Hijab in the Light of the Quran and Hadith

HIJAB IN ISLAM Nasiruddin al-Albani, Hijab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah fil Kitab was-Sunnah [1914], 31) He states, moreover, that in Islam, the displaying of feminine attractions is a habit so essential to avoid that it has been bracketed in the scriptures along with such unlawful things as polytheism, adultery and theft. He has collected a number of traditions to support his argument. The third rule of the hijab, according to the writer, is that the garment should not be thin because a thin cloth can never provide cover. A diaphanous garment only accentuates a woman’s attraction and becomes a potential source of mischief. (Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, Hijab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah fil Kitab was-Sunnah [1914], 56) This tradition is self-explanatory. The fourth condition set by the writer is that the garment should be loose-fitting. He again supports his argument by quoting various sayings of the Prophet. Finally, he has given an instance where Fatimah (the Prophet’s daughter) expressed her disapproval of a dead woman being wrapped in such a shroud as might display her body as being a woman’s. He writes: “See for yourself how the dearest daughter of the Prophet considered the use of such a cloth detestable as would not properly drape feminine parts of a dead woman’s body. Certainly, such a garment for a living woman would be far worse.” (Muhammad Nasiruddin alAlbani, Hijab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah fil Kitab was-Sunnah [1914], 63)