Hijab in the Light of the Quran and Hadith

HIJAB IN ISLAM says that any similarity to non-believers must be avoided in matters of worship, festivals and dress. (Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, Hijab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah fil Kitab was-Sunnah [1914], 78) The Quran states this briefly, but the Sunnah provides the details. One of the verses of the Quran on which he bases this argument states that it is “so that they should not become like those who were given the Book before them, ...” (57:16) He quotes Ibn Taymiyya and Ibn Kathir, who construe this verse as meaning that imitation of non-believers is not allowed in Islam. Then he quotes the tradition in which the Prophet forbade adopting the ways of non-believers in prayers, funeral prayers, sacrifice, food, dress, etiquette, etc. (Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, Hijab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah fil Kitab was-Sunnah [1914], 80) The eighth rule of the hijab is that a woman’s garments should not reflect worldly honour. Here is a hadith to this effect: “One who wears the mantle of fame in this world will be made to wear the robe of dishonour in the hereafter.” (Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, Hijab al-Mar’ah alMuslimah fil Kitab was-Sunnah [1914], 80) His concluding remarks are: “The garment should cover the entire body of a woman except the face and hands and should not become an attraction in itself. Neither should