Niqaab– from the lives of the pious

NIQAB FROM THE LIVES OF THE PIOUS 

The following are a few examples of purity from the lives of the pious:

• The Sahaba R.A. were the most God-fearing and high-ranking assembly, yet it is said to them in the Holy Qur’an:

When out of necessity you approach the house of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم and you are in a situation where you have to converse with his صلى الله عليه و سلم wives, do not enter their homes and do not lift your gaze, but, converse and ask for your requirements from behind a veil.

• Hadhrat Salim R.A. was a high ranking Sahabi and a household servant, Hadhrat Aisha R.A. did not observe Purdah in his presence because she knew it was not necessary for her to so in the presence of a servant. Hadhrat Salim R.A. stated:

I frequently visited Hadhrat Aisha R.A. to seek knowledge on Islam, being her servant, it was not necessary for her observe Purdah from me. One day I came into her presence and said:

‘O’ Mother of the Believers, please make supplication for me, that Allah (S) grant me barakah (blessings)’. Hadhrat Aisha R.A. asked, ‘what has happened, that you ask for me to supplicate for you?’ He replied, ‘today Allah سبحانه و تعالى has freed me, I am no longer a servant, I ask for you to supplicate for my new life’. Hadhrat Aisha R.A. replied, ‘May Allah سبحانه و تعالى grant you great barakah’, then she immediately pulled a curtain and went behind it to conceal herself, since that day Hadhrat Salim R.A. states I have never seen Hadhrat Aisha R.A.

Hadhrat Aisha R.A. was so steadfast and meticulous in observing the Purdah and abiding by the Shariah that as soon as Hadhrat Salim R.A. was freed and it became necessary for her to observe Purdah from him she immediately implemented the commandment of Allah سبحانه و تعالى.

• Hadhrat Umme Salama narrates: Once Hadhrat Maimoona and I were sitting in the blessed company of Rasullullah صلى الله عليه و سلم, when we saw that Hadhrat Abdullah ibne Maktoom R.A. was approaching, he was a high ranking and blind Sahabi, so great in rank that Allah سبحانه و تعالى has revealed Ayah’s on him upon Rasullullah صلى الله عليه و سلم. On seeing him approach, Rasullullah صلى الله عليه و سلم stated to them:

Observe Purdah and conceal yourselves, Hadhrat Maimoona R.A. asked, O’ Rasullullah صلى الله عليه و سلم is Hadhrat Abdullah ibne Maktoom R.A. not blind? He does not have the ability to see us. Rasullullah صلى الله عليه و سلم replied, are you both also blind, do you also not have the ability to see him.

• Hadhrat Sauda R.A. the wife of Rasullullah صلى الله عليه و سلم, had a step-brother from the same father, hence, it was not necessary for her to observe Purdah from him. However, a question arose when a man claimed to be his real father, stating he had fathered him prior to her mother marrying Hadhrat Sauda R.A.’s father, however, Hadhrat Sauda R.A.’s father claimed to be the real father. If the other man were the father then it would be necessary for Hadhrat Sauda to observe Purdah from him, as he would no longer be her stepbrother. This matter was brought forward to Rasullullah صلى الله عليه و سلم whom listened to both sides of the claims, and through the guidance of Shariah, Rasullullah صلى الله عليه و سلم verified that Hadhrat Sauda’s father was speaking the truth and he had rightful claim of fatherhood over Hadhrat Sauda’s stepbrother. However, Rasullullah صلى الله عليه و سلم gave the following advice to both Hadhrat Sauda R.A. and her stepbrother:

‘An indifference and doubt has arisen in your relationship of you being stepbrother and sister, it is better that you both safeguard yourselves by observing the laws of Purdah with each other’.

Hadhrat Muhaditheen R.A. have stated that Hadhrat Sauda R.A. is the Mother of Believers; she is the pure and virtuous wife of Rasullullah صلى الله عليه و سلم her rank and status is already in place. Her brother was such a Sahabi R.A., that from that moment on, until he passed away he observed Purdah from Hadhrat Sauda R.A. to such an extent that he never looked at her again.

Muslims are commanded to emulate the way of our beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم and the mother of Believers, his صلى الله عليه و سلم wives. To observe purdah is a beautiful and modest commandment, because by keeping the gaze lowered safeguards both a man and a woman from committing sins, drawing them closer to their Creator.

written by Taalibah

Status of wearing niqaab in Islam

English: Silk burqa, 2oth century (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

 

Q: What is the status of wearing niqaab in Islam? If a man knows that he will save himself from falling into sin, does he still have to observe purdah from women?

 

 

 

 

A: Wearing the niqaab is compulsory in Islam. The purpose of the niqaab is in order to protect one’s self from the evil gazes of strange men. Allah Ta’aala says in the Qur’aan:

 

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا (سورة الأحزاب 59)

 

“O Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), command your wives, daughters and the believing women to don the niqaab(veil)”.

 

In another verse, Allah Ta’aala while commanding the wives of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to adopt purdah and don the veil says:

 

 ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ (سورة الأحزاب 53)

 

“That (observing purdah) is better for the purity of your hearts and their hearts (i.e. the hearts of men)”.

 

Hadhrat Ummi Salmah (Radiallahu Anhaa) reported, “Once Maymoonah (Radiallahu Anhaa) and I were seated with Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), it was just then that Hadhrat Abdullah bin Ummi Maktoom (the blind Sahaabi) entered the presence of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) immediately commanded Maymoonah (Radiallahu Anhaa) and I to observe purdah from this Sahaabi. I said, “O Nabi of Allah Isn’t he blind and unable to see us (i.e. what is the need for us to make purdah from him)?” Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) retorted, “Are you two also blind?” (i.e. you are able to see him hence you need to observe purdah from him).

 

Hadhrat Ummi Salmah and Hadhrat Maymoonah (Radiallahu Anhuma) both are the wives of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and the mothers of the ummah. Despite them being the purest of women, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) instructs them to observe purdah in the golden era of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) even from a blind Sahaabi. How then can the women of this age and time, (i.e. times of fitnah) be exempt from this law?

 

Hadhrat Aisha (Radiallahu Anha) reports that during the farewell Hajj with Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), whenever men used to pass by us [the wives of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)] we used to conceal our faces with a cloth (in such a manner that the cloth would be suspended before our faces and not touch our faces) in order not be seen by the men. When the men used to pass then we used to lift the cloth.

 

Despite the men of the Sahaabah being so pure compared to the men of these times, yet the women of the Sahaabah were commanded to observe purdah from them. Which man can say that he is purer than a Sahaabi and hence he does not need to follow this injunction of deen.
We should understand that true success and happiness lies in total submission and obedience to Allah and His Rasul (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).

 

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

 

 

قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾ وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّـهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٣١﴾ (سورة النور)

 

وعن النواس بن سمعان قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : ” لا طاعة لمخلوق في معصية الخالق ” . رواه في شرح السنة (مشكوٰة المصابيح ص321)

 

عن عائشة قالت كان الركبان يمرون بنا ونحن مع رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- محرمات فإذا حاذوا بنا سدلت إحدانا جلبابها من رأسها إلى وجهها فإذا جاوزونا كشفناه.(رواه أبو داود 1/254)

 

عن أم سلمة قالت كنت عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعنده ميمونة فأقبل ابن أم مكتوم وذلك بعد أن أمرنا بالحجاب فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم احتجبا منه. فقلنا يا رسول الله أليس أعمى لا يبصرنا ولا يعرفنا فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم أفعمياوان أنتما ألستما تبصرانه (رواه أبو داود 2/568)

 

(بذل المجهود باب في المحرمة تغطي وجهها 3/121)

 

Answered by:

 

Mufti Zakaria Makada