A long but worthwhile read:
All praise is due to Allah taaala as is deserved by His Majesty and Great Power. I send prayers and ask for blessings upon His Noble Messenger who drew the path for us to the pleasure of Allah and His Jannah. This path is a straight one that is surrounded by virtue from all sides and attends to the best moral characteristics, which are increased by the clothing of purity, concealment, and chastity. It is the path trod by the two halves of human society, namely the man and the woman, toward harmonious contentment and happiness in this life and the Hereafter.
This is precisely why the Protector, the blessed and above all imperfection, has made wearing hijaab (see As-Sunnah Articles) an obligation upon the woman as a safeguard of her chastity and protection of her honor and sign of her faith (Eemaan). It is on account of this that societies (both Muslim and non-Muslim) that have distanced themselves from the way of Allah and deviated from His straight path are ill societies in need of treatment that will lead them to recovery and happiness.
Among the pictures that point to the distance of society from that path and that make clear the level of its deviation and separation from it is the open spread of women not just uncovering their faces but enhancing and making a display of their beauty. We find that this is manifested regretfully, in Islamic (Muslim) society despite that Islamic clothing is also widespread. So then, what are the reasons that have led to this digression?
We put this question to a varied group of women from whom we derived ten major excuses and upon examination and scrutiny, the frailty of the excuses became evident to us.
Stay with us dear Muslim sister in these few lines so that we can know through them the reasons for turning away from the hijaab and then discuss each.
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strongExcuse One: I’m not yet convinced (of the necessity) of hijaab./strong
We then ask this sister two questions.
One: Is she truly convinced of the correctness of the religion of Islam? The natural answer is: Yes she is convinced for she responds Laa ilaaha illallah! (There is no god but Allah), meaning she is convinced of the aqeedah, and then she says: Muhammadun rasoolullah! (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), meaning by that that she is convinced of its legislation or law (shareeah). Therefore, 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 (shareeah) 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. For Allah taaala, Whose deity (Uloohiyyah) she believes in has commanded wearing hijaab in His Book (Al-Quraan) and the noble prophet (alaihi salaat wa salaam) whose message she believes in has commanded wearing the hijaab in his Sunnah. 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 this aayah: 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 Islam, how then can she not be convinced of its orders?strongExcuse 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.
/strong The one who has answered this excuse is the most noble of Allahs creation, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) 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 Islam, especially the mother, is a high and elevated one. Indeed Allah taaala has combined it with the greatest of matters, worshipping Him and His tawheed, in many aayaat. He stated: Worship Allah and join none with Him and do good to parent [Soorah An-Nisaa 4:36]
Obedience to parents is not limited except in one aspect, and that is if they order to disobedience of Allah. Allah 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 in sinfulness does not prevent being good to them and kind treatment of them. Allah said afterward in the same aayah: But behave with them in the world kindly.
In summary: How can you obey your mother and disobey Allah Who created you and your mother?
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strongExcuse Three: My position does not allow me to substitute my dress for Islamic dress./strong
This sister is either one or the other of two types: She is sincere and honest, or she is a slippery liar who desires to make a showy display of her hijaab clamoring with colors to be in line with the times and expensive.
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 instance unless her clothing meets the conditions of Islamic hijaab (Hijaab sharee) and it is a duty of every Muslim woman to know what they are?
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]. Learn therefore, the requirements of proper hijaab.
If you must go out, then do not do so without the correct hijaab, seeking the pleasure of Allah and the degradation of Shaitaan. That is because the corruption brought about by your 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]?
With regards to the slippery one we say: Honor and position is something determined by Allah taaala and it is not due to embellishment of clothing and show of colors and keeping up with the trendsetters. It is rather due to obedience to Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and holding to the pure law of Allah and correct Islamic hijaab. Listen to the words of Allah: Indeed, the most honorable amongst you are those who are the most pious. [Soorah Al-Hujuraat 49:35]
In summary: Do things in the way of seeking Allahs pleasure and entering His Jannah and give less value to the high priced and costly objects and wealth of this world.
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strongExcuse Four: It is so very hot in my country and I cant stand it. How could I take it if I wore the hijaab?/strong
Allah gives an example by saying: Say: The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat if they only understand. [Soorah At-Taubah 9:81] How can you compare the heat of your land to the heat of the Hellfire?
Know, my sister, that Shaitaan 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 favor 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 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.
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strongExcuse Five: Im afraid that if I wear the hijaab I will put it off at another time because I have seen so many others do so!!
/strong To her I say: If everyone was to apply your logic then they would have left the Deen in its entirety! They would have left off salaat because some would be afraid of leaving it later. They would have left fasting in Ramadhan because so many are afraid of not doing it later? Etc. Havent you seen how Shaitaan has trapped you in his snare again and blocked you from guidance?
Allah taaala loves continuous obedience even if it were small or recommended. How about something that is an absolute obligation like wearing hijaab?! The prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: The most beloved deed with Allah is the consistent one though it is little. Why havent you sought out the causes leading those people to leave off the hijaab so that you can avoid them and work to keep away from them? Why havent you sought out reasons and causes to affirm truth and guidance until you can hold firm to them? Among these causes is much supplication to Allah (duaa) to make the heart firm upon the Deen as did the prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Also is making salaat and having mindfulness of it as Allah stated: 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-Khaashioon). [Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:45]
Other causes to put one upon guidance and truth are adherence to the laws of Islam and one of them is indeed wearing the hijaab. Allah 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 after having held to them.
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strongExcuse Six: If I wear the hijaab then nobody will marry me, so Im going to leave it off until then.
/strongAny husband, who desires that you be 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 not help you in any way to enter Al-Jannah or escape from the Hellfire. A home, which is founded upon disobedience to Allah and provocation of His anger, is fitting that He decrees misery and hardship for it in this life and in the Hereafter. As Allah stated: But whosoever turns away from My reminder (i.e. neither believes in the Quraan 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 favor and blessing from Allah to whom He give whom He wills. How many women who wear hijaab (mutahajibah) are in fact married while many who dont arent? If you were to say that ..my being made-up and uncovered is a means to reach a pure end, namely marriage, a pure goal or end is not attained through impure and corrupt means in Islam. If the goal is honorable then it must necessarily be achieved by pure and clean method. We say the rule in Islam is: The means are according to the rules of the intended goals.
In summary: There is no blessing in a marriage established upon sinfulness and corruption.
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strongExcuse Seven: I dont wear hijaab based on what Allah says: And proclaim the grace of your Rabb/strong
[Soorah Ad-Dhuhaa 93:11] How can I cover what Allah has blessed me with of silky soft hair and captivating beauty?
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So 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 those matters when they dont please her. If this was not the case, then why doesnt she follow the aayah: And do not show off their adornment except only that which is apparent [Soorah An-Noor 24:31] and the statement of Allah subhaanah: 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 shariah (law) for yourself of what Allah taaala has strictly forbidden, namely beautification (at-tabarruj) and uncovering (as-sufoor), and the reason:
Your lack of wanting to adhere to the order. The greatest blessing or favor 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?
In summary: Is there a greater blessing and favor upon the woman than guidance and hijaab?
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strongExcuse Eight: I know that hijaab is obligatory (waajib), but I will wear it when Allah guides me to do so.
/strongWe ask this sister on what plans or steps she will undertake until she accepts this divine guidance? We know that Allah has in His wisdom made a cause or means for everything. That is why the sick take medicine to regain health, and the traveler rides a vehicle or an animal to reach his destination, and other limitless examples.
Has this sister of ours seriously endeavored to seek true guidance and exerted the proper means to get it such as: Supplicating Allah sincerely as He stated: Guide us to the Straight Path. [Soorah Al-Faatihah 1:6]; Keeping company with the righteous good sisters – for they are among the best to assist her to guidance and to continue to point her to it until Allah guides her and increases her guidance and inspires her to further guidance and taqwaa. She would then adhere to the orders of Allah and wear the hijaab that the believing women are commanded to wear. In summary: If this sister were really serious about seeking guidance she would have exerted herself by the proper means to get it.
Do not forget that Allah truly knows what your intentions are! So don’t think you are fooling any body.
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strongExcuse Nine: Its not time for that yet. Im still too young for wearing hijaab. Ill do it when I get older and after I make Hajj!
/strong The Angel of Death my sister is visiting and waiting at your door for the order of Allah taaala to open it on you at any moment in your life. Allah said: When their term comes, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it and hour (or a moment). [Soorah Al-Anaam 7:34].
Death my sister doesnt discriminate between the young or the old and it may come while you are in this state of great sinfulness disobedience, fighting against the Lord of Honor with your uncovering and shameless adornment. My sister, you should race to obedience along with those others who race to answer the call of Allah tabaaraka wa taaala: 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] Sister, dont forget Allah or He will forget you by turning His mercy away from you in this life and the next. You are forgetting your own soul by not fulfilling the right of your soul to obey Allah and proper worship of 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 your young age in opposition to the sinful deed because Allah is intense in punishment and will ask you on the Day of Resurrection about your youth and every moment of your life.
In summary: Stop presuming some future expectation in your life will indeed occur!! How can you guarantee your own life until tomorrow?
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strongExcuse Ten: Im afraid that if I wear Islamic clothing that Ill be labeled as belonging to some group or another and I hate partisanship.
/strong My sister in Islam, there is only two parties in Islam, and Allah Almighty in His Noble Book mentions them both.
The first party is the party of Allah (hizbullah) that He gives victory to because of their obedience to His commands and staying away from what He has forbidden. The second party is the party of the accursed Shaitaan (hizbush-Shaitaan), which disobeys the Most Merciful and increase corruption in the earth. When you hold tight to and adhere to the commands of Allah, and among them are wearing the hijaab – you then become a part of the successful party of Allah. When you beautify and display your charms you are riding in the boat of Shaitaan and his friends and partners from among the hypocrites and the disbelievers and none worse could there be as friends.
Dont you see how you are running from Allah and to the Shaitaan, trading filth for good? Run instead my sister to 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 because the one who legislated it is the Most Wise Creator. In summary: In the way of seeking the pleasure of Allah and in hope of His Mercy and success in His Jannah and throw the statements of the devils among people and jinn against the wall! Hold tight to the legislation of Allah by your molars and follow the example of the striving and knowledgeable Mothers of the Believers and the female companions (radiallahu anhum ajmaeen).
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strongExcuse Eleven: Islam is in the heart, I don’t need to “show off†that I am a Muslim, it is a personal relationship between God and me.
/strong In order to obtain salvation, a person must combine faith and action, belief and practice. Faith without doing good deeds is as insufficient as doing Good deeds without faith. I can use the same argument and say “Well I don’t have to pray or fast, I love Allah in my heartâ€
The hijab is as obligatory as Salah and fasting on the Muslimah. Allah (swt) always commands to do combine faith and actions.
Surah 2:25
And give good news (O Mohammad) to those who believe and do good deeds, that they will have gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow…
Surah 47:2
But those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and believe in the (Revelation) sent down to Muhammad – for it is the Truth from their Lord,- He will remove from them their ills and improve their condition.
Surah 65:11
An Messenger, who rehearses to you the Signs of Allah containing clear explanations, that he may lead forth those who believe and do righteous deeds from the depths of Darkness into Light. And those who believe in Allah and work righteousness, He will admit to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever: Allah has indeed granted for them a most excellent Provision.
Surah 85:11
For those who believe and do righteous deeds, will be Gardens; beneath which rivers flow: That is the great Salvation
4 Responses to “11 excuses for not wearing Hijab”
August 21, 2009
according to timeno where in quran is there for hijab/burqaa/…. Rasool pbuh was to guide and clean the humans for that that time, so covering from head to toe was essential to get the spychologies humanistic and balanced.now, we muslims are totally aware of what balance is and what psychologies are. the cultural clothing helps us lead towards respectfull clothing during obedience to allah swt in dua or salat. if you force hijab then youll see wonderfull gratious hijabs on top of heads and very tight pants and shorts i see it like 25 times a say equalling 100 in just four days. What significance is the hair today, what satanic thinking to men or women generate, by looking at hair. respect to allah swt with head covering is only neccessary so atleast we can keep control of fashion during prayers. and even during the prayers our sisters cant stop fixign their hijabs or other head coverings. can teh ullama just say for allahs sake that teh manner in which we pray it becomes logical to tie your hair so hijab is logical and for men a turbin or hat that we see in mosques.
August 26, 2009
SorayaAlthough the intention of this article is worthy, the approach is counter-productive.
The responses to the ‘excuses’ are not those that will easily provoke consideration or encourage sisters to adopt a hijabi-mindset. They are patronising and condescending.
Instead of ‘lecturing’. rather provide constructive instruction and support which in all likelihood will be more practical and positive. Give the generation struggling with the concept of hijab facts and information instead of judgement and ridicule.
Perhaps the response from a sister in a Western society would be more relatable.
If I wear looking for motivation to adopt the hijabi lifestyle, this article would not have helped one bit.
P.S. I wear hijab.
September 23, 2009
FatimaAs a sister looking to wear hijab this did not help me at all, and I concur with the comments above that it is patronising and insulting to my intelligence.
September 24, 2009
Anisathe article inspired me to wear hijaab. i think it was excellent.