This is a guest post by Ibn Khaldun
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The Times recently gave space to Fatima Barkatulla to present a hopelessly misleading defence of the niqab (or, as the Times fawningly describes it, “[a]n insider guide to common misconceptions”). Fatima attempts to address seven issues that have been raised around the Niqab.
The piece is here for all to see. I would like to respond to her points one by one.
1) The Niqab is a symbol of female subjugation.
Of course it is. Just because a woman in the UK is not forced to wear niqab does not stop it being a symbol of subjugation. The Salafi men who decided that women should wear niqab did so because it fits in with their idea of how a woman should behave in society – stay in the bedroom and kitchen, if she ventures outside then the mere sight of her face will cause widespread sexual chaos. Most simply, a black sheet covering a woman’s body is a very powerful way of controlling her nature as a sexual being and restricting it to a realm controlled by her family or husband. Fatima speaks about the handful of women she knows who voluntarily donned the Niqab – I admire the freedom they enjoy in this country to decide whether or not to wear niqab. Fundamentally, however, the fact that they are volunteering to wear niqab has no impact on its status as a symbol of female subjugation. They should be grateful that they have the freedom to make such a choice about their dress, a privilege their sisters living in Salafi societies don’t enjoy.
2) Women who wear the Niqab cannot possibly contribute to society
This depends on your definition of ‘contributing to society’. A niqab wearing women has deliberately made a choice which will restrict her role in the outside world. Many employers would be reluctant to employ women (or indeed anyone) who insisted on covering the face; there are many professions like teaching, healthcare, customer service, law etc. in which the wearing of the niqab severely impedes the ability to perform the job. Indeed, according to Fatima, many niqab-wearing women prefer to work in all female environments so that they don’t have to cover their faces. Doesn’t this prove the point that wearing niqab inhibits a woman’s ability to contribute to society? And how many professions have 100% female environments? Even a school for girls will have male teachers, janitors and other staff. The fact that they can only work in 100% female environments means their contribution to society is severely restricted. It is, therefore, no wonder that Fatima states that many prefer to just be mothers. Of course they will, the niqab has closed off many of the other avenues women can follow to contribute to society.
3) The niqab isn’t in the Qur’an
Fatima comments that some theologians have interpreted Quranic verses as meaning that the face should be covered. I’m sure they have since the Quran has been interpreted by a variety of different people at different times and in different contexts. The fact is the Quran does NOT directly tell women to cover anything except their bosoms. Any other inferences are the result of human interpretation influenced by context and theologians’ personal desires. Clearly we don’t live in a society today where modesty refers to being covered from head to toe in black cloth. If anything it’s much more likely to provoke unwanted attention.
4) Wearing the niqab implies that all men are predatory
Fatima erroneously claims that the niqab does not imply that all men are predatory and is simply useful for protecting the moral fabric of society. She cites an inappropriate analogy between a house being locked at night and a women being covered. The truth is that the niqab is actually offensive to men in that it suggests that the mere look of a women’s face is enough to trigger an uncontrollable sexual urge which could result in a mass outbreak of sexual assaults. Just as if you leave your house unlocked you can expect somebody (not everybody) to burgle it, Fatima’s argument is that a woman who doesn’t hide herself away can expect to be raped. If the niqab, as Fatima argues, does not presume that women are to blame for provoking men’s aggressive sexual interest and instead is a means of regulating sexuality in general in society, then why don’t men wear it? Why are men’s faces left uncovered? Do they not provoke sexual desire in women? The onus of protecting society from unhealthily expressed sexual desire should not be on women to cover up everything but rather on men to behave themselves.
5) The niqab poses a security risk at banks and airports
Just as motorcyclists with helmets are expected to show their faces in banks and other places where identification is important, Muslims should be no different. Anyone who enters a bank should have their face on display at all times. It is unfair to expect airport staff in airports all over the world to make special exemptions for niqabis by having a special section for them to unveil which is staffed exclusively by females, especially since Salafis themselves are so inflexible when it comes to respecting other people’s interpretations of Islam. Pure hypocrisy.
6) Niqab wearers can’t possibly be teachers.
It’s true they can’t unless they remove their Niqab because facial communication is so important in teaching. Again they are severely restricting their job opportunities if they are going to limit themselves to working in schools which have absolutely no male staff at all.
7) Banning the niqab will free those Muslim women who are coerced into wearing it
I don’t agree with a ban either, but extremists Salafis who promote such a bizarre practice for this day and age must be challenged. They are contributing towards the Saudisation of Muslim communities everywhere and are oppressing women by promoting the view that if they don’t cover their faces they will burn in hell and can expect to face aggressive male sexual interest. Empowering women is about giving them choices but it is very disingenuous for Salafis to use this line or argument because it is they who deny such choices to fellow Muslims whom they regularly condemn for not following backward literalist views of Islam. People should be free to dress how they want but they should also accept that this can create problems for themselves if they choose to adopt bizarre and impractical clothing.
45 Comments
Fatima – what a prat that women is.
In a free democratic society a woman should be allowed to wear the niqab if she likes and take it off if she likes. But by wearing it she must accept:
1) Prejudice by ignorant people
2) The limit it places on her in contributing to society
3) It’s not fard (obligatory) for her to cover her face and covering her face does not make her more religous or better than someone who doesn’t.
If she still wants to wear it that’s fine.
Another sensible (in the proper sense of the word) post from a traveller of sense.
Shukran.
Abu Faris
Yeah illustrated by a picture of someone in niqab robbing a bank. Because that of course is an accurate representation of how women who wear niqab live their lives. How sensible.
” Because that of course is an accurate representation of how women who wear niqab live their lives. How sensible.”
No that’s an accurate representation of a criminal robbing a bank and taking full advantage of the niqab as a means of hiding her/his identity from the CCTV cameras.
Of course, we would like to stress that this illustration is not representative of how all criminals live their lives.
Faisal
Great so presumably you’d illustrate your article on the immigrant underclass with a picture of an immigrant mugging/stealing , or your Orthodox Jewish one with a pic of Baruch Goldstein or Orthodox Jews assaulting Palestinian civilians or an article about Muslims with a picture of a terrorist (oh wait in the last case you probably would)!
Another crap and nonsensical article from spittoon .Its full of contradictions and outright misogyny which judges women by their appearance and sees them as unable to make autonomous decisions. Its also highly patronizing implying women in niqab aren’t aware of any potential difficulties they face when they know more than anyone
.
No that’s the miniskirt
Except it wasn’t “Salafi men” who decided this. Niqab is part of Islam –it was worn by the Prophet’s wives the mothers of the believers and is considered at least mustahabb by all of the 4 Sunni schools. It isn’t just worn by Salafis – Deobandi women for example also wear it as do Muslim women from other groups including Sufis
You also conveniently ignore the women scholars who have said that Niqab is Fard/Mustahabb
Apparently Niqabis are subjugated if they listen to Male Muslim scholars who say they should wear niqab but not subjugated if they listen to Male secularists like Ibn khaldun who tell them to take it off/how they should dress !!!
It also ignores the fact that the same symbols has different meanings in different contexts.
The author condemns Salafi men for treating women as agents of sexual chaos by making the face veil obligatory then in the next paragraph says “the niqab is a powerful way of restricting women’s nature as a seuxla being.” – doing exactly what he condemns the Salafis for!!!
Clearly it’s the author who sees women primarily as sexual beings above all else
Given that it’s only worn outside the home this is evidently self-contradictory. It also ignores the many women who wear niqab/hijab in opposition to what male members of their family want; You clearly know nothing about the Muslim community.
And their sisters in secular France and Turkey and elsewhere in Europe don’t have less we forget
A hilariously sexist and chauvinistic list of “jobs for women”. You fail to mention that employer prejudice is the main reason. Blind people cannot see the faces of those they interact with –does that restrict their contribution to society?
No because she said many not all and since when is working with men a condition for contribution to society. Sounds like man-worship from Ibn Khaldun
Er they cant “only work in 100% female environments” . When the work in with males they don the niqab.It also ignores for example the numerous people who work from home.
Apparently in Ibn Khaldun’s misogynistic little world you only contribute to society if
1) You work with men
2) You work outside the home
“Just” Mothers – yeah mothers don’t contribute anything to society do they ? (though funnily when white middle class women choose to be full time Mums its lauded by the Daily Mail etc as evidence for their care for their kids – though not of course when Muslims or other women do it)
Again a false hypothesis because Islam is not based solely on the Quran Actually the niqab comes from the mothers of the believers the Prophets wives and the female sahabas
Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Hadith # 282
Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba (Radhiallaahu Ánha) “Aisha (Radhiallaahu Ánha) used to say: “When (the Verse): “They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms,” was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces.
Yeah your interpretation isn’t based on your personal desires. There is consensus that hijab is Fard. We are seriously expected to believe that all the deeply devout Muslim ulema men and women down the centuries who feared God and for whom hellfire was a greater reality than the things we touch and see every day deliberately changed the religion knowing the punishment for this, whilst a bunch of irreligious Munafiqs who mock Islam aren’t changing the religion to suit their desires!!!
The argument that The Quran does NOT directly tell women to cover anything except their bosoms is absurd because the next verse says
“and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, or their brothers’ sons or their sisters’ sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).”
Which means Spittoon is saying that Muslim women CAN show their bosoms to “their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, or their brothers’ sons or their sisters’ sons” !!!!
Since when do the ever changing mores of society dictate revelation? We live in a society where drinking alcohol isn’t considered wrong. Should Muslims then drink alcohol regardless of what the texts say? Oh wait you at Spittoon probably do!
By the same token a woman covering ANY part of her body and not walking around totally naked is saying the same to you and all men
You seem to be implying that women should dress in a way that isn’t offensive to men- which is what you condemn Salafis who impose niqab for allegedly saying !!!
Why in the UK is it legal for a man to go bare-chested in public but not a woman?
Again this is your basic ignorance of Islam. The verses preceding hijab tell men to lower their gaze and to dress modestly. Look at how traditional dress is in any Muslim country and you’ll see it conceals the male body
And you hypocrites if a Muslim women refused to shake hands with a man (or vice versa viz Lucy James at Quillam) would be the first to condemn the Muslim for not allowing themselves to be touched.
1) As mentioned earlier it isn’t only Salafis who wear niqab
2)You seem unaware that Muslims also pay taxes
3) Its hardly a major inconvenience for a female staff member to go somewhere private and see a niqabis face. That’s their job to take care of the needs of their customers. Unless Spittoon says, they are Muslims!.
Implying that .
1) Blind or partially sighted people cant learn
2) You can only understand someone by seeing their face
Since we can’t see the facial expressions of the author of this article why did he bother writing it since he won’t be understood!
Look forward to you challenging Orthodox Jews for their dress or saying about them “People should be free to dress how they want but they should also accept that this can create problems for themselves if they choose to adopt bizarre and impractical clothing.”
So by your logic because the Bangladeshi government refuses to give citizenship and rights to the non Bengali Biharis the the UK government shouldnt give British citizenship to anyone from Bangladesh. Hmmmm.
Oooooh! Looks like we touched a verve there. But he is right all women should walk around in black tents, that way there will be no sexual vice just like our little paradise on earth called Saudi Arabia. Oh wait, didn’t that result in most of the young men bumming each other?
Muslim,
In fact, one might suggest that both are symbols of female subjugation. On the other hand, I can find few instances of male members of the family forcing the women of the family to wear miniskirts.
And these are weasel words. Some scholars regard the niqab as mustahabb – not every scholar so thinks. Further, a definition of mustahabb is a recommended form of worship or action. Doing a mustahab activity will be rewarded by Allah but not doing a Mustahab activity will not be considered sinful. E.g. Reading Quran daily.
Most mustahab acts have greater benefit/reward (thawab) than mandatory (wajib) activities.
Note – mustahabb acts are not wajib acts.
You appear also to not be able to distinguish between mustahabb acts and fardh acts. The latter are obligatory, the former are not obligatory. Fardh is thus synonymous with wajib, not mustahabb as you want.
I would challenge that. Even if you could show that such a universal consensus as you claim actually existed, you would still have to contend with the brute fact that there is not a similar consensus as to what constitutes hijab.
The literal meaning of hijab is a concealing, a screening, a cover, a protecting [of something or someone]. It has come to mean the particular head-covering worn by some Muslim women. The contextual information provided by both the Qur’an and Ahadith is not enough to conclude, as you do, that the term is used in a specific way.
I cannot be bothered to fisk any further Muslim’s text.
Speaking of consensus – there is also a consensus that Muslims can buy and sell slave girls and have sex with their slaves at will. Should we allow that to ‘Muslim’? Actually don’t answer that one.
“Great so presumably you’d illustrate your article on the immigrant underclass with a picture of an immigrant mugging/stealing , or your Orthodox Jewish one with a pic of Baruch Goldstein or Orthodox Jews assaulting Palestinian civilians or an article about Muslims with a picture of a terrorist (oh wait in the last case you probably would)!”
Unless they were directly relevant to the article, I wouldn’t but if so, then sure, why not?
In this case, a picture of a criminal using the niqab to hide their identity is not unique. There have been many incidences of terrorists and criminals using the niqab as a means to gain access and obscure their identity.
Otherwise you’re dealing in your usual screeching speculative whataboutery, as usual.
“1) As mentioned earlier it isn’t only Salafis who wear niqab”
No, but only the Salafis of the Ikhwaan and their hidebound Southasian fellow travellers have politicised to the extent that it is now no more than an identity symbol.
My wife (a non-niqabi, but hijab-wearing woman) reports that the generally held view of niqabi in the Arab world is that the woman in question is either:
(a) forced to wear a niqab by her insane male family members;
or,
(b) is up to something that she should not be up to.
My wife claims that she only wore niqab once – and that was when she had first met me and she wanted to spy on me in a public place to make sure I was not up to things that I should not have been up to!
Niqab – a great weapon for spooks. I heard most of the prostitutes in Syria wear niqab.
Also worn by the male prostitutes who service the maulvis at one of the madraasahs I was doing some research at in Bangladesh, last year.
I guess it has *some* benefits.
Must have been traumatic to witness that Dawood, then again they say it’s important to keep the Ulema happy.
Niqab actually produces social ills rather than eradicating them.
While Abu Wanabe Arab , Abu Faris and Dawoods comments about the depraved underbelly of the Muslim world are useful indications of their lifestyles am not sure what it has to do with the fact that niqab is mustahab at the very least.
Abu Faris
Only amongst people who have no husn-ud dhunn. And your wife has interviewed the majority of the Arab world to get their opinion has she ?
And your wife wears hijab? Why does she do that- is it Fard or something?
Tut tut youll probably be ex-communicated by the Spitoonites for such heresy
Good indications of the depraved nature of the Salafi mind and the social ills that result from the imposition of their practices.
“And your wife wears hijab? Why does she do that- is it Fard or something?
Tut tut youll probably be ex-communicated by the Spitoonites for such heresy”
Amidst all your “Oh woe is me and the whole Muslim World” flailing, try and get your head around the difference between hijab and niqab. We’re discussing the niqab here.
Niqab is part of Islam –it was worn by the Prophet’s wives the mothers of the believers and is considered at least mustahabb by all of the 4 Sunni schools.
Abu Faris
You do realise that by agreeing with me that Niqab is at least mustahab (and I follow the opinion that it is mustahab not Fard unlike hijab) you have admitted it is a part of Islam and a recommended act which is rewarded by Allah SWT. Thus directly contradicting Spitoons article claiming it isnt part of Islam!!
Liar. I never said “Most mustahab acts have greater benefit/reward (thawab) than mandatory (wajib) activities.” -you did. You are falsely attributing things to me then refuting them!! Lame Abu Faris Lame.
I know well that a mustahab act is distinguishable from a Fard and that Fard is synomous with Wajib -though of course the Hanafis make a distinction between Fard and wajib as you well know (chortle)
“And your wife wears hijab? Why does she do that- is it Fard or something?
Tut tut youll probably be ex-communicated by the Spitoonites for such heresy”
Faisal
Er yes dumbo but Abu Faris mentioned hijab and his wife wearing it.
Yet your/Ibn khalduns article here claims hijab isnt part of Islam :
So who’s right you/Ibn Khaldun or Abu Faris’ wife ?
Hijab is Fard by consensus. In fact the ruling was kufr on one who denies it is fard. Their is disagreement on niqab- I follow the opinion that its recommended not fard. But its still a noble act done by the mothers of the believers however much you debased people try and debase it.
Firstly, there’s no proof that all 12 of the Prophet’s wives wore the niqab. Some certainly didn’t. And nor do we fully know what the niqab garment actually meant in detail from the few hadeeths that sanction it. The niqab, as we know it as a black garment made of umbrella material, is just one of many modernist and regional and cultural interpretations thereof.
Didn’t the Prophet (saw) also have 12 wives, one of whom was betrothed as a 5 year old girl and married at nine? Does that mean Muslims like myself should follow all these precedents or only the ones the modernist Islamist schools have latterly deemed noteworthy of emulation?
1) As mentioned earlier it isn’t only Salafis who wear niqab”
dawood
Yeah those politicised Deobandi/Tablighis -man I get sick of them chatting politics all the time.
And its usually NON-political groups who wear niqab -salafis and deobandis.
The females in political groups like HT, MB etc rarely wear it
Seems a condition of being a pro-Spitoon poster to be absolutely clueless about Islam and the Muslim community and be unable to sustain an argument without contradicting yourself
Yeah those politicised Deobandi/Tablighis -man I get sick of them chatting politics all the time.
Yes, they’re wearing them *now*. The Tablighi is as modernist as the Wahaabi school of “Islamic Reformism”. Founded at around the same time the Saudi project was kicking off in the Najd. And thanks to theological traffic between the two, it stands to reason that they share similar interpretations. The import of the niqab being just one.
Seems a condition of being a pro-Spitoon poster to be absolutely clueless about Islam and the Muslim community and be unable to sustain an argument without contradicting yourself
You’re clearly just as absolutely clueless about other Muslim communities which reject your “radical” pro-Islamist nonsense too.
magnuspie
You say “some certainly didnt”- which ones? Even allowing for that, the fact that some of the blessed mothers of the believers did is admission that niqab is part of Islam something Spitoon try and deny (they are so extreme they deny hijab). And i’ll reiterate again that those considering Niqab Fard is a valid opinion in Sharia I personally follow the opinion its recommended.
If you are a Muslim you need to learn to have manners when speaking about the Prophet sallAllahu alayhi wasalaam and his wives. You also need to learn your deen from proper scholars since the allowance of more than 4 wives was specially for the Prophet sallAllahu alayhi wasalaam . Funny that you dont even know this yet use terms made up by non-Muslim like “Islamists” -says it all about where you learn from. And we are talking of the 4 orthodox Sunni Schools not of political groups.
As for marrying at a certain age -had the Prophet sallAllahu alayhi wasalaam commanded that we would have to. But he didnt. So saying you should marry at such and such age because the Prophet sallAllahu alayhi wasalaam did is a stupid as saying all Muslims should die at 63 because he sallAllahu alayhi wasalaam did.
As for marrying at a certain age -had the Prophet sallAllahu alayhi wasalaam commanded that we would have to. But he didnt. So saying you should marry at such and such age because the Prophet sallAllahu alayhi wasalaam did is a stupid as saying all Muslims should die at 63 because he sallAllahu alayhi wasalaam did.
Well exactly, and remember, you’re the one who said
“Niqab is part of Islam –it was worn by the Prophet’s wives the mothers of the believers and is considered at least mustahabb by all of the 4 Sunni schools.”
Nothing about a command to wear a certain black umbrella-material garment that covers the entire body. Unless you’re reading some arbitrary cultural signals that are not Prophetic.
You’ve just answered your own predicament about wearing or not wearing the niqab – there was no explicit command. It’s my personal/cultural/regional choice against yours.
magnuspie
Total idiocy- You yourself admitted the Prophets wives may Allh b pleased with them wore them – and all the 4 classical schools have supported wearing niqab
Happy reading
http://search.sunnipath.com/search.php?start=0&end=10&q=niqab
Founded by Hanafi ulema who had isnads back to the Prophet sallAllahu alayhi wasalaam. How is that “modernist” ? And are you aware that Spitoon are modernist heretics par excellence?
What planet are you on? The Deobandis are followers of the Hanafi maddhab and Maturidi aqeeda who also have tariqas in tassawuf. The Wahhabis reject taqlid of the maddhabs, the Maturidi/Ashari aqeeda and tassawuf in toto
Totally clueless
Perhaps you could tell me about them since the Muslims Im talking about (those who follow the 4 schools) represent thevast majority of Muslims on this planet
And magnuspie you said niqab was a political symbol- you still havent explained how the Tablighis are political
And magnuspie you said niqab was a political symbol- you still havent explained how the Tablighis are political
You’re saying that a “Reformist Movement” founded in the hothouse of religious identity politics of India in 1920s/1930s is going to be apolitical in its provenance? That would be both naive and stupid. Besides, aren’t people like you the first to crow that Islam is a “political way of life”?
magnuspie
Oh dear- in fact some scholars have said wearing niqab is fard
“As for wearing niqab (the face veil), this was considered necessary (wajib) by the classical scholars of the Hanafi school, as well as other Sunni schools such as the Shafi`i school. However, this is often not reasonably possible to follow for many people, given their personal, family, or social situation.
The Transmitted Ruling
The transmitted position of the Hanafi school is that a woman�s face, though not considered of a woman�s �nakedness� (awrah), is necessary (wajib) to cover because of the fitna involved in not doing so. This mentioned in virtually all its major texts, including the Hashiya of Ibn Abidin, the Hashiya of al-Tahtawi, al-Bahr al-Ra�iq, al-Hidaya, its commentaries, and other texts”
.
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=10&ID=1334&CATE=88
And before you clueless idiots say “hes agreeing you niqab isnt fard” – I agree totally- but your argument that it isnt part of Islam is baseless.
Here are some evidences for niqab
Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Hadith # 282
Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba (Radhiallaahu Ánha) “Aisha (Radhiallaahu Ánha) used to say: “When (the Verse): “They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms,” was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces.
Narrated Aisha (part of a much longer narration): “…When he reached my place in the morning, he saw the figure of a sleeping person and he recognized me on seeing me as he had seen me before the order of compulsory veiling (was prescribed). So I woke up when he recited Istirja’ (i.e. “Inna lillahi wa inna llaihi raji’un”) as soon as he recognized me. I veiled my face with my head cover at once, and by Allah, we did not speak a single word, and I did not hear him saying any word besides his Istirja’. (Volume: 5, Book Number: 59, Hadith Number: 462)
Narrated Aisha: The woman is to bring down her Jilbāb from over her head and [then place it] upon her face. {Bukhari:6:60:282}, {Sunnan Abu Dawud 32:4091}
Narrated Aisha: The riders used to pass by us when we were with the Messenger of Allaah in ihrām When they came near, each of us would lower her Jilbāb from her head over her face, and when they passed by we would uncover our faces. Sunnan Abu Dawud 1:1833
Narrated Aisha: Safwaan ibn al-Mu’attal al-Sulami al Dhakwaani was lagging behind the army. She said, “He came to where I had stopped and saw the black shape of a person sleeping. He recognized me when he saw me, because he had seen me before Hijāb was enjoined. I woke up when I heard him saying ‘Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return),’ and I covered my face with my Jilbāb Sahih Muslim 2:2770
Narrated‘Aasim al-Ahwal: We used to enter upon Hafsah bint Sirīn who had put her Jilbāb thus and covered her face with it, and we would say to her:
May Allah have mercy on you. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And as for women past childbearing who do not expect wedlock, it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment” [al-Noor 24:60]. And she would say to us: What comes after that (of the āyah)? We would say: “But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them”. And so she said: [Referring to, ‘But to refrain is better for them’], “It is to keep the Jilbāb.” Sahih al-Bukhari 3:311:1
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbās: Allah commanded the believing women, when going out of their homes for some need, to cover their faces from above their heads with their Jilbābs, leaving one eye(or both) to see the path. [21]
From Asmā’ bint Abi Bakr, that she said, “We are used to cover our faces from the men, and cut our hair before that in Ihrām (for Hajj).[22]
From Asmā’ bint Abi Bakr, We would cover our faces while we were Muhrim, and while doing that we would be with Asmā’ bint Abi Bakr As-Siddeeq.[23]
From Ibn Abi Khaythamah, We entered upon Umm Al-Mu’minīn on Yawm At-Tarwayah and we said to her, ‘Oh Mother of the Believers! Here is a woman who refuses to cover her face and she is a Muhrimah (in ihrām). So ‘Aa’ishah lifted her Khimār from her chest, and covered the woman’s face with it.[24]
Narrated Aisha: “When (the Verse): “They should draw their veils over their Juyubihinna,” was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces. Sahih al-Bukhari 60:282:1
Narrated ‘Aisha: The Apostle of Allah 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 unrecognized Sahih al-Bukhari 8:368:1
Narrated Um ‘Atiya: We were ordered the Apostle of Allah to bring out our menstruating women and veiled women in the religious gatherings and invocation of Muslims on the two ‘Eid festivals. These menstruating women were to keep away from their Musalla. A woman asked, “O Allah’s Apostle ‘ What about one who does not have a niqab?” He said, “Let her share the veil of her companion.” Sahih al-Bukhari 8:347:1
From Anas that the Messenger of Allah said: And if one of the women of Paradise looked at the earth, she would fill the whole space between them the earth and the heaven with light, and would fill whatever is in between them, with perfume, and the veil of her face is better than the whole world and whatever is in it.”Sahih al-Bukhari 8:572:1
Narrated Thabit ibn Qays : A woman called Umm Khallad came to the Prophet while she was veiled. She was searching for her son who had been killed in the battle. Some of the Companions of the Prophet said to her: You have come here asking for your son while veiling your face? She said: If I am afflicted with the loss of my son, I shall not suffer the loss of my modesty. The Apostle of Allah said: You will get the reward of two martyrs for your son. She asked: Why is that so, oh Prophet of Allah? He replied: Because the people of the Book have killed him.”Sahih al-Bukhari 14:2482:1
All of a woman is awrah. Whenever she leaves her home Satan reachs by her.”Sunnan Abu Dawud 2:311
A woman called Umm Khallad came to the Prophet while she was veiled. She was searching for her son who had been killed (in the battle) Some of the Companions of the Prophet said to her: You have come here asking for your son while veiling your face? She said: If I am afflicted with the loss of my son, I shall not suffer the loss of my modesty. The Apostle of Allah said: You will get the reward of two martyrs for your son. She asked: Why is that so, Apostle of Allah? He replied: Because the people of the Book have killed him. (Book Number: 14, Hadith Number: 2482) If she was wrong in her understanding, Muhammad would have corrected her.
“Total idiocy- You yourself admitted the Prophets wives may Allh b pleased with them wore them – and all the 4 classical schools have supported wearing niqab”
I have? Wishful thinking old boy.
magnuspie
Are you seriously suggesting Tablighi are a political group?
Good grief- the point was to show that niqab is not a political symbol as was claimed since followers of apolitical religious movements wear it
Sorry you are too stupid to argue with
“Total idiocy- You yourself admitted the Prophets wives may Allah be pleased with them wore them – and all the 4 classical schools have supported wearing niqab”
magnus pie
magnus pie
But what of those wives who chose not to? Mary the Copt did not even convert to Islam.
So from there, do you want to make a similar “classical theological law”, on the basis that at least one wife set the precedent (and that’s all it takes) by choosing not to wear the niqab – which means support for rejecting the niqab?
On the strength of your argument, which is desperately close to calling all Muslim women who do not wear the niqab as inferior, there is just as strong a case for the niqab not be worn.
Muslim – saying that something is not clearly stated in the Quran and saying it is not a part of Islam are very different things, a difference you have confused.
The issue here isn’t whether its Fard, Sunnah, Mubah or supported by theologians or not. This is about the ridiculous attempts by some Muslims to defend the niqab in the face of common sense. Clearly there are many issues with wearing such an item of clothing, why deny that and pretend its everyone else’s fault. I would admire Fatima far more if she just came out and said ‘I believe God wants me to wear it and I will’. Rather than providing pathetic lame excuses which deny the obvious.
What an extraordinary combination of insults aimed at others’ partners, theological wrangling and stupidity developed by “Muslim”.
My wife is an Arab, Muslim – the fact that she isn’t some suitably trodden-upon example of your idea of “womanhood” is of some pride to her – and to me.
I chose not to mention her third attribution for niqabi – that those who wear it are too often on the game.
Now grow up, smell the coffee and disappear.
I never wrote that you said such things. Consequently, I can hardly be a liar. I wrote the standard definition (which includes the comment that reward follows from most mustahab acts) – exactly what problem do you have with this?!?
Might I suggest you learn to read?
Yah, let’s not mention the Shi’a schools of jursiprudence (for example)… after all, they’re not “proper” Muslims, are they, Muslim?
O obscurantist, sectarian oaf.
faisal,
you big ugly blob, ur days are numbered!
just for protection I think, you should wear a niqaab from head to toe, you’d blend in to the crowd as a women cos of your titties!
How profound Fayss, let me guess are you a graduate of Andy Choudarys School of Shariah? Where do classes take place In his bedroom or his kitchen?
I am SO sick of hearing men banging on about why women wear what they wear. Is there a woman who wears niqab willing to enter this discussion???
Why do you care so much…kind-hearted humanbeing
She’s free to do whatever…so is clothless people…so..you shut up.
I’m one of them, Belle, and guess what i am too sick of you and your kind. : )
Haifa, cool your temper. I think my request is a reasonable one that is to your benefit. My point is: tell me YOUR point of view! I want to hear what women who are wearing niqab think. Not men talking about women and what they wear.