Fancy Burqa: Our versions of Hijab

By: Iftikhar Islam

Modernizing the way of the Mothers of the Believers and Sahaabiyaas is what we are noticing in these times. Death is uncertain, repent before it’s too late…

Have you come across the word “Fancy Burqa”. Can a burqa be fancy? No. A burqa can never be fancy. Hijab / Burqa and the word fancy are two opposites. They can never exist together. The main purpose of wearing hijab is to cover the body in such a way that no man should glance at them for the second time. But in our culture, especially in colleges, girls put on perfume with kilograms of makeup and ‘fancy scarf’ which adds feather to their beauty; even if they are covered they are in the trap of satan. In fact, I say, they are satans, ready to ignite their friends… Yes friends… In colleges we have the concept of friendship… “We are just friends and class mates” and “we talk for the purpose of learning”. How disgusting!! How satan has beautified the ways of sins. We don’t see sin as sin! I find this to be the most disgusting aspect of this generation!

Most of the burqas – almost all – are specially designed and laced. Some of them get a special customized designed burqas for themselves (for they don’t like others wearing the same design). Some of them purchase it from the store and give it for alteration, modification, according to their shape (not size). It is so narrowed from the hips– which makes them ‘ready-to-walk-on-ramps’ - it no longer remains Hijaab at all. All these types of burqas really show and indicate the person who is wearing it, how pious she is, what attitude she has towards the deen of Rasoolullah (Sallallaahualaihiwasallam). What concept of Hijaab they have… 

Some wear jeans and top with scarf, some wear leggings – tight bottom revealing the figure – and adds scarf to it, and think they are observing Hijab. Some even go to the extent of saying “Hijab is not compulsory in Islam”. There was an “Open Parents’ Day” in my brother’s school and I visited there to see his result. While I was submitting the result to his teacher who was a Muslim, a non-Muslim teacher, her colleague, asked her, “in your religion covering the head and face is compulsory?” The way a Muslim teacher responded to that question, I felt chagrined, even if our sisters who do not observe hijab do not remain silent when it comes to their negligence, she replied it is not compulsory, they (Muslim women) wear it like that (just for the sake of wearing). I interrupted and said: “No madam, it is compulsory in Islam” and she was quiet. 

Some even wear normal dresses and passes a new fatwa saying “Hijab is in the heart”. I say to these sisters, then why to wear clothes? Just say “Modesty is in our heart”. Even if I agree, for the sake of argument, Hijab is in the heart but what would you do if hijab is not there in your brothers’ (in humanity) heart? What will you do if he glances at you with an abnormal glance? It is as if you saying “Let me drive the vehicle without helmet, because I drive slowly and from the side of the road (following all the other rules)”….. Is it logical? The police will say “O sister, you may drive correct, but what about others who are there on their bikes?” How can you guarantee the other person will also drive slow and follow all the rules? What happens when someone accidentally hits you? What happens when we start breaking all the rules saying “it is in heart”.

By saying Hijab is in the heart, you are alleging the Sahaabiyaas who covered themselves. You are alleging the commandment of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and moreover you are alleging the commandment of Allah. Do you think you are more logical than Allah and his Messenger? You are more pious than the companions?? Or do you think the companions who observed hijab were outdated? The commandment of Allah and his Messenger (peace be upon him) is outdated?

Allah says “do not commit excess in your religion”. Only covering heads or merely wearing burqas or thinking if we “behave well”, is a complete hijab then you have misunderstood the concept of hijab. Don’t let yourselves unknowingly come under the ayah mentioned in the Quran “Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds!” {Surah Kahf (18):104} How pious you may be, your deeds are invalid unless you observe hijab, hijab of not our standards but the standards of the Sahaabiyaa. Allah glorified them and said “And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (sallallaahualaihiwasallam) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination.” {Surah Nisa (4):115}. The believers at the time of Prophet (peace be upon him) were Sahaaba and Sahaabiyaa.

These kinds of hijabs were never invented by any of the Sahaabiya and neither the Salafs. They used to cover so that no one could recognize them. They wore the shawls in such a way that a Sahaaba told, after the commandment of hijab was revealed, we see woman coming out for necessary work in such a way that it resembled as crows. (Refer Sunan Abu Dawood 4101)

The laxity of Hijaab opened the doors of negligence towards Islam and lowered down the dignity of Hijaab leading to ban in various countries. Media reported so-and-so percent Muslim women wear veil in the particular country. The figures were so low it put our community to ignominy. When we degrade Hijab and throw it out from our lives, then why to make hue-and-cry when some countries officially do it? When we don’t value the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) then why should we protest for the fake-love which we have? On one hand we say Hijab is expression not oppression, it is a dignity not tyranny. But on the other hand we prove it by our deeds by wearing tight fancy burqas, merely head scarves with western outfit, or just leaving away. When will we understand? The time is too short and death is uncertain. Win your creator before he calls you for judgment. “Allah will not change the condition of a people until they do not change their state themselves” {Surah Ra’ad (13):11}

So the ball is in your court. Do you really observe Hijaab or merely wear a fancy burqa?