THE CONDITIONS OF THE LEGAL (Legitimate ) VEIL
My sister in Islam: We draw the attention that the permissible veil (Al-Hijab by-Shariy) should have certain characteristics and conditions through which the Muslim woman can be specified (recognized) from among others. The best form for the veil is the garment (cloak) which should cover the whole body of the woman starting from the head down to the toes of her feet. Allah
states in the Qur'an that they should:
(يُدنين عليهنّ من جلابيبهن )
"Draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (when abroad)". (33:59)
Allah also says :
(وليضربن بخُمُرهن على جيوبهن)
"And to draw their veils over their bosoms" (24:31)
Further, Allah addressed only to the believing women to wear the veil by His Saying, "And say to the believing woman", as His saying in the Verse, "And the believing women".
From the point of view of Hadith, it was mentioned (narrated) that: Some women came to see Aiysha, (they entered Aiysha's room) while they had fine dresses on. However, Aiysha said:, "If you were believing women, then such would not be the suitable dress of the believing women, but if you were not, you can enjoy wearing it."
From the above foregoing, the lawful veil is the one which screens the whole body including the face and palms of the hands – such is not the veil through which a woman displays her charms by covering the head only while exposing her body and the face. We come to the conclusion that any dress whatsoever which covers the body including the head, exposing however, the complexion of the woman or increasing her body in volume or showing her charms to any body staring at her, would be deemed to be illicit because it makes the woman play her enchantment, and so it will contradict with the warning of Allah to man against the allurement of the Satan (devil) regarding the subject of clothing (dress). This meaning is depicted clearly in the
following Qur'anic Verses:
(يابني ءادم لا يفتننكم الشيطان كما أخرج أبويكم من الجنة ينزع عنهما لباسهما ليُريهما سوءاتهما إنه يراكم هو وقبيله من حيث لاترونهم)
"O Children of Adam! Let not Satan deceive you, as he got your parents (Adam and Eve out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiments, to show them their private parts. Verily, he and his tribe see you from a position where you cannot see them." (7:27)
Allah also says in the Qur'an:
(يا بني ءادم قد أنزلنا عليكم لباساً يُواري سوءاتكم وريشاً، ولباسُ التقوى ذلك خيرٌ ذلك من
ءايات الله لعلهم يذّكرون )
"O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts etc.) and as an adornment. But the raiment of righteousness that I better. Such are among the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, that they may remember (i.e, leave the falsehood and follow the Truth).(7:26)
Furthermore, Allah- The Almighty has warned man in several Quránic Verses and by the sayings of His prophets and Messengers against inciting of the damned Satan who by fraud and deceit succeeded in getting Adam and his wife out of the Paradise as well as stripping them off their raiments (dresses).
Now Satan is doing the same that he did to our forefather Adam, he is striving hard to persuade Adam's progeny, bidding them indecency, impeding them to behave according to the laws regulated by Allah and alluring mischief to them.
For this, and to avoid such devious actions, Allah legitimated the laws and made known to mankind the dress which hides the beauty and finery of woman; protects her dignity and safeguards her against the evils of error and the malicious incentives.
It suffices man that Allah has revealed the Qurán which is a healing and a mercy for him and which keeps (preserves his dignity and rights. He confers on man the right precepts to which if he adheres will never go astray, and made clear to men what harms them and what benefits them. To this limit of the rationale, we come to the following conditions upon which the legitimate (legal) veil should conform with:
First: The veil should cover the whole body of the woman including the face and palms of the hands, besides being fully beauty and finery proof (concealing).
Second: The covering must not be decorated or embellished with various colours but it should be of opaque material with only one colour so as not to be attractive or draw the attentions to.
Third: The covering should be opaque and loose and not to be translucent that reveals the woman's shape or what she is wearing underneath it.
Fourth: It should not be designed in simulation to the clothing of the non-believing women from te aspects of the new modes and fashions. This requires that shape and appearance of the covering should be ordinary and familiar.
Fifth: It should not be similar to manly fashions as regards to colour and design because Prophet Muhammad is reported as
having said that :
( لَعَنَ اللهُ المتشبهات من الرجال بالنساء والمُتشبهات من النساء بالرجال)
"Allah condemns those men who behave or act in a woman like fashion, and those women who behave or act in a man like fashion".
Sixth: The covering should be somewhat cheap and not so much costly which reflects the character of extravagancy, squandering and wasting of money – the fact which leads the woman to fall in hypocrisy and the eager desire for seeking reputation or fame. The Prophet says: " He who likes to be overwhelmed with reputation, Allah will reveal and make people know about his untrue intention, and he acts ostentatiously, Allah will also make a show of his unaccepted behavior (divulge his hiding aims).
Seventh: The covering should not have even a small amount of perfume nor it be slightly censed because it is not permissible for the Muslim woman to get perfumed and get out of her home.
The Prophet was reported to have said,
((كُلُ عين زانيةٌ والمرأة إذا استعطرت فمرّت بالمجلس فهي كذا))
"Every eye is adulterous and when a woman perfumes herself and passes a company, she is such and such (meaning adulterous)".
(Collected by At-Tirmidhee and Abu Dawood)