As of late, there has been a hijab explosion, especially with the emergence of ‘hijab fashion’. Some would say, “that is good, right?” Well, yes and no. Wearing hijab is always good, but the execution of the principle isn’t always correct. 

First, we need to understand the meaning of the term hijab. Hijab literally means a “Veil”, a “Curtain”, a “Partition” or a “Separation”. In shariah, the term hijab is not limited to head covering only. It is the complete covering of a woman, from a non-mahram. That means, it includes the way she dresses, walks, talks, and basically carries herself, as a whole. So, hijab should not be confused with a khimar (head covering). 

So, is hijab an obligation? Allah says, “And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers; that you might succeed.” (24:31) 

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (33:59)

“O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal, without awaiting its readiness. But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse without seeking to remain for conversation. Indeed, that [behavior] was troubling the Prophet, and he is shy of [dismissing] you. But Allah is not shy of the truth. And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not [conceivable or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allah or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allah an enormity.” (33:53)

These aforementioned ayahs show that hijab is an obligation, and also tell us that it is not simply covering one’s hair! But what has our Ummah come to? The fashion hijab is nothing like what has been stated in the Qur’an! We have muslimahs caking their faces with tonnes of makeup, and showing it to everyone. Even worse, they have Youtube tutorials for this! They post and upload such videos which the whole world has access to, where non-mahram men can see them! Would the sahabiyyah do that? No they would not, and they did not! It was narrated that Asma’ bint Abi Bakr said: “We used to cover our faces in front of men.” Muslimahs throw themselves shamelessly in front of the camera for the rest of the world to see. Would the Sahabiyah do that? No they would not, and they did not!

It was narrated from ‘Urwah that ‘Aa’ishah said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to pray Fajr, and the believing women would attend (the prayer) with him, wrapped in their aprons, then they would go back to their houses and no one would recognize them. Narrated by al-Bukhari, and Muslim. We have muslimahs shamelessly accepting and thanking all the non-mahram for their praises, joking with non-mahram on social network. Why? Where is our hayaa? Would the Sahabiyah do that? No they would not, and they did not! ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The riders used to pass by us when we were with the Messenger of Allah in ihraam, and when they drew near to us we would lower our jilbabs from our heads over our faces, then when they had passed we would uncover them again. [Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah] Have we forgotten the reminders that Rasulullah told us? The grave sins of tabarruj (wanton display)! The Messenger of Allah said: “Of the people of Hell there are two types whom I have never seen, the one possessing whips like the tail of an ox and they flog people with them. The second one, women who would be naked in spite of their being dressed, who are seduced (to wrong paths) and seduce others with their hair high like humps. These women would not get into Al-Jannah and they would not perceive its odor, although its fragrance can be perceived from such and such distance. ” [Sahih Muslim] Allah’s Messenger said: “The best of your women are the affectionate, the fertile, the comforting, and the agreeable – if they fear Allāh. 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-Baihaqi] 

After seeing the verses from the Qur’an and the Hadith of Rasulullah, why are we still prioritising our desires? Why do we insist on becoming arrogant towards what Allah has instructed us? Do not be like the disbelievers who say “We hear and disobey.” (2:93) 

This is the talbis iblis for our ummah. Our muslimahs think covering one’s aurah and hijab is simply covering one’s hair. This is when the shayateen whisper to our ear, telling us to beautify ourselves. Worse, we have muslimahs who get really defensive. Those whose senses are driven by their ‘aqal (intellect) and their desires; they give the excuse; “we are dressing according to the time. This is modern time,” or “we are living in a kuffar countries, we need to blend in,” or even “why can’t a Muslimah follow fashion?” What is this? Ask yourselves this: Dare you question Allah , by saying we are dressing according to modern time? Are we saying the rules stated in the Qur’an are dated? Are we saying Allah did not know the future, when He revealed His laws? Fear Allah! We are no better than the Jew who questioned Musa (AS) about the calf, then! Who are we trying to please? The Creator or the creation? Mu’awiyah once wrote to Aisha asking her to write him a letter giving him advice but not to make it lengthy. She wrote: ‘Peace be upon you! To proceed: I heard Allah’s Messenger (saws) say, “If anyone seeks Allah’s good pleasure at the cost of men’s displeasure Allah will keep from him the trouble caused by men; but if anyone seeks men’s good pleasure at the cost of Allah’s displeasure, Allah will leave him in men’s hands. (Tirmithi)

Why do you want to blend in with the kuffar? Why wouldn’t you stand up for Islam? It was narrated the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you, handspan by hand span, cubit by cubit, until even if they entered the hole of a lizard, you will do so too.” We asked, “O Messenger of Allah, (do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?” He said, “Who else?” ( al-Bukhari, and Muslim. Who are our examples? Who does Islam say to follow? Is it the hijabi bloggers and youtubers? Is it the so-called hijabi celebrities who sing on stage? Is it the hijabi actresses who engage in free mixing with non-mahram? Or, is it the sahabiyyah and the women of the salaf-us-saalih? The Prophet said, ”the best of my Ummah is my generation (Qarni), then those who follow them, then those who follow them.“ [Bukhari and Muslim] Now the question lies on us, “who will we follow?” The answers are in our hands. How long are we willing to succumb to the shayateen, whenever we are dressing to go out? Think first. Is my clothing sufficient for me to do my salah? If the answer is no, change, until you can do salah in your clothes. Life as a muslimah is super simple. We do not need to spend huge amounts of money on makeup, shoes, and clothes. We just need to dress according to the Qur’an and Sunnah, to please our Creator. Remember this every time we step out the door from our home. “O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness – that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.” (7:26) The Prophet said: “The woman is an object of concealment, when she leaves the house, Shaytaan (the Devil) beautifies her.” [Tirmidhi, and it is Saheeh] 

The fitna of women is indeed great, as the Prophet said, “I am not leaving behind me in my ummah any fitna that is more harmful for men than women.” [Bukhari & Muslim] This isn’t an attack on those fashion hijabis out there. This is simply a reminder for myself first and foremost, and for my sisters in Islam, who I love for the sake of Allah. The love I have, so that we can all revive the Ummah, together spreading the words of Islam, dawah and tawheed. This is my love for my dear sisters in Islam. The Messenger of Allah said, “The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthens the other.” He illustrated this by interlacing the fingers of both his hands. [Bukhari and Muslim] May Allah make everything easy for all of us, and never stop the guidance. “And if they had believed and feared Allah, then the reward from Allah would have been [far] better, if they only knew.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 02:103)