Why I Took Off Hijab: Open Sin vs. Hypocrisy
May 16, 2011 by Guest Authors
Filed under Featured, Spirituality
Open Sin vs. Hypocrisy:
Why I Took Off Hijab©
By Umm Zakiyyah
“Wearing hijab is making a big statement,” the woman said. “I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I know I don’t represent what hijab stands for, so I took it off.”
It’s one of the most heartbreaking things to hear a Muslim say…
That in an effort to avoid hypocrisy, she [or he] has decided to openly disobey Allah…
…And they imagine that by leaving off this visible symbol of Islam, they’re doing a favor to the “image” of Islam…
…
All Muslims can relate to the feeling of insincerity and hypocrisy. After all, who of us is without sin?
But making the conscious decision to add one more sin to our record to rectify that troubled heart is not going to solve our problem.
In fact, it only adds to our hypocrisy…
…And to displeasing Allah.
What then are we seeking to gain when we engage in open sin to avoid hypocrisy?
…
We all know that Islam means submission to Allah in belief and action, and one who submits to Allah through belief and action is called a Muslim.
In contrast, nifaaq (hypocrisy) means the profession of Islam through speech and action while knowingly concealing disbelief (kufr) in the heart; and the one who does this is a munaafiq.
However, in its lesser form, nifaaq is behaving in a manner that opposes what one professes to believe. This hypocrisy can take the form of any speech or behavior that conflicts with one’s belief system or religion.
In a hadith collected by Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet, sallallaahu’alayhi wa sallam, said,
“The signs of the hypocrite are three: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust.”
…
When a person openly professes, “Laa ilaaha illa Allah,” he is stating that he recognizes not only that Allah—God, the Creator—is the only one worthy of worship, but also that he himself will live a life that respects that Tawheed (Islamic monotheism).
In other words, the shahaadah of the Muslim is a person’s official promise to Allah to submit to Him alone for every moment that Allah grants him on this earth.
In response to this testimony, Allah entrusts the reciter with the greatest gift—the greatest amaanah (trust)—that any human could be granted in this life: Islam.
Allah says,
“O you who believe! Enter perfectly into Islam, and follow not the footsteps of Satan.
Verily, He is to you a plain enemy.”
(Al-Baqarah, 2:208)
Thus, by professing belief, we are obliged to follow Islam kaaffah—perfectly—completely and wholeheartedly.
Therefore, anyone who says Laa illaaha illa Allah, has made a covenant with Allah to submit to Him and to not break that covenant.
Allah cautions us,
“Those who break Allah’s covenant after it is ratified, and who sunder what Allah has ordered to be joined, and do mischief on earth: These cause loss (only) to themselves.”
(Al-Baqarah, 2:27)
…
What then does it mean to be a Muslim?
Allah says,
“And they say: ‘We hear, and we obey’…”
(Al-Baqarah, 2:285)
And He also says,
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts [from sin], that they should not display their zeenah (beauty and ornaments) except that which is apparent; that they should draw their veils (khimaar) over their juyubihinna (necks, bosoms, bodies)…”
(An-Noor, 24:31)
And…
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments (jilbaabs) over their persons [when going out]. That will be better [for them], so that they shall be known [as believers] and not be annoyed.
And Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
(Al-Ahzab, 33:59)
…
Therefore, one of the obvious manifestations of hypocrisy is to say in front of Allah “I am Muslim” then openly and consciously betray even one aspect of what that means…
How then can a woman remove the hijab to avoid hypocrisy?
How then can any Muslim say to the Creator, “I hear your command, O Allah!
And I disobey!”
If it is truly hypocrisy you wish to avoid, dear sister or brother, reflect on this…
The hypocrite has three signs…
- 1. When he speaks he lies…
“I submit to Allah in my belief and actions.”
- 2. When he makes a promise, he breaks it…
“I promise to submit to You, O Allah, until I die!”
- 3. And when he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust…
Allah says, “O you who believe, obey Allah…!”
…
But, then, aren’t we all hypocrites? After all, who of us doesn’t fall short of submitting to Allah completely, fulfilling the covenant of Tawheed, and fulfilling the amaanah of true faith?
No one.
But this is nothing new…
All of the children of Adam fall into sin…
..the Prophet taught…
…But the best of those who sin are those who constantly repent.
…
It is well-known in Islam that tawbah (sincere repentance) requires that the repentant leaves the sin, regrets the sin, and resolves to never do it again.
And if he happens to fall into sin again, he repeats the tawbah…
By leaving the sin, regretting the sin, and resolving to never do it again…
How then can a woman avoid hypocrisy by doing the exact opposite?
By embracing the sin, publicizing the sin, and resolving to repeat it over and over again…
…
Dear sisters, the difference between the hypocrite and the truthful Muslim is this…
The hypocrite engages in lying…
…By professing Islam while openly engaging in sin.
While the truthful Muslim engages in honesty…
…By professing Islam and openly avoiding sin.
Even as she, like all humans, will inevitably fall into it.
And the only “image” the truthful Muslim worries about is her image in front of Allah…
…And is etched in the record that the angels are recording.
…
Wearing hijab is a big statement.
And I don’t want to be a hypocrite…
So I turn to Allah in repentance for ever falling short in reflecting what it stands for.
For I know that it is only Allah alone Who can fully represent perfection.
Umm Zakiyyah is the internationally acclaimed author of the If I Should Speak trilogy and the novels Realities of Submission and Hearts We Lost. To learn more about the author, visit themuslimauthor.com or join her Facebook page.
Copyright © 2011 by Al-Walaa Publications. All Rights Reserved.
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Assalamu Alaikom, wonderful article mash’Allah! I have heard many sisters use that same argument. And truthfully sometimes I feel like this too – unworthy of dressing like a Muslim because I feel as if people sometimes look at me as a better Muslim than I really am, but still I keep my hijab on, thinking that at least this is one less sin that I am committing. Insha’Allah I hope that I can become a more pious Muslim on the inside and the outside. Jazak Allahu Khair.
Wa’alaiku mus salaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh, Teena.
BarakAllaahufeek. It is so beautiful to see a sister staying firm upon what Allah loves, even as she knows she is imperfect and “unworthy.”
In truth, we are all “unworthy”–not of dressing like a Muslim, but of representing Islam or even being Muslim at all.
That’s exactly why we *should* dress like a Muslim… so that we can gain some good deeds in hopes that Allah will have mercy on us and forgive us for being “unworthy.” Doing good is a form a gratefulness to Allah, a way to say “Thank you, Allah, for choosing me as a Muslim though I know I don’t deserve it.” Doing bad (at least consciously and continuously) is the exact opposite: It is a form of ungratefulness, a way of saying to Allah, “My very life testifies to all your mercies and blessings, O Allah, but I won’t obey you.”
Yaa Rabb! May we all become pious Muslims on the inside and the outside.
And this is a lifelong struggle–for us all.
May Allah keep you firm, even as you waver and fall into sin from time to time.
BarakAllaahufeek. May Allah love you and grant you Jannah for your words that will likely inspire other struggling sisters (and we’re ALL struggling!) to say to themselves and before Allah “at least this is one less sin that I’m committing.”
BarakAllahu feeki, very awesome piece, brings some much-needed clarity bi idhnillah.:)
Please share it with family and friends. Insha’Allah it can benefit them too.
Good piece. I might be wrong, but the title of the piece is a little misleading IMHO.
Regarding hypocrisy, I think we all have it at least to some extent. Only Allah can claim to be 100% free of hypocrisy, lies, dishonesty, etc etc. We are humans and to err is human.
Le Mystique, thanks for taking time to read and share your comments. JazaakAllaahukhairan. I ask Allah to forgive me for any mistakes I made in writing this piece. It was one of my main points that we are all guilty of hypocrisy, lies, dishonesty, etc. on some level and that we are all humans and thus err. What I was saying is that even though this is the case, as long as we strive against these negative traits and always engage in sincere repentance (which can never include embracing and publicizing the sin with the intention to keep doing it over and over again), then from Allah’s mercy, we are not “hypocrites” in front of Allah, even though we may be “hypocrites” in our actions to some extent.
May Allah forgive us for the hypocrisy that we all fall into, and may He erase it from our record so that we strive to avoid it until we meet Him. And may we meet Him free of sin (due to His mercy and forgiveness) so that we enter Paradise without account.
Jazak Allah kheir for this. Very Applicable to our lives today.
May Allah tala bless and protect you and your family in Dunya and Akira.
salaam
Please share it with others this article could benefit. Even helping one person can go a long way. May Allah guide us all, ameen.
Assalamu Alaykum Dear Sister in Islam,
SubhanAllah, I have been thinking about this very topic lately. I recently felt as if i’m not worthy of wearing hijab, but at the same time, I know that i’m not perfect and no one else is either. Only Allah (swt) is perfect and verily He is the all Merciful, Allahu Akbar. Hijab is what helps me to live Islam. I have been wearing hijab for almost three years now, and it has truly brought me peace and happiness. It is beautiful and has brought meaning into my life.
Unfortunately, my parents don’t understand hijab and feel as if I should cease to wear it now because they fear for my safety. But Alhamdulilah, I have supporting Muslimah friends from varying backgrounds that have helped nfluence my life for the better and gave me the confidence to start wearing hijab. They provided me with knowledge on Islam as well.
I hope and pray to Allah (swt) to strengthen the Ummah and give us all the confidence to live our lives in the Islamic manner according to the beautiful Qur’an He bestowed upon us. Ameen, summah ameen.
Masha’Allah it’s inspiring to see you working hard. It always helps a great deal to have friends like that. I had a similar experience with my mom. Now it has been nine years since then and my head is still covered. It was worth the struggle – no doubt about it.
May Allah continue to pour strength into your heart, ameen. Please share this article with others as I have so that insha’Allah it can inspire and assist them as well, with Allah’s help and mercy.
Thank you so much dear sister, Alhamdulilah. :]
The support and kind words are much needed. Ameen to your du’as. <3
I've shared this article along with a few other relevant articles pertaining to hijab:
Why I took off Hijab
http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/taking-off-the-hijab/
WOW!!! Amazing piece! I’m gonna sound wierd rite now, but I’ve read ALL ur books, except 4 Hearts we Lost…ASAP i will iA..
Back to the point. So many muslims (including me smtims!) use the excuse u mentioned to get out of wearing hijab or otherwise… its sad…this article shud inspire a lot of ppl iA…
I thought it would inspire a lot of people too. I shared it on my Facebook so I hope that helps. Please do the same if you think others could learn something from it too. =)
This is a great piece, because you sympathetically enter the mind of the women who reason in such a way. They reason in such a way not out of disregard for the faith, but out of humility and not knowing the proper response to one’s own faults. It is in fact the Shaytan’s argument…..he will point out our errors and feed off our humility until we abandon everything. I knew a woman who made the above argument about abandoning her prayer. Her reasoning was “I don’t wear hijab (among other things)….and so who am I to pray?” Who are you? You’re someone who needs to keep saying, “Ihdinaa sirat al-mustaqeem”! We all do.
Jazak Allah Tricia. This is exactly what i needed to hear.
Asalaamulaikum,
Nice piece Mashallah. I agree – especially about the part that talks about how we should not care about holding up an image to others and what they perceive is hypocrisy, but how we should hold up our image to Allah and ensure He does not see any hypocrisy.
To comment on the flip side, those of us who are Hijabi’s (and non Hijabis) should be keen on avoiding gossip and backbiting. I find at times Hijabis commenting on a fellow Hijabi who happens to wear tight pants (as an example), saying “She should just take off her hijab if she’s going to wear that. If she can’t do it right, then don’t do it at all. She’s making all of us look bad..” These sorts of comments feed into a girl’s minds and can drive them into taking the hijab off. Now that’s not to say wearing tight pants is excusable and should be ignored; however, gossiping benefits no one, where as kindly correcting someone would.
Alhamdulillah, very well done, masha’Allah. I will bookmark this article, I think.
I had a similar crisis after the birth of my son when he was circumcised. He was in so much pain and then crabby for the rest of the day I began to wonder how Allah could ask us to harm our children in such a way.
As my iman waned I began considering taking off the hijab because – indeed! – I did feel like a hypocrite wearing it. Alhamdulillah, I never did and one day while making wudu my iman came back!
I’m very glad you have this article because it disproves the flawed way of thinking that many sisters fall into and you use almost entirely Qur’an to do so!! Masha’Allah. I will save this article in case I ever have such a crisis again.
Salam Alaykum
I believe that sometimes when a woman does not want to wear hijab she comes up with an excuse such as this. I don’t wear hijab but if I were to say it’s because I don’t believe it is really from Islam I would anger many and be labeled a Quran only Muslim. Instead I tell people that I’m not ready or that I’m still considering it. There are many kinds of sins-some are apparant while others are hidden. Too much attention is given to hijab but I think this is the case because it does have a huge impact a woman who wears it. I think we need to remember that hijab is a choice instead of looking at it as a sin. I am a person who has made a choice not to wear hijab and my intention is not to disobey Allah but to be able to function and grow as a person. I was not able to do those things in hijab. Many women need the freedom to make that choice as well without being labeled for it.
Wa’alaiku mus salaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh, Aminah
Thanks for taking time to read my article and comment on it. I agree with you on the fact that hijab is a choice; however, this choice is the same as any other choice in Islam: I can obey Allah or I can disobey Him. It’s my choice.
We all fall short and sometimes make the choice to do wrong. But alhamdulillaah, Allah is merciful so long as we recognize our wrong choice and repent. However, once we begin to look at our conscious wrong choice as “not a sin”, we are in a very dangerous situation regarding our emaan b/c this can lead to changing the religion, which can ultimately lead to leaving Islam. And without Islam, there is no salvation in this world or in the Herafter. May Allah protect us.
This situation is much worse than a person who sins constantly (i.e. sins much more than we do) but who accepts the fact that he/she is sinning.
We also have to realize that it is not people who are labeling us when we consciously sin. It is Allah.
Even if I never wrote this article and even if no one ever spoke out against removing hijab, the label in truth still exists: Not wearing hijab is a sin.
In actuality, your comment shows that hijab is not talked about enough (i.e. It’s given too little attention). If there are people out there who actually believe that hijab is not even required in Islam, then we as Muslims are not doing our job in teaching about this part of Islam, even though there are certainly more glaring sins than this. See: “Is Hijab Really Overrated?” http://www.muslimahsource.org/spirituality/is-hijab-really-overrated/
Again, thank you for your thought-provoking comment.
May Allah increase you in correct, beneficial Islamic knowledge so that you ever grow and function as a person who is living in a way that is most pleasing to the Creator. And may Allah forgive you and all of us for our shortcomings.And may He make our hearts soft, our eyes wet with tears due to our regret over our numerous mistakes and sins, and may we never stop seeking to change for the better–as defined by the two sources of revelation: The Book and the Wisdom (The Qur’an and the Sunnah).
And may you live your life as if you will die at any moment; for certainly, one day you will die at any moment.
It is already written…for us all. The pen is lifted and the ink has dried. Let us pray it is written for us to be of the guided and not of the astray.
May Allah love you and guide you always.
Love,
your sister in Islam
Umm Zakiyyah
The Muslim Author
Alhamdulillah! What an amazing comprehensive response to the issue of removing hijab! Your statement: “This situation is much worse than a person who sins constantly (i.e. sins much more than we do) but who accepts the fact that he/she is sinning.” went straight to my heart. I too have considered taking off hijab after feeling like a failure as a Muslimah. I am a revert to Islam of about 3 yrs and when I made the decision to wear hijab about 2 years ago I was niave about the changes that would occur in my life. Such things as losing life-long, dear friends and close family members, losing a very good job, having difficulty finding a new job wearing hijab, being physically assaulted in a grocery store, harrassed and taunted, etc. etc. But, I firmly stood my ground, knowing I was wearing hijab in obediance to Allah swt–and loved wearing it. But all of that abuse and loss I endured wearing hijab was nothing compared to what Shaytan can do to one’s spirit. Being made to feel unworthy and defeated is his specialty, so a few missed prayers and so on, I began to feel like a hypocrite, that I was/am not worthy of wearing hijab any longer–as though hijab is a right only for good Muslimahs. This is the logic fueled by Shaytan, not from Allah. Our ego/nafs, fools us into thinking that we can earn our way to Jannah, when all along everything is given to us by the rahmah of Allah ta ala’. Jazak Allah khayr
Maryam Hajar, BarakAllaahufeek. Reading your message was such an inspiration. It’s always a blessing to witness how Allah chooses His servants and gives them understanding of the Religion. May Allah continue to keep you firm despite the fact that, like all of us, you are human and will feel weak at times and may even slip up.
Here’s an article I wrote on this topic after I wrote this: http://www.saudilife.net/islam/87-challenges/14977-harms-of-hijabi-vs-non-hijabi-grouping
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
May Allah bless and preserve you always, and my He keep you firm upon His religion. And may He forgive your sins and write you down amongst the best of the believers, and may you enter Jannah without account.
love,
your sister in Islam,
Umm Zakiyyah
ummzakiyyah.com
Salam Alaykum
Thank you for your response! I understand fully that some Muslims will see me out of hijab and believe I’m in a state of nasiah. However, I know after (not months but years) of trying to wear hijab that it was something not possible for me to sustain. My reasons in forgoing hijab are very serious and real. So for me it is not a sin because my intention is not to disobey Allah but to honor my basic needs as a human being. I understand that the experience of hijab is different for everyone and I can not judge another persons reasons. However I think the statement: not wearing hijab is a sin is problematic because it serves to label sisters who don’t don hijab as sinful and those that do as somehow better in the eyes of Allah. Yet, Allah said that piety is found in the heart not on our heads. I respect the effort hijabies make in covering but I also look beyond the label of sin at sisters who do not wear hijab. In the real world many women must go out to work and function in today’s society. So what I’m saying is there are legitimate reasons why a woman would not take on hijab.
Wa’alaiku mus salaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh, Aminah
And thank you for taking time to clarify what you mean. I understand what you are saying, as there definitely are very, rare exceptions to many obligations in Islam. For example, if a person is starving they meet eat pork or drink alcohol to survive. But it isn’t correct for us to say “Let’s not label eating pork or drinking alcohol a sin” b/c these things remain sins though a particular person may be exempted from blame due to their circumstance. And I’m sure you’d agree that it would be a mistake for a person whose exempted to ask those teaching about Islam to not label these clear sins as sins b/c, again, it is not people placing the label there, it is Allah.
When Allah labels an act as a sin, we have no choice but to do the same. However, as you mentioned, just b/c a person appears to fall into that sin doesn’t make me better than she or he is. We cannot cast general judgments on people’s emaan; we can only command the good and forbid the evil as we are instructed—without assuming anything about the status of a person in the eyes of Allah.
At the same time, anyone who is truly in an exceptional circumstance should have no problem supporting the efforts to command the good and forbid the evil based on Islam, even in those matters where they are exempted. Thus, if I have a health issue exempting me from fasting in Ramadan, why wouldn’t I encourage the healthy people to fast as they are commanded to? And I would have no problem reading an article that labels it “sinful” to not fast like we are commanded.
And Allah knows best.
“Thus, a true believer would never relax in sin saying, Allah is Merciful…” and “Allah is merciful so long as we recognize our wrong choice and repent. However, once we begin to look at our conscious wrong choice as “not a sin”, we are in a very dangerous situation…” My dear I am an educated woman and I am having trouble keeping up. So the sisters on here who openly profess they do not wear it, but acknowledge it is a sin and wish they could, are not “true” believers as you say, or are better to remember “Allah is merciful”.
Umm Kultoom,
) Make du’aa to Allah for clarification and understanding if that’s what you sincerely seek.
Salams. Can someone please answer how it is so sure that Allah will forgive us for our hypocrisy inshAllah(that you state we ALL posses on some level), how is it not equally sure He will not likewise forgive those who do not cover their hair (and who are perhaps more pure in the heart than a hijabi, as this may of course sometimes be the case, only Allah knows). Thank you.
Wa Salaams.
We can never be sure Allah will forgive us for anything. We can only hope. The point in the article is this: We do our best by obeying Allah and reforming ourselves through repentance (of words and actions) when we err. We should never give ourselves to sin (whether the sin is backbiting, not wearing hijab, zina, etc.). If we do give ourselves to sin, we run a greater RISK of not being forgiven. Thus, a true believer would never relax in sin saying, Allah is Merciful. Rather, they would relax in the HOPE of Allah’s forgiveness thru always trying to be better in staying away from ALL sins, removing hijab amongst them.
In other words, when we hope to benefit from an attribute of Allah, like Mercy or Forgiveness, we do our best to live in a way that earns that mercy or forgiveness–not by looking at others and saying I could be better than that, but by looking at yourself and saying “I could be better than THIS.”
May Allah guide us to what is correct.
Oh, and on another note, please address this: I have lately witnessed (over the past 2 years) very “un-Islamic” actions on the part of respected hijabis in the community, including questioning Islam, wearing behind-hugging pants/skirts/abayas, backbiting, swearing, cheating, praying late unnecessarily,lying, flirting with boys/men (singles at least) and the list could still go on. This makes me sad la howla wa la quowta illa billa may Allah guide them.
Yet I know various sisters in the same community who do not wear hijab, yet dress in an otherwise modest (often more modest than hibabis) manner, and have the utmost adherence to Islam other wise, rushing to pray on times, are pleasant in their actions and words, and openly forbid evil and try to do what is good, never once questioning anything from Allah.
My point is, what is the bigger sin? My next point is, you and I do not know, only Allah knows, so until youm kyama when we find out please write an article to help the hijabi (and niqabi) sisters I spoke of in the first paragraph because it seems they need more help to stay on the pure and righteous path than the many sisters I have seen without. Thank you.
Umm Kultoom.
Make du’aa for clarification and understanding, if that’s what you sincerely seek.
An added point, so you do not misunderstand my advice: In the article, the primary issue was hijab; however, when you read the article in detail and with an objective eye, you’ll find that the issues you raised (i.e. other sins) were also covered in the article.
It’s not that your concerns are not valid; it’s just that the arguments you use are very common to those people who wish to defend non-hijabis and defame hijabis by describing hijabis in a very negative manner (as you have) by exaggerating the truth–assigning to them sins that all Muslims may be guilty of, non-hijabis very often on the top of the list(though not necessarily always).
In any case, my suggestion to you is this: Seeing as though I personally (in this article as well as my other articles, speeches, and books) have addressed many of the other issues you’ve raised, it’s best if you turn to Allah in sincere du’aa to ask Him for clarification, if it’s clarification you really seek.
However, your words suggest that this is really about refuting my article, which calls all Muslims to obey Allah in all they do and never give themselves to sin; hijab was the impetus for that message.
In my heart I think you know this already, but in case I’m wrong (and perhaps, you really are having trouble understanding this message): It is Allah to whom you should turn for a clarification, not me.
I am refuting certain points in your article and many in your responses to my comments, yes, as well as not finding an Islamic understanding of various areas.
For example, as for as understanding (or lacking understanding) I ask that you provide evidence for the following statement you made: “non-hijabis [are] very often on the top of the list [of sinning](though not necessarily always).” My dear sister, I want to suggest that you be careful with your words as Allah knows all you do including what you write on the internet. I think in your heart you know that. This is a very heavy generalized accusation you have made against your fellow sisters in Islam, so please redeem yourself and provide me with the Iya or Hadith that supports this. Thank you.
As for refuting your article, no one can deny that hijab is not a commandment of Allah, as it is quite clearly in the Quran. However, your article seems to marginalize your non-hijabi (equals) as bigger sinners than women wearing hijab when 1) ALL humans sin and 2) you do not know the intentions that go into the actions of the women you speak of and 3) YOU my dear are in no place to say who is a “sinner” and who is not. I advise you to be careful about who you call “true” believers as well, as once again, this something Allah ALONE does. Agreed?
Regarding: “Seeing as though I personally (in this article as well as my other articles, speeches, and books) have addressed many of the other issues you’ve raised.” Sister, please provide me with links to these. It is not often that people address the severe un-Islamic choices some hijab wearing sisters make so I would love to read these articles (as up to this point I have only read this article in which you marginalize women not wearing hijab).
Finally, I get the impression that you are a convert who perhaps struggles with the idea of hijab or adapting to Islam in general. I heard one sister call it “converticitis”. If you are, please let me know because I think I would have a better understanding of where you are coming from with your strong opinions regarding the issue.
PS Sister, one point suggested to me that you may think I personally don’t wear hijab…I advise you to be careful with your assumptions.
BarakAllaahufeeki, ukhti, Umm Kultoom. Thanks for taking time to clarify what you meant by your statements, and I ask Allah and you to forgive me if I misunderstood anything you said or if I offended you (or my other sisters in Islam) in any way. I also ask Allah to bless you for you love for His Religion and your desire to see the issue of hijab treated with justice and fairness.
I also thank you for taking time to respond to my comments, as so often we as Muslims are not able to dialogue on these issues because of misunderstandings and assumptions and all of our parts, and here I do not absolve myself from blame.
Regarding your “refutation” of parts of my article, I can only advise you as I did before: Make du’aa to Allah that He makes you understand what my article was about, for I truly believe if you do supplicate to Allah, you will find that when it comes to the issue of sin, you and I do not disagree and we both wish the same for our Muslim brothers and sisters: that Muslims, whether “hijabi” or “non-hijabi”, male or female, young or old, avoid giving themselves to sin.
As for the quote from me, “non-hijabis [are] very often on the top of the list [of sinning](though not necessarily always).” I’m sure you know that you inserted something in this quote that did not exist in my original statement. But as I re-read my statement, I can see how you may have understood my statement to mean that non-hijabis are often at the top of the list “of sinning.” I ask Allah to forgive me for not making myself clear.
What I meant was two things:
1. Sin is something all Muslims fall into, regardless of hijab, so at the very least whether someone is a “hijabi” or “non-hijabi” (I personally don’t like these terms), it is incorrect to assign sin to one group over the other when speaking of sin in GENERAL. And it is actually prohibited in Islam to mention a group of Muslims who adhere to an act of obedience to Allah (such as prayer or wearing hijab) and then, based on this category, connect them to disobedience–such that the listener will assume there is a correlation to obeying Allah and being involved in evil. For example, some people say, “Men who have beards are the WORST in character” or “People who pray backbite the MOST” or “Hijabis flirt with boys MORE than non-hijabis.” The underlying message (even if unintentional on our part) is this: “Obeying Allah [regarding the beard, prayer, or hijab] results in an increase in evil [thus those who don't do these things are a better group].” For proof of the prohibition to which I am referring, refer to the tafseer of At-Tawbah (9:65) as well as the circumstance of revelation for this verse.
2. I also meant this: With regards to the sins that YOU specifically mentioned “wearing behind-hugging pants/skirts/abayas, backbiting, swearing, cheating, praying late unnecessarily,lying, flirting with boys/men,” non-hijabis are often most guilty of SOME of these. For example, “hijabis” NEVER wear behind-hugging pants, skirts, or abayas, as the DEFINITION of “hijab” makes this impossible: When a woman wears revealing clothes in public (whether it’s pants or “abaya”), she becomes a “non-hijabi” even is she wears something on her head. “Hijab” comes with conditions; therefore, if any condition is missing, this is not hijab. Therefore, with regards to the sin of wearing revealing clothes, ONLY “non-hijabis” do this–due to the definition of “hijab” in Islam. Also, because hijab by extension also includes behavior (not talking or walking in a revealing manner), by default a non-hijabi is most likely to fall into the sin of prohibited interactions with men, as the conditions of hijab do not permit these activities. And it goes without saying that one of the GOALS of wearing revealing clothes is to get attention from men, and because revealing clothes is a type of “non-hijab”, these “non-hijabis” (even if they cover their hair) are MORE LIKELY to fall into sin with interacting with men.
If what you mean is that people who wear something on their head are guilty of wearing revealing clothes, flirting with boys, etc., then yes, this is true: The non-hijabis who cover their hair are certainly guilty of these sins. And, as you said, often the non-hijabis who don’t cover their hair are sometimes dressed more modestly than the non-hijabis who cover their hair.
Also, regarding the establishment of prayer: From pure statistical probability, a person who is already dressed and ready for prayer when she is in public (i.e. a hijabi) is more likely to guard her prayers than a person who has to remember to pack clothes so she can pray. If I forget my extra clothes (or prayer garment), then I must delay my Salaah until I can find something to cover myself. Thus, it is MORE LIKELY that a non-hijabi will struggle with prayer (though we all can struggle with this). Also, SOME non-hijabs are “non-hijabis” b/c they genuinely fear harm due to someone knowing they are Muslim (or they fear scorn from others, job loss, etc.); therefore, this fear is very LIKELY to make praying difficult (in public, at least, which is the only time hijab is an issue) since that same fear will, by default, keep the non-hijabi in this category from praying in public. (And finding a private place to pray is not always possible).
Regarding the other sins you mentioned, they are not related to hijab or “non-hijab” in any way, so I cannot make any generalizations, assumptions, or claims regarding one “group” or the other (though I view us all as one group: Muslims struggling to please Allah despite our faults). Personally, I believe we all equally struggle with the other sins, as we are all in need of Allah’s mercy and guidance in this regard.
That said, I do not believe that non-hijabis are MORE guilty of sin in general, and likewise I do not believe that hijabis are LESS guilty of sin in general. There is no way to measure such matters, and even if there were, I don’t see the benefit. Thus, I advise myself as I mentioned early: Do not look at someone and say “I could be better than that”; rather look inside your own soul and life and say “I could be better than THIS.”
Regarding my addressing other issues in my writings and speeches, you can press my name to get to my website. You’ll also find info on my books there. However, I pray to Allah that you will find NONE of my articles making a correlation between obeying Allah in any matter (whether it’s praying or wearing hijab) and indulging in evil(such as backbiting, flirting, etc.). It is sufficient to address each issue separately, as is often the approach in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and whoever of us is guilty (and we all are, depending on the sin) should seek Allah’s forgiveness with no concern about “Who else is guilty?”
Thank you for the reminder of fearing Allah with what I write. Please keep me and my writing in your du’aa and ask Allah to guide my words, forgive my sins, and keep me far away from saying or writing anything that will harm me in this life or the Next.
May Allah bless you for being a reminder to me and all believers about the ease of falling into error and imbalance.
May Allah give you Jannah without account.
love,
your sister in Islam
Umm Zakiyyah
ummzakiyyah.com
Alhamdulillah for this clarification: “For example, “hijabis” NEVER wear behind-hugging pants, skirts, or abayas, as the DEFINITION of “hijab” makes this impossible: When a woman wears revealing clothes in public (whether it’s pants or “abaya”), she becomes a “non-hijabi” even is she wears something on her head. “Hijab” comes with conditions; therefore, if any condition is missing, this is not hijab. Therefore, with regards to the sin of wearing revealing clothes, ONLY “non-hijabis” do this–due to the definition of “hijab” in Islam. Also, because hijab by extension also includes behavior (not talking or walking in a revealing manner), by default a non-hijabi is most likely to fall into the sin of prohibited interactions with men, as the conditions of hijab do not permit these activities. And it goes without saying that one of the GOALS of wearing revealing clothes is to get attention from men, and because revealing clothes is a type of “non-hijab”, these “non-hijabis” (even if they cover their hair) are MORE LIKELY to fall into sin with interacting with men.”
Salam Sister,
Interesting article and comments on here. I enjoyed reading it, Alhamdulilah.
However, I differ on a few things such as “Hijabi’s don’t wear pants, jeans, and skirts.” And a hijabi who does so is labeled as non-hijabi. I know tons of hijabi’s that don’t wear abaya (they eventually want to) yet they still dress modestly and are good-hearted people. It is not easy wearing abaya for some young women on a daily basis due to going to school, work, exercise, or other errrands they may do on a regular basis.
We should appreciate these young women for trying and wearing hijab in the first place, rather than judging them and making them feel inferior.
There are other topics I could to go into such as wearing very light make-up, perfume, and grooming eyebrows so as to not look like men, but i’d rather not.
Additionally, I used to wear the underpiece head-cap under my hijab but I don’t anymore because it gives me headaches and I have been losing alot of hair ever since (its been three years of wearing hijab, Alhamdulilah) I started wearing hijab. I also live in a hot region of the U.S. where my skin reacts negatively with excessive sweat build-up.
So should I be labeled as a “non-hijabi”, albeit that I am trying?
May Allah (aza wa jal) guide us always and grant us with clarification. Ameen.
As salaamu’alaikum, Sister.
Thanks for writing. For my response to your concerns, read my blog “Harms of Hijabi vs Non-Hijabi Grouping” that I wrote partly in direct response to comments/misconceptions in the comment section of this article. The direct link to “Harms of Hijabi vs Non-Hijabi Grouping” is here: http://www.saudilife.net/islam/87-challenges/14977-harms-of-hijabi-vs-non-hijabi-grouping
Feel free to respond directly on that link to any questions that are still unanswered.
Again, thank you for writing.
your sister in Islam,
Umm Zakiyyah
The Muslim Author
hi am going to highskool this september n i wanna start hijab but my older siblings r telling me not 2 because i’m going 2 a catholic skool n the people r very racist wat shud i do????
Sister, barakAllaahufeek.
May Allah bless and preserve you for striving to please Him despite the pressures from those whom you love. This can be a difficult test, but Allah is with those who are patient in doing what He loves. For sure, in any situation, if you have a choice between obeying Allah and obeying the people (even if they are family), the right choice is always to obey Allah. So, undoubtedly, Allah has put in your heart the desire to do what’s correct: You should wear your hijab to school.
May Allah keep you firm upon all that He loves. Always pray this dua: “O Allah, You who turns hearts, make my heart firm upon Your Religion.”
love, your sister in Islam
Umm Zakiyyah
themuslimauthor.com