Wearing the burqah (veil)

Q. My husband, who I believe is being influenced by the wave of religious extremism currently sweeping through the Middle East, is asking me to wear the burqah (veil). However, the son of a respected Maulana told me that the burqah is merely an Arab custom and has nothing to do with Islam. My husband, for his part, refuses to differentiate between “Arab custom” and “Islamic practice”. Can you give me your opinion on this matter?

A. Wearing the ḥijāb or pardah, including the burqah or jilbāb, is a command of Allah Subhānahu wa Ta'ala upon Muslim women who have reached bulūgh (puberty). To this effect, Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur’ān al-Karīm:

"And tell the believing women that they should lower their gazes and preserve their chastity. They must not expose their beauty except what becomes apparent of it." (24:31)

According to Ḥaḍrat ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (Radiyallāhu ‘anhu), the phrase “except that which is apparent thereof” refers to outer clothing, because he classified beauty into two categories:

1. Inner beauty: such as anklets (pāyal), bracelets, earrings, and necklaces.
2. Outer beauty: referring to the outer garments.

It is obvious that it is not forbidden for a man to look at jewellery when it is not being worn on a woman’s body. Otherwise, jewellers would not be allowed to manufacture it, nor merchants to trade in it. The 'Ulama are unanimous that the prohibition applies to jewellery only when it is on the body of a woman. Therefore, the prohibition targets the one whose gaze is fixed upon jewellery being worn on different parts of a woman’s body.

From the above verse, it is understood that it is forbidden for women to expose any part of their body, as the beauty referred to in the verse is the external beauty, which—according to Ḥaḍrat ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (Radiyallāhu ‘anhu)—means outer garments only.

Supporting this interpretation, Ḥaḍrat Abū Isḥāq (Raḥimahullāh) referenced verse 31 of Surah A‘rāf, where the word “zinah” (beauty) is used for clothing. Indeed, Allah Ta'ala says:

"O children of Adam, adopt your beauty at every place of Salah." (Surah 7, Verse 31)

According to the scholars of Tafsīr, here the word “zinah” clearly refers to clothing.

Ḥaḍrat Ibn ‘Aṭiyyah (Raḥimahullāh) stated:

“In this verse (7:31), women are commanded not to leave any part of their bodies exposed, and they must cover everything considered ‘zinah’ except that which becomes exposed due to the necessity of movement. Therefore, they will not be sinful for that which is uncovered due to such necessity.”

In verse 59 of Surah Aḥzāb, Allah Ta'ala says:

"O Nabi (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam)! Tell your wives, your daughters and the women of the Mu'mineen that they should draw down their 'jalaabeeb' over themselves."

The jilbāb is a large outer garment or cloak that every Muslim woman who has reached puberty must wear to cover herself completely.

Referring to the Sha’n al-Nuzūl (the context of revelation), ʿAllāmah al-Qurṭubī (Raḥimahullāh) writes:

“Arab women used to wear light clothing and leave their faces uncovered, following the prevailing customs of Arab women. As a result, men were able to see them and were often led to evil thoughts. Thus, Allah Subhānahu wa Ta'ala commanded Rasulullah (Ṣallallāhu ‘Alayhi Wasallam) to instruct the believing women to wear the jilbāb when going out due to necessity.”

According to Ḥaḍrat ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (Radiyallāhu ‘anhumā), in light of this verse, women must lower a portion of their jilbāb so that only one eye—or both eyes—remains uncovered, allowing them to see the road clearly.

Commenting on the same verse, ʿAllāmah Abū Bakr al-Jaṣṣāṣ (Raḥimahullāh) said:

“In this verse, there is conclusive evidence that a young woman must cover her face in front of a non-maḥram (strange) man.”

According to Imām Mālik (Raḥimahullāh), Imām Shāfi‘ī (Raḥimahullāh), and Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (Raḥimahullāh), a woman must cover her entire body, including her face and wrists, and she is not permitted to appear before a ghayr maḥram  without full ḥijāb.

As for Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (Raḥimahullāh), he holds the opinion that a woman must cover her entire body except for the face, unless there is a risk of fitnah (temptation)—in which case, she must also cover her face. It is obvious that in today’s age, when indecency and immorality are widespread, the risk of fitnah is very real. Furthermore, a woman’s beauty is primarily found in the face. Therefore, Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (Raḥimahullāh) also maintains that the face must be covered due to the inevitable existence of fitnah.

Thus, it is evident that the concept of pardah—which includes wearing the veil to cover the entire body—is upheld by all four Imāms (Raḥimahumullāh) and is a binding Islamic ruling for every Muslim woman who has reached puberty. The Ṣaḥābah (Radiyallāhu ‘anhum), the Tābiʿīn (Raḥimahumullāh), and the ‘Ulamā’ of Deen (Raḥimahumullāh) throughout the generations have understood and practised this command as an Islamic injunction, not as an “Arab custom”.

Your husband is therefore absolutely correct in advising you to observe pardah. In doing so, he has fulfilled his responsibilities not only as a devoted Muslim, but also as a conscientious husband who is concerned for the Deenī well-being of his wife.

Wearing the burqah is a symbol of modesty and a means for Muslim women to preserve their honour, dignity, and chastity. Pardah is a powerful antidote to the rampant indecency and moral decay that characterises modern society.

In the past, when Europeans colonized certain countries, they called people "barbarians" because of their nudity. Ironically, today these so-called civilized people themselves practice, encourage, and promote nudity as a "beautiful" form of social etiquette. Unfortunately, we Muslims, who are supposed to be the epitome of decency, have begun to follow the lifestyle of the kuffaar — a lifestyle that can only bring us disappointment in this world and in the Aakhirah. Worse still, some among us even dare to mock those who observe pardah, which is a commandment of our Creator, the One to whom every soul will return.

Nowadays, practicing Deen according to the Sunnah of Nabi-e-Karim (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) is, for some, seen as synonymous with fundamentalism and extremism. It is understandable when such accusations come from the mouths of our enemies, who — through their media — have only the words "fundamentalism" and "extremism" to describe the Muslim world. For them, practicing Islam is "fundamentalism," and refusing to follow their rotten and corrupt society is labelled as "extremism."

However, it is truly distressing when such falsehoods against the commandments of Allah Ta'ala come from the mouth of someone who has recited the Kalimah "Laa ilaaha illallaah." We have only ourselves to blame, as each day we move further away from our Deen and drown deeper in materialism. We seem not to care about the Aakhirah, which will nevertheless be our eternal home.

All this is the result of our ignorance of the true religion, Al-Islam, which is the only salvation for all humanity. Every father, brother, and husband must ask himself:

• “Is my daughter, sister, or wife dressed in accordance with Islamic teachings?”
• “Have I ensured that she has received a proper Islamic education?”
• “Am I myself Islamically educated? If so, have I made an effort to share my knowledge? If not, when will I begin to appreciate the importance of seeking knowledge and give others the opportunity to be educated  others?”

Let us never forget that one day we will stand before Allah Ta'ala and be held accountable. Whether we accept it or not, that day is approaching with every passing second. On that Day, the only currency that will hold any value is our good deeds, not our wealth, property, or social status in this temporary world.

We must reflect and act before death overtakes us.

It is clear that the son of the Maulana who told you that wearing the burqah is merely an Arab custom is gravely mistaken and has deviated from the Ṣirāt al-Mustaqīm.

May Allah protect us from the evil of our nafs, the traps of Shaytan, grant us tawfeeq, and guide us all to the Straight Path. Ameen.

[English version of "Porter le bourqah (le voile)" – Al Haadi – Vol. 2 No.6]