Hijab is mandatory, not something optional

Source: IslamGreatReligion

If a sister says, “I’m not yet convinced of the necessity of the Hijāb…”, then we ask her two questions.

1. Is she truly convinced of the correctness of the religion of Islām?
The natural answer is:

Yes, she is convinced for she responds “Lā ilāha illallāh!” (There is no god but Allāh), meaning she is convinced of the aqīdah, and then she says: “Muhammadur rasūlullāh!” (Muhammad [SAW] is the Messenger of Allāh), meaning by that that she is convinced of its legislation or law (sharī’ah). Therefore, she is convinced of Islām as a belief system and a law by which one governs and rules their life.

2. Is the hijāb then a part of Islāmic Law (sharī’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. For Allāh ta’āla, Whose deity (Ulūhiyyah) she believes in has commanded wearing hijāb in His Book (Al-Qur’ān) and the Noble Prophet (‘alaihi salāt wa salām) whose message she believes in has commanded wearing the hijāb in his sunnah.

What do we call a person who says they believe in and are content with the correctness of Islām but who nonetheless does not do what Allāh or His Messenger have ordered? Certainly they can in no way be described as those whom Allāh speaks of in this āyah:

The only saying of the faithful believers when they are called to Allāh 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 Islām, how then can she not be convinced of its orders?

2. I am convinced of the Islāmic dress but my mother prevents me from wearing it and if I disobey her I will go to Hell…

The one who has answered this excuse is the most noble of Allāh’s creation, the Messenger of Allāh (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) in concise and comprehensive words of wisdom: There is no obedience to the created in the disobedience of Allāh.[Ahmed]

The status of parents in Islām, especially the mother, is a high and elevated one. Indeed Allāh ta’āla has combined it with the greatest of matters, worshipping Him and His tawheed, in many āyāt. He stated: Worship Allāh and join none with Him and do good to parents.[Soorah An-Nisā 4:36] Obedience to parents is not limited except in one aspect, and that is if they order to disobedience of Allāh. Allāh 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 Luqmān 31:15] The lack of obedience to them in sinfulness does not prevent being good to them and kind treatment of them. Allāh said afterward in the same āyah: But behave with them in the world kindly.

In summary: How can you obey your mother and disobey Allāh Who created you and your mother?

3. My position does not allow me to substitute my dress for the Islāmic dress…

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 “hijāb” clamouring with colours 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 Islāmic hijāb (Hijāb shar’ee) 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 Allāh and His anger after death!!! Does Allāh 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 hijāb.

If you must go out, then do not do so without the correct hijāb, seeking the pleasure of Allāh and the degradation of Shaitān. 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 Allāh will make the matter easy for you! Is He not the One Who says:And whoever fears Allāh 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-Talāq 65:2-3]?

With regards to the ‘slippery’ one we say: Honor and position is something determined by Allāh ta’āla 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 Allāh and His Messenger (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and holding to the pure law of Allāh and correct Islāmic hijāb.

Listen to the words of Allāh:

Indeed, the most honourable amongst you are those who are the most pious. [Soorah Al-Hujurāt 49:35]

In summary: Do things in the way of seeking Allāh’s pleasure and entering His Jannah and give less value to the high priced and costly objects and wealth of this world.

4. It is so hot in my country and I can’t stand it. How will it be if I wore Hijāb…

Allāh 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 Shaitān 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 Allāh which is many times greater than the heat you now feel. Return to the order of Allāh and sacrifice this worldly comfort in the way of following the path of salvation from the Hellfire about which Allāh 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.

5. I’m afraid that if I wear the Hijāb,I will put it off at a later time because I have seen so many others do so…

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 salāt 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.

Haven’t you seen how Shaitān has trapped you in his snare again and blocked you from guidance?

Allāh ta’āla loves continuous obedience even if it be small or recommended. How about something that is an absolute obligation like wearing hijāb?! The prophet (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: The most beloved deed with Allāh is the consistent one though it be little. Why haven’t you sought out the causes leading those people to leave off the hijāb so that you can avoid them and work to keep away from them? Why haven’t 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 Allāh (du’ā) to make the heart firm upon the Deen as did the prophet (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Also is making salāt and having mindfulness of it as Allāh stated:And seek helpin patience and the prayer and truly it is extremely heavy except for the true believers in Allāh who obey Allāh with full submission and believe in His promise of Jannah and in His warnings (Al-Khāshi’oon).[Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:45] Other causes to put one upon guidance and truth is adherence to the laws of Islām and one of them is indeed wearing the hijāb. Allāh 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 Allāh after having held to them.

6. If I wear the Hijāb, then no one will marry me. So, I’m going to put it off till then…

Any husband, who desires that you be uncovered and adorned in public in defiance of and in disobedience to Allāh, is not a worthy husband in the first place. He is a husband who has no feeling to protect what Allāh 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 Allāh and provocation of His anger is fitting that He decree misery and hardship for it in this life and in the Hereafter. As Allāh stated:

But whosoever turns away from My reminder (i.e. neither believes in the Qur’ān 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 Tā Hā 20:124]

Marriage is a favour and blessing from Allāh to whom He give whom He wills. How many women who wear hijāb (mutahajibah) are in fact married while many who don’t aren’t? 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 Islām. If the goal is honourable then it must necessarily be achieved by pure and clean method. We say the rule in Islām 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.

7. I don’t wear hijāb based on what Allāh says: And proclaim the grace of your Rabb [Soorah Ad-Dhuhā 93:11] How can I cover what Allāh has blessed me with of silky soft hair and captivating beauty?

So, this sister of ours adheres to the Book of Allāh and its commands as long as they coincide with her personal desires and understanding! She leaves behind those matters when they don’t please her.

If this was not the case, then why doesn’t she follow the āyah:

And do not show off their adornment except only that which is apparent [Soorah An-Noor 24:31]

and the statement of Allāh Subhānahu wa Ta’ālā:

Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies [Soorah Al-Ahzāb 33:59]?

With this statement my sister you have now made a sharī’ah (law) for yourself of what Allāh ta’āla has strictly forbidden, namely beautification (at-tabarruj) and uncovering (as-sufūr), and the reason: Your lack of wanting to adhere to the order. The greatest blessing or favor that Allāh has bestowed upon us is that of Imān (faith) and hidāyah (guidance) and among them is the Islāmic hijāb. 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 hijāb?

8. I know that hijāb is obligatory (wājib), but I will wear it when Allāh guides me to do so…

We ask this sister on what plans or steps she will undertake until she accepts this divine guidance? We know that Allāh 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 endeavoured to seek true guidance and exerted the proper means to get it such as: Supplicating Allāh sincerely as He stated: Guide us to the Straight Path. [Soorah Al-Fātihah 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 Allāh guides her and increases her guidance and inspires her to further guidance and taqwā. She would then adhere to the orders of Allāh and wear the hijāb that the believing women are commanded to wear.

In summary: If this sister was really serious about seeking guidance she would have exerted herself by the proper means to get it.

9. It’s not time for that yet. I’m still too young for wearing hijāb. I’ll do it when I get older and after I make Hajj!

The Angel of Death, my sister, is visiting and waiting at your door for the order of Allāh Ta’āla to open it on you at any moment in your life.

Allāh said: When their term comes, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it and hour (or a moment). [Soorah Al-An’ām 7:34].

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 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 Allāh tabāraka wa ta’āla:

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, don’t forget Allāh 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 Allāh and proper worship of Him.

Allāh stated about the hypocrites (Al-Munāfiqoon):

And be not like those who forgot Allāh and He caused them to forget their own selves.[Soorah Al-Hashr 59:19]

My sister wear the hijāb in your young age in opposition to the sinful deed because Allāh 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?

10. I’m afraid that if I wear Islāmic clothing that I’ll be labelled as belonging to some group or another and I hate partisanship…

My sisters in Islām, there are only two parties in Islām, and they are both mentioned by Allāh Almighty in His Noble Book. The first party is the party of Allāh (hizbullāh) 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 Shaitān (hizbush-Shaitān) which disobeys the Most Merciful and increase corruption in the earth. When you hold tight to and adhere to the commands of Allāh, and among them is wearing the hijāb – you then become a part of the successful party of Allāh. When you beautify and display your charms you are riding in the boat of Shaitān and his friends and partners from among the hypocrites and the disbelievers and none worse could there be as friends.

Don’t you see how you are running from Allāh and to the Shaitān, trading filth for good?

Run instead my sister to Allāh and follow His way:

So flee to Allāh (from His Torment to His mercy). Verily I (Muhammad) am a plain Warner to you from Him.[Soorah Adh-Dhāriyāt 51:50]

The hijāb 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 Allāh 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 Allāh by your molars and follow the example of the striving and knowledgeable Mothers of the Believers and the female companions (radiallāhu ‘anhum ajma’een).

Conclusion !
Your body & buety is on display in the market of Shaitān seducing the hearts of men. The hairstyles, the tight clothing showing every detail of your figure, the short dresses showing off your legs and feet, the showy, decorative and fragrant clothing all angers the Merciful and pleases the Shaitān.

Every day that passes while you are in this condition, distances you further from Allāh and brings you closer to Shaitān. Each day curses and anger are directed toward you from the heavens until you repent. Every day brings you closer to the grave and the Angel of Death is ready to capture your soul.

Every soul shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Hellfire and admitted to Al-Jannah, is indeed successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing) [Soorah Ale ‘Imrān 3:185]

Please get on the train of repentance my sister, before it passes by your station.