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

I AM FREE MUSLIM NIQABI

I know that a LOT of people out there immediately associate a modest women in her Hijab or Niqab as limited, oppressed, subjugated and uneducated. Well, people who think that way ought to know that they are the ones who are limited, oppressed, subjugated and uneducated so much to the extent that they fail to realize that we Muslims women wear what we want and they have absolutely no right to question what we are doing out of love. 

For those who live under the wrong impression that the Niqab limits my freedom, take my word on what freedom really is. 

I don't have to enlighten anyone on the time and effort women make to beautify themselves. How many hours do women spend in front of the mirror, applying make-up, choosing the best dress, the best shoes, the best hair-do, the best hairpins, etc, etc, etc? But for whom do they do all this? Are they so insecure with the way they look, that they have to spend hours in front of the mirror beautifying themselves so they look appealing in the eyes of others? 

Well, I certainly don't. I'm perfectly secure with the way I am and when I go out with my Niqab, I don't have to spend hours before the mirror beautifying myself for people to see. 

No.

I dress for myself. I'm free to dress the way I want. I am free to cover up. I am free to walk outside, knowing fully well that I don't have to impress people to make myself feel secure. 

In other words, I am free. So much more free than all those Niqab haters can ever perceive. To them my Niqab might appear to oppress me, but they'll never understand how liberating it is for me and all those countless Niqabis out there.

You know why? Because I don't dress for people or the world. I don't have to follow the latest fashion trends to be beautiful. I don't have to apply make-up to make myself beautiful. I don't have to spend hours before the mirror before going out just so I look presentable to the world. 

I wear what I want, for myself and for pleasing Allah. Because only in doing so do am I free. I feel free. I know deep inside of me that I am free.

A SUNNAH THAT INSPIRED A MAN AND WOMAN TO ACCEPT ISLAM

It's amazing how Allah gives guidance and shows the light of Islam to non-Muslims. I've heard a lot of stories about simple acts of Sunnah and kindness that have inspired people to embrace Islam. Subhanallah, guidance is really from Allah and it's up to us to act in a way that inspires and attracts others to the beauty of Islam. 

So here is one of those stories I heard in Madrasa. You can read my other post about "A simple Sunnah that inspired a woman to accept Islam" here. 

A husband and wife somewhere in America noticed a group of Muslims eating on the road together from one large plate. Taking it to be unusual behavior, the man and woman approached this group of men who were eating and inquired as to why they were eating this way. (That is, sitting on the floor, eating with the hands and eating from the same plate). The group of Muslims simply said that to eat out of the same plate was a Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) and that eating this way helped to create mutual love and unity among them. 

That was all they said, and the couple went home. But this incident just kept coming back to them and both of them decided to eat from one plate as those people had done and see how true it was. Amazingly, after following this Sunnah for a few days, they gradually noticed that they grew in mutual love and affection as those Muslims had mentioned. Amazed by the truth and wisdom behind this simple Sunnah, the couple decided to investigate and research more about Islam, ultimately proclaiming the Kalimah and becoming Muslims. Allahu Akbar!

Isn't is amazing how a simple act of Sunnah can inspire people towards Islam? Dawah needn't necessarily be spread through the mouth; rather, the best kind of Dawah is the guidance you give through your actions. 

Our victory lies in the Sunnah and upholding it will be the cause of our salvation and the cause of guidance in other people too In Sha Allah. Dear Muslims, we are the flagbearers of Islam, and we should be an example to people everywhere. Let your speech, your actions, your attitudes and your behavior invite people to Islam. Be a standing inspiration and guidance to all. May Allah help give us the opportunity of being the cause of another person's guidance!