1he CuesLlon of Pl[ab Suppresslon Cr LlberaLlon?

Why do Musllm women have Lo cover Lhelr heads? 1hls quesLlon ls one whlch ls asked by Musllm and
nonMusllm allke lor many women lL ls Lhe LruesL LesL of belng a Musllm
1he answer Lo Lhe quesLlon ls very slmple Musllm women observe Pl!A8 (coverlng Lhe head and Lhe
body) because Allah has Lold Lhem Lo do so
C ropheL Lell your wlves and daughLers and Lhe bellevlng women Lo draw Lhelr ouLer garmenLs
around Lhem (when Lhey go ouL or are among men) 1haL ls beLLer ln order LhaL Lhey may be known (Lo
be Musllms) and noL annoyed noble Curan 3339
CLher secondary reasons lnclude Lhe requlremenL for modesLy ln boLh men and women 8oLh wlll Lhen
be evaluaLed for lnLelllgence and skllls lnsLead of looks and sexuallLy An lranlan school glrl ls quoLed as
saylng We wanL Lo sLop men from LreaLlng us llke sex ob[ecLs as Lhey have always done We wanL
Lhem Lo lgnore our appearance and Lo be aLLenLlve Lo our personallLles and mlnd We wanL Lhem Lo Lake
us serlously and LreaL us as equals and noL [usL chase us around for our bodles and physlcal looks A
Musllm woman who covers her head ls maklng a sLaLemenL abouL her ldenLlLy Anyone who sees her
wlll know LhaL she ls a Musllm and has a good moral characLer Many Musllm women who cover are
fllled wlLh dlgnlLy and self esLeem Lhey are pleased Lo be ldenLlfled as a Musllm woman As a chasLe
modesL pure woman she does noL wanL her sexuallLy Lo enLer lnLo lnLeracLlons wlLh men ln Lhe
smallesL degree A woman who covers herself ls conceallng her sexuallLy buL allowlng her femlnlnlLy Lo
be broughL ouL
1he quesLlon of Pl[ab for Musllm women has been a conLroversy for cenLurles and wlll probably
conLlnue for many more Some learned people do noL conslder Lhe sub[ecL open Lo dlscusslon and
conslder LhaL coverlng Lhe face ls requlred whlle a ma[orlLy are of Lhe oplnlon LhaL lL ls noL requlred A
mlddle llne poslLlon ls Laken by some who clalm LhaL Lhe lnsLrucLlons are vague and open Lo lndlvldual
dlscreLlon dependlng on Lhe slLuaLlon 1he wlves of Lhe ropheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) were
requlred Lo cover Lhelr faces so LhaL men would noL Lhlnk of Lhem ln sexual Lerms slnce Lhey were Lhe
MoLhers of Lhe 8ellevers buL Lhls requlremenL was noL exLended Lo oLher women
1he word Pl[ab comes from Lhe Arablc word ha[aba meanlng Lo hlde from vlew or conceal ln Lhe
presenL Llme Lhe conLexL of Pl[ab ls Lhe modesL coverlng of a Musllm woman 1he quesLlon now ls whaL
ls Lhe exLenL of Lhe coverlng? 1he Curan says
Say Lo Lhe bellevlng man LhaL Lhey should lower Lhelr gaze and guard Lhelr modesLy LhaL wlll make for
greaLer purlLy for Lhem and Allah ls well acqualnLed wlLh all LhaL Lhey do And say Lo Lhe bellevlng
women LhaL Lhey should lower Lhelr gaze and guard Lhelr modesLy and LhaL Lhey should noL dlsplay
Lhelr beauLy and ornamenLs excepL whaL musL ordlnarlly appear Lhereof LhaL Lhey should draw Lhelr
vells over Lhelr bosoms and noL dlsplay Lhelr beauLy excepL Lo Lhelr husbands noble Curan 243031
1hese verses from Lhe Curan conLaln Lwo maln ln[uncLlons
A woman should noL show her beauLy or adornmenLs excepL whaL appears by unconLrolled facLors such
as Lhe wlnd blowlng her cloLhes and
Lhe head covers should be drawn so as Lo cover Lhe halr Lhe neck and Lhe bosom
lslam has no flxed sLandard as Lo Lhe sLyle of dress or Lype of cloLhlng LhaL Musllms musL wear
Powever some requlremenLs musL be meL 1he flrsL of Lhese requlremenLs ls Lhe parLs of Lhe body
whlch musL be covered lslam has Lwo sources for guldance and rullngs flrsL Lhe Curan Lhe revealed
word of Allah and secondly Lhe PadlLh or Lhe LradlLlons of Lhe ropheL Muhammad (peace and
blesslngs be upon hlm) who was chosen by Allah Lo be Lhe role model for manklnd 1he followlng ls a
1radlLlon of Lhe ropheL
Ayshah reporLed LhaL Asma Lhe daughLer of Abu 8akr came Lo Lhe Messenger of Allah (peace and
blesslngs be upon hlm) whlle wearlng Lhln cloLhlng Pe approached her and sald C Asma! When a glrl
reaches Lhe mensLrual age lL ls noL properLhaL anyLhlng should remaln exposed excepL Lhls and Lhls Pe
polnLed Lo Lheface and hands Abu uawud
1he second requlremenL ls looseness 1he cloLhlng musL be loose enough so as noL Lo descrlbe Lhe
shape of Lhe womans body Cne deslrable way Lo hlde Lhe shape of Lhe body ls Lo wear a cloak over
oLher cloLhes Powever lf Lhe cloLhlng ls loose enough an ouLer garmenL ls noL necessary 1hlckness ls
Lhe Lhlrd requlremenL 1he cloLhlng musL be Lhlck enough so as noL Lo show Lhe color of Lhe skln lL
covers or Lhe shape of Lhe body 1he ropheL Muhammad (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) sLaLed LhaL
ln laLer generaLlons of hls ummah Lhere would be
women who would be dressed buL naked and on Lop of Lhelr heads (whaL looks llke) camel humps
Curse Lhem for Lhey are Lruly cursed Musllm
AnoLher requlremenL ls an overall dlgnlfled appearance 1he cloLhlng should noL aLLracL mens aLLenLlon
Lo Lhe woman lL should noL be shlny and flashy so LhaL everyone noLlces Lhe dress and Lhe woman ln
addlLlon Lhere are oLher requlremenLs
Women musL noL dress so as Lo appear as men
lbn Abbas narraLed 1he ropheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) cursed Lhe men who appear llke
women and Lhe women who appear llke men 8ukharl
Women should noL dress ln a way slmllar Lo Lhe unbellevers
1he cloLhlng should be modesL noL excesslvely fancy and also noL excesslvely ragged Lo galn oLhers
admlraLlon or sympaLhy
CfLen forgoLLen ls Lhe facL LhaL modern WesLern dress ls a new lnvenLlon Looklng aL Lhe cloLhlng of
women as recenLly as sevenLy years ago we see cloLhlng slmllar Lo Pl[ab 1hese acLlve and hardworklng
women of Lhe WesL were noL lnhlblLed by Lhelr cloLhlng whlch conslsLed of long full dresses and varlous
Lypes of head coverlng Musllm women who wear Pl[ab do noL flnd lL lmpracLlcal or lnLerferlng wlLh
Lhelr acLlvlLles ln all levels and walks of llfe Pl[ab ls noL merely a coverlng dress buL more lmporLanLly lL
ls behavlor manners speech and appearance ln publlc uress ls only one faceL of Lhe LoLal belng 1he
baslc requlremenL of Lhe Musllm womans dress apply Lo Lhe Musllm mans cloLhlng wlLh Lhe dlfference
belng malnly ln degree ModesLy requlres LhaL Lhe area beLween Lhe navel and Lhe knee be covered ln
fronL of all people excepL Lhe wlfe 1he cloLhlng of men should noL be llke Lhe dress of women nor
should lL be LlghL or provocaLlve A Musllm should dress Lo show hls ldenLlLy as a Musllm Men are noL
allowed Lo wear gold or sllk Powever boLh are allowed for women
lor boLh men and women cloLhlng requlremenLs are noL meanL Lo be a resLrlcLlon buL raLher a way ln
whlch socleLy wlll funcLlon ln a proper lslamlc manner
1he vlrLues of Pl[ab
1 An acL of obedlence
1he hl[ab ls an acL of obedlence Lo Allah and Lo hls propheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) Allah
says ln Lhe Curan
lL ls noL for a bellever man or woman when Allah and Pls messenger have decreed a maLLer LhaL Lhey
should have an opLlon ln Lhelr declslon And whoever dlsobeys Allah and Pls Messenger (peace and
blesslngs be upon hlm) has lndeed sLrayed ln a plaln errornoble Curan 3336
Allah also sald
And Lell Lhe bellevlng women Lo lower Lhelr gaze (from looklng aL forbldden Lhlngs) and proLecL Lhelr
prlvaLe parLs (from lllegal sexual acLs eLc) and noL Lo show off Lhelr adornmenL excepL whaL musL
(ordlnarlly) appear Lhereof LhaL Lhey should draw Lhelr vells over Lhelr !uyublhlnnah noble Curan
2431
!uyublhlnnah 1he respecLed scholars from AsSalaf AsSaleh (rlghLeous predecessors) dlffered wheLher
Lhe vell cover of Lhe body musL lnclude Lhe hands and face or noL 1oday respecLed scholars say LhaL Lhe
hands and face musL be covered CLher respecLed scholars say lL ls preferable for women Lo cover Lhelr
whole bodles
2 1he Pl[ab ls lllAP (ModesLy)
Allah made Lhe adherence Lo Lhe hl[ab a manlfesLaLlon for chasLlLy and modesLy Allah says
C ropheL! 1ell your wlves and your daughLers and Lhe women of Lhe bellevers Lo draw Lhelr cloaks
(vells) over Lhelr bodles (when ouLdoors) 1haL ls mosL convenlenL LhaL Lhey should be known and noL
molesLed noble Curan 3339
ln Lhe above Ayah Lhere ls an evldence LhaL Lhe recognlLlon of Lhe apparenL beauLy of Lhe woman ls
harmful Lo her When Lhe cause of aLLracLlon ends Lhe resLrlcLlon ls removed 1hls ls lllusLraLed ln Lhe
case of elderly women who may have losL every aspecL of aLLracLlon Allah made lL permlsslble for Lhem
Lo lay aslde Lhelr ouLer garmenLs and expose Lhelr faces and hands remlndlng however LhaL ls sLlll
beLLer for Lhem Lo keep Lhelr modesLy
3 1he hl[ab ls 1aharah (urlLy)
Allah had shown us Lhe hlkmah (wlsdom) behlnd Lhe leglslaLlon of Lhe hl[ab
And when you ask Lhem (Lhe ropheLs wlves) for anyLhlng you wanL ask Lhem from behlnd a screen
LhaL ls purer for your hearLs and Lhelr hearLs noble Curan 3333
1he hl[ab makes for greaLer purlLy for Lhe hearLs of bellevlng men and women because lL screens agalnsL
Lhe deslre of Lhe hearL WlLhouL Lhe hl[ab Lhe hearL may or may noL deslre 1haL ls why Lhe hearL ls
more pure when Lhe slghL ls blocked (by hl[ab) and Lhus Lhe prevenLlon of flLnah (evll acLlons ls very
much manlfesLed 1he hl[ab cuLs off Lhe lll LhoughLs and Lhe greed of Lhe slck hearLs
8e noL sofL ln speech lesL he ln whose hearL ls a dlsease (of hypocrlsy or evll deslre for adulLery eLc)
should be moved wlLh deslre buL speak ln an honorable manner noble Curan 3332
4 1he hl[ab ls a Shleld
1he propheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) sald Allah MosL Plgh ls Payle (8ashful) SlLLlr
(Shlelder) Pe loves Paya (8ashfulness) and SlLr (Shleldlng Coverlng) 1he ropheL (peace and blesslngs
be upon hlm) also sald Any woman who Lakes off her cloLhes ln oLher Lhan her husbands house (Lo
show off for unlawful purposes) has broken Allahs shleld upon her 1he hadlLh demonsLraLes LhaL
dependlng upon Lhe klnd of acLlon commlLLed Lhere wlll be elLher reward (lf good) or punlshmenL (lf
bad)
3 1he hl[ab ls 1aqwah (8lghLeousness)
Allah says ln Lhe Curan
C chlldren of Adam! We have besLowed ralmenL upon you Lo cover yourselves (screen your prlvaLe
parLs eLc) and as an adornmenL 8uL Lhe ralmenL of rlghLeousness LhaL ls beLLer noble Curan 726
1he wldespread forms of dresses ln Lhe world Loday are mosLly for show off and hardly Laken as a cover
and shleld of Lhe womans body 1o Lhe bellevlng women however Lhe purpose ls Lo safeguard Lhelr
bodles and cover Lhelr prlvaLe parLs as a manlfesLaLlon of Lhe order of Allah lL ls an acL of 1aqwah
(rlghLeousness)
6 1he hl[ab ls Leman (8ellef or lalLh)
Allah dld noL address Pls words abouL Lhe hl[ab excepL Lo Lhe bellevlng women AlMomlnaL ln many
cases ln Lhe Curan Allah refers Lo Lhe Lhe bellevlng women Alsha Lhe wlfe of Lhe propheL (peace and
blesslngs be upon hlm) addressed some women from Lhe Lrlbe of 8anu 1amlm who came Lo vlslL her
and had llghL cloLhes on Lhem Lhey were lmproperly dressed lf lndeed you are bellevlng women Lhen
Lruly Lhls ls noL Lhe dress of Lhe bellevlng women and lf you are noL bellevlng women Lhen en[oy lL
7 1he hl[ab ls Payah (8ashfulness)
1here are Lwo auLhenLlc hadlLh whlch sLaLe Lach rellglon has a morallLy and Lhe morallLy of lslam ls
hayah Anu 8ashfulness ls from bellef and bellef ls ln Al!annah (paradlse) 1he hl[ab flLs Lhe naLural
bashfulness whlch ls a parL of Lhe naLure of women
8 1he hl[ab ls Cheerah
1he hl[ab flLs Lhe naLural feellng of Cheerah whlch ls lnLrlnslc ln Lhe sLralghL man who does noL llke
people Lo look aL hls wlfe or daughLers Cheerah ls a drlvlng emoLlon LhaL drlves Lhe sLralghL man Lo
safeguard women who are relaLed Lo hlm from sLrangers 1he sLralghL MuSLlM man has Cheerah for
ALL MuSLlM women ln response Lo lusL and deslre men look (wlLh deslre) aL oLher women whlle Lhey
do noL mlnd LhaL oLher men do Lhe same Lo Lhelr wlves or daughLers 1he mlxlng of sexes and absence
of hl[ab desLroys Lhe Cheerah ln men lslam conslders Cheerah an lnLegral parL of falLh 1he dlgnlLy of
Lhe wlfe or daughLer or any oLher Musllm woman musL be hlghly respecLed and defended
1he CbllgaLory CondlLlons lor An lslamlc Pl[ab
1 Coverlng ALL Cf 1he 8ody
lL ls an agreed poslLlon by many respecLed scholars LhaL Lhe face and hands of Lhe woman musL be
covered Some scholars say lL ls permlsslble Lo uncover Lhe face and Lhe hands of Lhe woman as long as
Lhere ls no flLnah (lnfaLuaLlon) caused by Lhls acLlon 1wo Lhlngs musL be Laken lnLo conslderaLlon
lf she ls beauLlful and beauLlfles her face and hands wlLh exLernal subsLances or
1he socleLy around her ls corrupL where men do noL lower Lhelr gaze Lhen lL ls prohlblLed for her Lo
uncover her face and hands
Cn Lhe auLhorlLy of Lhe wlfe of Lhe propheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) umm Salamah sald
When Lhe verse was revealed LhaL Lhey should casL Lhelr ouLer garmenLs over Lhelr bodles was
revealed Lhe women of Ansar came ouL as lf Lhey had crows over Lhelr heads by wearlng ouLer
garmenLs
2 1he hl[ab musL noL be a dlsplay
1he hl[ab lLself musL noL be a dlsplay Allah ordalned lL so as Lo cover Lhe beauLy of women and noL for
showlng off Allah says
And noL show of Lhelr adornmenL excepL only LhaL whlch ls apparenL noble Curan 2431
Anu
And sLay ln your houses and do noL dlsplay yourselves llke LhaL of Lhe Llmes of lgnorancenoble Curan
3333
lL ls ln no way loglcal LhaL Lhe hl[ab lLself be a source of dlsplay
3 1he hl[ab musL noL be LransparenL
1he purpose of wearlng hl[ab musL be achleved ln order for Lhe hl[ab Lo be a cover lL musL noL be made
of LransparenL maLerlal maklng Lhe woman covered only by name whlle ln reallLy she ls naked 1he
propheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) ls quoLed as saylng
ln Lhe laLesL parL of my ummah (naLlon of Musllms) Lhere shall be women who would be naked ln splLe
of belng dressed Lhey have Lhelr halr hlgh llke Lhe humps of Lhe 8ukhL camel curse Lhem for Lhey are
cursed 1hey wlll noL enLer Al!annah and would noL even percelve lLs odor alLhough lLs fragrance can
be percelved from a dlsLance of 300 years Lravellng by camel
1hls lndlcaLes LhaL a woman could cause herself a grave and desLrucLlve sln lf she puLs on a garmenL LhaL
ls Lhln and LransparenL and whlch clearly shapes her bodys feaLures
4 Pl[ab musL be roomy and noL LlghL
1he hl[ab ls a safeguard agalnsL flLnah lf lL ls LlghL lL wlll be descrlpLlve of Lhe womans body and Lhls
vlolaLes and defeaLs Lhe whole purpose of hl[ab
3 1he hl[ab musL noL be perfumed
Cn Lhe auLhorlLy of Adulya AlMaqdlsl Lhe propheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) sald
Any woman who perfumes herself and passes by some people LhaL Lhey smell her scenL Lhen she ls a
Zanlyah (adulLeress)
6 1he hl[ab shouldnL resemble Lhe dress of a man
lmam Ahmed annasal reporLed Lhe propheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) Lo have sald
Women who assume Lhe manners of men are noL from us and also Lhose of men who assume Lhe
manners of women
Abu Puralrah narraLed LhaL 1he ropheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) Cu8SLu Lhe man who
wears Lhe dress of a woman and Lhe woman who wears Lhe dress of a man
7 1he hl[ab musL noL resemble Lhe garmenLs of Lhe kuffar
Abu uawud and Ahmed have relaLed Lhe propheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) sald
1he one who Lake Lhe slmlllLude (manner) of a cerLaln people Lhen he/she becomes one of Lhem
Abdullah bln umar sald 1he ropheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) saw me wearlng Lwo garmenLs
dyed ln saffron (orange) whereupon he sald Lhese are Lhe cloLhes (usually worn) by Lhe kuffar so do
noL wear Lhem
8 1he hl[ab should noL be for fame
Abu uawud and lbn Ma[ah have relaLed Lhe propheL Lo saylng
1he one who wears a garmenL deslgned for a worldly fame Allah wlll make Lhem wear a garmenL of
humlllLy on Lhe uay Cf 8esurrecLlon Lhen he wlll be seL ablaze
1he garmenL of fame ls any garmenL a person wears Lo make Lhemselves look famous 1hls applles
wheLher Lhe garmenL ls hlghly preclous and shows admlraLlon Lo Lhe llfe of Lhls world or lf lL ls chosen of
a low quallLy Lo show lack of lnLeresL Lo Lhls worldly llfe 1he person may puL on cloLhes wlLh dlsLlncL
colors so as Lo draw aLLenLlon acL proudly and/or arroganLly
9 Concealed ways of dlsplay
Lxamlnlng Lhe varlous condlLlons abouL Lhe hl[ab one can clearly recognlze LhaL many of Lhe young
Musllm women are noL fulfllllng Lhese condlLlons Many [usL Lake halfway measures whlch noL only
mocks Lhe communlLy ln whlch she llves buL also mocks Lhe commands of Allah 1hey conslder whaL
Lhey puL on now wrongly as hl[ab So C Musllms be mlndful Lo Allah and Pls Messenger (peace and
blesslngs be upon hlm) and do noL decelved by Lhose who bless Lhls acLlon of yours and conceal Lhelr
Lrue lnLenLlons uo noL be decelved and Lhere ls no excuse Lo follow Lhe evll
lf you are slncere ln achlevlng Al!annah Lhen be mlndful of Lhese Lhlngs lnshaAllah
Llbas (uress) 1he lace vell
8y ur 8llal hlllps
1he followlng LexL ls an edlLed LranslaLlon of a summary of ar8add alMufhlm by Shelkh naslruddeen al
Albanl found ln pages 320 of Lhe lnLroducLlon of hls book !llbab alMarah alMusllmah 3rd edlLlon
1996 alMakLabah allslamlyyah 1he maln errors of Lhose who make Lhe face vell obllgaLory
1he lnLerpreLaLlon of alldnaa ln Lhe verse of Lhe !llbab Lo mean coverlng Lhe face
1hls mlslnLerpreLaLlon ls conLrary Lo Lhe baslc meanlng of Lhe word ln Arablc whlch ls Lo come close as
ls menLloned ln auLhorlLaLlve dlcLlonarles llke alMufradaaL by Lhe wellknown scholar ar8aghlb al
Asbahanl Powever Lhere ls sufflclenL evldence ln Lhe lnLerpreLaLlon of Lhe leadlng commenLaLor on Lhe
Curan lbn Abbas who explalned Lhe verse saylng She should brlng Lhe !llbab close Lo her face wlLhouL
coverlng lL lL should be noLed LhaL none of Lhe narraLlons used as evldence Lo conLradlcL Lhls
lnLerpreLaLlon are auLhenLlc
1he lnLerpreLaLlon of !llbab as a garmenL whlch covers Lhe face
Llke Lhe prevlous mlslnLerpreLaLlon Lhls lnLerpreLaLlon has no basls llngulsLlcally lL ls conLrary Lo Lhe
lnLerpreLaLlon of Lhe leadlng scholars pasL and presenL who deflne Lhe !llbab as a garmenL whlch
women drape over Lhelr head scarves (khlmar) Lven Shelkh aL1uwal[rl hlmself narraLed Lhls
lnLerpreLaLlon from lbn Masud and oLher Salafl scholars Al8aghawl menLloned lL as Lhe correcL
lnLerpreLaLlon ln hls 1afslr vol 3 p 318 saylng lL ls Lhe garmenL whlch a woman covers herself wlLh
worn above Lhe dress (dlr ) and Lhe headscarf lbn Pazm also sald 1he !llbab ln Lhe Arablc language ln
whlch Lhe Messenger of Allah (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) spoke Lo us ls whaL covers Lhe whole
body and noL [usL a parL of lL vol 3 p 217 AlCurLubl declared Lhls correcL ln hls 1afslr and lbn kaLhlr
sald lL ls Lhe cloak worn above Lhe headscarf vol 3 p 318
1he clalm LhaL Lhe khlmar (headscarf) covers Lhe head and Lhe face
ln dolng so Lhe face has been arblLrarlly added Lo lLs meanlng ln order Lo make Lhe verse LeL Lhem
drape Lhelr headscarves over Lhelr bosoms appear Lo be ln Lhelr favor when ln facL lL ls noL 1he word
khlmar llngulsLlcally means only a head coverlng Whenever lL ls menLloned ln general Lerms Lhls ls
whaL ls lnLended lor example ln Lhe PadlLhs on wlplng (mash) on Lhe khlmar and Lhe propheLlc
sLaLemenL 1he salah of a woman pasL puberLy wlll noL be accepLed wlLhouL a khlmar 1hls PadlLh
conflrms Lhe lnvalldlLy of Lhelr mlslnLerpreLaLlon because noL even Lhe exLremlsLs Lhemselves much
less Lhe scholars use lL as evldence LhaL Lhe coverlng of a womans face ln salah ls a condlLlon for lLs
valldlLy 1hey only use lL as proof for coverlng Lhe head lurLhermore Lhelr lnLerpreLaLlon of Lhe verse of
Lhe Cawaald Lo remove Lhelr cloLhlng Lo mean !llbab furLher conflrms lL 1hey hold LhaL lL ls
permlsslble for old women Lo appear before marrlageable males ln her headscarf wlLh her face exposed
Cne of Lhelr noLable scholars openly sLaLed LhaL As for Shelkh aL1uwal[rl he lmplled lL wlLhouL acLually
saylng lL
AfLer checklng Lhe oplnlons of Lhe early and laLer scholars ln all Lhe speclallzaLlons l found LhaL Lhey
unanlmously hold LhaL Lhe khlmar ls a head coverlng l have menLloned Lhe names of more Lhan LwenLy
scholars among Lhem some of Lhe greaL lmams and PadlLh scholars lor example AbulWalld al8a[l (d
474 AP) who furLher added ln hls explanaLlon noLhlng should be seen of her besldes Lhe clrcle of her
face
1he clalm of a consensus (l[ma) on Lhe face belng consldered Awrah
Shelkh aL1uwal[rl clalmed LhaL scholars unanlmously held LhaL Lhe womans face was Awrah and many
who have no knowledge lncludlng some hu holders have bllndly followed hlm ln facL lL ls a false
clalm whlch no one before hlm has clalmed 1he books of PamballLe scholars whlch he learned from
noL Lo menLlon Lhose of oLhers conLaln sufflclenL proof of lLs falsehood l have menLloned many of Lhelr
sLaLemenLs ln Ar8add lor example lbn Pubayrah alPamball sLaLed ln hls book allfsah LhaL Lhe face ls
noL consldered Awrah ln Lhe Lhree maln schools of lslamlc law and he added lL ls also a narraLed
poslLlon of lmam Ahmad Many PamballLe scholars preferred Lhls narraLlon ln Lhelr books llke lbn
Cudamah and oLhers lbn Cudamah ln alMughnl explalned Lhe reason for hls preference saylng
8ecause necesslLy demands LhaL Lhe face be uncovered for buylng and selllng and Lhe hands be
uncovered for Laklng and glvlng
Among Lhe PamballLe scholars ls Lhe greaL lbn Mufllh alPamball abouL whom lbn Cayylm al!awzlyyah
sald 1here ls no one under Lhe dome of Lhe sky more knowledgeable abouL Lhe school of lmam Ahmad
Lhan lbn Mufllh And hls Leacher lbn 1aymlyyah once Lold hlm ?ou arenL lbn Mufllh you are
Mufllh!
lL ls lncumbenL on me Lo convey lbn Mufllhs sLaLemenLs for Lhe readers because of Lhe knowledge and
many beneflLs conLalned ln Lhem lncluded ln Lhem ls furLher conflrmaLlon of Lhe falsehood of Shelkh aL
1uwal[rls clalm and supporL for Lhe correcLness of my poslLlon on Lhe lssue of uncoverlng Lhe face lbn
Mufllh sLaLed Lhe followlng ln hls valuable work alAdab ashSharlah whlch ls among Lhe references
clLed by Shelkh aL1uwal[rl (someLhlng whlch lndlcaLes LhaL he ls aware of lL buL has dellberaLely hldden
Lhese cruclal facLs from hls readers whlle clalmlng Lhe conLrary)
ls lL correcL Lo chasLlse marrlageable women lf Lhey uncover Lhelr faces ln Lhe sLreeL?
1he answer depends on wheLher lL ls compulsory for women Lo cover Lhelr faces or wheLher lL ls
compulsory for men Lo lower Lhelr gaze from her 1here are Lwo poslLlons on Lhls lssue
8egardlng Lhe PadlLh of !arlr ln whlch he sald l asked Allahs Messenger abouL Lhe sudden lnadverLenL
glance and he lnsLrucLed me Lo look away AlCadl lyad commenLed 1he scholars May Allah MosL
Plgh have mercy on Lhem have sald LhaL Lhere ls proof ln Lhls PadlLh LhaL lL ls noL compulsory for a
woman Lo cover her face ln Lhe sLreeL lnsLead lL ls a recommended sunnah for her Lo do so and lL ls
compulsory for Lhe man Lo lower hls gaze from her aL all Llmes excepL for a leglslaLed purpose Shelkh
Muhyuddln annawawl menLloned LhaL wlLhouL furLher explanaLlon 1hen alMufllh menLloned lbn
1almlyyahs sLaLemenL whlch aL1uwal[rl relles on ln hls bookpage 170 whlle felgnlng lgnorance of Lhe
sLaLemenLs of Lhe ma[orlLy of scholars SLaLemenLs llke Lhose of alCadl lyad and annawawls
agreemenL wlLh lL
1hen alMufllh sald Cn Lhe basls of LhaL ls chasLlsemenL legal? ChasLlsemenL ls noL allowed ln lssues ln
where Lhere ls a dlfference of oplnlon and Lhe dlfference has already been menLloned As regards our
oplnlon and LhaL of a group of ShafllLe scholars and oLhers looklng aL a marrlageable woman wlLhouL
deslre or ln a secluded clrcumsLance ls permlsslble 1herefore chasLlsemenL ls noL proper
1hls answer ls ln compleLe agreemenL wlLh lmam Ahmads sLaLemenL lL ls noL proper LhaL a [urlsL
obllge people Lo follow hls oplnlon (maLhhab) And Lhls ls lf Lhe LruLh were on hls slde WhaL of Lhe
case where Lhe [urlsL proudly dlshonesLly mlsleads people and declares oLher Musllms Lo be
dlsbellevers as aL1uwal[rl dld on page 249 of hls book saylng
Whoever permlLs women Lo expose Lhelr faces and uses Lhe proofs of alAlbanl has flung open Lhe
door for women Lo publlcly flaunL Lhelr beauLy and emboldened Lhem Lo commlL Lhe reprehenslble acLs
done by women who uncover Lhelr faces Loday And on page 233 he sald and Lo dlsbellef ln Lhe
verses of Allah
1hose are hls words May Allah reform hlm and gulde hlm WhaL would he say abouL lbn Mufllh an
nawawl alCadl lyad and oLher alesLlnlan scholars as well as Lhe ma[orlLy of scholars who preceded
Lhem and who are my salaf regardlng my oplnlon on Lhls maLLer?
1he agreemenL of aL1uwal[rl and Lhe exLremlsLs wlLh hlm Lo explaln away Lhe auLhenLlc PadlLhs whlch
conLradlcL Lhelr oplnlon
AL1uwal[rl dld Lhls wlLh Lhe khaLhamlyyah PadlLh 1hey developed a number of comlcal meLhods Lo
nulllfy lLs lmpllcaLlons l have refuLed Lhem all ln ar8add and one of Lhem ln !llbab alMarah al
Musllmah Some repuLable scholars have sald LhaL Lhe PadlLh doesnL conLaln a clear sLaLemenL LhaL her
face was exposed 1hls ls among Lhe farLhesL oplnlons from Lhe LruLh lor lf her face wasnL exposed
where dld Lhe narraLor or Lhe vlewer geL Lhe ldea LhaL she was beauLlful? And whaL was alladl
repeaLedly looklng aL? 1he LruLh ls LhaL Lhls ls among Lhe sLrongesL and mosL clear proofs LhaL a
womans face ls noL Awrah ln splLe of LhaL Lhere remalns a group LhaL lnslsLs LhaL she was ln lhram
whlle knowlng LhaL her lhram does noL prevenL her from draplng some of her cloLhlng over her face AL
1uwal[rl does accepL someLlmes LhaL her face was uncovered buL he cancels lLs lmpllcaLlon by saylng
1here ls no evldence ln lL LhaL she conLlnuously exposed her face! Pe means LhaL Lhe wlnd musL have
exposed her face and aL LhaL lnsLanL alladl lbn Abbas saw lL ls lL posslble for an Arab Lo say LhaL afLer
readlng ln Lhe PadlLh alladl began Lo sLare whlle Lurnlng Lowards her and ln anoLher narraLlon so
he began Lo look aL her and her beauLy amazed hlm lsnL Lhls prlde wlLh Lwo proLrudlng horns? AL
oLher Llmes aL1uwal[rl lnLerpreLs lL as alladl looklng aL her slze and sLaLure
1he frequenL use of lnauLhenLlc PadlLhs and unrellable narraLlons
lor example Lhe PadlLh of lbn Abbas abouL exposlng only one eye ls commonly used by Lhose who
lnslsL LhaL women are obllged Lo cover Lhelr faces ln splLe of Lhelr knowledge of lLs lnauLhenLlclLy ln
facL one among Lhem also declared lL lnauLhenLlc erhaps Lhe mosL lmporLanL of Lhese unrellable
PadlLh commonly used as evldence ls Lhe one ln whlch Lhe ropheL ls reporLed Lo have sald Are you
boLh bllnd? 1hey bllndly followed aL1uwal[rl and Lhe oLhers ln clalmlng LhaL Lhls lnauLhenLlc narraLlon
was sLrengLhened by oLher supporLlve narraLlons and LhaL lL was evldence for Lhe prohlblLlon of women
from looklng aL men even lf Lhey are bllnd 1hey Look Lhls poslLlon ln splLe of Lhe facL LhaL Lhe narraLlon
was classlfled lnauLhenLlc by Lhe leadlng verlflcaLlon experLs among Lhe PadlLh scholars llke lmam
Ahmad al8ayhaql and lbn Abdll8arr AlCurLubl relaLed LhaL Lhe narraLlon was noL consldered
auLhenLlc among Lhe scholars of PadlLh ConsequenLly many alesLlnlan hamballLe scholars made Lhelr
rullngs on LhaL basls lurLhermore LhaL ls whaL Lhe sclence of PadlLh and lLs meLhodology requlres as
was clearly sLaLed ln allrwaa Powever ln splLe of all LhaL evldence Lo Lhe conLrary Shelkh AbdulCadlr
asSlndl had Lhe nerve Lo go along wlLh Shelkh aL1uwal[rl and oLhers and clalm LhaL lLs chaln of
narraLlon was auLhenLlc 8y dolng LhaL he exposed hlmself and hls lgnorance or felgned lgnorance lL ls
unforLunaLe LhaL he Look Lhls poslLlon because Lhe PadlLhs chaln conLalns an unknown narraLor from
whom only one person narraLed along wlLh lLs conLradlcLlon Lo whaL leadlng scholars have narraLed
ConLrary Lo Lhe level of scholarshlp LhaL we are used Lo from Shelkh asSlndl he has broughL ln supporL
of hls clalm Lhe mosL amazlng Lhlngs Pe argumenLs unexpecLedly conLaln decepLlon mlsguldance bllnd
followlng hldlng knowledge and Lurnlng away from hls own fundamenLal prlnclples Among Lhe amazlng
poslLlons ls Shelkh asSlndls felgned lgnorance LhaL Lhe narraLlon conLradlcLs Lhe PadlLh of laLlmah blnL
Cals whlch conLalns Lhe ropheLs permlsslon for her Lo sLay aL Lhe home of Lhe bllnd companlon lbn
umm alMakLum whom she would be able see 1he ropheL gave Lhe reason for LhaL lnsLrucLlon ln hls
sLaLemenL Lo her lor lf you Lake off your head scarf he wonL see you ln aL1abaranls narraLlon from
laLlmah she sald Pe lnsLrucLed me Lo be aL lbn umm MakLums home because he couldnL see me
whenever l Look my head scarf off
1here are also a number of oLher unrellable PadlLhs gaLhered by aL1uwal[rl ln hls book l menLloned Len
of Lhem ln my response and among Lhem are some fabrlcaLed LradlLlons
1he classlflcaLlon of some auLhenLlc PadlLhs and conflrmed narraLlons from Lhe Companlons as
lnauLhenLlc
1he exLremlsLs have declared wellesLabllshed rellable narraLlons as unrellable and felgned lgnorance of
sLrengLhenlng narraLlons 1hey have furLher declared some narraLlons exLremely lnauLhenLlc llke Lhe
PadlLh of Ayshah concernlng Lhe woman who reaches puberLy noLhlng should be seen of her besldes
her face and hands 1hey have perslsLenLly declared lL lnauLhenLlc Lhe lgnoranL among Lhem bllndly
followlng oLhers devold of knowledge ln so dolng Lhey conLradlcL Lhose among Lhe leadlng scholars of
PadlLh who sLrengLhen lL llke Al8ayhaql and ALh1hahabl MosL of Lhem lncludlng some promlnenL
scholars felgn lgnorance of lLs varlous chalns of narraLlon ln facL aL1uwal[rl openly sLaLed on page 236
of hls book LhaL Lhls sLaLemenL was only narraLed ln Ayshahs PadlLh Lven Lhough he has seen wlLh hls
own eyes on pages 379 of my book Lwo oLher chalns one of whlch ls from Asma blnL umays and Lhe
oLher from CaLadah ln Lhe abbrevlaLed (Mursal) formaL wlLh an auLhenLlc chaln of narraLlon Many of
Lhe bllnd followers followed hlm lncludlng some female auLhors as ln Pl[abukl ukhLl almusllmah ?our
vell my slsLer Musllm page 33
1hey also preLend Lo be lgnoranL of Lhe leadlng PadlLh scholars and oLhers who sLrengLhened lL llke al
MunLhlrl azZaylal alAsqlanl and ashShawkanl Some of Lhose who promoLe Lhemselves as belng
among Lhe well versed ln Lhls noble sclence ln Lhelr forefronL Shelkh asSlndl clalm LhaL some of lLs
narraLlons are exLremely weak and unrellable ln order Lo escape from Lhe PadlLh sclence rule LhaL
unrellable narraLlons are sLrengLhened by narraLlons slmllar Lo Lhem ln dolng LhaL Lhey delude Lhelr
readers lnLo Lhlnklng LhaL no one ruled Lhe weak narraLors llke Abdullah lbn Lahlah LrusLworLhy and
LhaL Lhey cannoL be used as supporLlve evldence ln dolng LhaL Lhey conLradlcL Lhe meLhodology of Lhe
PadlLh scholars ln uslng supporLlve evldence Among Lhem ls lmam Ahmad and lbn 1aymlyyah may
Allah have mercy on Lhem Llkewlse Lhey all felgn lgnorance LhaL Lhe scholars among Lhem lmam ash
Shafll conflrm Lhe PadlLh Mursal lf mosL scholars use lL as evldence as ls Lhe case of Ayshahs PadlLh
CLher sLrengLhenlng facLors may be added Lo Lhe above
1he PadlLh has been narraLed by CaLadah from Ayshah
lL has been narraLed ln anoLher chaln from Asma
All Lhree narraLors of Lhe PadlLh ruled accordlng Lo lL
CaLadah sLaLed ln hls lnLerpreLaLlon of Lhe verse on draplng Allah has placed on Lhem Lhe requlremenL
Lo cover Lhe eyebrows 1haL ls and noL on Lhelr faces as sLaLed by aL1abarl Ayshah sald regardlng
Lhe female ln lhram She may drape Lhe garmenL on her face lf she wlshes 1hls was narraLed by al
8ayhaql ln an auLhenLlc chaln of narraLors 1here ls clear evldence ln Ayshahs glvlng Lhe female pllgrlm a
cholce ln draplng LhaL ln her oplnlon Lhe face was noL Awrah CLherwlse she would have made lL
obllgaLory on Lhem as Lhose who conLradlcL lL do 8ecause of Lhelr poslLlon mosL of Lhe exLremlsL
auLhors wlLh aL1uwal[rl ln Lhe forefronL hld Lhls sLaLemenL of umm alMumlnln Ayshah from Lhelr
readers 1he auLhor of laslulkhlLab 1he ueflnlLlve SLaLemenL dellberaLely deleLed Lhls porLlon of al
8ayhaqls narraLlon ln hls book 1hls belng only one of a number of slmllar dlsrepuLable acLs whlch l have
exposed ln my book 1he supporLlve evldence ls LhaL Lhls auLhenLlc narraLlon from her sLrengLhens her
PadlLh from Lhe ropheL 1hls ls among Lhe facLs LhaL people are unaware of or Lhey preLend lgnorance
of elLher cholce ls blLLer Lo swallow
As for Asma lL has been auLhenLlcally reporLed from Cays lbn Abl Pazlm LhaL he saw her as a woman of
whlLe complexlon wlLh LaLLoos on her hands
1he narraLlon of lbn Abbas earller menLloned She should pull Lhe !llbab (cloak) close Lo her face
wlLhouL puLLlng lL on her face
Pls lnLerpreLaLlon of Lhe verse of adornmenL excepL whaL appears from lL as referrlng Lo Lhe face
and hands was slmllar 1here ls also a slmllar narraLlon from lbn umar Lo Lhe same effecL
AL Lhls polnL a blLLer reallLy musL be noLed due Lo Lhe lessons whlch may be galned from lL Lhe
knowledge whlch lL conLalns and ls servlce as a remlnder of Lhe wlse saylng 1he LruLh ls noL known by
people know Lhe LruLh and you wlll know people
AL Lhe same Llme LhaL Shelkh aL1uwal[rl lnslsLs on re[ecLlng Lhe PadlLh of Ayshah and lLs supporLlng
evldences among Lhem CaLadahs Mursal narraLlon he wllllngly accepLs anoLher lnauLhenLlc PadlLh
from her wlLh Mursal supporL ln LhaL PadlLh lL ls menLloned LhaL she wore a nlqab (face vell) and
LhaL she was supposed Lo have descrlbed Lhe ropheLs wlfe Saflyyah and Lhe Ansar women as a
[ewess among [ewesses whlch ls consldered by scholars Lo be a very erroneous sLaLemenL (munkar
[lddan) 1he Shelkh argues on page 181 lL has Mursal supporLlve evldence and quoLes one of Lhe
Mursal PadlLhs of ALa conLalnlng a known llar ln lLs chaln of narraLlon
Cne should reflecL on Lhe greaL dlfference beLween Lhls fabrlcaLed supporLlve evldence and Lhe
auLhenLlc supporLlve evldence of CaLadah furLher supporLed by oLher evldences Lhen ask Why dld aL
1uwal[rl accepL Lhe second PadlLh of Ayshah and noL Lhe flrsL? 1he obvlous answer ls LhaL Lhe accepLed
one conLalns reference Lo wearlng Lhe nlqab even Lhough lL does noL lndlcaLe obllgaLlon whlle Lhe
re[ecLed one denles lL 1hus ln Lhls regard Lhe Shelkh dld noL base hls poslLlon on lslamlc legal
prlnclples buL on someLhlng slmllar Lo Lhe !ewlsh prlnclple 1he ends [usLlfy Lhe means May Allah help
us
laclng unreasonable condlLlons
Among Lhe amazlng pracLlces of some laLLer day bllnd followlng hanaflLe scholars and oLhers ls LhaL on
one hand Lhey agree wlLh us regardlng Lhe permlsslblllLy of women exposlng Lhelr faces because LhaL
was Lhe poslLlon of Lhelr lmams buL on Lhe oLher hand Lhey agree wlLh Lhe exLremlsLs ln opposlLlon Lo
Lhelr lmams 1hey make l[Llhad (whlle clalmlng Laqlld) by addlng Lhe condlLlon LhaL Lhe socleLy be safe
from flLnah Lo Lhe poslLlon of Lhe lmams 1hls refers Lo Lhe flLnah caused by women Lo men 1hen one of
Lhe lgnoranL conLemporary bllnd followers wenL Lo Lhe exLreme of acLually aLLrlbuLlng Lhls condlLlon
Lo Lhe lmams Lhemselves Among some of Lhose havlng no knowledge Lhls resulLed ln Lhelr concludlng
LhaL Lhere ls essenLlally no dlfference beLween Lhe poslLlon of Lhe lmams and Lhe exLremlsLs
lL ls obvlous Lo [urlsLs LhaL Lhls condlLlon ls lnvalld because lL lmplles LhaL humans know someLhlng whlch
Lhe Lord mlssed knowlng 1haL ls Lhe LempLaLlon of women dld noL exlsL durlng Lhe Llme of Lhe ropheL
(peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) Lhus we had Lo creaLe a speclal rullng for lL whlch dld noL exlsL
prevlously ln facL Lhe flLnah dld exlsL durlng Lhe era of dlvlne leglslaLlon and Lhe sLory of alladl lbn
Abbas Lrlal wlLh Lhe khaLhamlyyah woman and hls repeaLed looklng aL her ls noL far from Lhe readers
memorles
lL ls well known LhaL when Allah MosL Plgh lnsLrucLed men and women Lo lower Lhelr gazes and
lnsLrucLed women Lo vell Lhemselves ln fronL of men Pe dld LhaL Lo block Lhe road Lo corrupLlon and
prevenL LempLaLlon ln splLe of LhaL Pe MosL CreaL and Clorlous dld noL command LhaL Lhey cover
Lhelr faces and hands ln fronL of Lhem 1he ropheL (peace and blesslngs be upon hlm) furLher
emphaslzed LhaL ln Lhe sLory of alladl by noL commandlng Lhe woman Lo cover her face And Allah was
LruLhful when Pe sald And your Lord ls noL forgeLful
1he reallLy ls LhaL Lhe condlLlon of Lhere noL belng flLnah was only menLloned by scholars regardlng Lhe
mans looklng aL Lhe womans face as ln alllqh ala almaLhahlb alarbaah page 12 1hey sald 1haL
Lhe womans face may be uncovered ls permlsslble on condlLlon LhaL Lhere ls safeLy from LempLaLlon
and LhaL ls Lrue conLrary Lo whaL Lhe bllnd followers pracLlce 1hey conclude from lL LhaL Lhe woman ls
obllged Lo cover her face when ln facL lL ls noL a necessary consequence 1hey know LhaL Lhe condlLlon
of safeLy from LempLaLlon also applles Lo women lor lL ls noL permlsslble for Lhem Lo sLare aL a mans
face excepL where Lhere ls safeLy from LempLaLlon ls lL Lhen a necessary consequence LhaL men also vell
Lhelr faces from women Lo prevenL LempLaLlon as some Lrlbes called Lhe 1awareg do
1hey would have a basls ln flqh of Lhe Curan and Sunnah lf Lhey sald LhaL a woman velled ln correcL
!llbab who fears belng harmed by some corrupL lndlvlduals due Lo her face belng exposed ls obllged Lo
cover her face Lo prevenL harm and LempLaLlon ln facL lL could even be sald LhaL lL ls obllgaLory on her
noL Lo leave her home lf she feared LhaL some evll auLhorlLles supporLed by a leader who does noL rule
by whaL Allah revealed as exlsLs ln some Arab counLrles slnce a few years ago would pull her !llbab
from her head As Lo maklng Lhls obllgaLlon a compulsory law for all women everywhere and ln all eras
even lf Lhere dld noL exlsL any harm for velled women no AbsoluLely noL Allah was LruLhful when Pe
sald uo Lhey have parLners who leglslaLed for Lhem ln Lhe rellglon whaL Allah dld noL permlL?
1hese are Lhe mosL slgnlflcanL of Lhe exLremlsL opposlLlons mlsLakes whlch l LhoughL needed brlef
menLlon due Lhelr sLrong llnk Lo Lhe conLenLs of Lhls book l Lhen closed ar8add alMufhlm wlLh a
remlnder LhaL exLremlsm ln Lhe rellglon conslderlng LhaL Lhe Wlse LeglslaLor forbade lL wlll noL brlng
any good And lL ls noL posslble for lL Lo produce a generaLlon of young Musllm women carrylng lslamlc
knowledge and pracLlce moderaLely balanced wlLh nelLher excesses nor deflclencles noL llke whaL l
have heard abouL some young female adherenLs ln Arab counLrles when Lhey heard Lhe ropheLs
sLaLemenL 1he woman ln lhram should nelLher wear a nlqab nor gloves Lhey dld noL accepL lL saylng
lnsLead We wlll wear our nlqabs and gloves! no doubL Lhls was a dlrecL resulL of Lhe exLremlsL vlews
whlch Lhey heard regardlng Lhe obllgaLlon of coverlng Lhelr faces
l cerLalnly cannoL lmaglne LhaL Lhls Lype of exLremlsm and Lhls ls only one example from many whlch l
have can posslbly produce for us Salafl women able Lo do everyLhlng Lhelr rellglously gulded soclal llfe
demands of Lhem ln a way slmllar Lo Lhe rlghLeous women of Lhe Salaf