An unusual topic for me to discuss, but one Muslims generally overlook. Although not the strictest of rulings, there are hadith that stress keeping an adequate hair style. You can argue there’s far more important things to worry about but purity is in all aspects of your life. The main underlying factor is that adopting any hairstyle that entails shaving some part of the head and leaving the other unshaved is impermissible or at the least disliked and explicitly prohibited by the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace).
There is an Islamic principle where the scholars have stated: Everything is Halal (Permissible) unless proven otherwise.
So let’s look at some ahadith:-
Nafi’ reports that he heard Sayyiduna Abd Allah ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) say: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) forbidding the practice of Qaz’a.” Ubaid Allah said: “I inquired, what is Qaz’a?” So he said: “When the head of a child is shaved and hair is left here and there, and Ubaid Allah pointed towards his forelock and the sides of his head.” Sahih al-Bukhari, No. 5576
AND
Abd Allah ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that: “The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) saw a child, part of whose head was shaved and the other unshaven. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) forbade them (the Companions) from doing this and said: “Either shave it completely or leave it completely.”Sunan Abu Dawud, No. 4192
A Keyword here is Qaz’a. A prominent scholar, Imam al-Nawawi has commented on this:
Qaz’a means to shave some part of the head and leave the other. Others have said, to shave different parts from the head, although the first opinion is correct … The scholars have unanimously agreed that it is disliked to shave parts of the head except if it is for a medical reason, and this is somewhat disliked (karaha tanzihiyya)… The scholars have said: The wisdom behind it being disliked is because it is distorting the fair nature on which one is created. Others said that this is the appearance of Shaytan, and it was said that, this is the fashion of the Jews.”Sharh Muslim li al-Nawawi
The great Hanafi jurist Allama Ibn Abidin states:
“The practice of Qaz’a is disliked (makruh), and that is to shave part of the head and leave the other to the amount of three fingers”Radd al-Muhtar ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar, 6/407
So due to the above narrations and statements of the Fuqaha, scholars mention that it is disliked to shave some part of the head and leave the other unshaved. This, according to Imam Nawawi, is somewhat disliked (makruh tanziha) however, if the aspect of imitating the Kuffar is taken into consideration, then it will be unlawful.
Therefore, adopting hair styles that entail shaving part of the head and leaving the rest, such as the mohican hair cut, flattops, fades, wedge, crue cut, etc will be somewhat disliked or even impermissible if practiced due to imitating dis-believers.
The second factor of imitating the Kuffar is effected in one of two ways.
a) One imitates the non-believers (Kuffar) or a particular non-believer (kafir) with the intention of imitation, meaning one does so because one wants to be like the Kuffar or a Kafir,
b) The practice has a direct connection with their religion or is unique with them.
Think of a particular gang or cult that have a certain identity, through a certain hairstyle. If you cut your hair accordingly then the act is haram as you are associating false/negative with Islam.
However, if one does not intend to imitate the Kuffar and the style is not unique with them, then it will not be totally unlawful, although disliked.
If one was to really look at the various hair cuts prevalent today, it would be evident that the styles normally appear and come into the market due to some celebrity, icon, pop star, actor, sports player adopting that hair style. Not to say all are Kafir, but how many of us overlook the fact that they may be.
In conclusion, contemporary scholars hold two kinds of positions in this issue. Some are stricter in that they prohibit such hair cuts given the aspect of imitating the Kuffar, which is (imitating) without doubt unlawful in Shariah. Others are lenient in the matter given that these hair cuts have become widespread and are not unique characteristics of the Kuffar, although hair cuts that entail shaving some part of the head and leaving the other unshaved will be disliked, for that is clearly mentioned in the Hadith.
Examples of Permitted hairstyles?: Note that every strand does not need to be exactly equal, but your hair shouldn’t be styled like that of the models above.
the examples used are for illustration purposes only.
BEFORE YOU GO: Please check out some of my other posts.I have some intriguing topics that i’d like to discuss, if you would like to be notified just pop your email in to the form on the right hand column.
New rules sign up with email below, then watch the video whilst I process the request, you will have to confirm the subscription in your emails. Once you confirm you can leave your username either in the comments or the form below.
How bad do you want 500 free instagram followers? Here’s a list of people who follow you back on Instagram. Just click each link and follow. It’s better if you do it via pc (alot faster); you can log in to your IG, then just click follow & move on to the next..(or open lots of links as tabs). There’s over 500 instagram links below, great for the newbies!
Occasionally, people might not follow back or unfollow you after a while. So check out some ‘unfollowers’ websites or download an unfollowers app to keep on top of it all. Give people a chance though, do it at the end of the week. Unfollow the people that aren’t following you (unless, of course you don’t mind).
Fill in the form below to get your name on the list or leave a comment. I’ll add newest links to top, that way everyone has a fair chance of receiving at least some followers. Then you need to share using facebook or twitter. Make sure you fill in the form completely with the full url otherwise dead links so http://instagram.com/yourusername
Instagram Add Form
If you notice dead links or deactivated accounts please notify me, leave a comment!
Finally Guys, stick around a bit and check out some of my other posts.
*Ever wondered why you look so different in pictures than you do in the mirror? Guess what you’re actually a whole lot different to people who see you. Find out more here: What you really look like
*Palmistry is popular, everyone wants to know what their hand says. But is there any truth to it? Check out my post on Palmistry
BEFORE YOU GO: Please check out some of my other posts.I have some intriguing topics that i’d like to discuss, if you would like to be notified just pop your email in to the form on the right hand column.
New rules sign up with email below, then watch the video whilst I process the request, you will have to confirm the subscription in your emails. Once you confirm you can leave your username either in the comments or the form below.
How bad do you want 500 free instagram followers? Here’s a list of people who follow you back on Instagram. Just click each link and follow. It’s better if you do it via pc (alot faster); you can log in to your IG, then just click follow & move on to the next..(or open lots of links as tabs). There’s over 500 instagram links below, great for the newbies!
Occasionally, people might not follow back or unfollow you after a while. So check out some ‘unfollowers’ websites or download an unfollowers app to keep on top of it all. Give people a chance though, do it at the end of the week. Unfollow the people that aren’t following you (unless, of course you don’t mind).
Fill in the form below to get your name on the list or leave a comment. I’ll add newest links to top, that way everyone has a fair chance of receiving at least some followers. Then you need to share using facebook or twitter. Make sure you fill in the form completely with the full url otherwise dead links so http://instagram.com/yourusername
Instagram Add Form
If you notice dead links or deactivated accounts please notify me, leave a comment!
Finally Guys, stick around a bit and check out some of my other posts.
*Ever wondered why you look so different in pictures than you do in the mirror? Guess what you’re actually a whole lot different to people who see you. Find out more here: What you really look like
*Palmistry is popular, everyone wants to know what their hand says. But is there any truth to it? Check out my post on Palmistry
BEFORE YOU GO: Please check out some of my other posts.I have some intriguing topics that i’d like to discuss, if you would like to be notified just pop your email in to the form on the right hand column.
Asian weddings can be a lengthy process due to their vast customs and traditions. I’ve been to over five weddings this Autumn to observe what they exactly entail and why. It’s interesting that the majority of Pakistanis continue to follow this cultural trend of marriage, regardless of how ‘British’ they may be.
In this post I’ll explore the typical Pakistani Muslim wedding from beginning to end. Alongside aiming to explore whether these practices conflict with Islam; is there a boundary?
Initial Meeting/s
Most arranged marriages and even those of choice (i.e lovers) begin with the boys family approaching the prospective girl. The family will boast their son’s
caring nature, his wage & how they feel the girl is suitable. The fella will usually sit like a quiet shy boy to impress the in-laws and shortly the girl will walk in to serve tea- and both will take a peek on the sly . Some parents are happy for them to speak in private but otherwise, once the parents are convinced- the boy and girl are set to be hitched!
The girls family will usually be hesitant in accepting right away, to show that they aren’t giving her up so easily- so there may be more than one meeting.
Proposal
The parents will propose on behalf of their son; they’ll present sweets and gifts for the girl- maybe to butter her up a bit? If the proposal is accepted, the girl’s parents will give their word, that they truly accept (otherwise known as zabaan). This is to ensure there’s no backing out later; it was common for people to make promises and then break them at a better bargain.
Engagement Party
The families will hold an engagement party, which is a formal ceremony to mark the coming together of the two people, in the presence of close family members. The Groom’s family will approach the Bride and ask for her hand in marriage- rings are now commonly exchanged between the couple. Prayers and blessings will be read and cake will be cut. From this point the wedding day is priority for everyone, dates are pencilled in diaries and everyone prepares!
Best man/Bridesmaid – The family will choose the Best man/Bridesmaid, they tend to be really good family friends and people who’ll assist the bride/groom effectively. The Family normally take sweets along as this a formal tradition.
Nikkah
The first major ceremony that will take place is the Nikkah- this is the signing of a marriage contract between the couple. This should be done in front of two witnesses at minimum but usually the family and close relatives will attend. The groom will also provide a Dowry, this is financial security for the girl; normally ranging from £200 to £5000. It is a small and straight forward function but after the Imam has left, there are various customs carried out:
Munh Dikhai – ‘Munh Dikhai’ is the ceremony of ‘Unveiling the Face’. Once the Nikkah has been performed, the Bride is veiled and made to sit next to the Groom for the first time. The Groom will unveil her (and hopefully fall in love :s). After moments of delight, the Bride and Groom will feed each other mitai (Asian Sweets), and family and friends will congratulate the couple.
Choor – The Grooms family will hand over a Choor (a Scarf) packed with gifts and healthy sweets for the Bride and her family. The Brides family will open up the Choor, empty the gifts then add some of their own gifts & sweets.
Rang – The Bride’s family will also throw paint on the Grooms side to confirm that a wedding will take place. The colour will dye the clothes and when the people return to their homes, it’ll be proof that what just happened, happened.
The Bride and Groom are happily married now but this is only the beginning, there is a huge party to organise!
Dholki
Traditionally many days or weeks before the wedding day, women would gather in the Groom’s house to sing and dance while accompanied by the percussion instrument, the Dholki. Usually it is hosted by different households, each showing their happiness of the marriage. The idea was to build hype before the actual wedding day so everyone was invited.
The Bride’s family did not usually participate or hold such events as extreme happiness in ‘giving away’ their daughter may have given the wrong impression. You can argue that the family should be happy and optimistic but it is difficult for any father to let go of his princess.
Mehndi
About two or three days prior to the wedding day, the Henna Ceremony will take place- where guests apply henna on the Bride. Traditionally the Mehndi function begun with a few friends coming over to the Brides home to apply Mendhi, this developed in to a function for the guy too where oil (tael) was applied to his head. But with the ceremony now held simultaneously for both the Bride and the Groom, the use of the term ‘taeli’ has diminished greatly and referred to as the ‘Mehndi’ ceremony.
This has become one of the main functions now so many people are invited. Its common for the Bride and Groom to look casual on this day though. Close relatives will wear matching sherwanis to go with the theme, which normally revolves around yellows and greens. There is usually a dance-off between the boys and girls but most of the evening is spent with guests applying mendhi and oil to the Bride and Groom. As part of the tradition, the Bride was not required to work in her marital home till the mehndi faded away. Once the Mendhi function comes to an end, female guests are offered mehndi cones & something sweet, normally a bag of sugar (lol).
Scarves – The Bride and Groom will usually walk in separately surrounded by their family, who will carry a scarf over the Bride/Groom. The only purpose is to create an entrance for them as it would be awkward if they walk in all alone.
Doli – Some families will carry the Bride in using the traditional Dholi, this was to treat her like a Princess.
Candles – The family is also led by the girls carrying tea-light candle plates, this is based on the Hindu tradition of avoiding bad luck and sending oms to the Gods. In the Pakistani tradition, no such thing happens but as part of the general theme it looks decorous. Some of the girls will also dance using dandiya (decorated sticks).
Bands – The best friends of either side will also put a band on the brides/grooms wrist. The idea of marriage is about tying the knot, so the best friends are like, im with you all the way whilst this knot is being tied.
Scarves – During the Mendhi guests will also shroud the mother (and grandma) with a scarf. A scarf symbolises modesty which is an eloquent trait, so to show happiness, guests will use a scarf. It would be equivalent to handing over a bouquet of flowers.
Gharoli
The Night before the Baraat, the family will hold a Gharoli event where the Groom is prepared as a Mahraj (Bride Groom). The mother will begin by tying a turban around his head and shrouding him in a sparkly scarf. The sisters will then take him for a walk whilst taking turns to wave flowers (chatiyah) on his head and carry a water pot (khara) on their heads. The remainder of the family normally sing songs or drummers will be called to keep the momentum going.
The turban symbolises importance and leadership i.e indication that he’s the main man, and the scarf symbolises modesty (which was an elegant trait). Flowers are symbolic for happiness and joy so its why the sisters dangle flowers on their brothers head. Traditionally, the sister also prepared water for her brother, she would go to the well and fill up a pot (Khara) with water, this was a joyous act as she had the honour to prepare water for her brothers morning bath. This developed in to a trend and became symbolic, so now, most women will take turns to carry a Karah on their heads. On the following morning, the groom will take a bath using this water and drink any left over.
Once the Groom steps back in to the house, out of happiness, he normally gifts his sister with money.
The second part of this night involves the relatives presenting gifts to the Groom. The gifts will include clothes, jewellery and cologne. Its common for the extended family to also present gold rings for the Groom and his mother.
Bari – Normally on this night the mother will also showcase the Bari, this is a set of gifts for the Bride which include clothes, jewellery, homeware and toiletries. The idea behind this is to make the Bride feel welcomed and in place as soon as she arrives.
Daaj – This is a set of presents from the Brides family, it is usually homeware gifts for the couple for when buy their own place. From a mothers point of view, she wants to ensure the daughter is fully equipped with household goods for her new home.
Baraat
This is also another one of the major functions. The Baraat is the family, relatives and friends of the groom who make a procession (Janj) towards the brides home; essentially it is ‘the Groom taking his clan with him to pick up his Mrs’. Drummers will be present and fireworks will be set to create a hype. Traditionally, during some part of the procession a member of the Grooms family will stop the whole Baraat (Rokhana), direct them to their home and serve a light snack.
Once the Baraat reaches the venue the Grooms family will set a display of fireworks and accompanied by the rhythm of the dhol, dance away. The groom does not usually take part in the dancing.
On the other side of the fence, the Brides family will accept the Baraatis as guests so given a warm welcome; flower garlands and rose petals will be thrown upon the Janj as they walk in.
Dhood Pilai – At the entrance of the venue the Brides sisters will stop the Groom from entering until a sufficient amount of cash is given to them. The idea is, ‘you’re not taking our sister home so easily so pay up’, this can lead to bantering between the bride’s sisters and friends on one side and the groom’s brothers and friends on the other side. Once the Groom pays up, in return the sisters welcome him with a glass of Milk (Rasm-e-Dhood Pilai). Milk symbolises richness and purity- it was like champagne back in the days.
Once the Janj enter the venue, the Groom makes way to his Bride but before he can sit, he is stopped once again by the sisters who are requesting more money. After a continuance of bantering, the Groom pays them out and finally joins his bride.
Shaadi
Now that the Baraatis are here, the Brides Reception formally takes place. All her family and friends will be present wishing her well. The common theme on the Shaadi day is to wear very traditional clothes, so the Bride will wear a heavily embroidered dress in a rich red or a dark purple accompanied with gold jewellery, that the mother gifts her as part of the Daaj. The Groom will wear a sherwani with a turban, usually in a colour matching the Brides dress.
Shoe snatcher – As most couples didn’t know each other prior to the wedding, the sisters and friends will arrange games to break the ice. One example is stealing the Groom’s shoes and demanding sum of money for their return. The bantering and fun allows the couple to bond quicker.
Once the guests have been fed and the Bride has moral support from her extended family. The Bride will head back home so her family can see her off properly.
Churi – On the Grooms arrival to the Brides home, one of the sisters will bring along a plate of churi (buttered chappati) to feed the groom. The idea behind this is to signify that the Groom is always welcome and as the head-sister, she will happily cook for him- hence the feeding of the churi. Over the years, this has become a trend and also a game-like tradition. The sister will cover the plate of churi with another plate tightly, in return the Groom will attempt to move the plate out of the way. Once he succeeds, the sister feeds the Groom.
Rukhsati
As the evening comes to an end, the family prepare to send off the Bride, this becomes a very emotional scene as the daughter is moving from one family to another.
Rice – As the Bride walks towards the car with the Groom, the Bride will stop on her door step and throw rice over her head. Rice in Pakistan is a high source of nutrient so it symbolises wealth and efficiency. When the Bride throws the several grains behind her, she signifies that ‘she is leaving her mothers comfort and nurturing to enter in to a new family’.
Qu’ran – The Qur’an is also held over the Bride’s head as she walks from the Door to the car in order to bless and protect her- yet another oblivious tradition.
The Groom will then take her back to his parents home.
Welcome
As soon as the Bride arrives at the Groom’s house, the family will make her feel welcomed and cheer her up. The couple will start off by un-knotting each others bands that the friends put on them at the Mendhi.
Milk – One of the ice breakers the family will set up is where the couple have to fight for the hidden ring in a bowl of milk. I guess the idea is to get the couple accustomed to each others personal space.
Khara – Another game is where the women will also spin a khara (water pot) around the Grooms head several times and then drink from it. The groom will try to stop them from doing so.
Guthna Pakrai – This is where the youngest brother of the Groom sits on or holds the knee of the Bride. As he’s the baby brother, the Bride gives him a bit of pocket money. The idea makes sense as he’s her new baby brother too but it has become more of a trend- so the baby brother will demand money.
Suhaag Raat
Otherwise known as the golden night, this is where the couple engage in sexual intercourse for the first time. But, normally the couple will go to a hotel due to the thin walls at home. It’s been reported that some mothers will lay down white bedding to ensure intercourse has taken place and more importantly that she is a virgin! Yum.
Walima
The day everyone has been working towards, Its the Wedding Reception- the most extravagant event yet. It is also Sunnah to hold this event i.e publicly announce the marriage. There aren’t many traditions attached to the Walima, it will vary to suit the household, venue, timings, guest list, etc. The Groom normally opts for a formal Western suit or Tuxedo and the Bride will wear a dazzling dress with Jewellery provided by the Groom. Its common to see: several high end cars, a fully themed venue, four course meal, DJ, dance floor, bridesmaid, flower girls, bouquet for the bride, wedding cake and favour boxes.
Salami – As people go on to the stage, they will give salaam and congratulate the couple. Rather than going empty handed, most people dish out a tenner each for the Bride and Groom. But this has become a trend, it can become embarrassing to only give a certain amount or nothing at all.
Maklava
Traditionally, as marriages were arranged between people from different cities and villages, it often meant that the Bride was unfamiliar with her new family. To ease her into the new life and surroundings, she was brought back to her parents’ house on the Walima night to spend a few nights home.
Honeymoon
It has become common for couples to go on a honeymoon. A week away enjoying time with each other and ultimate privacy bonds the couple closer. On a side note- Morocco, Turkey and Egypt are extremely cheap to visit- ladies you’ll know what you’re worth.
Chauthi
The Brides parents host a dinner on the 4th day after the wedding for the immediate family members of the groom. Due to impracticalities, the first family dinner is held at other suitable times.
New couple
It is also customary for the friends and family of the couple to invite them over for dinner to formally accept them as a couple. Or with some families a huge after party is thrown.
Other customs
Based on the ethnic and geographical location of the families, weddings in Pakistan can vary. I have observed only 5 weddings. I may have missed some traditions out or not grasped the meaning of some fully. Please leave a comment below if you believe so. Here are some miscellaneous traditions:
Dastar Bandi – Elder men in the groom’s family place a turban on the Grooms head to formally include him in the ‘circle of men’.
Nehndra – Is a customary payment from guests towards the wedding, however it seems as though it’s code word for ‘here’s my cut for the food’.
Islamic Stance
The only requirement for Muslims to marry is signing a contractual document i.e the Nikkah ceremony- The Walima is a Sunnah and highly recommended act. You are also required to comply with the law of the land to ensure your marriage is accepted legally. This would mean the majority of the traditions listed above are not part of the Islamic tradition. Many people claim for this reason, these cultural additions should be avoided and marriage should be entirely Islamic to attain full blessings.
However, the Islamic stance on different cultures is that, they are to be embraced and respected so long as they don’t contradict Islamic teachings. Forced marriages have been prevalent in some areas in Pakistan, Islam completely condemns such marriages, so this culture among some families in Pakistan will be highly unislamic. The question now is whether the above traditions contradict Islam.
The general rule stands that if the act is haraam, then so will the tradition be i.e using a Bindi to ward off evil. Bollywood Music is prevalent at weddings, and as Muslims we know Music is haraam- but how much is music disliked over these traditions. I don’t want to give verdict on each tradition as I’m not a qualified scholar. For example ‘zabaan’- the purpose is to secure the ‘arrangement’. If families were to back out for trivial reasons it could raise feuds among families and major embarrassment so in Pakistani rural areas it was practical and reliable. But if the zabaan, becomes an extravagant tradition where money is spent unnecessarily, then its a waste.
Whereas an Engagement party- you can argue that it is unnecessary and wasteful. But I can see how a small get-to-together can become a party i.e family ties are important in Asian societies, so the parents will most likely invite their parent and siblings and the boy/girl themselves will want a few friends there for moral support. As this means, many people have gathered, the families will want to feed their guests so food will be made available. Already this becomes a small party but due to the circumstances not to be wasteful. I guess it depends on your intention. Those who do it to show off or are spend-thrifty are unfavoured by God. Even in the days of the Holy Prophet , marriage used to be preceded by a mutual understanding with the actual marriage taking place at a later stage.
To put things into perspective, at every western wedding there is cake. Many Asian people will also have cake at the wedding. This is a societal norm- Most of us will say its harmless and completes the occasion as cakes are eaten at times of joy. In the same way some of the traditions are harmless like the ‘Baree’ or ‘Dhood pilai’.
As long as you avoid the haraam acts listed in Islamic sources, avoid showing off, avoid high interest loans, avoid music and avoid being wasteful you’re good to go.
Feel free to comment below. If you enjoyed this post and want to see more posts on taboo subjects, follow my blog using email below. You’ll get more exclusive content too.
*Ever been in Love? Do you even know what it is- Check out this post on the definition of Love: What is Love
*Abortion is ever so popular and overlooked by many but what does Islam say about Abortion? Check out this Jurispudence based post Abortion in Islam
*Animals have rights too, check out rights of Animals in Islam: Animal rights in Islam
BEFORE YOU GO: Please check out some of my other posts.I have some intriguing topics that i’d like to discuss, if you would like to be notified just pop your email in to the form on the right hand column.
The Niqab in Islam is a gown that covers the whole body except the eyes, dull colours are normally worn. As oppose to the headscarf (commonly known as the Hijab) it is not considered compulsory and from those who do consider it compulsory, they are further divided by exactly what needs to be covered. Some say that the eyes may be left unconcealed, while others say that everything must be concealed. However, those scholars who rule that Niqab is not an obligation do not necessarily oppose those who choose to wear it.
Historically, the veiling of the face was practised by many cultures before Islam and continued throughout Europe and Asia. In the natural world, the type of clothes people wore depended mostly on their geographical location. Those from colder climates wore animal fur or wool to keep warm and those from hot climates usually wore light clothing mostly made from cotton or linen. Historically, most women, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Persian, Chinese and Inca wore a long dress-type of clothing and a shawl to cover the head and chest (Lambert, 2012). In the Near East, 5000 B.C.E. Assyrian Kings developed the veil as a way of denoting social status and instructed both the seclusion of women in the royal harem and the veil. The veil personified the dignity and superiority of noble women.
Most men travelled some distances for many days in pursuit of their livelihoods leaving their families behind and for many that brought about the socializing process of seclusion and segregation of their women, especially for those seen to be attractive. F. Mernissi came to a conclusion that sexual segregation in societies was a device not to protect women but to protect men. She affirmed that men were not as good in controlling their sexual impulses as compared to women.
According to Net Doctor.com (2015) men’s sexual drive is powerful in comparison to that of women and is approximately five times more concerned about sex. Primitive man was engaging in sexual activity up to 2 to 4 times a day, which was seen as normal because in the evening there was nothing else to do. Likewise, it is argued for the modern day man, even a whiff of perfume can set him off.
The most authentic ruling according to the majority of scholars is that there is no sin if it is not worn. Some of these scholars state that wearing the Niqab is an act of extra piety, for it they will be rewarded. But let’s look at what Islam has to say about the Niqab in detail; there is a divided opinion from scholars regarding the Niqab.
Evidence for the obligation of Niqab
There are only a few references to veiling in the hadith and most of these actually refer to the khimar, which is restricted linguistically to head covering. The covering of the face is only mentioned in three hadith and never by the command of the Prophet Muhammad. A common verse from the Quran cited:
“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.”Qur’an 33:59
Scholars, such as Imam Abul A’la Mawdudi from the Indian subcontinent, suggest that these verses refer to covering the entire body, including the face and hands. The order ‘cast their outer garments’ in Arabic is similar to phrase ‘draw together’. Scholars say that as a result of this verse, the women at the time of the Prophet drew together their garments over their entire body, including the face.
One hadith that is used as evidence for this is:
“The Messenger of God, may the peace and blessings of God be upon him, used to offer the Fajr prayer and some believing women covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with him and then they would return to their homes unrecognised.”Narrated ‘Aisha (wife of Prophet Muhammad), Bukhari
This hadith has been dated some time after verse 33:59 was revealed. Proponents of the Niqaab say that this hadith shows that the women during the time of the Prophet were not recognisable and hence they must have worn niqab. However, other scholars have argued that their faces were unrecognisable because it was dark, not because they were covered up. It is interesting to note that Aisha says ‘some women,’ and not all. Furthermore she refers to the early-morning prayer and not to any other. It would certainly make it more difficult to see who individuals were if they were dressed in cloaks before sunrise.
In addition, they have argued that the order ‘cast their outer garments over their persons’ has been misunderstood. They say that the word ‘face’ has not been indicated in the Arabic, and it would therefore be wrong to extend the meaning.
Other proponents of the Niqab use this Qur’anic verse for evidence for the niqab.
“…And when ye ask (the Prophet’s wives) for anything ye want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs.”Qur’an 33:53
The wives of the Prophet were indeed required to wear the niqab by this Qur’anic verse. Scholars say that if the wives of the Prophet, as the best of feminine examples, were required to wear niqab, then the ruling falls on all women.
However, earlier on in the same chapter, the Qur’an also very clearly states that the Prophet’s wives were not similar to other women.
“O Wives of the Prophet! You are not like any of the other women.”Qur’an 33:32
Most scholars are in agreement that the verse about the screen, or concealing of the face, is only obligatory on the wives of the Prophet. They say the verses are a clear indication that the wives of the Prophet are much more restricted in their movement due to their political position, and that their code of conduct does not constitute a code of conduct for women in general.
In the Hanafi school, the face, hands, and feet are not awrah. However, the recorded position since the earliest times is that it is necessary (wajib) to cover the face for other than old women, because of the fitna. It is still possible to implement this ruling in the modern Muslim world. Shaykh Wahbi Sulayman Ghawji has authored numerous works reinforcing the necessity (wujub) of niqab according to the vast majority of the jurists of Islam, and criticizing modernists and some others for saying it is not recommended.
Evidence against the obligation of Niqab
Most scholars, including the four main schools of Islamic jurisprudence, hold the view that Niqab is not an obligation. They cite a number of references for this opinion.
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof…”Qur’an 24:30-31
According to the majority of contemporary scholars ‘what is apparent of it’ refers to the hands and face. Another scholar, Shaykh Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Canada suggests that because God asks both men and women to lower their gaze, it suggests their faces are visible, otherwise there would be no sense in it.
Scholars holding this view also state that it is well accepted by all scholars that the Prophet categorically forbade people from covering their faces or hands during hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. If it was necessary that the hands and face be covered at all times, he would not have stated its impermissibility during one of the most sacred points of a person’s life. It is also generally held by the majority of scholars, including those that believe Niqab is obligatory, that covering the face during the five daily prayers is also prohibited.
Another strong indication that Niqab is not an obligation is presented in this hadith.
“Abdullah bin Abbas reports that the Prophet was riding a camel with Al-Fadhl, Abdullah’s brother, behind him. A beautiful woman came to ask the Prophet about the Hajj of her father. Al Fadhl began to stare at her; her beauty impressed him a lot. The Prophet (peace be upon him) having noticed this while Al Fadhl was busy looking, put his hand behind and turned his face away from her hither and thither as she went along with them. Al Abbas said to the Prophet, “you are twisting the neck of your nephew!” The Prophet replied, “I noticed that both the boy and the girl were young; and I feared that Satan may intervene”Tirmidhi and Bukhari
Scholars argue that the Prophet controlled the boy Al Fadhl’s gaze, but didn’t mention the fact that the woman was not covering her face. This hadith would seem to indicate strongly that Niqab was not obligatory in society at that time.
Scholars in the west
Obligation vs recommendation
Some contemporary scholars have gone further in their rulings about the niqab in the West. Although they may agree with its practice in Muslim countries, they say that it is harmful in the West and should therefore be avoided. Shaykh Darsh, a prominent UK scholar, did not believe that the niqab was necessary, or even recommended by the Prophet for women to wear. But if you were going to argue that niqab was a recommended act, he explained his opinion for wearing niqab in this country in the following way:
– Some people believe that niqab is recommended (sunnah)
– Everybody believes that inviting people to Islam (da’wah) is obligatory (fardh)
The niqab is often a very significant barrier to da’wah in the West where the concept of face covering has never been known. If a recommended act is a barrier to an obligatory act, one must not sacrifice the fardh for the sunnah
Shaykh Nuh Keller, a Jordanian Shafi’i scholar has put forward a similar argument for women in the West. He says that women should not wear niqab in the West because it can lead to harassment and act as a barrier to inviting people to Islam.
Essentially, there are two sets of verses in the Quran, of which Muslim conservatives base their understanding to legitimize a generalized model of veiling Muslim women.
“O Prophet. Tell Thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their ‘jilbab’ (cloak), over their persons (when abroad): That is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested…. Truly, those in whose hearts is a disease…. Desist not”Quran, 33:59-60
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof…”Qur’an 24:30-31
The Quran, on the other hand placed the relation between man and women on a basis of equality, exalting either over the other.
“God created you from a single life-cell and from it created its mate (for man a women and for woman a man) and from twain has spread abroad a multitude of men and women”Quran 4:1
“God has created you that one excels the other”Quran 4:34
The Quran liberated women from her long age bondage to man and further states,
“Men and women both have the potentiality to develop their personalities, men can exercise control and so can women. Both are to keep their sexual urge within desired limits and both are to understand the laws of Allah and focus their activities in life and both will enjoy protection and security.”>Quran 33:35
Also
“what man earns will be his and what woman earns will belong to her.”>Quran 4:32
The Quran throughout treats men and women as equals in all respects and asserts the fact that mankind can attain human stature only when it speaks about man and woman in terms of human beings and not with reference to sex distinction.
This is further supported by [the verse in which] God I informs the Prophet (pbuh) that, (No more women are permitted to you [in marriage], henceforth, nor may you change [current] wives for others, even if their beauty pleases you). How could he find their beauty pleasing if there were no possibility for him to see the face which, all agree, is the centre of beauty of a woman?
A woman came to the Messenger of God (pbuh) and said, “O Messenger of God, I have come to present myself to you [in marriage].” So the Mesenger of God (pbuh) raised his glance towards her and focussed it, and then lowered his head, so when she saw that he had not given a judgment on the matter, she sat down.
If the woman had covered her face, the Prophet (pbuh) could not have raised his glance nor focussed it on her at length. It has not been narrated that she only did this for the marriage proposal, and later covered her face; rather it is narrated that she simply sat down, and one of the Companions in the gathering saw her, and asked the noble Messenger to marry her to him.
It can be seen that there is no evidence of the Prophet Mohammed himself either promoting or discouraging the Niqab.
Bible
The Bible also declares in may verses that veiling was a custom among the Jews
“Rebecca says to her servant ‘what man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And she took her veil and covered herself,’”>Genesis, 24, 65
“Suzanna was veiled and the wretches made her unveil in order to feast their eyes on her beauty”>Danial, 13, 32
The rationale behind the veiling was based on avoiding unneeded attention, this is why they were worn at weddings, to preserve her beauty for the husband only.
In conclusion, the safest position for a Muslim is to allow a woman to choose whether she wishes to wear the Niqab. There is Islamic reference to the Niqab so you can not disregard it and claim it’s only cultural. However for those who don’t wish to wear one, they shouldn’t feel less pious. Those who do wear one, need to be aware and perfect in their manners.
New rules sign up with email below, then watch the video whilst I process the request, you will have to confirm the subscription in your emails. Once you confirm you can leave your username either in the comments or the form below.
How bad do you want 500 free instagram followers? Here’s a list of people who follow you back on Instagram. Just click each link and follow. It’s better if you do it via pc (alot faster); you can log in to your IG, then just click follow & move on to the next..(or open lots of links as tabs). There’s over 500 instagram links below, great for the newbies!
Occasionally, people might not follow back or unfollow you after a while. So check out some ‘unfollowers’ websites or download an unfollowers app to keep on top of it all. Give people a chance though, do it at the end of the week. Unfollow the people that aren’t following you (unless, of course you don’t mind).
Fill in the form below to get your name on the list or leave a comment. I’ll add newest links to top, that way everyone has a fair chance of receiving at least some followers. Then you need to share using facebook or twitter. Make sure you fill in the form completely with the full url otherwise dead links so http://instagram.com/yourusername
Instagram Add Form
If you notice dead links or deactivated accounts please notify me, leave a comment!
Finally Guys, stick around a bit and check out some of my other posts.
*Ever wondered why you look so different in pictures than you do in the mirror? Guess what you’re actually a whole lot different to people who see you. Find out more here: What you really look like
*Palmistry is popular, everyone wants to know what their hand says. But is there any truth to it? Check out my post on Palmistry
BEFORE YOU GO: Please check out some of my other posts.I have some intriguing topics that i’d like to discuss, if you would like to be notified just pop your email in to the form on the right hand column.
New rules sign up with email below, then watch the video whilst I process the request, you will have to confirm the subscription in your emails. Once you confirm you can leave your username either in the comments or the form below.
How bad do you want 500 free instagram followers? Here’s a list of people who follow you back on Instagram. Just click each link and follow. It’s better if you do it via pc (alot faster); you can log in to your IG, then just click follow & move on to the next..(or open lots of links as tabs). There’s over 500 instagram links below, great for the newbies!
Occasionally, people might not follow back or unfollow you after a while. So check out some ‘unfollowers’ websites or download an unfollowers app to keep on top of it all. Give people a chance though, do it at the end of the week. Unfollow the people that aren’t following you (unless, of course you don’t mind).
Fill in the form below to get your name on the list or leave a comment. I’ll add newest links to top, that way everyone has a fair chance of receiving at least some followers. Then you need to share using facebook or twitter. Make sure you fill in the form completely with the full url otherwise dead links so http://instagram.com/yourusername
Instagram Add Form
If you notice dead links or deactivated accounts please notify me, leave a comment!
Finally Guys, stick around a bit and check out some of my other posts.
*Ever wondered why you look so different in pictures than you do in the mirror? Guess what you’re actually a whole lot different to people who see you. Find out more here: What you really look like
*Palmistry is popular, everyone wants to know what their hand says. But is there any truth to it? Check out my post on Palmistry
BEFORE YOU GO: Please check out some of my other posts.I have some intriguing topics that i’d like to discuss, if you would like to be notified just pop your email in to the form on the right hand column.
New rules sign up with email below, then watch the video whilst I process the request, you will have to confirm the subscription in your emails. Once you confirm you can leave your username either in the comments or the form below.
How bad do you want 500 free instagram followers? Here’s a list of people who follow you back on Instagram. Just click each link and follow. It’s better if you do it via pc (alot faster); you can log in to your IG, then just click follow & move on to the next..(or open lots of links as tabs). There’s over 500 instagram links below, great for the newbies!
Occasionally, people might not follow back or unfollow you after a while. So check out some ‘unfollowers’ websites or download an unfollowers app to keep on top of it all. Give people a chance though, do it at the end of the week. Unfollow the people that aren’t following you (unless, of course you don’t mind).
Fill in the form below to get your name on the list or leave a comment. I’ll add newest links to top, that way everyone has a fair chance of receiving at least some followers. Then you need to share using facebook or twitter. Make sure you fill in the form completely with the full url otherwise dead links so http://instagram.com/yourusername
Instagram Add Form
If you notice dead links or deactivated accounts please notify me, leave a comment!
Finally Guys, stick around a bit and check out some of my other posts.
*Ever wondered why you look so different in pictures than you do in the mirror? Guess what you’re actually a whole lot different to people who see you. Find out more here: What you really look like
*Palmistry is popular, everyone wants to know what their hand says. But is there any truth to it? Check out my post on Palmistry
BEFORE YOU GO: Please check out some of my other posts.I have some intriguing topics that i’d like to discuss, if you would like to be notified just pop your email in to the form on the right hand column.
As the evening comes to an end, the family prepare to send off the Bride, this becomes a very emotional scene as the daughter is moving from one family to another.
