Saturday, December 29, 2012

NIQAB IS NECESSARY IN ISLAM




I already made a post on whether wearing the Niqab is necessary in Islam here.
But not all people are convinced of the necessity of the Niqab. The other day in Madrasa, my teacher was explaining the importance of the Niqab in the light of the Quran and Hadith. I think I wrote everything in my post about the Niqab being obligatory. But here are a few more proof that wearing the Niqab is actually very important and obligatory in Islam. 

People who argue that the Niqab isn't necessary in Islam usually bring forward two Hadith. The first one is:

1) Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: Asma, daughter of AbuBakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) 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).


As we all know, the Quran wasn't revealed overnight. It was revealed in stages. Which brings us to the time the verse from Surah Noor was revealed. 

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)
So, this proved that the Sahabi women covered their faces the moment that verse from Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 59 was revealed. Now tell me, wouldn't Asma (ral), the daughter of Abu Bakr (ral) a prominent Sahaba, have covered her face too? Of course she would have! They were the Sahaba women, and they followed Allah's orders the moment it was revealed!

So, isn't it obvious that the Hadith mentioned above would probably have taken place before the revelation of the verse in Surah Ahzab? Niqab wouldn't have been necessary before that verse was sent down, but it's obvious that the wives and daughters of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasallam clearly saw the Niqab as obligatory after that verse from Surah Al-Ahzab- which is why they covered their faces immediately after that verse was revealed!


The next Hadith now. 


2) The Prophet (saws) said: "A pilgrim woman must neither cover her face nor wear gloves." Related by Bukhari and Ahmad


People who argue that the Niqab isn't necessary bring forward this Hadith too saying that if women weren't required to cover their faces in Hajj they obviously wouldn't have had to cover their faces outside of Hajj as well.

Well, this Hadith doesn't show the Niqab isn't necessary. It shows that the Niqab IS necessary. Doesn't this Hadith actually imply that women outside of their Ihram actually covered their faces? Otherwise, Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) wouldn't have mentioned that women should uncover their faces in Hajj if they weren't required to cover it in the first place.

Furthermore, there is another Hadith that you'll be interested in:


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 us we would lower our jilbaabs from our heads over our faces, and when they had passed by we would uncover our faces. [Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1562]


You see sisters, this is the difference between us and the Sahabi women. When Allah ordered them to do something, they did it immediately. They recognized that verse in Surah Al-Ahzab. They understood that they were required to cover their faces. So they never hesitated in following it. 


And we? When the Sahabi women never wasted a minute after that verse was revealed to cover their faces, we spend years and years contemplating- even arguing- that the Niqab isn't necessary!



If the women at the time of Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) covered their faces, shouldn't we be doing it as well? After all, aren't they the women we should be following? 
It's up to us to decide whether we ought to wear the Niqab or not. I've done by best explaining it. Following it or not is up to you.

Wallahu 'Alam.
Jazakallah Khair!

Note: You can read our post about Is Wearing the Niqab Obligatory in Islam here  
http://niqablovers.blogspot.com/2012/07/is-wearing-niqab-fardh.html






23 comments:

  1. Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem
    Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmathullah wa barakatuhu

    Jazakhallah khair for the excellent and extremely well argued blog on the necessity of niqaab.
    I know from my real life discussions with sisters how hard it can be the put across simply and plainly why they should wear niqaab. Your blog does that far better than I have ever managed, and I hope you will continue to argue in the same way insha'Allah.
    May Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) support you in your work and may He protect and guide you and all who you love. Ameen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wa'alykum salaam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu Ukhty!

      Jazakallah khair! I do hope this entry has convinced at least one person on the necessity of the Niqab. It'll all be worth it then In Sha Allah!

      Jazakallah khair for your lovely Duas sis- it means SO much to me! May Allah reward you and accept your work too. (I love your blog, MashaAllah!)

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem
    Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmathullah wa barakatuhu

    I hope you do not mind - I have reposted your blog on mine, as I wanted my own readers to benefit from your words.
    http://aliyahhassani.blogspot.co.uk/

    Please let me know if this is wrong of me, and I will of course remove your blog. I hope you will allow it to remain there insha'Allah

    Incidentally your blog made me decide to post one of my own which I have been about to publish for some time. It's called
    "Eye Veils and Gloves? Or Fitnah?"
    I think the title will tell you what it is about insha'Allah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wa'alaykum salaam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu!
      It's no problem at all sis! It'll be great to have more people read it. Jazakallah Khair for putting it up :)
      Your blog post "Eye Veils and Gloves? Or Fitnah?" is great sis, MashaAllah. I do hope Allah gives me the Imaan and strength to wear the perfect Niqab with my eyes covered up as well. Do make Dua for me and other Niqabis Ukhty! :)

      Delete
    2. Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem
      Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmathullah wa barakatuhu

      Jazakhallah khair for your sweet words and I will make duaa for you :)
      I have (at last) tidied up my blog site as I have a mass of stuff to post - when I have written them insha'Allah

      Delete
    3. Wa'alykum salaam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu sis!
      Wa antum fa jazakamullah khair! Alla the best with your blog sis. May Allah keep rewarding you for everything you're doing :)

      Delete
  4. Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem
    Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmathullah wa barakatuhu

    Alhamdulillah your wish came true............. I got an email from a sister in Lebanon who I have known for some years. She wrote to tell me that, after reading your "Niqab is Necessary in Islam" blog that I reposted had made her decide that she ought to follow your lead and to wear niqab in pulbic in future. (I'll send you a copy of her mail separately).

    It is nice to know that your words have brought fruit. It encourages me to continue posting when we find that our humble work has been rewarded.

    Again jazakhallah khair for allowing me to repost your blog.

    Loving you for the sake of Allah (subhana wa ta'ala)
    Aliyah
    Aliyah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wa'alaykum salaam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu sis!

      Alhamdulillah!!! Jazakallah khair for everything!
      Love you for the sake of Allah too sis. May Allah keep you happy in this world and in the Aakhira!

      Delete
  5. A salam u aleikoum ua rahmatouLlah ua barakatuh. Sister, I hope you're good faith and health. Sorry about the broken English that I have. I'm from Spain, I'm 19. I'd like your advice on the niqab. I've been wanting to wear it for months and months, my family and society opposes where I live does not see well. People get scared of the niqab. Not many sisters with niqab and find support. Advise me, may Allah reward you with the best of rewards. I love your blog. May Allah bless U.
    Does your family support you? How old are you? I'm sorry for the questions :¢

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wa'alaykum salaam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu sis!
      Oh sis, I know it must be difficult for you, particularly if your family opposes it. As for my opinion (and the opinion of many Islamic scholars), the Niqab is necessary in Islam, so I think it has to be worn, despite what society say. Allah says in the Quran "And We have not created man and jinn except that they may worship Me". So anything else is secondary.
      I know of a sister who was persistent in wearing the Niqab and her mother was strongly against it. But this sister, MashaAllah, wore the Niqab anyway, and her mother who hated her Niqab, gradually came to respect it, and Subhanallah, her mother became a Niqabi too. If you do something for the sake of Allah sis, He will make it easy for you :)
      I think it's best that you pray Salatul Istikara and Allah will inspire you with the best answer In Sha Allah. I pray that for you intention, may Allah make you a Niqabi and make it easy for you, make your family accept your decision and may Allah keep you strong in Imaan :)
      Alhamdulillah, my family supports my Niqab sister. They are my greatest support :)

      Delete
  6. Assalam alaikum. I am a follower on your blog. I converted to Islam just over a year ago and have been wearing Niqab ever since. Please follow my blog. I just made it recently. It's about my new life, being married to a very religious Pakistani man, and wearing niqab :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GoriNiqabiWife.blogspot.com

      Delete
    2. Wa'alaykum salaam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu sis!
      You have a lovely blog sis, MashaAllah! Following you now :)

      Delete
    3. Jazakallah Khair. Your blog is wonderful. I love how passionate you are about the niqab. I appreciate you posting these hadith's and "proof" for me and other girls. I have so many women giving me difficulty about my niqab, especially non-muslims which is very sad and unfortunate. Many of them don't believe it's fard and want to approach me and start a debate or tell me what I'm doing is not necessary. I've had many bad experiences from wearing my niqab. I'll be posting them on my blog for sure.

      Thank you for this post so much! May Allah reward you sister.

      Delete
    4. Wa athum fa jazakamullah khair!
      It's sad that the Niqab has become a matter of controversy and an Ustaadh from my Madrasa used to say that when we should be clear about wearing the Niqab, people go on arguing about it's necessity... I do hope Allah enlightens everyone about the Niqab :)
      I really enjoy reading your blog posts sis! Cant wait to read more! Keep up what you're doing. May Allah reward you for it :)

      Delete
  7. Thank you sister for taking the time to post this. Alhamdulilah. When feeling lonely, strange and alone, it helps to have others reminding you what this is all about. Anyone considering the niqab should prepare for questions, remarks, stares. But alhamdulilah, it comes with the territory and what a wonderful way to give dawah for us Muslimahs. Sadly in my experience where I reside, I receive less support and receive more scorn from other Muslim sisters. May Allah unite us. But despite this, and all the other challenges, I love my niqab and the feeling of being close to Allah no matter where I am. It has really made me more conscious of His presence. Allahu Akbar.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You guys are sheep! NO niqab is not fard! It can not be just by the simple fact that the face is not awara in marriage, in medical situations, in haj, in prayer and hence its not awra in general. If Allah swt commanded both men and women to lower their gaze it does not make sense that the niqab was mandatory. If the face was covered no need to lower your GAZE. You women have been duped by some Saudi dollar scholars its a shame you don't research things your self especially when it comes to matters of harram and hallal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Assalamu aliakum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu.
      A woman is permitted to uncover her face for a prospective groom in relation to a marriage proposal. She is also allowed to show her face for medical situations and during Hajj. Other than these situations and a few others where she can remove her veil to give evidence, etc, it's best for a woman to cover her face.
      As for the command of lowering the gaze, there are plenty of women out there who do not cover their face. And in front of such women, men are commanded to lower their gaze. Whether or not this is in relation to the Niqab, we cannot tell but it's an Adab to lower the gaze for men, even in the presence of Niqabis.
      And sis, we have not been duped by anyone for writing this. But when you show things in the light of the Quran and Hadith, we have to expect some lashing out. We have done our research well and what has been written here is a compilation of what some learned scholars of Islam have explained.

      Delete
  10. assalamualaikum warrahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
    my name Lili Hamid frm indonesia
    alhamdulillah I found the blog niqob, I just joined here .... I just wore niqob few months and just learning to be istiqomah ... I hope to get information about appropriate female quran and sunnah (Shari'ah) here ... knowledge is very important for the world and the hereafter & I hope you do not mind - I have reposted your blog , as I wanted my own readers to benefit from your words. jazakallah khair

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wa'alaykum salaam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu Ukhty! Welcome to our blog :)
      MashaAllah, may Allah reward you for starting to wear the Niqab. Definitely not sis, it's a great help that you reposted. Jazakallah khair :)

      Delete
  11. Proofs that Muslim women can show their faces, hands, feet and even hair!
    http://islamhaters.skyrock.com/3109058137-Woman-s-Awrah.html
    Salam (Peace).

    ReplyDelete