Doubts About Wearing Hijab

Question:

A friend of mine has recently started wearing a scarf, and she came to me today to talk to me a about how she really feels now that she is wearing it. At first she was so strong and liberated, and I was so proud. But now she is staring to question why she actually has to wear it. And not only that, she was even thinking well is it that bad if she decides to take it off. She went away recently with her sister and she was so tempted to go clubbing. Now I don’t know how to reassure her. I tried my best. But I find it hard. I don’t know how to reassure her. Because when she was strong I felt empowered in a way and strong myself. But now I feel so confused. It’s probably really hard to understand what I’m trying to say. I’m confused. Can you help me??

Wa Alaykum Assalam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu,

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful & Compassionate

The company we keep is critical to our own spiritual development. It would be of benefit to this sister if you would spend time with her and keep her in the company of other righteous sisters.

From Shaykh Nuh’s excellent article (link to full text below):

““Say to believing women, that they cast down their eyes and guard their private parts, and reveal not their adornment save such as is outward; and let them drape their headcoverings over their bosoms, and not reveal their adornment . . .” (Qur’an 24:31)

… This is why Muslim women cover their heads: because the Qur’an unambiguously orders them to, and there is no qualifying text or hadith or even other lexical possibility to show that the Qur’anic order might mean anything besides obligation. Rather, the hadiths all bear this meaning out, Muslim scholars are in unanimous agreement about it and have been from the time of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) down to our own day, and it is even known by all non-Muslim peoples about them….”

Please see the following links related to your question about wearing hijab:

Why Hijab? – By Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller

http://www.sunnipath.com/Resources/Questions/QA00005070.aspx

The Islamic Veil or Hijab – jannah.org

http://www.jannah.org/sisters/hijab.html

The Hijab between Human Thought and Sacred Law http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00004649.aspx

Denying the Obligation of Wearing Hijab

http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00000162.aspx

Taking off the Hijab in Hostile America?
http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00000089.aspx

Convert's Hijab: The Question of Gradualism
http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00002055.aspx

The Following links discuss issues and rulings regarding the ‘nakedness’ of men and women:

The Fiqh of Covering One's Nakedness (Awra): A Detailed Explanation

http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00002279.aspx

Details on uncovered nakedness (awra) and the validity of prayer

http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00003047.aspx

Being Hanbali: A Muslim Woman's Awrah In Front of Non-Muslim Women

http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00001317.aspx

For a breakdown of the categories of rulings in the Sacred Law, please see the following link:

The Categories of Rulings

http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00000474.aspx

Wassalam,

SunniPath Fiqh Team