Misconceptions about Hijab

Many Muslims today think that hijab is an optional or recommended action. Others have a view that wearing hijab is a final step that a woman takes after she has perfected her prayers, fasting, and all other religious obligations. Some make excuses by saying that they don’t want to give women who wear hijab a bad image, so they must first make sure to perform all prayers in time.

A large number of Muslim girls use the excuse that they will wear hijab after marriage, because they think that not wearing hijab will help them to get married more easily!! Subhan Allah, how can obeying Allah (swt) hurt you? Do these girls think that they will get a good husband if they disobey Allah? In fact, Allah may punish them by giving them a bad husband.

The truth is that wearing the hijab is an obligation on women, mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah. The following verses from the Qur’an are evidence that the hijab is an obligation:

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft­Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (33:59)

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah (swt) is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and 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…” (24:30-31)

There is also evidence from the Sunnah, where Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said in one hadith: “If the woman reaches the age of puberty, no part of her body should be seen but this — and he pointed to his face and hands.” (Abu Dawud)

Another fact that is not well known by most Muslims is that not wearing the Hijab is a major sin, or one of the “kaba’er”. Major sins are those sins that Allah or His messenger warn people about severe punishment if they commit those sins. Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) warned women who do not wear the hijab in the following hadith:

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah: “Rasulullah (SAW) said: Two are the types of the denizens of Hell whom I did not see: people having flogs like the tails of the ox with them and they would be beating people, and the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, who would be inclined (to evil) and made their husbands incline towards it. Their heads would be like the humps of the bukht camel inclined to one side. They will not enter Paradise and they would not smell its odour whereas it odour would be smelt from such and such distance.”  (Muslim)

Therefore, since the Prophet (pbuh) warned these women who do not wear hijab that they will not enter Paradise, this means that it is a major sin. What more severe warning is there than to warn them of hell fire?

Finally, it is important to mention some other mistakes girls commit when wearing hijab. Some girls wear hijab, but at the same time they wear short sleeved shirts showing their arms. Others wear hijab with their hair showing from the top or bottom of the hijab. Others wear hijab and at the same time wear a tight shirt that reveals their chest, or tight pants and skirts that reveal their legs, etc. Also, some girls wear hijab but continue to “flirt” with men, or to behave inappropriately around them.

The purpose of wearing hijab is not simply to put a piece of cloth on your head. Hijab means to cover the entire body (some scholars have said that the hands and face are excluded, other scholars say the entire body must be covered including the face and hands) so that nothing is revealed of it. In addition to this, hijab also means that the women who wears it should be modest, shy and behave within Islamic principles.

This does not mean that women should work on their behavior, and make sure that they behave perfectly first before wearing hijab. Islam requires both the wearing of hijab and proper Islamic behavior. Not doing one of these obligations is not an excuse for not doing the other. But insha’ Allah by doing your best Allah (swt) will forgive any mistakes which you may commit.

All believing women should know that no one can harm or help them except Allah (swt). So if you have a thought in your mind that wearing Hijab will delay my marriage or anything like that, you should remember that only Allah (swt) can help or harm you. If Allah (swt) is pleased with you, he can reward you with an excellent husband. Your weak and ineffective actions will not help you, but your piety and fear of Allah (swt) will.

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