Chastity of Veil
Since 2012-11-29
The greatest manifestation of chastity for a Muslim sister is the veil. It contains all the terms of modesty and shyness, and all the meanings of virtue and purity. Is Chastity anything than veil!
In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All the praise and thanks be to Allah. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness and we seek refuge in Allah from the evils inside us, and from the evils we commit. Those whom Allah guides are not misled by others, and those who are misled by Allah have no other to guide them. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
The greatest manifestation of chastity for a Muslim sister is the veil. It contains all the terms of modesty and shyness, and all the meanings of virtue and purity. Is Chastity anything than veil!
It is neither a habit dictated by life circumstances nor a heritage that distinguishes communities. It is rather an act of worship by which one draws closer to Allah and for His sake. It is neither shaken by the storms of trends nor moved by the clash of civilizations, as it is a part of the religion. It keeps the chastity, guards the virtue and protects the honor of Muslims.
As veil is an obligatory worship for Muslim women, it does not accept changing or alteration, as it has been confirmed by the words of Allah {O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Surat Al-Ahzâb 33:59]
{يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً} الأحزاب: 59
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha alnnabiyyu qul liazwajika wabanatika wanisai almumineena yudneena AAalayhinna min jalabeebihinna thalika adna an yuAArafna fala yuthaynawakana Allahu ghafooran raheeman
What is confirmed by the words of Allah cannot be altered, as the words of Allah are not altered. {None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.} [Surat Al-An’âm 6:115]
{لاّ َمُبَدِّلِ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ} الأنعام: 115
Transliteration: la mubaddila likalimatihi wahuwa alssameeAAu alAAaleemu
The Chastity of Veil
When we recognize that veil is a symbol for chastity and purity, we have to recognize also that turning away from veil is a turning away from chastity and an indication for the occurring of calamities! The integration of chastity is with the integration of veil!
Ponder, my Muslim sister on the saying of Allah Glorified and Exalted, {O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Surat Al-Ahzâb 33:59]
{يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً} الأحزاب: 59
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha alnnabiyyu qul liazwajika wabanatika wanisai almumineena yudneena AAalayhinna min jalabeebihinna thalika adna an yuAArafna fala yuthayna wakana Allahu ghafooran raheeman
The verse has a clear indication that chastity is known by veil. A chaste and shy Muslim woman is known by her perfect veil and perfect cover as legalized and ordered by Allah!
This verse is a stipulation for covering the face, as the one who covers her face will not be a coveted object to uncover the rest of her body and her private parts. Uncovering the face is, then, an exposure to be abused by the foolish. Such explanation is evidence for the obligation of the veil for the female believers for all their bodies and adornment by cloaks to be known by chastity and to be veiled and covered away from the doubtful and the people of obscene language and not to seduce or to be seduced and thus not to be abused.
It is known that if a woman is fully covered, this in whose heart is disease cannot approach her and the deceiving eyes will refrain from her. On the contrary, the woman who displays her charms and unveils her face becomes a coveted object.
You should know that covering by a cloak, which is the covering of chaste women, needs the cloak to be on the head, not on the shoulders.
The cloak must not be an adornment in itself or that any adornment be added to it, such as dapples and embroidery. It must not catch attraction, otherwise it will be contradictory to the aim of the legislator to cover body and adornment away from the eyes of the marriageable persons. (Guarding the Virtue by the Scholar, Bakr Abu Zeid, pp 55-56)
The desired chastity from veil cannot be achieved by a Muslim sister unless she knows well the comprehensive concept, significance, meaning and aim of the veil!
Even if a Muslim brings down the cloak over herself as ordered by Allah, but does not abide in her house and be saved from going out in clamor to streets and markets, she becomes then, in such case, away from chastity as she exposes herself and her veil to seduction be her unnecessary going out!
Therefore, chastity of veil is more comprehensive than just wearing a gown. It is the boundary between virtue and what can smear it whether toileting, going out, speaking, evil companion or other things that defame chastity.
A chaste sister does not leave her house but for a needed demand to keep her chastity and to protect her honor. Some women “get out while they are perfumed with a strong smell perfume that seduces all those in whose heart is disease, who may become dissolute and chaste and flirt with her. She gets out from her house and walks in markets in a vigorous matter like the strongest men and their likes as if she wants people to know her strength and activity. She might walk also with a friend of hers joking and laughing loudly. She may also push her in a visible way. She stands before the shopkeeper to buy from him while she uncovers her arms or maybe her hands as well. She may joke with him and he may joke and laugh with her. That is in addition to the other actions done by women and cause seduction, the great danger and the abnormal behavior that is away from the instructions of Islam and the way of the nation of Islam.
Allah Glorified and Exalted says to the wives of His Messenger, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, who are the example and who are the most chaste and noble and of the most exalted status, {And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance.} [Surat Al-Ahzâb 33:33]
{وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَى} الأحزاب: 33
Transliteration: Waqarna fee buyootikunna wala tabarrajna tabarruja aljahiliyyati aloola
(Tips and Instructions for Houses, p. 31)
Therefore, houses are among the obligatory veils for women. As gowns block marriageable eyes from looking to women, houses also block them. The veil of houses is not to be altered to another veil but for an urgent need!
Abdullah Ibn Mas’ûd, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “A woman’s body should not be exposed, if she gets out [from her house] Satan looks at her. She is nearest to Allah in the depth of her house.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«المرأة عورة، وإنها إذا خرجت من بيتها استشرفها الشيطان، و إنها لا تكون أقرب إلى الله منها في قعر بيتها» صححه الألباني
Sheikh of Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “A Women must be protected and kept, not like a man. That is why she is distinguished with veil and with leaving apparent adornment and displaying herself. She has to cover herself behind cloths and houses, not like a man, as her appearance is a reason for seduction, and men are the protectors and maintainers of women.” (Majmû’ Al-Fatâwa (the Collection of Religious Fatwas) by Sheikh of Islam Ibn Taymiyyah 15/697)
Men who look at women
Are like lions roaming around meat
If the lions of such meat do not protect it
They will be eaten without compensation or prices
Woman’s abiding at her home protects her from the poison of the evil eyes, from the seduction of being with men at the same place and from the sick breaths. It enables her from investing her time and performing her family responsibilities. She is the girl of the house and its joy. She is the wife and the responsible mother for her children, as the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has told us, “A woman is a guardian in the house of her husband and is responsible for her charge.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
«المرأة راعية في بيت زوجها ومسؤولة عن رعيتها» رواه البخاري ومسلم
In the case of the getting out of the Muslim sister [from her house] for an urgent need, she is then obliged to wear the veil that covers her and announces her chastity and purity to the lookers. It will not be that unless it fulfills its conditions and characteristics indicated in the Book of Allah and in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. They are:
1 - Covering the whole body of the woman as Allah Almighty has said, {O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Surat Al-Ahzâb 33:59]
{يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً} الأحزاب: 59
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha alnnabiyyu qul liazwajika wabanatika wanisai almumineena yudneena AAalayhinna min jalabeebihinna thalika adna an yuAArafna fala yuthayna wakana Allahu ghafooran raheeman
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, “May Allah bestow His Mercy on the early emigrant women, when Allah revealed {and to draw their veils all over Juyûbihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)} [Surat An-Nûr 24:31]
they tore their Murût (a woolen dress, or a waist-binding cloth or an apron, etc.) and covered their heads and faces with those torn Murût’.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
«يرحم الله نساء المهاجرات الأول لما أنزل الله {وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ}النور: 31 شققن مروطهن فاختمرن» رواه البخاري
Al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “As the custom of the Arab women was to be indecent and they used to uncover their faces as the slave girls do, which was a reason for men to look at them and think heavily about them, Allah has ordered His Messenger, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, to order these women to let their gowns loose over them if they wanted to get out for their needs.”
He, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “The right opinion is that (i.e. a gown) it is the cloth that covers the whole body.” (The Collective of the Rulings in the Quran, 14/643-644)
2 - The veil must not be an adornment in itself: as its aim is to cover adornment and to repress seduction. Therefore, if a veil shows or it is an adornment in itself, its aim is not fulfilled. Allah Almighty has said, {and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.),} [Surat An-Nûr 24:31]
{لَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا} النور: 31
Transliteration: wala yubdeena zeenatahunna illa ma thahara minha
Logically, it is impossible to hide the outer part of the gown, so it is not an adornment as long as it does not contain an eye-catching adornment such as embroidery, pictures, writing and the alike that is known to be an exciting adornment.
3 - To be loose: that does not reveal or describe a woman’s body. It is so wide to hide her size. Usâma Ibn Zaid said: The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has dressed me with a heavy “qibtiyya” that was presented by Dahyah Al-Kalby. I dressed it to my wife, so the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said to me, “Why do not you wear the “qibtiyya?” I said: O Messenger of Allah I dressed it to my wife. The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said to me, “Order her to wear a mantilla under it. I fear it may describe her bones.” [Said to be good by Al-Albani]
«مالك لم تلبس القبطية؟ قلت: يا رسول الله كسوتها امرأتي، فقال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: مرها فلتجعل تحتها غلالة فإنّي أخاف أن تصف حجم عظامها» حسنه الألباني
4 - It is to be non-transparent. Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Two are the types of the denizens of hell whom I did not see: and he has mentioned of them: and the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, who would be inclined (to evil) and make their husbands incline towards it. Their heads would be like the humps of the bukht (a kind of camels) inclined to one side. They will not enter paradise and they would not smell its odor whereas its odor would be smelt from such and such distance.” [Reported by Muslim]
«صنفان من أهل النار لم أراهما، قوم معهم سياط كأذناب البقر يضربون بها النّاس، ونساء كاسيات عاريات مائلات مميلات رؤوسهن كأسنمة البخت المائلة، لايدخلن الجنة ولا يجدن ريحها وإنّ ريحها ليوجد من مسيرة كذا وكذا» رواه مسلم
Ibn Abd Albar, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has meant those who wear light cloths that describe and does not cover. They are dressed in name, naked in reality.”
5 - It is not to be perfumed. Abu Mûsa Al-Ash’ari, may Allah be pleased with him, said, the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “If a woman puts on perfume and passes by some people to find her fragrance is an adulterous.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi, said to be good by Al-Albani]
«أيّما امرأة استعطرت فمرت على قوم ليجدوا ريحها فهي زانية» حسنه الألباني
6 - It is not to be like men’s wear: as the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “This is not from us the women who imitate [in their attitudes, manners, clothes…] men and the men who imitate women.” [Reported by Ahmed, Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«ليس منّا من تشبه بالرجال من النساء ولا من تشبه بالنساء من الرجال» رواه أحمد وصححه الألباني
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has cursed a man wears a woman dress and a woman wears a man’s dress.” [Reported by Abu Dawoud, Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الرجل يلبس لبسة المرأة والمرأة تلبس لبسة الرجل» رواه أبو داود وصححه الألباني
7 - It is not to be like the dress of the infidel women: for the general meaning of the saying of the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, “Whoever imitates some people [in their attitudes, manners, clothes…] he is one of them.” [Reported by Abu Dawud, Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم» رواه أبو داود وصححه الألباني
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said also, “The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, saw on me two dresses of safflower color. He told me, they are the dresses of infidels, so do not wear them.” [Reported by Muslim]
«رأى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عليّ ثوبين معصفرين فقال: إنّ هذه من ثياب الكفار فلا تلبسها» رواه مسلم
8 - It is not to be like a dress of gaining fame: as the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “If anyone wears a garment for gaining fame in this worldly life, Allah will clothe him in a garment of humiliation on the Day of Resurrection, then He will set it on fire.’’ [Reported by Abu Dâwûd, Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«من لبس ثوب شهرة في الدنيا ألبسه الله ثوب مذلة يوم القيامة، ثم ألهب فيه نارًا» رواه أبوداود وحسنه الألباني
How to Scratch the Chastity of the Veil?
A lot of matters threaten the perfection and chastity of veil and change the features of its purity and beauty. Such matters make many veiled women become lenient towards the veil; they even add some developments to it. These changes threaten chastity and expose shyness and virtue to afflictions.
The most important of these matters are:
1 - Weakness of Faith
Believing in Allah Almighty creates in the heart the fear of Him in all cases. Limbs cannot dare breaching His orders or doing what He forbids. The fruit of such belief is what makes a chaste Muslim woman fixed in her veil as she is ordered by Allah Almighty. Even if she lives with her veil as a stranger among the unveiled, she fears Allah alone and asks reward from Him only. She realizes that her veil - though it is a treasury for her in the Hereafter - is the secret of her chastity, the fort of her virtue and the crown of her honor and dignity.
So, she does not care for what surrounds her and is not interested in all the types of unveiling currents as she knows that her veiling is one of her devotions for which she has been created {And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).} [Surat Adh-Dhâriyât 51:56]
{وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ} الذاريات: 56
Transliteration: Wama khalaqtu aljinna waalinsa illa liyaAAbudooni
2 - The wave of fashion
One of the factors of destroying chastity in the dress of a Muslim sister is what the markets are afflicted with; it is propagated to by evildoers; it has spoiled the tastes. This is what is called “fashion”. This is a concern that imposes itself on women and attracts them to its embrace to the point that they become busy with it in all times regardless to money, effort and chastity.
Such overwhelming wave does not know time or space boundaries. It is not ashamed by any customs and nor is it prevented by any origin. It is like a burning fire in its grave streaming; burns whatever lies in its way as long as it is burnable.
That is why it has not excluded any dress from its dictionary! Even the veil is subjected to the same law. Gowns have become at the mercy of foreign tastes. They are tailored according to sizes that are neither accepted by the religion nor praised by customs.
Those of weak belief yearn for the new, even if in veils. They ignore that there is nothing new in veils. The new displaying of charms is what is termed as the (contemporary veil). Though it breaches the legal veil in total, it does not reach the degree of blatant nudity. It is, however, called displaying of charms and an expression of a transition period for what is eviler. The enemies of chastity make it a compromise by which a Muslim woman follows the developments of fashion and is, at the same time, away from clear displaying of charms. It is, in fact, a sleazy persuasion which has been machinated by fashion houses and the emperors of calling for unveiling and decline. They want to eradicate the legal veil and get hold over the Muslims girls; the jewels of the community, so that it will be easy to get hold over the whole Muslims as the habit goes in many Muslim countries.” (Nothing New in Veil, p. 25)
Be aware my Muslim sister from such cunning persuasion. The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has warned from following the ways of infidels. The wave of fashion is not but one of their ways.
Abu Sa’îd Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “You will follow the wrong ways, of your predecessors so completely and literally that if they should go into the hole of a dab lizard, you too will go there.” We said, “O Messenger of Allah! Do you mean the Jews and the Christians?” He replied, “Whom else?” [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
«لتتبعن سنن من كان قبلكم حذو القذّة بالقذّة حتى لو دخلوا جحر ضبّ لدخلتموه. قالوا: يا رسول الله، اليهود والنصارى؟ قال: فمن!» رواه البخاري ومسلم
In addition, any girl who seeks following the fashion cloths that are alien to religion and customs must follow the imitated infidels in their behaviors and morals, which will necessarily affect her shyness and chastity.
Sheikh of Islam Ibn Taimiyyah, said, “Participating in the apparent manner bequeaths harmony and analogy among the similar that lead to the agreement in morals and deeds. This is a significant thing.” (Iqtedâ’ As-Sirât Al-Mustaqîm, Mukhâlafat As’hâb Aj-Jahîm [Taking the right path is through contradicting hell dwellers], p. 11)
3 - Callers at the gate of Hellfire
They are the killers of virtue and the continuing crushers of chastity. They exploit their pens and efforts to defame veil and to liberate women –as they claim. They call in their suspicious magazines and poor channels for women’s freedom, as if they live in enslavement! They illustrate them in their gowns as if they are committing an objectionable deed and falsehood!
They are not changed. They repeat slogans that have been declared many times by the West. The crusader Anna Milligan said, “There is no way to destroy Islam shorter than the going out of women unveiled and displaying her charms.” (Whispers in the Ears of a Girl, p 22)
Gladstone, who is a crusader, as well, said, “The East will not be straightened unless the veil is lifted from the face of women and the Quran is covered by it.” (Whispers in the Ears of a Girl, p 22)
Such calls which are repeated by the infidels and people of inclination and lustrous desires, if they do not affect the believing women, they, sometimes, create a kind of self-defeatism for those of weak faith, especially if that meets with self-weakness due to evildoings and sins and coincides with its headstrong to desire and escaping from chastity!
Therefore, the keenness of a girl in protecting her chastity and veil requires her to be firm before afflictions, to increase obedience, worshipping and piety. It needs her to be aware of the plots of the spiteful West and their followers who are saturated by their poor culture that calls for promiscuity and immorality while they cover their calls by personal freedom, equality and other terms.
Remember that if such callers are reformers for women’s conditions, their calls would have been successful first in the West. The western women would not have reached such level of moral decay and sexual declination; that they have become like commodities that are rented and bought.
There are continuous cries of some of the just persons in the West itself that they testify to the chastity of veil and the purity of Islam. (Whispers in the Ears of a Girl, Abdel-Ghani Fath-Allah, p 27)
Abu al-Hasan ibn Mohammed al-Faqih
Dar Ibn Khuzaymah for publication and distribution
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