Hijab or Niqab?
This has
been a matter of discussion amongst Muslims for ages, ulama supporting
any of the 2 have concrete proofs, however the times we live in, the
Ladies (especially modernist girls/women) are more inclined towards
wearing Hijab rather than going for Niqab (If they are ready at first
place) , the western mind set looks down upon noble women wearing Jilbab
in its true sense (i.e. Niqab).
Note:
Technically even Hijab refers to Proper covering from top to bottom,
but here It will be referred for those who are not convinced with Face
covering.
Some scholars have tried to reconcile between both
viewpoints by offering choice to women whether they like to go for Hijab
or Niqab (though Niqab is recommended), some like Nasir ud-din Albani
have even gone to the extent of justifying that ruling on Hijab
supersedes that of Niqaab and he even wrote a whole book in refutation
of other scholars trying to justify his pseudo point. This according to
us is a wrong conclusion, especially for our sisters
in sub-continent where men are often seen preying at women (so in any
given condition, anywhere in the world where the women may become easy
targets of men satisfying their inner lustful desires, then the ruling
of Niqab from merely recommended changes to Wajib and there indeed is
proof of it rather a dominant one)
In Light of Quran and Hadith
قُل
لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ
ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
وَقُلْ
لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ
فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا
وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ
Quran states: Say to the believing men
(first) that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty:
that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well
acquainted with all that they do. And (then) say to the believing women
that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they
should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must
ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms (24:30-31)
Important side note:
These verses in context first ask the men to "lower their gaze and
guard their modesty" and after this it asks the women, hence the anti
Islamic propagandists and even some extremists within Islam will always
exploit this issue and shall misuse this verse without using the
previous one. The men who force women to wear Niqaab are strongly warned
in this verse not to impose it on them but rather to look upon
themselves first, nor does France or any self assumed democratic nation
has any right to ask the women to "TAKE IT OFF" Even men are prescribed
to wear proper dressing and many times people think that "GATRA" as
worn by Saudis is a symbol of Islam although it is not, the Sunnah and
the way is to have an Ammama Shareef on head (something the extremists
have abandoned in exchange of pink kind of cloth on head which is a
Bidah)
Hadith #1
Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba:
'Aisha used to say: "When (the Verse): "They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms," was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces."
►Volume 6, Book 60, Number 282: (Sahih Bukhari)
The
wording for veil in the ayah of Surah Al-Nur is “Bi-Khumorihina” (and
according to lexicographers it denotes to covering the bosoms from top
in a way that face is covered too) the wording used in hadith is also
similar i.e.”ikhtamarna bi ha”, those who oppose Niqab consider the
above translation of Muhsin-Khan to be wrong, they claim that Khimar
means veil or head scarf and covering the face is a separate issue,
However Khimar in arabic also includes covering the face, although
Muhsin Khan is indeed known for his forgeries to English translation of
Sahih Bukhari but over here he is not wrong.
Still if someone is
aggressive in disagreeing then Quran has explained it in another
fashion too i.e. Jalabeeb which is mentioned in Surah al-Ahzaab
يَا
أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ
الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى
أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ
Quran states: O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed.(Al-Quran 33:59)
In
this case too it refers to covering the face along with rest of the
body, as a matter of fact the ruling attached in relevance to this ayah
is more strict than just covering the face (i.e. Ulama explained through
ahadith that It refers to even showing 1 eye to see.. Allahu Akbar,
Note: This is not to insult women in any way but to strengthen the
viewpoint of covering face)
Explanation of Eminent Mufasireen
1. “Imam Ibn Jarir at-Tabri (Rahimuhullah) and Imam al Hafidh Ibn Kathir (Rahimuhullah) mention under 33:59”
حدثنـي
علـيّ، قال: ثنا أبو صالـح، قال: ثنـي معاوية، عن علـيّ، عن ابن عبـاس،
قوله: { يا أيُّها النَّبِـيُّ قُلْ لأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَناتِكَ وَنِساءِ
الـمُؤْمِنِـينَ يُدْنِـينَ عَلَـيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلابِـيبِهِنَّ } أمر الله
نساء الـمؤمنـين إذا خرجن من بـيوتهنّ فـي حاجة أن يغطين وجوههنّ من فوق
رؤوسهنّ بـالـجلابـيب، ويبدين عيناً واحدة
Translation:
Ibn Abbas(RA) narrated regarding (Allah’s) order [O Prophet! Tell thy
wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their
cloaks close round them…] that Allah
commanded the believing women, when they went out of their houses for
some need, to cover their faces from above their heads with the Jilbab,
leaving only one eye showing
2. Imam Ibn Kathir (rahimuhullah) also adds after narrating the above:
وقال
محمد بن سيرين: سألت عبيدة السلماني عن قول الله عز وجل: { يُدْنِينَ
عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّ } فغطى وجهه ورأسه، وأبرز عينه اليسرى
Translation: Muhammad bin Sirin said: "I asked `Ubaydah As-Salmani about the Ayah:(to draw their Jalabib over their bodies.) He covered his face and head, with just his left eye showing.''[Tafsir al Quran al Azim]
Note: Ibn Abbas (RA) holds the highest rank amongst Sahaba in exegesis of Quran
3. “Imam Qurtubi (Rahimuhullah) under 33:59”
فقال ابن عباس وعَبيدة السَّلْمانيّ: ذلك أن تلوِيه المرأة حتى لا يظهر منها إلا عين واحدة تُبصر بها
Ibn Abbas (RA) and Ubaida as Salmaani(RA) said: It (Jilbab) should fully cover the body of woman and nothing should appear but one eye with which she can see."
4. ”Imam Jalal ud din Suyuti (Rahimuhullah) under 33:59”
يَا
أَيّهَا النَّبِيّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِك وَبَنَاتك وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبهنَّ" جَمْع جِلْبَاب وَهِيَ
الْمُلَاءَة الَّتِي تَشْتَمِل بِهَا الْمَرْأَة أَيْ يُرْخِينَ بَعْضهَا
عَلَى الْوُجُوه إذَا خَرَجْنَ لِحَاجَتِهِنَّ إلَّا عَيْنًا وَاحِدَة
"ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى" أَقْرَب إلَى "أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ" بِأَنَّهُنَّ حَرَائِر
"فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ" بِالتَّعَرُّضِ لَهُنَّ بِخِلَافِ الْإِمَاء فَلَا
يُغَطِّينَ وُجُوههنَّ فَكَانَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ يَتَعَرَّضُونَ لَهُنَّ
"وَكَانَ اللَّه غَفُورًا" لِمَا سَلَفَ مِنْهُنَّ مِنْ تَرْك السِّتْر
"رَحِيمًا" بِهِنَّ إذْ سَتَرَهُنَّ
Translation: O
Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and the women of the believers
to draw their cloaks closely over themselves (jalābīb is the plural of
jilbāb, which is a wrap that covers a
woman totally) - in other words, let them pull part of it [also] over
their faces, leaving one eye [visible], when they need to leave [the
house] for something. That makes it likelier that they will be
known, to be free women, and not be molested, by being approached. In
contrast, slavegirls did not use to cover their faces and so the
disbelievers used to pester them. And God is Forgiving, of any occasion
in the past when they may have neglected to cover themselves, Merciful,
to them in His veiling them.[Tafsir al Jalalyn]
5. ”Allama Syed Mahmood Al-Aloosi (Rahimuhullah) under 33:59”
وقال ابن عباس. وقتادة: تلوى الجلباب فوق الجبين وتشده ثم تعطفه على الألف وإن ظهرت عيناها لكن تستر الصدر ومعظم الوجه
Imam al-Alusi (rah) tells the procedure from Ibn Abbas (RA) and Qatada(rah): The
cloak should be worn from top (in a way that it covers) the forehead
then face should be covered by cloak from one side below the eyes so
that most of the face and upper bossom is covered, thus both the eyes
will remain uncovered [Al-Alusi in Ruh al Ma’ani]
Thus Jamhoor of the leading Mufasireen have proven that Veil includes covering of Face.
Now let us turn towards Ahadith which prove Niqaab to be Wajib!
Hadith No. 1
It
was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: “The riders used to pass by us when
we were with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) in ihraam. When they came near,
each of us would lower her jilbaab from her head over her face, and when
they passed by we would uncover (our faces).” [Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1833; Ahmad, 24067]
This
hadith has decisive proof that Niqab is Wajib, because the blessed
wives of Prophet (salallaho alaihi wasalam) kept extreme care of
covering themselves and did not reveal their faces infront of strangers,
however when women are with their husbands and those with whom their
Nikah is impermissible (being single that is) they can take off the face
veil.
Hadith No.2
Volume 1, Book 8, Number 368: (Sahih Bukhari)
Narrated 'Aisha:
Allah's Apostle used to offer the Fajr prayer and some believing women covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with him and then they would return to their homes UNRECOGNIZED.
Even a child would know that If a woman returns home unrecognized (by being amongst men) then she must have covered her face!
Hadith No.3
Book 14, Number 2482: (Sunnan Abi Dawud)
Narrated Thabit ibn Qays:
A
woman called Umm Khallad came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) while
she was veiled. She was searching for her son who had been killed (in
the battle) Some of the Companions of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him)
said to her: You have come here asking for
your son while veiling your face? She said: If I am afflicted with the
loss of my son, I shall not suffer the loss of my modesty. The Apostle
of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: You will get the reward of two
martyrs for your son. She asked: Why is that so, Apostle of Allah? He replied: Because the people of the Book have killed him.
The
Blessed women companions of Prophet (salallaho alaihi wasalam) did not
even consider taking off their face veils in most painful situations
(i.e. even at death of their children)
Hadith No.4
Aisha
(RA) mentioned the women of Ansar, praised them and said good words
about them. She then said: "When Surat an-Nur came down, they took the curtains, tore them and and made veils from them." [Sunann Abi Dawud Hadith No. 3577]
Imam Ibn Hajr al Asqalani (Rahimuhullah) in his Fath al Bari says that making veils here refers to covering the face!
There are
many more ahadith on this, however now let’s turn towards ahadith which
Pro-Hijab use as their biggest proofs for Niqab to be merely recommended
but not Wajib
Hadith No.1
Narrated
Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: Asma, daughter of AbuBakr, entered upon the
Apostle of Allah wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah turned his
attention from her. He said: O Asma', when
a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she
displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her
face and hands. (Narrated by Abu Dawood # 4092).
They
assert from this hadith that Prophet (salallaho alaihi wasalam) has
himself ordered to reveal the face and hands’ therefore wearing Niqab is
not Wajib.
Imam Abu Dawud (rahimuhullah) after mentioning this hadith said:
قال أبو داود هذا مرسل خالد بن دريك لم يدرك عائشة رضي الله عنها
Translation:
Abu Dawud said: This is Mursal (i.e. Tabi'i narrating directly from the
Prophet - Peace be upon him due to missing link from sahabi inbetween),
Khalid bin Dareek did not see Aisha (ra) [Sunnan Abu Dawud # 4104]
However
the hadith is justified by Pro-Hijab Ulama and they should be given
benefit of the doubt in authenticating the hadith itself because
Maraseel are accepted by many great scholars as valid proofs, an example
of Mursal hadith to be Hassan/Sahih is the hadith of prayer of woman
being different from that of man (It is also corroborated from other
ahadith), that is a separate issue but we just gave an example so that
It is clear that Maraseel are accepted by eminent scholars, But in this
case (and with Capital B) that will be of no use either because same
Asma Bint Abi Bakr (RA) is proven to have followed the opinion of
covering the face.
Proof for it is this:
Book 20, Number 20.5.16: (Muwatta Imam Malik)
Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that Fatima bint al-Mundhir said, "We used to veil our faces when we were in ihram in the company of Asma bint Abi Bakr as-Siddiq."
Therefore
no doubt is left behind, Had Asma Bint Abi Bakr (RA) known otherwise
she would have disapproved the above action and that too during Ihram
when women are given most relaxation in covering themselves.
Hadith No.2
Volume 8, Book 74, Number 247: (Sahih Bukhari)
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas:
Al-Fadl
bin 'Abbas rode behind the Prophet as his companion rider on the back
portion of his she camel on the Day of Nahr (slaughtering of sacrifice,
10th Dhul-Hijja) and Al-Fadl was a handsome man. The Prophet stopped to
give the people verdicts. In the meantime, a
beautiful woman From the tribe of Khath'am came, asking the verdict of
Allah's Apostle. Al-Fadl started looking at her as her beauty attracted
him. The Prophet looked behind while Al-Fadl was looking at her;
so the Prophet held out his hand backwards and caught the chin of
Al-Fadl and turned his face (to the owner sides in order that he should
not gaze at her. She said, "O Allah's Apostle! The obligation of
Performing Hajj enjoined by Allah on His worshipers, has become due
(compulsory) on my father who is an old man and who cannot sit firmly on
the riding animal. Will it be sufficient that I perform Hajj on his
behalf?" He said, "Yes."
From this hadith those who are Pro-Hijab
(only) say that had Niqab been enforced by Prophet (salallaho alaihi
wasalam) then he would have ordered this woman to cover her face first,
but even after Al-Fadl(RA) started to stare at her beauty, the Prophet
(saw) only punished Al-Fadl rather than asking the woman to cover her
face
This is all speculation because:
A)The hadith says nowhere that her face was uncovered
B) Beauty of women is at times known to others, this does not mean she hangs out without Niqaab
C)
Even if this hadith proves that she was not wearing Niqab then It is
abrogated with other overwhelming ahadith as shown above.
The sayings of (recent) classical scholars also constitutes Ijma
Hadrat Karam Shah al-Azhari (Rahimuhullah) in his great Tafsir Zia Ul Quran writes under 33:59
Jalabeeb
is a plural, Its singular is Jilbab, Jilbab is that lengthy (big) sheet
(chadar) which covers whole of the body, al-Zamakhshari [revered highly
as Lexicographer and Logician only] explains “Yudneen (i.e. to draw
upon) as: To put their sheets upon themselves in a way that their Faces and shoulders are hidden, From this Qawl of Allama Zamakhshari it is known that even
in Lughwi sense “Yudneena Aalayhinn” means to put sheets upon in a way
that whole body is covered and not even face and shoulders are left
exposed. Allama Abu Hayyan (rahimuhullah) wrote that at his palce
Andulus, the Muslim women used to cover themselves in such a fashion
that their whole faces became covered and only space for 1 eye was left
(i.e. to see) [Hadrat Karam Shah al-Azhari, Tafsir Zia Ul Quran Volume
4, Page No. 95]
Allama Shabir Ahmed Usmani in Tafsir e Usmani writes under 33:59
It means together with covering the body
they should also draw some part of the sheet (chadar) over the face
below the head. It is given in the traditions that at the revelation of
this verse the Muslim women hiding their bodies and faces went out in
such a way that only the eyes were left open to see. From this it
is proved that in the time of Fitnah even a free woman should hide her
face.[English Translation of Tafsir e Usmani by Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed,
Volume 3, Page No. 1860]
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