eye. Since we never know when our lives will be taken from us, don't plan for tomorrow, because we may not see tomorrow.."

"It's just like nun-sisters. When a woman wants to be a nun, she choose to do it. She's not forced by her God to be a nun, but she choose it cause she wants to get close and pray totally to her God. It's the same thing when a woman choose Islam as her way of life. That means she choose whatever rules and values Islam has. That also means she's ready to choose to wear hijab as her way of dress..because God has made wearing hijab as a compulsary thing for women.."

"We must all strive to do everything for God's sake, for it's a good pleasure. We shouldn't allow others to FORCE us into their idea of Islamic dress, but we should find our individual place of peace and comfort in not only dress but in our observance of Islam. Hijab, which is much more than a headscarf, serves so many purposes. It allows us to recognize one another and give the greeting, a personal reminder that we are God's servants, and encourages people to give us more respect as religious women. By covering properly, we prevent leering glances and men can't say that we caused them to lust. Finally, and most importantly, it is a sign of obedience to our Lord and, InsyaAllah, it will benefit us on the Day of Judgement"

"I admire anyone that is brave enough to let the world know that they are Muslim in today's anti-Islamic environment"

God states that muslim women should wear hijab. It's stated on Qur'an 24:31.......

"AND say to the believing woman that they should lower the gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers & their sons, or their sister's sons, or their women or their servants whom their right hands posses, 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 believers, turn you all together toward God, that you may attain bliss"

and the last possible answer on why i wear hijab is......

"cause I love and am proud to be a muslim"

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The Faithful Women to Lower their Gazes

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

What is the meaning of Surah an-Nur ayah 31?

The Arabic text of this ayah is:

Bismillah ir Rahman ur Rahim

Wa qul li al-mu'minat yaghdudna min absarihinna wa yahfazna furujahunna wa laa yubdina zenatahunna illa maa zahara min haa wal-yadribna bi khumurihinna ala juyubihinna; wa laa yubdina zenatahunna illa li bu'ulatihinna aw aba'ihinna aw aba'i bu'ulatihinna aw abna'ihinna aw abna'i bu'ulatihinna aw ikhwanihinna aw bani ikhwanihinna aw bani akhawatihinna aw nisa'ihinna aw maa malakat aymanu hunna aw at-tabi'ina ghayri ulu'l-irbat min ar-rijal aw at-tifl alladhina lam yazharu ala awrat an-nisa wa laa yadribna bi arjulihinna li yu'lama maa yukhfina min zenatahinna. Wa tubu ilaAllahi jami'an, ayyuha al-mu'minun la'allakum tuflihun

A translation of this is:

And say to the faithful women to lower their gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to display their adornment except what is apparent of it, and to extend their headcoverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms (jaybs), and not to display 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 brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom the nakedness of women is not apparent, and not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments. And turn in repentance to Allah together, O you the faithful, in order that you are successful

As we can see, this ayah contains six commands for the Muslim sister::

1) Lower the gaze.
2) Guard the private parts.
3) Not display the adornment "except what is apparent of it".
4) Draw the khimar to cover the jayb.
5) Not display the adornment except to the people listed in the ayah.
6) Not stamp the feet so as to give knowledge of hidden adornment.

Keeping this in mind, here are some definitions of the khimar and what it means in classical Arabic:

Imam Abu'l-Fida ibn Kathir: "Khumur is the plural of khimar which means something that covers, and is what is used to cover the head. This is what is known among the people as a khimar."

The dictionary of classical Arabic, Aqrab al-Mawarid: "[The word khimar refers to] all such pieces of cloth which are used to cover the head. It is a piece of cloth which is used by a woman to cover her head."

Shaykh Muhammad al-Munajjid on Islam Q&A: "Khimaar comes from the word khamr, the root meaning of which is to cover. For example, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Khammiru aaniyatakum (cover your vessels). Everything that covers something else is called its khimaar. But in common usage khimaar has come to be used as a name for the garment with which a woman covers her head; in some cases this does not go against the linguistic meaning of khimaar. Some of the fuqahaa’ have defined it as that which covers the head, the temples and the neck. The difference between the hijaab and the khimaar is that the hijaab is something which covers all of a womans body, whilst the khimaar in general is something with which a woman covers her head."

Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin Albani: "The word khimaar linguistically means only a head covering. Whenever it is mentioned in general terms, this is what is intended."


now to perfectly understand this ayah yo have to know your history, this is why some women they wear the veil on their face also.... the women at the time were already wear khimaar, which resulted in their hair already being covered, so Allah (swt) in this ayah had no need to tell the women to do something they were already actively doing, so He (swt) command they cover their chests with the same veil as their chests were not at that time covered. (they were more like the women of today who show their cleveage). There was simply no need to tell people to do something they were already doing, and to make sure that people in future generations understand this, he made sure to point out in this ayah that the covering of the hair was something done, and something acceptable, by telling us not to stop wearing the khimaar, but only extend what was already being covered with the khimaar, to include the chest. also, this was not a command made in an isirshadi (advisory) manner but one that is mawlawi in nature, thus making it obligatory follow.....
the only thing that is not obligatory is the wearing of a face veil, this command was not perfectly clear therefore, not obligatory upon a believing woman to follow. Everything else however, is entirely clear and something that was given as mawlani in nature, this makes it wajib. Those who try to shed doubt on this ayah are simply trying to twist the plain words of the quran to suit their own desires, rather than seeking in truth to follow the commands of Allah (swt). The truth in their arguments is concerning niqaab, and they can and have effectively proven that it is not wajib to wear the niqaab, but this is not case concerning hijab. they have yet to prove, and will always be unable to prove, that the hijab is not wajib.



And Surah 33... Al-Ahzab::



"O Prophet! Say to your wives and daughters and the believing women that they draw their outer garments (jilbab) close to them; so it is more proper that they may be known and not hurt. God is All forgiving, All-compassionate. Now, if the hypocrites do not give over and those in whose hearts there is a sickness and they make commotion in the city, We shall assuredly set you against them and then they will be your neighbors there only for a little while." (33:59-60)

The jilbab is a cloth that is one piece (similar to a sheet) that wraps around the entire body and effectively covers a woman from her head to her feet.... for a description of what this is the closest thing we have to this in the modern society is the Iranian chador.... if you google it you can find a picture of one.

so. form reading these two ayat in the quran we can conclude that it is obligatory to wear both the khimaar and the jilbab when we leave our homes.

there are two points which need to be considered,,,,,,, yes we do believe that reliigon needs to be interpreted for the time in which we live and is not necessarily set in stone as different things can and will come up in religion, such as laws on genetic research etc which the quran did not discuss but is something that is a factor in todays day.....so we do to a certain extent reinterpret the quran when it comes up against issues of today. however, there are certain things that, if we reinterpreted them, we would in effect, be simply doing something to make peopel of other religions happy, rather than our Creator. Some laws dont change, such as the requirement for hijab. which according to the quran is head covering and body covering which adequately covers.

now, as i have previously mentioned, the quran specifically states, 'and to extend their headcoverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms (jaybs),' now, if the khimar was not a requirement, then it would simply have stated [for women] 'to cover their bosoms (jaybs)' but it did not. it said the entire sentence. I am sure you know the quran is not a book that wastes words and everything in it is said with much precision, any study of the quran will show you that it is not a book of hadith (unlike the christian bible etc) but much more than this. So we know form careful study, no word is an accident.


In conclusion, the quran then, did not simply mention a style which is currently outdated and no longer applicable for today....but that a headcovering is in fact wajib and part of hijab, to overlook this, or to say it is not a requirement of the hijab, is simply ignoring the quran, and reinterpreting it to fit the western ideal. Which, as a muslim, we should never do.


another effective source form knowing whether or not this practice is done and whether or not it was mandatory in the time of the Prophet (saww) was to look at how those closest to him interpreted these ayat. How did his wifes dress? how did his daughter dress? how did his stepdaughters dress? how did the wives of his companions dress? form looking at authentic ahadeeth all of these women had the same interpretation of the commands in the quran, that this was wajib. All the women who were near to the prophet (saww) in any way, even the wives of his companions... all covered everything I have mentioned above and then more..... we even find hadeeth where Sayeeda Fatima Al-Zahra (sa) covered her entire body including her face and hands for a blind man!


When you read about Sayeeda Fatima Al-Zahra (sa) no doubt you will fall in love with the whole concept of Hijab!

Read More

The Hijaab is Something Which Covers All of a Womans Body

The Hijaab is Something Which Covers All of a Womans Body

What is the meaning of Surah an-Nur ayah 31?

A translation of this is:

" And say to the faithful women to lower their gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to display their adornment except what is apparent of it, and to extend their headcoverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms (jaybs), and not to display 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 brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom the nakedness of women is not apparent, and not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments. And turn in repentance to Allah together, O you the faithful, in order that you are successful."

As we can see, this ayah contains six commands for the Muslim sister::

1) Lower the gaze.
2) Guard the private parts.
3) Not display the adornment "except what is apparent of it".
4) Draw the khimar to cover the jayb.
5) Not display the adornment except to the people listed in the ayah.
6) Not stamp the feet so as to give knowledge of hidden adornment.

Keeping this in mind, here are some definitions of the khimar and what it means in classical Arabic:

Imam Abu'l-Fida ibn Kathir:
"Khumur is the plural of khimar which means something that covers, and is what is used to cover the head. This is what is known among the people as a khimar."

The dictionary of classical Arabic, Aqrab al-Mawarid: "[The word khimar refers to] all such pieces of cloth which are used to cover the head. It is a piece of cloth which is used by a woman to cover her head."

Shaykh Muhammad al-Munajjid on Islam Q&A:
"Khimaar comes from the word khamr, the root meaning of which is to cover. For example, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Khammiru aaniyatakum (cover your vessels). Everything that covers something else is called its khimaar. But in common usage khimaar has come to be used as a name for the garment with which a woman covers her head; in some cases this does not go against the linguistic meaning of khimaar. Some of the fuqahaa’ have defined it as that which covers the head, the temples and the neck. The difference between the hijaab and the khimaar is that the hijaab is something which covers all of a womans body, whilst the khimaar in general is something with which a woman covers her head."

Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin Albani: "The word khimaar linguistically means only a head covering. Whenever it is mentioned in general terms, this is what is intended."

Now to perfectly understand this ayah yo have to know your history, this is why some women they wear the veil on their face also.... the women at the time were already wear khimaar, which resulted in their hair already being covered, so Allah (swt) in this ayah had no need to tell the women to do something they were already actively doing, so He (swt) command they cover their chests with the same veil as their chests were not at that time covered. (they were more like the women of today who show their cleveage). There was simply no need to tell people to do something they were already doing, and to make sure that people in future generations understand this, he made sure to point out in this ayah that the covering of the hair was something done, and something acceptable, by telling us not to stop wearing the khimaar, but only extend what was already being covered with the khimaar, to include the chest. also, this was not a command made in an isirshadi (advisory) manner but one that is mawlawi in nature, thus making it obligatory follow.....
the only thing that is not obligatory is the wearing of a face veil, this command was not perfectly clear therefore, not obligatory upon a believing woman to follow. Everything else however, is entirely clear and something that was given as mawlani in nature, this makes it wajib. Those who try to shed doubt on this ayah are simply trying to twist the plain words of the quran to suit their own desires, rather than seeking in truth to follow the commands of Allah (swt). The truth in their arguments is concerning niqaab, and they can and have effectively proven that it is not wajib to wear the niqaab, but this is not case concerning hijab. they have yet to prove, and will always be unable to prove, that the hijab is not wajib.

And Surah 33... Al-Ahzab::

"O Prophet! Say to your wives and daughters and the believing women that they draw their outer garments (jilbab) close to them; so it is more proper that they may be known and not hurt. God is All forgiving, All-compassionate. Now, if the hypocrites do not give over and those in whose hearts there is a sickness and they make commotion in the city, We shall assuredly set you against them and then they will be your neighbors there only for a little while." (33:59-60)

The jilbab is a cloth that is one piece (similar to a sheet) that wraps around the entire body and effectively covers a woman from her head to her feet.... for a description of what this is the closest thing we have to this in the modern society is the Iranian chador.... if you google it you can find a picture of one.

So. form reading these two ayat in the quran we can conclude that it is obligatory to wear both the khimaar and the jilbab when we leave our homes.

There are two points which need to be considered,,,,,,, yes we do believe that reliigon needs to be interpreted for the time in which we live and is not necessarily set in stone as different things can and will come up in religion, such as laws on genetic research etc which the quran did not discuss but is something that is a factor in todays day.....so we do to a certain extent reinterpret the quran when it comes up against issues of today. however, there are certain things that, if we reinterpreted them, we would in effect, be simply doing something to make peopel of other religions happy, rather than our Creator. Some laws dont change, such as the requirement for hijab. which according to the quran is head covering and body covering which adequately covers.

Now, as i have previously mentioned, the quran specifically states, 'and to extend their headcoverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms (jaybs),' now, if the khimar was not a requirement, then it would simply have stated [for women] 'to cover their bosoms (jaybs)' but it did not. it said the entire sentence. I am sure you know the quran is not a book that wastes words and everything in it is said with much precision, any study of the quran will show you that it is not a book of hadith (unlike the christian bible etc) but much more than this. So we know form careful study, no word is an accident.

In conclusion, the quran then, did not simply mention a style which is currently outdated and no longer applicable for today....but that a headcovering is in fact wajib and part of hijab, to overlook this, or to say it is not a requirement of the hijab, is simply ignoring the quran, and reinterpreting it to fit the western ideal. Which, as a muslim, we should never do.

Another effective source form knowing whether or not this practice is done and whether or not it was mandatory in the time of the Prophet (saww) was to look at how those closest to him interpreted these ayat. How did his wifes dress? how did his daughter dress? how did his stepdaughters dress? how did the wives of his companions dress? form looking at authentic ahadeeth all of these women had the same interpretation of the commands in the quran, that this was wajib. All the women who were near to the prophet (saww) in any way, even the wives of his companions... all covered everything I have mentioned above and then more..... we even find hadeeth where Sayeeda Fatima Al-Zahra (sa) covered her entire body including her face and hands for a blind man!

When you read about Sayeeda Fatima Al-Zahra (sa) no doubt you will fall in love with the whole concept of Hijab!

Read More

Why should Muslim Women wear Hijab?

Why should Muslim Women wear Hijab?

Ask yourself, or ask the next person who asks you that question, if a female judge walked into the courtroom wearing a tight miniskirt and low-cut blouse, would you take her seriously? Who would you respect more, a woman dressed like that or one dressed modestly? The Qur’an was revealed for all times, and though circumstances change, human nature does not. The fact is that men do like to look at women, so a woman who covers herself is more likely to be respected as a person than looked upon as a piece of meat or toy!

Muslim women wear hijab—which is more than just a head cover—because God ordered them to do so in two places in the Qur’an, and because Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also ordered it. The Qur’an says in Surah 24, verses 30 – 31 what means:

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them! Allah is Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and  and 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 vigor, 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."

These verses tell us that our Islamic dress is not just a matter of covering the head alone, but also of covering the bosom, which is attractive to men, and of lowering the gaze and walking in a way that does not attract attention. Note that the order to lower the gaze was addressed first to men..

Also the other verse about the same point, which is verse number 59 in Surah 33:

" 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, that so they may be recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful."

This indicates that one of the reasons for hijab is to distinguish the believing woman from the non-believing. This relates to the logic behind hijab.

Al Sayda Aisha:

Mentioned the women of Ansar, praised them and said good words about them. She then said: When Surat Al-Nur came down, they took the curtains, tore them and made head covers (veils) of them. (Sunan Abu Dawud: Book 32, Number 4089) Allah knows best

Prophet(SAW) said (Frightening hadith!):

“That among the signs of the Day of Judgment is that there will be women who will be dressed but will be naked, so curse them because for they are truly cursed! And they will never ever smell the fragrance of Paradise – authentic narration.”

Allah knows best

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Why do Muslim women wear Hijab?

Why do Muslim women wear Hijab?

Why should women wear it?

 And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they
should not show off their beauty and ornaments except what is (ordinarily) visible thereof; that they should
draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers,
their husband's 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 God, that ye may attain Bliss. ( Surah 24 Verse 31 )

    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 God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ( Surah 33 Verse 59 )

The first reason for wearing hijab, then, is that it is a command from God. Religious Muslims - like any
other religious people belonging to any revealed religion - don't feel comfortable in deliberately
disobeying God! If some Muslims, despite of the semantic clarity of the Qur'anic verses, still think that
this ruling is not mandatory, this will not alter the message.

We can have some Muslims who unjustly or ignorantly deny the illegality of drinking alcohol, eating pork or
even committing major sins like stealing, fornicating… etc. This does not mean that such things are
permitted in Islam! In Islam it is very easy to detect or judge whether a certain ruling is mandatory or
not, by going back to the major sources of Islamic legislation. This we technically name as ‘shari'a’. Those
sources are the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Muslims, and sunnah, which is the sayings and guiding acts of
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as stated in authentic books. So, simply this is the very same case with hijab.

Notice that this ruling of hijab, is highly esteemed among Muslim women, despite the big pressure of most
regimes in the Muslim majority world to forbid it. Sometimes it is forbidden by force or women are
discouraged from wearing it. The issue is seen as a means of secularizing or globalizing the Muslim states!
This is, in-fact, except for two or three Muslim countries, which encourage their women to observe this
ruling or at least "let it go".

The rest are on a savage war against it. Turkey is the outspoken example of such hostility, but the other
regimes are not less hostile, albeit silently, towards it. Despite this fact you can find Muslim women
insisting on wearing it, even if it costs them their jobs and social status ...

In fact, there is wisdom behind this heavenly command of hijab and behind Muslim women's challenge to wear it. It is that in the Islamic culture - like many other cultures - the idea of women's respectability and
virtue is related, among other things, to the propriety of their dress. In Christianity for example, nuns
cannot show up without their hijab. Also, regular ladies wear it while attending masses, which is a
reflection of self-admission that God wants to see them this way! Also, as far as I know, in Judaism, the
most religious faction amongst Jews, namely The Hassidics, have their strict rules about covering women’s
bodies. Even in secular societies, some women judges have to cover their heads, during sessions, as a way to
show their dignity and self-respect.

Remember that your own puritan American society, before being swept over in the 1950s, by this permissive
value system, used to look with embarrassment to any woman going out to the street without her hat! Mini
skirts only appeared recently together with the secular and atheist style of life that some people in the
west - and the East as well - chose for themselves.

You can also tell that hijab is the way Islam neutralizes a woman's stereotyped role as a mere female, by
inciting the society to deal with her as a human being away from her "extra feminine powers"! No wonder then
that the majority of Muslim women refuse to let their ‘mill go with all winds’ and that they insist on
keeping their Islamic identity. This is regardless of the consistent unfair criticism and sometimes satire
against it. They wear hijab, not only in submission to God's order, but also because their inherent moral
code is in full harmony with its philosophy.

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Required to wear hijab?

Required to wear hijab?

Rena :

I know you have to be properly covered when praying salat or reading the Quran, but say I wish to pray on the tasbeeh when I have some down time between classes, while I'm just sitting at the library, or read a surah, like Al-Nas, when I'm just lounging aroundbefore i go to sleep, is it permissable to do so without a hijab on?
-------------------------
Sahih-baba :

Salam,

you can make dhikr of Allah at any time and place, covered or uncovered, except when using the toilet - and even then you can still remember Allah without moving your lips!
---------------------------------------------------------------

Amina :

Salaam Rena,

I have read your question and I found one answer referring to the book "Islamic Fatawa regarding women" (publishers and distributors: Darussalam).

Question Number 73 of that book refers to a similar issue.
However, the final conclusion is, that women in general have to wear hijab while praying (not only while praying of course). But, the situation of properly covering may be broken down in some cases.
One of those cases is, that the woman is not wearing hijab due to circumstances forcing her to be in that state ( for example situations where women are not allowed to wear hijab in public, like pupils and students in France or female Muslim teachers in Germany). In that case, the woman can pray in the situation she is in, that means uncovered. The proof is brought from Shaikh ibn Baz and he is referring to surat al-baqara ( the cow) ajat 286 and surat al-taghabun ajat 16 :

" Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope" (al-baqara 286)

"So keep your duty to Allah (and fear him) as much as you can" (al-taghabun 16)

The woman s prayer will then be valid and there will be no sin upon her.

And Allah (sub7ana wa ta3ala) knows better.

www.sunniforum.com

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How to Wear Hijab in Trendy Styles

How to Wear Hijab in Trendy Styles
       

A Hijab can be worn in so many Trendy or Traditional ways, here I will try to display some of my favorites in the hope to add many more inshAllah in the near future. I will display Shawls, Square scarves & Amira Hijabs.

HOW TO WRAP A SHAWL :

New Wrap Style 1 :

• Start by placing a full underscarf on your head as this style requires neck coverage. Or you can use a regular underscarf and wear a turtleneck
• Place shawl on you head with end much longer than the other
• Pin the shawl to the underscarf on both sides of your head near where your brows line ends
• Bring longer end of shawl loosely under your chin and wrap it around above your head and re-use same pin to secure in place

New wrap Style 2 :
     

• Start by wearing an underscarf
• Place shawl on your head with both ends in equal lengths and tie behind your neck once or twice
• Place a slim scarf on your head and tie behind your neck under the shawl as shown in picture#2
• Braid the accent slim scarf with the shawl and tie with a headband of a scrunchie in matching colors.
• This is one of my favorites and I do personally get compliments when wearing it.

- Note: This is of course worn with a turtleneck or if you prefer start the style by using a full underscarf and no turtleneck and you achieve the same look.

 New Wrap Style 3 :
 

• Place shawl on your head with 2 ends equal length:
• Tie Once at the botton of your neck
• Bring both ends and twist at top of the head
• Bring both engs back behind your neck and tie one
• This is ideal for wearing on special occasions
• This was done using a 17"x60" scarf from my collection
• Please note that wearing this scarf will only work if you are wearing a turtlneck, either a regular one during the winter or a sleevless or mock turtlneck during the summer time

New Wrap Style 4 :
 

• Place shawl on your head with one end much longer than the other
• Tie at the bottom of your neck
• Bring longer end above your head (you can also twist it) all the way to the other side of your head
• Tie 2 ends together
• This is ideal for wearing on special occasions
• This was done using a 17"x60" scarf from my collection
• Please note that wearing this scarf will only work if you are wearing a turtlneck, either a regular one during the winter or a sleevless or mock turtlneck during the summer time

HOW TO TIE A SQUARE SCARF :

Style 1 :
 

• Fold scarf into 2 triangles with one triangle smaller that the other (if you have a smaller scarf)
• Place scarf on head with one side longer than the other and secure with a pin under your chin
• Take longer side and bring it to the other side and secure with a brooch or a pin
• This was done using a 34"x34" square scarf from my collection
• If you want more neck area coverage you can use a 40"x40" scarf

Style 2 :
  

• Start by wearing an underscarf and a turtleneck for neck coverage or a full underscarf (displayed here) that covers the neck area.
• Tie the scarf in half to make 2 equal sized triangles and place on head.
• Tie behind your ears just like a bandana
• This was done using a 34"x34" square scarf but can be done with small or larger scarves.

HOW TO WEAR AN AMIRA HIJAB (TRENDY LOOK) :

Style 1 :

• Tie a colorful thin scarf being your neck (size 6x60 inches or wider if you desire). This will be used instead of the underscarf tube piece of amira 2 piece hijab.
• Place larger piece of amira hijab over it
• Beautiful look, dont you agree?

STYLE 2 :
  

• Place 2 piece amira hijab on your head
• Place a thin scarf covering the underscarf amira piece and tie behind your neck. This was done using a 6 inch wide scarf that was tied in half.
• Beautiful look again with no pins and very easy to do.

from: http://www.trendyhijab.com

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When Hijab is About Privilege

When Hijab is About Privilege

WoodTurtle is a Canadian Muslim feminist currently using her extended maternity leave to explore developments of Islamic feminism in the Western and Muslim world.  As a woman who wears the hijab (owns several abayas and a niqab monogrammed with her initials in pink, sparkly sequins), she writes frequently on genderized Islamophobia. She also works toward dispelling myths and stereotypes about women in Islam for both Muslims and non.

Once when I was a young and naive new Muslim, I had a terrible conversation with a woman who was sincerely trying to learn about the hijab.

After saying hello, she very nicely blurted out her question: why do you wear that head-scarf-thing?  Thinking I was being witty, I decided to relate a particularly inspiring story I had just read online:  When a woman receives a diamond engagement ring and shows it off, everyone compliments how bright, beautiful and wonderful it is. More and more people, even strangers see the diamond and shower the woman with praises. But soon, the excitement of the diamond slowly starts to fade, and it becomes common. It grows dull and nothing special. But what if you hide that diamond and keep it secret -- showing it only to the people who truly love and care for you? Then the brightness of that diamond never fades and is valued each time it's shown. A woman's hair is a beautiful adornment, just like a diamond. And is so special that it should only be shared with her father and husband -- not with any strange man that comes along.

She smiled, and seemed to accept my explanation. I was elated -- and armed with more gems from Imam Internet we continued our chat. She asked, "aren't you hot in that thing?"  Without skipping a beat, I smiled and said, "Hell is hotter."

Our conversation slammed to halt. It's no wonder she glared at me and stopped smiling. I don't think I could have been any more ignorant, arrogant or rude.

A good portion of English, online sources about hijab are geared toward converts or aim to convince women to take on the hijab. Their arguments use sparkly, treasure imagery, presenting women as precious pearls who deserve to be safeguarded from the evils in this world. Women need to be proud and empowered. Hijab can do that for you. Islam asks its followers to behave modestly. Hijab can do that for you. Women deserve to be respected. Hijab can do that for you. Western notions of beauty require you to spend hours on your hair, make-up and starve your body. Hijab liberates you from superficial notions of beauty. Hijab makes you confident, allows you to move freely in society by removing your sexuality, protects you from assault, raises your status among believers, and helps people judge you for your words and actions, not your body.

Until it doesn't.


Now, yes -- absolutely yes -- for many, hijab is about power. In certain communities, hijab can allow a woman to enter into public spaces to work and support her family, whether she believes it is a religious requirement or not. People do indeed choose to wear it for religious reasons, cultural reasons, identity reasons, as a form of protest or fashion expression and feel empowered by this choice. Women who may otherwise feel pressure by their community to cover up, may in fact feel confident, respected and protected by covering -- and may even garner a level of power within that community. Of course, people also use the hijab to oppress, restrict and control women, and it is absolutely a target for Islamophobia and an excuse for prejudice.

Often we hear about how hijab is about choice, oppression, culture, or religious freedom. But I've been thinking lately about certain examples where hijab is also about privilege.

Hijab as a marker of privilege has its roots in the Qur'an (33:59), which says that believing women should cover their bodies in public to protect themselves from being "abused" or "annoyed" by others. A popular interpretation of this verse argues that all civilizations have a distinctive dress or badge of honour, and that the purpose of the verse is to say that the identifying Islamic public dress protects women from harm and molestation. It then offers the example/analogy of pre-Islamic Assyrian laws that required married women to veil, and forbade slaves and sex workers from veiling.* Unsaid of course, is the suggestion that perhaps uncovered women in the early Muslim community were "bothered" because people assumed they were sex workers or slaves -- giving a reason to why the Qur'an asks women to cover for protection and be identified as Muslims.

What's gotten my hijab in a bunch are people who reason that hijab protects one from sexual assault and raises them above the status of the non-hijabi. Some of this online rhetoric reasons that covering makes you treasured, honoured, chaste and pure -- while uncovering makes you cheap, indecent, and unchaste. A hijabi is raised, praised, and valued for her Islamic faith and knowledge, even if she has none. A non-hijabi is hell-bound.

Hijab is a requirement for employment in certain Islamic schools and mosques -- and certainly for Islamic leadership. Apparently, the problem of not wearing hijab is more important than determining how a person can contribute to the community in works, knowledge and leadership.

Hijab is also a kind of privilege accorded only to cis-gendered Muslim women.

Hijab is expensive. In North America imported 'abayas start at $50, and overseas even the bargain-souq-basement prices start at $20. An Islamic inspired bathing suit is $200. Plain black scarves usually run between $10-$15, while the more fashionable scarf starts at $30. You're lucky to find a $5 sale at a bazaar, or even pretty scarves in the donation box for free.

And while I am excited for and proud of the young hijabista entrepreneurs making a business and expressing their modern style through modest coverings, I really wish they'd diversify. I have never, ever, seen a black hijab model, a fat hijab model, or a hijab model with a disability. Ever.

I'd love to go back and have that conversation all over again. I'm ashamed that I essentially told that woman she was going to hell for being a cheap, used diamond. It's frightening to see how easy it was for me to engage my position of privilege and be convinced of these arguments -- arguments I had picked up from popular online forums and articles. But perhaps that's precisely why these arguments are effective: they appeal to privilege.

It's dangerous to present modest dress and mannerisms as protection, when assault or oppression is not about clothing, and when clothing is used to restrict women. It's unfair to believe that you cannot be modest, respectful or a scholar without hijab and to do so marginalizes people who are certainly sincere Muslims, brilliant, and hijabless. Hijab does not mean you're chaste and sinless and everyone else is promiscuous. Society's ills are not solved with a piece of cloth, but with education, attitude changes and support. Hijab should not be limited, nor limiting. We are not commodities. And it's plain offensive to prefer a hijab wearer above anyone.

*From The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an by 'Abdullah Yusuf 'Ali.

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