The hijab is a mandatory practice for all Muslim women who have reached puberty. It is a symbol of modesty, privacy, and ethics, reflecting the principles of Islamic faith.
The obligation of hijab is based on Quranic verses and prophetic hadiths that emphasize modesty and the importance of distinguishing Muslim women through their clothing. Despite the clear roots of hijab in Islamic teachings, many people seek additional proofs and explanations for its importance, as well as the conditions for a legitimate hijab as stipulated by religion.
Here are the conditions for a legitimate hijab with evidence:
7 Conditions for a Legitimate Hijab
For a legitimate hijab, there are 7 conditions that include the manner in which the hijab should be to not contradict the rules of the Islamic religion. Religious legislation does not mandate a specific shape or color for your hijab, but it does mandate conditions to ensure the validity of the hijab and its adherence to religious teachings.
It must cover the entire body
One of the most important conditions for a legitimate hijab is that it must cover the entire body of the woman, with the exception of the face and hands, according to many scholars, to protect the woman from stares and suspicions. Allah Almighty said: (O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they should be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful).
The hijab should not be adorned
The ultimate goal of hijab is covering, modesty, and chastity. If it is adorned, such as having bright colors or captivating accessories, it will lose its legitimate characteristics and the purpose for which it was ordained.
Allah Almighty said: (And not display their adornment except that which [ordinarily] appears thereof).
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It should not be perfumed or scented
Many prophetic hadiths forbid a Muslim woman from leaving her home perfumed; this is because her scent might attract men and bring her unwanted attention.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: (Any woman who applies perfume and passes by people so that they may smell her scent is a fornicator).
It must be loose
Tight clothing outlines a woman's body and reveals the features of her allure, which is inconsistent with the teachings of Islam, as it attracts men's attention and increases their desire for the woman. For this reason, Allah prescribed the hijab with the condition that a woman's clothing must be loose and not tight. Otherwise, it is considered a form of adornment and display, which is forbidden.
It must be opaque and not sheer
One of the most important conditions for a legitimate hijab is that a woman's clothes are not transparent and do not reveal any body details. Similarly, the hijab itself must be opaque and not sheer. Emma has a wonderful collection of hijabs that meet Islamic conditions. Explore our chiffon, satin, and modal collections on the website.
It must not resemble the clothing and appearance of disbelievers and non-Muslims
Numerous general texts from the Quran and the Sunnah stipulate the obligation not to follow people of other religions and disbelievers or to imitate them through their appearances, clothing, and celebrations.
This applies primarily to clothing and hijab. Allah Almighty said: (Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know).
It must not resemble men's clothing
One of the most important teachings of Islam is that women should never imitate men, and this includes their clothing and hijab. Therefore, one of the conditions for a legitimate hijab is that it should not resemble men's clothing. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: (The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, cursed the man who wears women's clothes and the woman who wears men's clothes).
It must not be a garment of fame
A garment of fame is an unusual expression, and in Islam it means that a woman wears something that attracts people's attention to her for the purpose of fame among them, especially men.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, had previously forbidden women and men from wearing garments of fame, saying: (Whoever wears a garment of fame, Allah will clothe him with a garment of humiliation on the Day of Resurrection).
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Evidence for the Obligation of Hijab on Muslim Women
The evidence for the obligation of hijab is countless in Islam, although it is not mentioned many times in the Quran. Here is some evidence for the obligation of hijab on Muslim women:
- Narrated by Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that Asma bint Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with both of them, entered upon the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, wearing thin clothes. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, turned away from her and said: "O Asma, when a woman reaches puberty, it is not proper for anything to be seen of her except this and this," and he pointed to his face and hands.
- Al-Bayhaqi narrated in "Al-Sunan Al-Kubra" from Asma bint Umays, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered upon Aisha bint Abu Bakr, and her sister Asma bint Abu Bakr was with her, wearing wide-sleeved Syrian clothes. When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, looked at her, he stood up and left. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, told her: Move aside; the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saw something he disliked. So she moved aside, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, asked him: Why did he stand up? He said: "Did you not see her appearance? It is not for a Muslim woman to reveal anything except like this," and he took his sleeves and covered the backs of his hands with them until only his fingers were visible, then he placed his hands on his temples until only his face was visible.
- Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhi narrated in "Al-Sunan" from Nabhan, the freed slave of Umm Salamah, that he narrated to him that Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated to him that she was with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and Maymunah. She said: While we were with him, Ibn Umm Maktum approached and entered upon him, and that was after we were commanded to observe hijab. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Observe hijab from him." I said: O Messenger of Allah, is he not blind? He does not see us and does not know us. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Are you two blind? Do you not see him?" Al-Tirmidhi said: This is a sound and good hadith.
- Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah narrated in "Al-Sunan" from Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "If any of you has a mukatab (a slave who has an agreement to buy his freedom) who can pay, let her observe hijab from him." Al-Tirmidhi said: This is a sound and good hadith.
- Abu Dawud narrated in "Al-Sunan" from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, brought to Fatimah a slave whom he had given her. He said: Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, had a garment that, if she covered her head with it, it would not reach her legs, and if she covered her legs with it, it would not reach her head. When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw what she was facing, he said: "There is no blame on you, for he is only your father and your slave."
- Al-Tirmidhi and Al-Nasa'i narrated in "Al-Sunan" from Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, that he said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever drags his garment out of pride, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection." Umm Salamah said: So how should women deal with their trains? He said: "They should lower it a span." She said: Then their feet will be exposed. He said: "Then they should lower it a cubit, and no more than that." Al-Tirmidhi said: This is a sound and good hadith.
- Imam Ahmad narrated in his "Musnad" from Muhammad ibn Usamah ibn Zayd, from his father, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, clothed me with a thick Qubtiyah (Egyptian linen garment) that Dihyah Al-Kalbi had given him as a gift. I clothed my wife with it, and he said: "Why did you not wear the Qubtiyah?" I said: I clothed my wife with it. He said: "Order her to put a ghilalah (undergarment) under it, for I fear that it might describe her bones."
- Abu Dawud narrated in his "Sunan" from Dihyah ibn Khalifa Al-Kalbi, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was brought some Qabatiy (Egyptian linen garments), and he gave me a Qubtiyah from them. He said: "Cut it into two pieces, make one of them a shirt, and give the other to your wife to use as a head covering." When he turned away, he said: "And order your wife to put a garment under it that does not describe her."
- Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated in his "Musannaf" from Umm Al-Mu'minin Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered upon me, and a young girl was with me. He threw his loincloth to me and said: "Cut it between this girl and the one with Umm Salamah, for I do not think they have menstruated."
- Ibn Majah narrated in his "Sunan", and Ibn Abi Shaybah in his "Musannaf" from Umm Al-Mu'minin Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, entered upon her, and her freed slave hid. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Has she menstruated?" She said: Yes. So he cut a piece from his turban and said: "Cover yourself with this."