Islamophobia-The war against the Hijab-(Arming the Muslimah against the doubts of Liberalists and Secularists)[1]
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The secularist and liberalists continue to spread suspicions about the compulsion of the hijab in Islam in an effort to boast their mandate for women rights, and for gender equality in the World. These movements began mainly in Egypt with people like Qassim Amen, Sa’d Zaghoul and Huda Shaarawi, the first Egyptian feminist leader, nationalist, and founder of the Egyptian Feminist Union. All of these people were influenced by the education system in the West; and thus turned their backs on the clear Islamic injunctions. At present-day the trend of Islamophobia circulates 10 or more doubts in the mainstream media targeting the Hijab, and its authenticity, and requirement in Islam. In short I’ll present some of those doubts and a reply from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah, along with the statements of some Islamic authorities of the past.
Doubt # 1 “We want to free the Muslim women from the heavy restrictions of the Hijab”
Reply: This doubt is widespread, so there is no need to mention the people who said it. These people casting this doubt have made it their slogan for their movement. The scholars have explained that this doubt has resulted from people’s amazement with the western lifestyle. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: You would tread the same path as was trodden by those before you inch by inch and step by step so much so that if they had entered into the hole of the lizard, you would follow them in this also.
It’s a known fact and really doesn’t need explanation that Islam has given the Muslim woman her freedom. It freed her from the acts of oppression in the Pre-Islamic period. From the freedoms Islam has granted her is the requirement to cover her modesty. This liberates her from being subjected because of her beauty. The callers to feminist movements and women liberation groups want our women to reject Islamic law by having her remove the hijab. Removing the hijab renders her as an object of man’s lustful desires. Aisha [رضي الله عنها ] was able to convey her Islamic astuteness from behind a hijab as Allah commanded.
The pundits say the only way to liberate the Muslimah is to have her remove the Hijab and display her body in public, and abandon the Shariah. This plot is to get the women to remove the Hijab first and then exploit them while they are naked.
Doubt # 2 “There is no proof in the Quran for the legislation of Hijab.
Reply: The 2 callers to this doubt are Hussain ibn Ahmed Ameen and Nawal el Saadawi[2]. Hussain went as far as to say “The hijab isn’t from Islam” and Nawal claims she’s from a religious family ,who has read the Quran 40 times and didn’t find the proof for the Hijab in any verse. The result of their statements and belief aren’t from their ignorance of the Quran, but rather it’s from their arrogance and self-satisfaction. Every Muslim, even the layman knows the information about the Hijab; except those whom Allah has led astray. Consequently, their speech is considered a lie on Allah and His Messenger. Therefore when you hear these kinds of statements take your precaution. People uttering such lies are trying to get you to reject the Quran, discard the Sunnah, and neglect the statements of the scholars, and in turn rely on their findings. The proof for the hijab found in the Quran is;
- O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e.screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.[Al-Ahzab: 59]
- And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) [An-Nur:31]
- And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not (right) for you that you should annoy Allah’s Messenger, nor that you should ever marry his wives after him (his death). Verily! With Allah that shall be an enormity.[Al-Ahzab:53]
- And as for women past child-bearing who do not expect wed-lock, it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment. But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.[An-Nur: 60]
Those are few verses from the Quran that prove the Hijab is legislated in Islam and from the authentic traditions of the Prophet (ﷺ) [Sunnah];
- Umm ‘Atiyya reported:The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to bring out on’Id-ul-Fitr and ‘Id-ul-Adha young women, menstruating women and purdah-observing ladies, menstruating women kept back from prayer, but participated in goodness and supplication of the Muslims. I said: Messenger of Allah, one of us does not have an outer garment (to cover her face and body). He said: Let her sister cover her with her outer garment. [3]
- ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that her foster-uncle whose name was Aflah sought permission from her (to enter the house) but she observed seclusion from him, and informed Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) who said to her:Don’t observe veil from him for he is Mahram (one with whom marriage cannot be contracted) on account of fosterage as one is Mahram on account of consanguinity.[4]
Doubt # 3: “The scholars all concur that the hands and face are allowed to be shown.” Allah said “and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent.”[An-Nur:31]
Reply: This doubt was disseminated by Qassim Ameen[5] . He said that the parts of the body that fit into the exception in this verse were the face and hands.”
Qassim used the opinions of the Jurists which are referring to the permissibility of a woman to display her face, her hands and her feet during the prayer. Their opinion isn’t a proof for the permissibility for her to go out of the house uncovered. In fact there is an Ijma [consensus ] among the scholars that the Muslimah is allowed to have her face and hands uncovered ONLY while praying and not in the presence of MEN.[6]
A large number of scholars consider the face and the hands must be covered, and among some of those Imans are;
Ibn Muthir [318H] , Ibn Abdil Bar [ 463H] , Ibn Hubayrah [ 560H] , Ibn Qudamah [620H], Ibn Taymiyyah [728H], Ibn Al-Qayyim [752H], Ibn Muflih [763H], Ibn Rslan [844H], Ibn Hajr [852H] and others.
The correct understanding for the exception in the verse was mentioned by Abdullah ibn Masu’d who said: “except only that which is apparent,” applied to only the dress.[7]
Doubt # 4: “The scholars differ about the covering of the face and the hands and since they aren’t in agreement about this issue ,then there is no harm to remove the Hijab.”
Shaykh Muhammad Al-Imam: “There is a consensus among the scholars that Muslim woman must cover her face when she fears trials and which era does the Muslimah face as many trials as she does than today. The uncovered, the improperly covered, and the naked women tempt the lusts of men.”
Today the woman’s body has become a profiting tool for the sales of music and magazines. The idea of showing ladies like Beyoncé, Rihanna and Kardashian exposed is to incite our mothers, sisters and daughters to take them as role models. Whenever a Muslimah takes those unclothed women, paid for the display of their bodies as ideal women instead of Prophet’s[ﷺ] wives, then when will our sisters be righteous? The wives of the Prophet [ﷺ] are the role models for the Muslimah, especially those who claim to follow the Salaf[the righteous predecessors].
Has there ever been a calamity that afflicted a civilization recorded in history which resulted in its collapse like the one tested with uncovered women, the free-mixing between sexes and prostitution? Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
The world is sweet and green (alluring) and verily Allah is going to install you as vicegerent in it in order to see how you act. So avoid the allurement of women: verily, the first trial for the people of Isra’il was caused by women.[8]
This is what we witness today. The women’s liberation movement doesn’t only want the Muslim women to remove their hijabs. They also want them to wear miniskirts, tight jeans, her breast exposed and clothing worn so tight it’s like its painted on her body to show her shape. Unfortunately, this has wiggled its way into the tailoring of Abaya’s in the Middle East today!
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “After me I have not left any trial more severe to men than women.”[9]
Doubt # 5 : “The Hijab is from the Pre-Islamic traditions which the rigid and extreme Muslims have taken as a practice.”
Reply: The clearest proof to this doubt is the fact the Allah mentioned the order for the Hijab the Quran and the Prophet [ﷺ] in his Sunnah. Therefore the companions, and the Tabee’oon and Muslims after them up until today still follow this command.
Abu Hamad Al-Ghazali said: The men go outside with their faces uncovered, while the women do the opposite.
Al-Hafith Ibn Hajr [852H] said: “The women in the past and today continue to cover their faces from men.”
How is it even logical that a muslim woman wearing an hijab correctly represents extremism, when the women wearing it a seductive manner or uncovered is a sign for the women in Hell-fire. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
Two are the types amongst the denizens of Hell, the one possessing whips like the tail of an ox and they flog people with their help. (The second one) the 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 Paradise and they would not perceive the odour of Paradise, although its frag- rance can be perceived from a great distance).
Doubt # 6: “The Hijab is a custom that doesn’t fit in the norms of Today’s World .”
Reply: This doubt was created by Qassim Ameen. He mentioned it in his book “The new woman”. These words represent the tragedy of a person afflicted with the glitter of this World and the lifestyle of the disbelievers. Moreover people who place more importance to secular studies than to Islamic studies fall into this kind hole. You’ll find they know little about Islam, if anything at all. A sign of these people is they reject the good Islam has to offer, and then praise the West for its advancement in Medicine , Technology and infrastructure. They have been brainwashed. For that reason, it’s not far-fetched for them to find the truth bitter and find falsehood sweet.
Doubt # 7: “The Hijab was inherited from the Muslims coexisting with the Jews, the Persians, the Berbers, the Magians and the Christians.”
Reply: This is the speech of Hussain ibn Ahmed Ameen. He was the first to do a Tafsir [explanation] in the Persian language for the Quran. His words are a downright lie and a rejection of the facts found in the Quran and in the Sunnah. When did the Berbers and the Magians women ever wear Hijab?!. However, the Jews and the Christians were commanded in their legislation to cover; nonetheless they changed it, so you don’t find too many of them covering properly today except a few among them living in Ethiopia and in Dutch country Pennsylvania.
Doubt # 8: “The Hijab causes animosity among people.”
Reply: This doubt here implies that the Abaya and the Hijab and the Niqab symbolize a cult that creates hostility between other women. This is emphatically wrong and in fact it’s the other way around. Look at the naked women compared to the covered women. Which one among them causes hostility among people? Which one between them causes the love and affection between spouses to break? How many uncovered women have resulted in men falling into adultery?
Doubt # 9: “The Hijab is a symbol of fanaticism and radicalization”
Reply: This has to be rejected as the Hijab shows that women are obedient towards their creator. The hijab is sign that a woman cares about her modesty. The hijab represents a woman who cares about her life, is concerned with her safety and wants to protect her honor. We don’t often hear about women wearing the hijab getting raped; as much as we hear about those uncovered and naked.
Is that extreme? Ask them to show you fairness and balance. How is it defined? They prefer a woman extending her hand out to them accepting everything they invite her to, so when she rejects putting her modesty and honor on display she is considered extreme, a fanatic and a radical.
Doubt #10: “A women in Hijab and veiled isn’t able to do work outside her home.”
Reply: This doubt streams itself into the weak minded women that the so-liberalists are striving to make the finical situation of the women more stable and better. The first person who spread this doubt was Jamal Abdil Nasr. This kind of speech is mere propaganda and gossip. When did the Muslim women ever complain to these Women Rights Groups about their financial situation?
Allah said: . Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband’s property, etc.).[An-Nisa’i:34]
History has proven otherwise. The women wearing Hijab used to work outside of their homes. They used to help their husbands on the farm and help gather fire wood. What has changed now? Women working as nurses, teachers, secretaries and all jobs which are in their capacity can be done easily with a hijab on.
Doubt # 11: “The religion is easy and if the woman faces hardship she can remove her hijab”
Reply: This is the doubt of the Mufti Dr Abou El-Fadl and Abdullah bin Bayyah[10]
Dr. Abou El-Fadl said: “In my view, it is an error for a Muslim woman to continue wearing the headscarf, or the hijab if doing so brings such a person undue attention, or puts her at risk of harm of any sort, or even stands as an obstacle to her ability to testify on behalf of God and to educate non-Muslims as to the truth of the Islamic message.”[11]
The point of confusion among these brothers is the fact they rely on their own interpretation that isn’t built on any established principles in Islam for deriving verdicts. This doubt stems from the misinterpretation these verses.
Allah said: and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship.[ Al-Hajj: 78]
Allah said: Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.[Al-Baqarah:185]
Allah said: Allah wishes to lighten (the burden) for you; and man was created weak.[ An-Nisa’i:28]
These verses are a proof that the Shariah has been made easy for people to follow. Islamic law[Shariah] has been legislated to protect 5 things;
- The religion
- Life
- Intellect
- Lineage
- Wealth and property.
Everything that protects these five things is considered in the best interest of a person’s safety and his honor and everything that doesn’t protect them is considered corrupt. The method to identify corruption is through measuring the act and the speech next to the Quran and the Sunnah, and if it contradicts these two sources of law, then it can’t be correct, because all verdicts return to those 2 sources.
In the legal maxims there is a principle that states “The presence of difficulty requires that allowances be made to effect ease.”
Even some people add . “That due to the change of the era the verdicts must be changed.
The two principles aren’t in no way shape or form suitable to be used in the situation of Islamophobia for the removal of the Hijab, the shaving of the beard, or for a name change.
The correct meaning for “ The presence of difficulty requires that allowances be made to effect ease,” means that if there is a legislated reason which makes it difficult for the servant to fulfill his duties then he has the right to take ease in that instance.
For example fasting is obligatory in Ramadhan[9th month of Islamic calendar], but when a person is sick or on a journey he can break his fast. There are five prayers in a day, and when a person is travelling he can combine and shorten them; however it’s important to notice here the obligation isn’t totally removed from the servant in those instances, but instead taking the ease is legislated for him.
The improper education and training for the use of the legal maxim, “The presence of difficulty requires that allowances be made to effect ease,” allows people to make Allah’s prohibitions permitted.
For instance can we say Riba[usury] is allowed, because it’s complicated in today’s world to get around it. Can we add to this list it’s allowed for a man to shave his beard, because when he goes to the market people look at him strange and he feels uncomfortable?
“The presence of difficulty requires that allowances be made to effect ease” is used in the acts Allah legislated ease for only.
Doubt #12: Muslim women face the risk of being called “Apostates” if they remove the Hijab.
Reply: This is one the fear tactics used by the pundits to try and show that Islamic law is barbaric and considers the smallest acts serious. This forged belief is printed and sold in the media without any proof for our texts.
Which scholars consider unveiling and the removal of the Hijab an act of apostasy?
Where is it mentioned in the Quran that if a woman doesn’t wear the hijab she’s gone apostate?
Which book of hadith collected a narration from the Prophet [ﷺ] mentioning the act of uncovering an act of apostasy?
There is a difference in Islam between major and minor sins. A Major sin is one that earns Allah’s anger or Hell. It’s a sin that a person is promised retribution in the hereafter, a curse in this life, or a legal punishment. A major sin is one where faith is denied for its doer and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) freed himself from its perpetrator.
With that mentioned is there any text that can be presented to show the act of a woman going out of her home without the hijab or Jilbab is a major sinner.
Imam Al-Uthaymeen [رحه الله] said: It’s Haraam[prohibited] for a woman to remove her hijab because it’s her right to wear it to safeguard herself against lusts and temptations. When a woman removes her hijab she causes men to fall into lusts and desires.”[12]
Texts within Islamic law that deal with women dressed incorrectly is the hadith[tradition of the prophet] The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed mannish women.[13]
Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan said: This refers to women who imitate men in their dress, speech and actions. And since the Prophet (ﷺ) cursed women who act in this manner it shows that it’s a cardinal sin.[14]
Although there might some cases of women being ill-treated for not wearing hijab by minority group of people in a few regions this doesn’t mean that’s the correct Islamic view or law regarding the verdict of an uncovered Muslimah.
I pray and hope that this short article serves in the defense of the Hijab and helps our mothers, sisters and daughters against the doubts and attacks they face. I recommend my brothers and sister tested with Islamophobia to remain patient and steadfast and to increase in their worship of Allah.
For other words of encouragement please read :
https://www.abuaaliyah.com/2015/06/11/holding-on-to-hot-coals/
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Allah knows best.
Prepared by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle Sr.
Academic/Khateeb in Doha, Qatar © 1438H
[1] A majority of this evidence and information for this article was taken from my teacher and Sheikh Muhammad Al-Iman. I changed it around and made some additions to address the current climate. The doubts 1-10 are from his book ‘ معارك الحجاب” and doubts 11 and 12 are complete addition from myself[غفره الله]
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawal_El_Saadawi
[3] Sahih Muslim Book 8, Hadith 12
[4] Sahih Muslim 1445
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qasim_Amin
[6] Refer to Majmou / ibn Taymiyyah 22/115
[7] Abu Ubayd Al-Qassim/ Ghareeb Al-Hadith (4/317-318)
[8] Sahih Muslim 2742
[9] Sahih al-Bukhari 5096
[10] http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/junaid-jahangir/islam-wearing-hijab_b_14046520.html
[11] http://scholarofthehouse.org/drabelfafaon.html
[12] Nur Ala Darb/vol11/143
[13] Sunan Abi Dawud 4099
[14] Kitabul Kaba’ir/ pg 669