Many Muslim Women Not Wearing Hijaab

8-9-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

If a woman does not dress Hijab a Muslimah should she be regarded as someone who perhaps isn't ready to take this step, or as a hypocrite? Please advise as many Muslimahs in my area fit this description. Also, what is the meaning of the Hadith which states that "a woman may wear Hijab, but still naked to the world"?

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

A Muslim woman is ordered to cover herself and wear Hijaab since it protects her and brings many benefits for her. Allah Says (what means): {O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 33:59]

Taking off Hijab in front of non-Mahram men is a sin; she should repent from it. However, there is no text that considers taking off Hijaab as hypocrisy. We do not know any Hadeeth stipulating that a woman while wearing Hijab, is still naked. But on the contrary, the verse emphasizes the fact that Hijaab is a mark of nobility, chastity, and modesty. So, generally no one causes harm to a Hijaab wearing woman. In fact, this is the good return in this world for obedience to the rulings of the Sharee’ah besides what she will get in the Hereafter.

For more benefit on the evidence for Hijaab and its conditions, please refer to Fataawa 81554, 83765, 83702, 81494, 354259 and 83033.

Allah knows best.

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