All praise is due to Allah (ta'aala), as is deserved by His Majesty and Great Power. I send prayers an d ask for blessings upon His Noble Messenger who drew the path for us to the pleasure of Allah and His Jannah. This path of Islaam is a straight one that is surrounded by virtues from all sides and attends to the best moral characteristics, one of which is the clothing of purity, concealment, and chastity.
The Protector, the Blessed and Above All Imperfection, has made the wearing of Hijaab an obligation for the believing woman as a safeguard for her chastity, protection of her honour and as a sign of her faith. Today, many of the Muslim and non-Muslim societies have distanced themselves from the way of Allah and deviated from His straight path. They are ill societies which are in need of help in order to gain true happiness. Among the ailments and deviations of such societies is of women making an immodest and open display of their beauty. Sadly, this has even manifested amongst our own believing Muslim Sisters. We must ask ourselves, as well as them, as to what are the causes and reasons that have led to this digression?
We put this question to various Muslim women and derived ten major reasons from their answers as to why they do not wear the Hijaab. Stay with us dear Muslim sister as we go through the reasons for why Muslim women turn away from the Hijaab. We will come to realise that surely no excuse outweighs Allah's commandment.
Excuse One: I'm not yet convinced (of the necessity) of Hijaab.
We then ask this Sister two questions:
One: Is she truly convinced of the correctness of the religion of Islam? Ofcourse the answer will be: Yes she is convinced, for she responds with, "Laa ilaaha illallah!" (There is no god but Allah) and then she says, "Muhammadun rasoolullah!" (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). This shows that she is convinced of Islam as a belief system and a law by which one governs and rules their life.
Two: Is the Hijaab then a part of Islamic Law (Sharee'ah) and an obligation? If this sister is honest and sincere in her intention and has looked into the issue as one who truly wants to know the truth, her answer could only be, "Yes, of course". She says so for Allah (ta'aala), Whose deity (Uloohiyyah) she believes in, as He has commanded the wearing of Hijaab in His Book (Al-Qur'aan) and the noble Prophet ('alaihi salaat wassalaam) whose message she believes in, has commanded the wearing of Hijaab.
What do we call a person who says they believe in and are content with the correctness of Islam but who nonetheless does not do what Allah or His Messenger have ordered? Certainly they can in no way be described as those whom Allah speaks of in following verse, {The only saying of the faithful believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, 'We hear and obey.' and such are the successful.} (Soorah An-Noor [24]:51)
In summary: If this Sister is convinced of Islaam, how then can she not be convinced of its orders?
Excuse Two: I am convinced of Islamic dress but my mother prevents me from wearing it and if I disobey her I will go to the Fire.
The one who has answered this excuse is the most noble of Allah's creation, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) in concise and comprehensive words of wisdom, "There is no obedience to the created in the disobedience of Allah." (Ahmed)
The status of parents in Islaam, especially the mother, is a high and elevated one. Indeed Allah (ta'aala) has combined it with the greatest of matters, which is worshipping him in many verses. He stated, {Worship Allah and join none with Him and do good to parents.} (Soorah An-Nisaa [4]:36) Obedience to parents is not limited except in one aspect, and that is if they command anything which infact disobedience to Allah. Allah, the Almighty said, {But if they strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not.} (Soorah Luqmaan [31]:15)
The lack of obedience to them when it comes to obeying Allah must not prevent you being good to them and having kind treatment towards them. Allah, the Almighty, said later in the same verse, {But behave with them in the world kindly.}
In summary: How can you obey your mother and disobey Allah, Who created both you and your parents?
Excuse Three: My position does not allow me to substitute my dress for an Islamic dress.
This sister is either one of the following two types:
- She is sincere and honest.
- She is lying to herself.
We will begin with an answer to the honest and sincere sister. Are you unaware my dear sister, that it is not permissible for the Muslim woman to leave her home in any case unless her clothing meets the conditions of Islamic Hijaab. If you have taken the time and effort to learn so many matters of this world how then can you be neglectful of learning those matters which will save you from the punishment of Allah and His anger after death?! Does Allah not say, {Ask the people of remembrance (i.e. knowledgeable scholars) if you do not know.} (Soorah an-Nahl [16]:43)
If you must go out, then do not do so without the correct Hijaab, seeking the pleasure of Allah and the degradation of Satan. That is because the corruption brought about by you going out adorned and beautified is far greater than the matter which you deem necessary to go out for.
My dear sister, if you are really truthful in your intention and correctly determined you will find a thousands hands of good assisting you and Allah will make the matter easy for you! Is He not the One Who says, {And whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty) and He will provide him from sources he never could imagine.” (Soorah at-Talaaq [65]:2-3)
Honour and position is something determined by Allah (ta'aala) and it is not due to embellishment of clothing, show of colours and keeping up with the trendsetters. It is rather due to obedience to Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) and holding on to the pure law of Allah, which obligates the correct Islamic Hijaab. Listen to the words of Allah, "Indeed, the most honourable amongst you are those who are the most pious." (Soorah al-Hujuraat [49]:35)
In summary: Do things in the way of seeking Allah's pleasure and entering His Jannah and give less value to the high priced, costly objects and transient wealth of this world.
Excuse Four: It is so very hot in my country and I can't stand it.
Allah, the Almighty, gives an example by saying, {Say: The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat if they only understand.} (Soorah At-Taubah [9]:81)
Dear Sister, how can you compare the heat of your land to the heat of the Hellfire?
Know, my sister, that satan has trapped you in one of his feeble ropes to drag you from the heat of this world to the heat of the Hellfire. Free yourself from his net and view the heat of the sun as a favour and not an affliction especially in that it reminds you of the intensity of the punishment of Allah, which is many times greater than the heat you may now feel. Return to the order of Allah and sacrifice this worldly comfort in the way of following the path of salvation from the Hellfire about which Allah says, {They will neither feel coolness nor have any drink except that of boiling water and the discharge of dirty wounds.} [Soorah An-Naba' [78]:24-25]
In summary: The Jannah is surrounded by hardships and toil, while Hellfire is surrounded by temptations, lusts and desires.
Excuse Five: I'm afraid that if I wear the Hijaab I will take it off, as I have seen so many other Sisters do!
Dear Sister, why haven't you instead searched out for reasons and causes to affirm the truth and guidance, until you feel stronger in following that which you know is right?
If everyone was to apply this logic, Muslims would have left Islaam in its entirety by now! They would have left Salaah (the 5 compulsory prayers) out of fear of ‘maybe’ one day I may abandon it. They would have left fasting in Ramadhan that 'maybe' i might not fast next year anyway..and the list goes on. Haven't you seen, dear Sister, how satan has trapped you in his snare and blocked you from following the revealed guidance?
Allah (ta'aala) loves continuous acts of obedience, even if they are small. Then, how about something that is an absolute obligation like the wearing of Hijaab! The Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) said, “The most beloved deed with Allah is the consistent one though it be little.”
One way by which you can gain steadfastness is by means of much supplication to Allah, asking him sincerely to make your heart firm upon the Deen, as did the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam). Secondly, by keeping up the prayers, being mindful of the deep meanings contained within the verses you recite, for Allah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) states, {And seek help in patience and the prayer and truly it is extremely heavy except for the true believers in Allah who obey Allah with full submission and believe in His promise of Jannah and in His warnings (Al-Khaashi'oon).} (Soorah al-Baqarah: [2]:45)
Other means by which to keep oneself steadfast upon guidance and truth is by adhering to the laws of Islaam, indeed one of which is wearing the Hijaab. Allah, the Almighty said, {If they had done what they were told, it would have been better for them and would have strengthened their faith.} (Soorah Al-Baqarah: [2]:66)
In summary: If you hold tight to the causes of guidance and taste the sweetness of faith you will not neglect the orders of Allah, the Almighty, after having held on to them.
Excuse Six: If I wear the Hijaab then who will marry me? I will wear the Hijaab after marriage.
Any husband who is happy with you being uncovered and adorned in public, in defiance of and in disobedience to Allah, is not a worthy husband in the first place. He is a husband who has no feeling to protect what Allah has made inviolable, most notably yourself, and he will inmost likelihood not help you in any way to enter the Paradise or escape from the Hellfire.
A home which is founded upon disobedience to Allah and provocation of His anger is fitting that it be afflected with misery and hardship. As Allah stated, {But whosoever turns away from My reminder (i.e. neither believes in the Qur'aan nor acts upon its teachings) verily for him is a life of hardship and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.} (Soorah Ta Ha [20]:124)
Marriage is a favour and blessing from Allah,which he gives to whom He wills. How many women who wear Hijaab (Mutahajjibaat) are in fact married, while many who don't aren't? Dear Sister, remember: a pure goal or end is not attained through impure and corrupt means. If the goal is honourable then it must necessarily be achieved by a pure and clean method.
In summary: There is no blessing in a marriage established upon sinfulness and corruption.
Excuse Seven: I don't wear hijaab based of what Allah says, “And proclaim the grace of your Lord." (Soorah ad-Dhuhaa [93]:11). How can I cover what Allah has blessed me with of silky soft hair and captivatin g beauty?
Does this sister of ours adheres to the Book of Allah and its commands as long as they coincide with her personal desires and understanding? She leaves behind what is mentioned therein of difficult matters when they don't please her.
If this is not the case, then why doesn't she follow the verse, {And do not show off their adornment except only that which is apparent.} (Soorah An-Noor [24]:31)
And the statement of Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta'ala), "Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies." (Soorah Al-Ahzaab [33]:59)?
With this statement my sister you have now made a new Sharee'ah (Law) for yourself, which Allah (ta'aala) has strictly forbidden, namely beautification (at-Tabarruj) and uncovering (as-Sufoor). The real reason behind your defiance is your unwillingness to follow the Law of Allah, especially when it coincides with your own personal interests.
The greatest blessing or favour that Allah has bestowed upon us is that of Eemaan (faith) and Hidaayah (guidance) and among them is the Islamic Hijaab. Why then do you not manifest and talk about this greatest of blessings given to you, which should be more important to you than your beauty?
In summary: Is there a greater blessing and favour upon the woman than guidance and Hijaab?
Excuse Eight: I know that hijaab is obligatory (Waajib), but I will wear it when Allah guides me to do so.
We ask this Sister, how long will she procrastinate before she accepts this Divine Guidance? We know that Allah has out of His wisdom made a cause or means for everything. That is why the sick take medicine to regain health, and the traveller rides a vehicle or an animal to reach his destination, and other limitless examples.
Has this Sister of ours seriously endeavoured to seek true guidance and exerted the proper means to get it such as:
- Supplicating to Allah sincerely as He stated, {Guide us to the Straight Path.} (Soorah Al-Faatihah [1]:6)
- Keeping company with the righteous good sisters, as they are for her among the best company.
In summary: If this sister was really serious about seeking guidance she would have exerted herself by the proper means in order to gain it.
Excuse Nine: It's not time for that yet, I'm still too young to wear the Hijaab. I'll do it when I get older and after I make Hajj!
The Angel of Death my Sister, is awaiting for the order of Allah (ta'aala) to snatch your soul at any moment in your life. Allah, the Almighty has said, {When their term comes, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it and hour (or a moment).}
Death, my Sister, doesn't discriminate between the young or the old and it may come while you are in this state of great sinfulness and disobedience, fighting against the Lord of Honour with your uncovering and as you show your adornment to men who have not right over you. My Sister, you should race towards Allah's obedience, along with those who race to answer the call of Allah (tabaaraka wa ta'aala), "Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord and Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heavens and the earth." (Soorah Al-Hadeed, [57]:21)
You are forgetting your own self by not fulfilling the right of your soul in obeying Allah and properly worshiping Him. Allah stated about the hypocrites (Al-Munaafiqoon), {And be not like those who forgot Allah and He caused them to forget their own selves.} (Soorah al-Hashr, [59]:19)
My Sister, wear the Hijaab in this young age; Allah will soon ask you on the Day of Resurrection about your youth and every moment of your life.
In summary: Stop procrastinating, my Sister. For, how can you guarantee tomorrow?
Excuse Ten: I'm afraid that if I wear Islamic clothing that I'll be labelled as belonging to some group or another and I hate partisanship.
My Sister in Islam, there are only two parties in Islaam, and they are both mentioned by Allah Almighty in His Noble Book.
The first party is the party of Allah (hizbullah), the group He gives victory to because of their obedience to His commands and their staying away from what He has forbidden.
The second party is the party of the accursed Satan (hizbush-shaytaan); they disobey the Most Merciful and make corruption on earth. When you hold tight to and adhere to the commandments of Allah, among which is wearing the Hijaab, you will be, Allah Willing, a part of the successful party of Allah. When you beautify and display your charms, you will be riding with Satan, his friends and partners from among the hypocrites and the disbelievers. No company can be worse than theirs.
Dear Sister, don't you see how you are running away from Allah when you run away from the command. Instead you are running towards Satan, trading filth for good. My Sister, run instead towards Allah and follow His way, "So flee to Allah (from His Torment to His mercy). Verily I (Muhammad) am a plain warner to you from Him." (Soorah Adh-Dhaariyaat, [51]:50)
The Hijaab is a high form of worship that is not subject to the opinions of people and their orientations and choices, as the one who has legislated it is the most Wise and He knows us better than we even know our own selves.
In summary: In the way of seeking the pleasure of Allah and in hope of His Mercy, forgiveness and Paradise, run away from the whispers and false statements of the devils from amongst both the humans and jinn! Hold tight to the legislation of Allah and follow the example of the best of women, the Mothers of the Believers and Sahaabiyaat (the Women Companions). May Allah be pleased with them all. Aameen.
In Conclusion
Dear Sister, every day that passes while you disobey Allah by not wearing the Hijaab distances you from righteousness and brings you closer to Satan. Every day brings you closer to the grave and the Angel of Death is ready to capture your soul.
Get onto the train of repentance my Sister, before it passes by your station.
Deeply consider my Sister, how today you can change for the best before tomorrow comes.
Think about it, my Sister.... Now, before it's too late.