> Colour of Hijab

[Umm Marwa Mustafa]

We have a disagreement, Sister Ifrah believes that women should wear black [ and she wears black, head to toe]. I believe culture defines the colour and style of garment as long as it is modest. For example in certain african cultures [Somalia] women tend to wear Khimar or Hijab with bright colours but in places like Saudi Arabia women wear black all the time [when outside].

Likewise in countries where all these cultures are mixed there is no set of rules which you have to abide by in terms of colour therefore wearing a flowerly Hijab for summer is fine.

Sister Ifrah would argue, that colourful Hijabs attract attention and beautify the women to an extent that the Hijab does not act as a covering but as a stylish hat or a stylish new "trend". I would respond to her by saying, it does not matter because it would still be covering and is in check with what constitutes as modest clothes.

Discuss.

[salman]

^Wa'alykum As-Salam

what we know from the sunnah of early Muslimmahs is that they used to wear black and I do have to agree with sister Ifrah on this one. Wearing a non black could do more harm than good.

As far concerning the culture, we follow the sunnah of the Salaf, meaning how they understood this matter and how they practiced it.

[Umm Marwa Mustafa]

Akhe it's REALLY hot during summer, Why can't we be modest and make things easier?

[salman]

^sister, no one is being harsh or making it obligatory but imagine the hotness at the time of the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu 'alayhi wa salam) and lack of water and other facilities while traveling. But our mothers and other noble Muslimahs had the highest taqwa and off course we cannot reach their level; however, we can try to follow their footsteps. Now, I'm a layman like yourself and I could be wrong but I think there are number of things to consider:

1 - from Sharee point of view, any colour of hijab, which isn't charming, suffice the completion of obligation. btw in this discussion when I say hijab, I mean all of the clothing of the sister not just head scarf

2 - Wearing black is better as it completely closes the door to any fitnah and the Sunnah of our mothers and other Salaf Muslimahs. However, it is not obligatory as long as the above point is satisfied. One thing to note is that, it leads to higher level of taqwa and Allah Ta'ala will reward you for your hardship and efforts.

Wallahu A'lam

Shaykh Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid (may Allah preserve him) says:

It is not one of these conditions that it should be black. A woman may wear whatever she wants, so long as she does not wear a colour that is only for men , and she does not wear a garment that is an adornment in itself, i.e., decorated and adorned in such a way that it attracts the gaze of men, because of the general meaning of the verse (interpretation of the meaning): “…and not to show off their adornment…”[al-Noor 24:31]

This general meaning includes the outer garment, if it is decorated. Abu Dawood (565) narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not prevent the female slaves of Allaah from attending the mosques of Allaah, but let them go out unadorned.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 515.

It says in ‘Awn al-Ma’bood:

“ ‘Unadorned’ means not wearing perfume… they are commanded to go out like this and are forbidden to wear perfume lest they provoke men’s desires with their perfume. That also includes other things which are forbidden because they provoke desire, such as beautiful clothing and visible and expensive adornment.”

What a woman must do if she appears before non-mahram men is to avoid clothes that are decorated and adorned, which attract the gaze of men.

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (17/100):

It is not permissible for a woman to go out in a decorated garment that attracts people’s gaze, because this is something that tempts men.

It also says (17/108):

The dress of the Muslim woman need not only be black. It is permissible for her to wear any colour of clothing so long as it covers her ‘awrah, does not resemble men’s clothing, and is not so tight as to show the shape of her limbs or so thin as to show what is beneath it, and does not provoke temptation.

And it says (17/109):

Wearing black for women is not a must. They may wear other colours that are worn only by women, do not attract attention and do not provoke desire.

Many women choose to wear black, not because it is obligatory, but because it is farthest removed from being an adornment. There are reports which indicate that the women of the Sahaabah used to wear black. Abu Dawood (4101) narrated that Umm Salamah said: “When the words ‘and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)’ [al-Noor 24:31 – interpretation of the meaning] were revealed, the women of the Ansaar went out looking as if there were crows on their heads because of their garments.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

The Standing Committee (17/110) said: This is to be understood as meaning that those clothes were black in colour.
Does women's hijab have to be black?

Sister Ifrah and those who argue for black has a good point because now days many sisters do wear complete hijab but their hijab is charming, which doesn't fulfill the requirement of the hijab. This could be due to their shortcoming or ignorance. Therefore, we should kindly give them the da'wah and make du'a for them instead of pointing fingres at them. This would only cause further problems. And brothers, before pointing fingers at sisters, do you have your own hijab - lowering gaze and beared?

[Assad]

Although In no way I consider my self to be much knowledgeable in this matter but I feel that wearing any specific colour hijaab doesn't is not necessary. As far as colour is concerned, It is right that we should avoid attractive clothing GENERALLY so hijab is no exclusion. But wearing white or blue or green or purple all seem okay.

Allah knows best!

[Exquisite]

Wa-alaykum salam

Good topic sis.

I deffo know where you are coming from with the following point:

Originally Posted by Ruwayda Mustafah

For example in certain african cultures [Somalia] women tend to wear Khimar or Hijab with bright colours but in places like Saudi Arabia women wear black all the time [when outside].

Discuss.

having said that though, i think in western lands bright colours do seem to warrant unnecessary attraction, and we need to remember why we are observing the hijab in the first place (obviously first and foremost it's the decree of Allah SWT) but also to safe guard our modesty.

But i do tend to find, a whole array of colours of hijab, but i prefer to stick to my dark colours.

[Umm Marwa Mustafa]

Hey sissyyyy!

I'm not saying go wear neon but a light pink or baby blue in summer seems alright.

[Exquisite]

Lol I know especially when you can match it all with handbags right?kidding

But i get what you mean, here in the UK people wear a variety of colours, so it may be seem the "norm" or acceptable to wear other colours apart from black.

I suppose the underlying issue here is, does it attract unwanted attention?

But just to add further to the discussion, just because a sister is fully covered, black or any other colour for that matter, that does not mean it will keep they eyes of evil men off her.

[Najm]

AsSalamOAlaikum WaRehmatuAllah WaBarkatuhu

I always thought, black is the best, its the most modest, its simple and unrecognisable than other colours. People tend to wear different colours because, its becomes a fashion!! Nowadays you have different styles, different trends etc.

I say this because i learnt a valuable lesson in dawah....

When i gave the answer to the non-muslim about hijab, i left out my explanation of islam and tawheed >>> the basic foundations. This led me to be attacked by their terms.

So i just gave the answer about the hijab, modesty, chaste, not display beauty etc >>>basically the typical answer.

And he says...."well i find the hijab attractive, really cute, and just my kind of thing, and the different colours they wear, it makes good fashion!!"

I was shocked!!! I never heard such a response lol!! I did go backwards to explain islam and tawheed. Phew!!!

I would stick to black, if not the darker colors to blend in( not noticeable).

Regarding that black is HOT, maybe it is, but dont forget what your being saved from. You cannot compare your feeling of Hot to Hell-fire. Lâ hawla wa lâ quwwata illâ bi Allâh

And the beard for the brothers is NOT equal to the outer hijab for the sisters

Allahu Alim

FiAmaaniAllah

[salman]

^Wa'alakykum As-Salam akhee

bro, the point is not whether beard is equal to the hijab of a sister (though I would argue against you), the point is that it is the hijab of men and both are obligatory and commands from Allah Ta'ala. I brought it to up to remind myself and other brothers of our own obligations and fulfilling them before we point fingers at sisters as it has become quite a habbit.