COULD THAT BE AN HIJAB? 

— SANNI KAY YUSUF

This piece was triggered off by a scene recently seen of a lady. Riding on a motorcycle coasting home from the day’s office activities, I saw the said lady dressed in a bumber short mashed with a skimpy top and a neck-reaching hijab. So in soliloquy I wondered the wander, not because my eyes hadn’t seen such an awry scene before, but because hers seemed more worrying.

We’ve seen, and we keep seeing hijab donned on mini-skirts, leggings, pencil jeans and all sorts of wears that are only suitable indoor or underneath a covering piece of cloth. Some wear theirs on long but tight-fitted gowns/skirts such that the most sensitive parts of their bodies are pumped out to the admiration of innocent men.

The painting of the face into an artificial look alongside hijab is another omen to worry about. Today, there is Muslimah wedding gown, where aside the revelation of the body contours, the inside is viewable than the outside: the bra, the pant etc. are sighted free of charge. So you wonder of what purpose is the so-called hijab on the clean rag? As if that isn’t enough a sin, the slay bride would, in that untoward state, roll her chest and buttocks dancing to the admiration of innocent on-looking men. Innaa liLlaahi wa innaa ileihi raaji’uun!

Some ladies will never appear in any of the aforementioned. Modesty has taught them that such aren’t OK for them. They will rather have themselves clad in flowing tops, skirts or gowns. But it perturbs that their hijabs are either transparent or worn half way leaving the earrings, necklaces etc. viewable to the admiration of innocent men. Some will only wear a small cap or scarf with the claim that their heads or hairs are covered. I wonder from where they got such an impression. Hijab isn’t about covering the head or the hair. The covering is expected to be extended to the neck, the bosoms, the buttocks down.

There are those who tuck it in. They say they want to look smart. And by so doing, the rationale behind legislating that the garment be donned by ladies is defeated. What is to be covered – the chest, the buttocks inclusive – are rather exposed.

Hijab may be naturally, fittingly fashionable, but its divine legislation as an obligation on Muslim women isn’t for fashion. It’s a piece of clothing whose wearing pattern is regulated Quranically and Sunnatically. It cannot be worn as voluntarily wished or desired.

Dear sister, be an obedient Muslim who abides by what her Lord has asked of her. He says:
وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَىٰ عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِنْ زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ.
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their ˹hidden˺ adornments except to their husbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their sons, their stepsons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, their fellow women, those ˹bondwomen˺ in their possession, male attendants with no desire, or children who are still unaware of women’s nakedness. Let them not stomp their feet, drawing attention to their hidden adornments. Turn to Allah in repentance all together, O believers, so that you may be successful.”
Surat An-Nur 31

The above is the least hijab is expected to cover in you. Anything less means you are flouting your Creator’s command. And mentioned alongside are those who can see you off hijab. Do you now see how heavy your sin is, as you allow non-relations see what should never be seen of you? You’ve got to change, my dear. May Allah make it easy for you, ma.

So, as time goes on, you should improve in your dressing spirituality as you so do in your pursuit of worldly activities. As you crave to be richer than you are right now, you should yearn to grow in your dressing to further please your Lord. The use of hijab isn’t limited to the above verse. The ultimate goal is to achieve this:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا
“O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way it is more likely that they will be recognized ˹as virtuous˺ and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Surat Al-Ahzab 59

Jilbaab, as mentioned in the verse, is the garment of the pious women. It is a big, long piece of cloth that is worn from the head to the feet. So, after your gown or skirt with blouse, your jilbaab is placed on it. May Allah make it easy for you. Never mind what anyone would say. Go for your goal. Let people jest you here, you would be Allah’s guest (in Jannah) in the hereafter.

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