Fatwa ID: 08996
Answered by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Question:
Assalamu alaikum,
I have a question regarding hijab and modest dress. I understand that the headscarf is obligatory, and that there are different scholarly opinions regarding the niqab. I personally wear the niqab.
My question is about the clothing of the body: Is it required for a woman to wear an abaya specifically, or is it sufficient to wear any long, loose, modest clothing that does not reveal the shape of the body? For example, if I wear a long dress or loose clothing that fulfills the conditions of modesty, is that considered acceptable without wearing a traditional abaya?
I want to clarify that I do not dislike the abaya. I simply want to know if it is Islamically permissible to wear other modest clothing (while still wearing my hijab and niqab or mask) instead of always wearing an abaya.
Also, on some days, if I choose to cover my face with a mask instead of a niqab, does that still count as proper face covering?
I also have a separate question about my sister. She wears the niqab, but she was forced by our mother to start wearing it. She says that she wanted to do it before, but because she was pressured, her heart has now changed, and she no longer wants to wear it. Whenever we try to discuss this with our mother, she becomes upset and does not really understand what we are trying to explain. Since hijab is obligatory, we understand that it cannot be abandoned, but because scholars have different opinions about the niqab, is it acceptable for her to stop wearing it if she does not feel ready? Shouldn’t a person choose niqab sincerely from the heart rather than being forced into it? I would appreciate guidance and clarification on this matter.
Jazakum Allahu khayran.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
May Allah ﷻ continue to guide us to the straight path and make our worldly challenges easy and make us from those who are favoured.
Indeed, a muslim woman’s apparel is not restricted to only the Abaya. A women can be modest while being cultural aswell, the holy Prophet ﷺ told us
إِنَّ الدِّينَ يُسْرٌ، وَلَنْ يُشَادَّ الدِّينَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ غَلَبَهُ
“Religion is very easy, and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way.”
But there are a few necessary guidelines to help keep us in line with Sharia.
- Completely covering the body.[1]
- It should not be worn with obvious beautification to attract the opposite sex, since it defeats the purpose of modesty.[2]
- Clothing should not resemble the opposite sex.[3]
- Should not resemble the disbelievers’ apparel.[4]
- It should be spacious and not tight.[5]
Any clothing fulfilling these guidelines will be allowed.
As for wearing a mask instead of a niqab, it would be better to wear the niqab since the mask does not fully cover the face.
As for your sister being forced to wear the niqab, it would not be advisable to stop wearing it due to differences of opinion and change of heart. Allah ﷺ says in the glorious Quran:
وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ شَرٌّۭ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Perhaps you dislike something good for you and like something bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know.
It could be that the compulsion of the mother may be for reasons we have not yet experienced, since one of the greatest wins of the West has been over its women is objectifying them, and to acquire this, the West socially conditions the women in believing that freedom is exposure, and no one benefits from such evil plots other than men with evil intentions.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ الله غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
[2]
عن ابنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنهما- قال في حديثٍ شَريكٍ- يَرفَعُه، قال: ((مَن لَبِسَ ثَوبَ شُهرةٍ في الدنْيا ألبَسَه اللهُ ثوبَ مذلَّةٍ يومَ القيامةِ، ثمَّ أُلهبَ فيه نارًا ))
أخرجه أبو داود (4030 )،
[3]
عن أبي هُريرةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عنه: ((أنَّ النبيَّ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسَلَّم لعَنَ الرَّجُلَ يَلبَسُ لِبْسةَ المرأةِ، والمرأةَ تَلبَسُ لِبْسةَ الرَّجُلِ
أخرجه أبو داود (4098)
[4]
عن عبدِ اللهِ بنِ عَمرِو بنِ العاصِ رضي الله عنهما، قال: ((رأى رسولُ الله صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم عليَّ ثَوبَينِ مُعَصْفَرينِ ، فقال: إنَّ هذه مِن ثيابِ الكُفَّارِ، فلا تَلْبَسْها ))
أخرجه مُسْلِم (2077).
[5]
عن أمِّ سَلَمةَ، قالت: ((استيقظَ النبيُّ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم ذاتَ ليلةٍ، فقال: سُبحانَ اللهِ، ماذا أُنزِلَ اللَّيلةَ مِن الفِتَنِ، وماذا فُتِحَ مِن الخزائِنِ، أيقِظوا صواحِباتِ الحُجَر، فرُبَّ كاسيةٍ في الدُّنيا عاريةٌ في الآخرةِ ))
أخرَجَه البُخاريُّ (115).