AL-KHIMAR & AL-JILBAB |
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Author Unknown
Many people confuse between three issues regarding the Muslim woman's dress. These three different issues are:
1- Concealing the parts of the body that the Islamic Law has determined i.e. "Al Awrah."
2- What to wear in public.
3- The dazzling display i.e. "Al Tabarruj".
The Judgement of "Al Awrah"
The Awrah that the Divine Law of Islam has clearly determined for the woman consists of the whole body except for her face and her hands. The neck is Awrah, the arms are Awrah and so are the legs, as well as the hair, even one single hair, ears and the profile are considered to be Awrah as well. Therefore, the Muslim woman should cover all her body except for her face and hands from strange men Muslims or not, for Allah (SWT) says: "They should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof." [Al-Nur-31]
What must ordinarly appear is the face and the hands for this used to be the case with Muslim women whether during prayer or Hajj or in front of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) who kept silent about this matter which proves that he did not object. Another evidence comes from the Messenger of Allah (SAW) saying to Asma'a "O Asma'a, when a woman reaches puberty, no part of her body should be revealed except for this and this." (pointing to the face and hands).
The Judgement on the Awrah necessitates that the colour of the skin should be totally concealed, be it black or white or red or brown. If the clothing is transparent and it shows the colour of the skin, it cannot be valid as a cover for the Awrah, and the Awrah is considered, therefore, to be revealed and not covered, for the Sharia'a has commanded the concealing of the skin by concealing its colour. And the evidence on this issue is derived from what Aysha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: Asma'a daughter of Abu Bakr entered the house of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) to visit her sister Aysha and she was wearing a transparent garment so the Prophet (SAW) turned his head and said :"O Asma'a! If a woman reaches puberty it is not right for her to reveal any part of her body except this and this. (pointing to the hands and face)."
So the transparence of the clothes was considered by the Prophet (SAW) to be revealing and invalid as cover for the Awrah. Another evidence comes from what Usama-Ibnu-Zaid narrated when the Prophet (SAW) asked him about what he did with the Kobtya (a thin dress), Usama said that he gave it to his wife to wear. Upon this the Prophet (SAW) said: tell her to wear some lining underneath the Kobtya, for I fear that her curves may otherwise still be seen." This saying clearly demonstrates the Prophet's concern about thin clothes which do not properly cover the woman's curves.
The Judgement of What the Woman Should Wear
Islam has commanded the Muslim woman to dress as follows when outside her house:
1- Al-Khimar, (the veil or the head cover), this is what the scholars call the upper garment.
2- The Jilbab, (the wide dress), and this is what the scholars call the lower garment.
As far as the upper garment is concerned, Islam has commanded the Muslim woman to wear a "Khimar" (a veil or a head cover) if she is to go out. The Khimar should cover the whole head and the whole neck and the collar bone, and it should be suitable for going out shopping or likewise. The Muslim woman should also observe other recommendations and interdictions before stepping out, like asking the husband or parent for permission, not imitating in her dress men or unbelievers, not to apply make up before other than immediate family (Mahram), not to display her beauty before strangers, to cover the Awrah, and not to put on perfume outdoors. If the woman does not abide by these rules, she will be considered sinful for violating the Sharia'a.
As for the Jilbab or the lower garment, Islam has commanded the Muslim woman to wear over her dress a Jilbab or a cape or something similar that would cover the whole of her body down to the ankles. If she has not got a Jilbab, she can always borrow it from a neighbour or relative, otherwise it would not be right for her to go out without such a dress that covers her body and is suitable for outdoors. The Jilbab should not be transparent nor decorated nor dazzling nor perfumed nor similar to a man's or unbeliever's dress. If she does not stick to these rules she will be considered sinful for not abiding by the Sharia'a.
If the Muslim woman when she goes out, does not wear these two garments and does not take into consideration all the other rules like asking permission from the husband or a parent, not imitating men or unbelievers in her dress, not applying make-up around other than immediate family (Mahram), not to display her beauty, to always cover the Awrah and not to put on perfume outdoors, it would not be right for her to go out under any circumstances, for the obligation of wearing these two items should be observed outside at all times unless the woman is under duress and her life is in danger, or if she is obliged to preserve her life, for example if her house is on fire or if she is attacked by a man she can flee outside even half naked to preserve her honour. Preserving life or honour is compulsory in Sharia'a. In any other situation, the Muslim woman has no valid excuse but to abide by what the Sharia'a has prescribed. Evidence on this issue comes from the Holy Qur'an; Allah (SWT) says: "That they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear therof; they should draw their veil over their bosoms." [Al-Nur - 31]
Allah (SWT) said on the lower garment: "O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons."
It has been narrated on the authority of Umm Atiya that she said: The Messenger of Allah ordered us all women whether single or menstruating or housewives, to go out in the days of Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, the menstruating women should not perform prayer but can join in the festivities. I said: O Messenger of Allah! What if one of us does not have a Jilbab? He said: She can borrow a Jilbab from her sister.
These events are clear evidence about what the Muslim woman should wear in public. Allah (SWT) has described in the two verses the dress that He commanded the Muslim woman to wear in public. The description of the dress is detailed, very clear and comprehensive. On the upper garment, He (SWT) says: "That they should draw their veils over their bosoms". It means they are to draw the Khimar around the neck and bosom to hide any part that may appear from around the bosom, collar bone or neck.
As for the lower garment, Allah (SWT) says: That they should cast their outer garments over their persons. This means the women should draw a Jilbab or a cape or something similar, which would cover the whole body right down to the ankles. About the general state of the Jilbab, Allah (SWT) says: "That they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof."
This means the Muslim women should not reveal any part of the body where beauty could be displayed like the ears and the arms and legs etc., except for what must ordinarily appear in public like the face and the hands. This was the case when these two verses descended i.e. during the life of the Prophet (SAW).
Supported by this detailed and clear evidence the dress a Muslim woman should wear in public should be easy to determine and define. What Umm Atiya narrated confirms and clarifies the obligation of wearing the Jilbab over the normal dress for any woman wanting to go out. When she asked the Messenger of Allah what to do in case a woman did not have a Jilbab and he replied that she should borrow one from her sister, this means she is not permitted to go out without it. The Jilbab should be wide and long, covering the whole body right down to the ankles.
It has been narrated on the authority of Ibni-Omar that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: He who trailed his garment out of pride, Allah would not look toward him on the Day of Reckoning. Upon this Umm Salma said: What should the women do with their dresses then? He said: They should lower about the length of a span (from the ankle). She said: In this case their legs will be revealed ! So he (SAW) said: They should lower an arm's length and no more.
This evidently demonstrates that the Jilbab that a Muslim woman should wear over her dress while outdoors should be lowered all the way down until it covers the legs. This means that it is important to lower the Jilbab until the legs are covered in a way that would clearly show that it is a dress designed for outdoors.
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