Women's Hijab In Accordance with The Qur'an and Sunnah (2/3)

2) Thickness

The garment should be thick and opaque so as not to display the skin color and form of the body beneath it. Delicate or transparent clothing does not constitute a proper covering. Al-Qurtubee reports a narration from 'Aaishah (radiallahu 'anhaa) that some women from Banu Tameem came to see her wearing transparent clothing. 'Aaishah said to them: If you are believing women, these are not the clothes of believing women. He also reports that a bride came to see her, wearing a sheer, transparent Khimaar whereupon 'Aaishah (radiallahu 'anhaa) said: A woman who wears such clothing does not believe in Soorat An-Noor. Moreover, the following hadeeth makes this point graphically clear. Rasool-Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “There will be in the last of my Ummah, scantily dressed women, the hair on the top of their heads like a camel's hump. Curse them, for verily they are cursed.”

In another version he (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “...scantily dressed women, who go astray and make others go astray; they will not enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance, although it can be smelled from afar.” [Reported by At-Tabaranee and Saheeh Muslim]

"Scantily dressed women" are those who wear clothing which reveals more than it conceals, thereby increasing her attractiveness while opening the path to a host of evils.

3)  Looseness

The clothing must hang loosely enough and not be so tight-fitting as to show the shape and size of the woman's body. This obviously includes such things as skin-tight body suits, etc. The following hadeeth proves this point clearly. Usaama ibn Zayd (radiallahu 'anhumaa) said: Rasool-Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) gave me a gift of thick Coptic cloth he had received as a gift from Dahiah Al-Kalbee, and so I gave it to my wife.

Thereafter the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) asked me: “Why didn't you wear the Coptic cloth?” I replied: I gave it to my wife. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) then said: “Tell her to wear a thick gown under it (the Coptic garment) for I fear that it may describe the size of her limbs.” [Narrated by Ahmad, AI-Bayhaqee, and Al-Haakim]

4)  Color, Appearance and Demeanor

Allah Ta'ala says: “O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women; if you fear (Allah), then do not he too pleasant of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should feel desire for you.” [Surah Al- Ahzaab: 32]

The reason for the revelation of this verse is not the fear of distrust nor misbehavior on the part of the women, but rather to prevent them from speaking invitingly, walking seductively, or dressing revealingly so as to arouse sexual desire in the heart of lecherous and evil men. Seductive dressing and enticing speech are the characteristics of ill-intentioned women, not Muslims. Al-Qurtubee mentions that Mujahid (radiallahu 'anhu) said: Women (before the advent of Islam) used to walk about among men. Qataada (radiallahu 'anhu) said: They used to walk in a sensuous and seductive manner.  Maqaatil (radiallahu 'anhu) said: The women used to wear an untied cloth on their heads, while provocatively toying with their necklaces, earrings and other ornamental jewelry.

Furthermore, Allah has commanded women not to display their beauty, meaning both natural and acquired beauty.

Allah commands the believing women thus: “...And do not make a display of yourselves (tabarruj) like the displaying of the ignorance of long ago...” [Surah Al-Ahzab: 33]

A garment which is intended to conceal a woman and her beauty from public view cannot be a thing which enhances her beauty. Therefore, the garment cannot contain bright colors, bold designs or shiny and reflective material that draws men's attention to the wearer. The word above, At-Tabarruj, means not only "to display oneself" but also "to spruce up one's charms for the purpose of exciting desire"!

Imaam Adh-Dhahabee says in his book Kitaab AI-Kabaa'ir (The Book of Major Sins): Amongst the deeds which a woman is cursed for are displaying the adornments she wears, wearing perfume when she goes out, and wearing colorful clothes... Hence, the Muslim woman is encouraged to wear muted, somber colors and to avoid bright designs, patterns and colors.

This point should serve also as a reminder to Muslim men who are in positions of responsibility for their women, that Rasool-Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) has warned in an authentic hadeeth narrated by 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn Al-'Aas that amongst the three individuals who would not enter Jannah (Paradise) would be: Ad-Dayooth, who is contented with obscenity within his family. i.e., a cuckold - a man who permits the women he is responsible for, such as his wife, daughter, etc. to engage in illicit sexual relations or to display their beauty to men, thereby stimulating sexual desire!