Wearing the Ḥijāb/Niqāb & the Concept of Tabarruj

Wearing the Ḥijāb/Niqāb…

• shows one's submission to the laws of Allāh Taʿālā,

• awakens the fear of Allāh Taʿālā in the hearts of men and women and saves them from falling into evil (affairs, flirting, adultery etc.),

• teaches men to respect the veiled woman, provides her protection from the curious people and ensures the uplift of the high morals and social values in the society,

• is an identity of a Muslim woman that distinguishes her; it teaches her that she is in control of her body, who is permitted to see it and who is not,

• is a protection for Muslim women against the behaviour of the wicked,

• protects her from being used like a showpiece and a source of enjoyment for viewers,

• honours her status, raises her rank, and protects her dignity and personality,

• protects the whole society from the avenues of mischief and corruption appearing in it and the spreading of vile acts amongst its people and inhabitants.

What is 'Tabarruj'?

Allāh Taʿālā has stated in the Qur'ān:

{And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves immorally (la tabarajna tabarruj) like that of the Days of Ignorance. And establish the prayer and give the zakāh and obey Allāh and His Messenger.} [Sūra al-Aḥzāb: 33]

What does this verse mean? Let us read what the exegetes of the Qur'ān have commented:

The exegete, Imām Ibn Kathīr (raḥimahullāh) said: "Mujāhid said: ‘A woman would go out and walk amongst men (i.e. intermingling). This was the tabarruj of the Days of Ignorance.'

Qatādah said: 'The women would walk out, swaggering and flirting (with men) so Allāh Taʿālā forbade them from doing that.'

Muqātil said: ‘Tabarruj is when a woman places a khimār on her head, not fastening it properly so that it will conceal her necklace, earrings and neck. As a result of this, these are all exposed from her. This is tabarruj.'"

The exegete, Imām al-Qurṭubī (raḥimahullāh) said: "From the ways of tabarruj is that a woman wears two transparent garments that describe her (body)."

The exegete, Imām ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān as-Saʿdī (raḥimahullāh) said: "This (verse) means: Do not go out whilst you are beautified or perfumed, as the women of the Days of Ignorance used to do since they did not have any knowledge or religious characteristics."

The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: "And the worst of your women are the ones who commit tabarruj, who strut around in arrogance. They are the hypocrites. None from among them (i.e. these women) will enter Paradise except (those who are) like the rare crow (i.e. very little)" [Sunan of Imām Bayhaqī]

We ask Allāh Taʿālā to grant us the ability to avoid committing tabarruj. Āmīn.