Has Faith turned into Fashion?

There’s a growing culture in the West that is strictly based on appearance. You have to look your best. You must leave the house looking like something that has come out of a commercial advert (although it doesn’t always work out that way). It seems my beautiful Muslim Sisters have also adapted these values. Although there is an increase in Hijabi girls, there is also an increase in these hijabi girls wearing the tightest clothes possible to show off their ‘assets’. That is the only way I can word it. Tight jeans are worn so that the view from behind is clear for everyone to see. Tight skirts are worn with short tops, again, so that everything is on display. The only thing that is hidden is the hair with a short scarf which is often accompanied with full make-up. Are they trying to make up for what they have hidden (the hair)?

Before, it used to bother me to see sisters making fun of the Hijab and not taking it seriously. Yesterday while I went out to eat I looked quite odd with my jilbab, niqab, cardigan and long hijab. To them, I probably looked like a ‘fundamentalist’ because I wasn’t following the ‘in-crowd’. But I didn’t care. I walked in confidently, sat down, ate and left. I have stopped judging others who ridicule the Hijab, only because it gave me a headache and heartache. Sometimes, I just think, you know what? Everyone is entitled to live the way they want to live, let’s not judge each other. But sorry, when it comes to a religious symbol - the hijab - I think we should take care not to associate it with tight clothes so much so that the hijabies look more attractive and sexier than the non-hijabies. I have heard many conversations from non-hijabies criticising this and not understanding the need for the hijab if they are going to all that trouble to demean the meaning of the veil.

Now there is the fashion where you wrap the hijab behind your neck, so that your chest and front bit of the neck and chin are showing. They leave a bit of the ears showing so that earrings are on display. Then in a conversation with one of them they say ‘Yes, I’m so proud to be a mohajaba (a hijabi)’. I disagree. There are two categories for someone wearing the veil. One is the mohajaba who is covered with loose clothing with her hijab. Secondly there is the mohtasheema, the one who is wearing a veil but wearing tight clothes, so she isn’t a mohajaba yet, but one step away from being one. I think it’s better to have these categories so our young children don’t get confused as to what is the right type of hijab.

What’s sad is that before these new hijab styles came up, young men would actually respect you instantly because you wore the hijab (well that’s what I got). Now they don’t take us seriously and label us along with the girls who wear tight clothes, hold their ‘boyfriends’ hands, etc.

They have, indeed, spoilt it for those of us who are taking it seriously. I think there is a lot of identity confusion among the youth, they want to cover their hair to obey Allah’s commands but they also want to be available on the ‘attractive market’ so they can find a suitable boyfriend or husband-to-be. Maybe we should just let them be? As long as they have faith in their heart then that’s all that matters, right? We shouldn’t judge people from their appearance? We should just try to improve ourselves before looking at others? Maybe the most important thing is for us to be at peace with ourselves and leave the rest to do what they want to do?

I’m sorry if I have caused anyone to feel offended by this post. This was not my intention. I love all my sisters for the Sake of Allah. I am merely reminding us all (myself included) that we represent Islam to the wider world once we put on the hijab and we should take great care as to not resemble the non-Muslims.

In the Qur’aan, Allah says:

*{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; that they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons...}* (An-Nur 24:31)

Therefore, from the verse, it becomes evident that the purpose of hijab is to cover. Although from one point of view the girls in jeans and a head-covering may be “covered”, the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) once mentioned that there are women who are ‘kasiyat `ariyat’, meaning they are both ‘covered and naked at the same time’. This refers to those who wear clothes that are too tight or short or transparent and therefore reveal their bodies, thereby completely missing the point of hijab.

This verse is a clear order, and not something just based on cultural norms of the time. Muslim men are told in the preceding verse to lower their gaze and guard their modesty, and women are told in this verse to lower their gaze, guard their modesty, and cover themselves. If you don’t think that women’s hair is part of their adornment, then tell me why there are so many shampoos, creams, and conditioners on the market, and why there are so many beauty salons?

A tradition of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) tells us:

Two are the types amongst the dwellers of Hell, the one possessing whips like the tail of an ox and they flog people with their help. (The second one) the women who would be naked in spite of their being dressed, who are seduced (to wrong paths) and seduce others with their hair high like humps. These women would not get into Paradise and they would not perceive the odour of Paradise, although its fragrance can be perceived from such and such distance (from great distance). (Saheeh Muslim, Book 040, #6840)

Therefore, since the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned these women who do not wear hijab that they will not enter Paradise, this means that it is a major sin. This may seem extreme, but a women who is well-covered and simply dressed does not hold the same level of attraction as a women who will use her characteristics to attract men or to take advantage of the weaknesses of men. What more severe warning is there than to warn them of hell fire?

Sisters, I would just like to remind myself first, before any of you, that we only have one life to live. Let’s use it to please our Creator instead of pleasing our own desires and those of the creation. Anywho, I think I’ve hit another record for writing a long post so I’ll end it here insha’Allah. Again, please forgive me if I may have said anything to hurt anyone's feelings.