why do i want to go and wear niqab in the west when wearing hijab is hard enough?

One sister politely left this comment: "I am currious... I need to ask you a question: why do you want to wear the niqab? I find it difficult just wearing the hijab and dealing with the ignorant peoples comments about it let alone niqab."

I don't wear niqab right now unless I really really want to, or feel the need to (like if I am wearing too much make up and know, girl, damn you look fine:D). If I am teaching men, or around them in close quarters, I would prefer to wear one because of this part of an ayah from the Qu'ran:

...And when you ask [the Prophet Mohammed's wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not [conceivable or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allāh or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allāh an enormity.
(Al-Ahzāb 33:53)

Now I know this ayat is specific to the Prophet's wives, may Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala be pleased with them. Their sins were to be twice as heavy as our own, and they were forbidden to marry after their husband's death while we ordinary women are encouraged to if we wish to or are able to. But when the Prophet sallalahu allahi wa salaam came upon a woman who was not his wife (to propose marriage) there was ALREADY A COVER/PARTITION between them. Yes, this sahabiyat became his wife, but at the time she was not, and yet this was already in practice between at least this man, and this woman. The following hadith narrated by Umm Salamah:“When my ‘Iddah (This type of ‘iddah refers to the 4 months and 10 days of mourning that Allah has legislated for a woman after her husband passes away) ended from [the death of] Abi Salamah, Rasūlullah (Sallalllahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) came and spoke to me and between him and I was a Hijāb, and so he proposed to me…” Note, she said: "there WAS a hijab, not, "I was WEARING a hijab". What we often refer to now as hijab (the headscarf) is known in the Qu'ran specifically as a khimar. "Hijab" is an Islamic term that means "cover" such as a screen, partition, or a veil. THE WHOLE OF A MUSLIM WOMAN's MODESTY (her voice in public, her Islamic clothing, what she says, what she does) is her hijab, her portable covering. If this type of "hijab" were what the hadith were referring to, Umm Salamah would have said: "between us was Hijab", not "a hijab" which in the Arabic, grammatically refers to a specific kind of cover, [a veil, or a partition, or a screen] and not the kind that Um Salamah was wearing. You simply can not get that out of the grammer. Anyways, so maybe the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam simply thought to speak to Umm Salamah (may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala be pleased with her) from another room for propriety's sake, but stealing a comment from Revert Muslimah's post http://revertmuslimah.blogspot.com/2009/02/when-people-ask-me-about-niqab.html "another way to look at this concept would be that if in a woman's home [place of our refuge and saftety says Allah] they have [should have] a barrier or veil between her and a man why would she abandon that form of modesty when she left the home?"

That is why I have always believed the niqab is mustahaab (beneficial/you get reward for wearing it) since Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala Himself has informed us in Al-Ahzāb 33:53: "That is purer for your hearts and their hearts" . If the Prophet's wives (may Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala be pleased with them) and the Sahabiyiat had less fitnah in their hearts then I do and the people who surround me, then why shouldn't I wish for an oppurtunity to have my heart be purer? Until very recently though, I never considered that niqab might be wajib only that is was mustahaab.

The issue of niqab and ihram is in fact one of the big controversies, and a problem for those who say that niqab is fard. Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that Fatima bint al-Mundhir (Radhiallaahu anha) said, "We used to veil our faces when we were in Ihram in the company of Asma bint Abi Bakr As-Siddiq (Radhiallaahu anha). "This again proves that not only the wives of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) wore the Niqaab and that even though in Ihram women are not supposed to wear Niqaab but if men are there they still have to cover the face. [Imaam Malik's MUWATTA Book 20 Hadith # 20.5.16] It is very clear that the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam said that a woman in ihram must not wear either a niqab or gloves. Nobody has ever given a convincing explanation of why in the world the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam said this in the first place if it were fard to cover the face. This is especially true because the obligatory duties of the hajj must be done in public, and in general there are very large crowds around. If a woman is supposed to cover her face anyway around non-mahram men, she really has to cover it at all times on the hajj and that is just the same as wearing niqab. Instead, the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam has clearly commanded that a woman should have an uncovered face in public while in ihram; that's the only thing that makes sense. As for Asma (may Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala be pleased with her), it appears that she followed the course of Ummahat al-Muminin (may Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala be pleased with them). That she did so does not prove that doing so is fard, merely that it is halal. Same perhaps might have been, with Um Salamah. Since there are some very clear sahih hadiths about women having their faces uncovered and the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam not telling them this was something wrong, I thought both options were perfectly acceptable, with Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala explaining in Surah Al-Ahzāb 33:53 that a covering/partition/veil was best, that had always made niqab mustahaab to me, but not fard. Though some scholars have written that the fact that women (and some of them not wives of the Prophet Mohammed) covered their faces with their garments even in a state of religious pilgrimage shows that it was an obligation, since it over-rode even what the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam said. The women were obediant to the command that they not wear face veils or gloves, and yet they covered their faces with their hajj garb. Obviously, scholars conclude, the commandment of Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala for the screen/partition in Surah Al-Ahzāb 33:53 was stronger than the condition of hajj that one was not to veil, so obviously, they conclude, that it had to be fard, since the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam never corrected this action.

There also was a hadith about the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam sitting behind a screen and women on the other side of it, asking him questions about Islam, but I can't find it now. I knew it was sahih though, since I had asked a reliable Sheikh at the time. Until recently I hadn't thought of it, but a partition/screen was used in the home since jilbab was only fard when going out from one's home. In all my readings, I have found that a woman must wear modest clothing acceptable for salat within her home and jilbab when leaving the safety of her home. But within her home, modest clothing good enough to meet the needs of salat was sufficient EVEN if she had non maharam guests. The reason being, I just realized quite recently, was the use of the partition/screen. When at a friend's house whose knowledgeable husband imparted some knowledge on us reverts on the subject of fiqh, he spoke from behind the screen of another room (so that we would be more comfortable and be able to loosen our clothing and not wear niqab in the stifling apartment in the height of summer) and ask of him things as we wished with no awkwardness. In this case, there was a "hijab" between us. When there was no physical hijab/cover between us, we wore our full jilbabs, and niqabs also, if that made us more comfortable.

I have always believed jilbab to be fard since it is a commandment in the Qu'ran that was never relieved of us in any of the hadith, and from studying the vast array of ahadith on the subject of a woman's dress, and the ayah in the Qu'ran making it permissable for older women with no hope of marriage to remove some of their clothing if they don't reveal their nakedness, I have concluded like all of the scholars did unanimously, that the jilbab is an overgarment that is worn over a woman's other clothing, modest enough for salat or otherwise. O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their Jalābīb all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Al-Ahzāb 33:59). The only way I have ever feasibly seen that niqab could be fard is if the niqab (facial covering) were somehow part of the jilbab known to the sahabiat. Some of the scholars are of this opinion and it is a valid one, but one I had always been unsure of how they arrived at it. Jilbab was indeed known to the first Muslims before the permission to wear the modern khimar, because when the ayah was revealed to wear the khimar, the women of the Ansaar cut their jilbabs and fashioned khimars from them, and wore the khimar in addition to their overgarment when they went out. Which is where permission comes to wear the jilbab, khimar, and niqab and socks as seperates peices arrives from, from the scholars, I'd imagine, but how did the scholars conclude that the Sahabiyat's knowledge of jalabib included a face covering?
It was narrated that ‘Aasim al-Ahwal said: We used to enter upon Hafsah bint Sirīn who had put her Jilbāb thus and covered her face with it, and we would say to her: May Allah have mercy on you. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And as for women past childbearing who do not expect wedlock, it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment” [al-Noor 24:60]. And she would say to us: What comes after that (of the āyah)? We would say: “But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them”. And so she said: [Referring to, 'But to refrain is better for them'], “It is to keep the Jilbāb.” [Narrated by al-Bayhaqi, 7/93. It is Authentic] Thank you Revert Muslimah, and I'll quote you again sister Jamilah: "this hadith shows that Hafsah Bint Sirin, who was an older woman and a sahabiat, used to use her jilbab to cover her face. This is proof that the jilbab was worn as a complete body cover. It also shows how a woman of her age does not need to cover like that but it is best for her to continue to do so."

My family hates niqab (and some of them will stop talking to me if I wear it) and alot of Muslims in my life aren't okay with niqab in the West (but they are like, you HAVE TO wear it in Saudi though---and some of them are even at ridiculously strict as to say, "in Saudi no eyes showing there either") but I have always believed it was mustahaab, and if something is good for you, you should do it no matter where in the world you live. Doing the right thing is always more important than worrying about what people think about what you are doing. On the day of judgement, will they be the ones questioning me? No. Besides, I think it will help me concentrate more on achieving Jannah, and forget about silly things in this dunya. When I realized what my khimar meant to me, I gave up drinking and bad influence friends and started pursuing living my deen, not just knowing it was the straight path, but walking that path. If something as simple as a purple pashmina was a tool for my reform, then I imagine niqab will be even greater.

Yes, I faced great struggles when I started to wear hijab and pray five times a day. I was kicked out of my home with a back-pack of clothes and tray of silverware with my father driving behind me the whole way through town yelling insults at me (and I was always my Daddy's little girl). I had lost my mother defending him since he was the one who taught me to stand up for the right thing in the first place, and always speak the truth, even if it gets you killed. He had given up my mother, his wife, for the truth, and following his own example, his daughter (me) was willing to give up my father for my Islam. Alhamdulilah he's come around, and ventured cautiously back into my life, throwing a cutting jab here and there, but still I love him, but I'll give him up again for my Islam, Allah, may both my parents and me be sacrificed for You. I don't doubt my own blood father who loves me will leave my life again if I start to wear niqab. But will I not pray nafl prayer simply because it is not required because people won't like me if I do? Will I not wear niqab (which may be a true obligation and certainly was said to be a purification for our hearts) simply for the insults of a stranger in the street? Indeed, I have been spit on, sexually molested, and violently assaulted, had my hijab ripped off and NONE of this hurt as much as my father telling me I am a different person who is forcing my religion on him because I am wearing a piece of cloth on my head that I used to wear around my neck, and once he told me it was pretty. The disbelievers will always hate us, no matter how little of our religion we practice, because we (mankind) always hate the worst in others, a condition that is in ourselves.

The disbelievers hate the believers because even the worst Muslim knows that Islam is the truth. The disbelievers too know that Islam is the truth. They see that when they harass a Muslim woman and she still loves her hijab, when a hypocrite Muslim apostates by mocking a niqabi sister. They are called the disbelievers because they know the truth, but ARE TOO weak to become a testament to that truth. No matter how little of my religion I practice, they will hate me, because I know that Islam is the truth, and Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala uses me and all the Muslims brave and strong enough to acknowledge the truth, speak the truth, be the truth, to love the truth, so that they might acknowledge their own failings, and turn to Him (the One, the Only, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful), testifying that truth. Why should I not do a good thing that I am capable of? I have enough knowledge, and wit, and control of my temper to explain if harassed, and I can defend myself. I have no fear of this dunya, though I have love for some men and women and things in it. What happens to me is as My Lord and Creator Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala wills. My father left me once over a piece of fabric, and Allah restored him to me. My father could leave me again, but no worse thing could happen to me, and Allah might again restore to me what I sacrificed for His sake of grant me better. A few little insults don't hurt me. I just think of Sumaiyah, and the sister of Umar who he had slapped in the face, learning she was a Muslim. And Asma, the little girl whose earring Abu Jahl knocked out, beating her to try and find out where the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam had fled. THESE are the women I want to be like. Muslim women are brave women, because they follow the example of the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam. Mohammed sallalhu alahi wa salaam never left off on an aspect of this mundane life that was pleasing to his Lord. I know I am not as good as him, but he was just a man of flesh and blood. Why should I strive any less? Being less of person in the eyes of Allah, and having less of a start, should I not strive harder?

I know some "Muslims" will even call me an "extremist" but do I want to emulate them, or Sumaiyah, and Umm Salamah, and the Prophet's wives, may Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala be pleased with them? When I think of the disbeliever's disaproval I could care less, but when I think of the believers, I think of this scholars response to a question about a woman's husband not allowing her to wear niqab and of the person who mocks the woman who wears what she believes proper Islamic hijab:

It is not permissible for a girl to obey her father or mother or husband by not covering the face if she is convinced that it is obligatory, because there is no obedience to any living being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator.

And it is not permissible for the father or husband to order his daughter or his wife to uncover her face, even if he/they thinks[think] that niqaab is mustahabb, because she is enjoined to do what she knows and is convinced of, and she will be questioned about that, not about the convictions of her father or her husband or their opinion. If she does not wear niqaab and she believes it is mustahaab or wajib then she is disobeying her Lord, so what benefit will she have from obeying her father or husband in that case?

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no obedience if it involves disobedience towards Allaah; obedience is only in that which is right and proper.” Narrated by (al-Bukhaari (7257) and Muslim (1840).

Those that would seek to mock you and your hijab (be it khimar only or niqab): rejection of both types, and one making fun of them, is apostasy from Islam, because even though covering the face is not obligatory according to some scholars, they are unanimously agreed that it is prescribed in Islam and that it is part of the religion of Allah, so denying it and making fun of it is kufr which puts one beyond the pale of Islam. Those who mock the niqab especially, mock the mothers of the believers who wore it, and thus mock the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam himself. If this is the case with someone who believes themselves a Muslim, then that person should be told that he/she is doing something which implies that he/she is an apostate, and that he/she must repent and come back to his/her religion. If he/she meets his Lord in this state, he/she will not be meeting Him as a Muslim. What you must do – after advising the one who has mocked the Islamic hijab– is shun his or her company and beware of this person, unless this person has a sufficient level of knowledge to repel his/her kufr. His or her companions should beware of his evil, and upholding ties of kinship with him or her is not obligatory, rather it is not permissible to initiate the greeting of salaam with this person. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And when they hear Al‑Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk), they withdraw from it and say: ‘To us our deeds, and to you your deeds. Peace be to you. We seek not (the way of) the ignorant’” [al-Qasas 28:55].

Done is that scholar's dialogue on the subject. For a little bit of extra information, the only correct greeting for those who use Al-Laghw is "As-salamu ala manit-taba'al huda..." (Peace be upon those who follows the right path)...We do not greet non-believers first with As-salamu 'alaikum, wa Rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu... http://o0ummhasan0o.blogspot.com/2009/04/salaam-to-salaam.html but if they do greet us first wishing any ills upon us then we are to reply with "wa alaikom" and "upon you".

I do believe niqab will be beneficial to me, so inshaAllah soon I will wear it and shuffle aside the things that have been stopping me. Make dua for me, that Allah will make it easy for me. All things are possible with Him, subhanAllah. I mean after all, I was one of those whose used to mock niqabis and hijabis (may Allah forgive me, for I was ignorant and astray) until I met a Muslim woman who used to blog by way of the username Palestine who told me that she loved her hijab, and taught me that Allah loves beauty as much as He does modesty, and loves to see the signs of His favour on His servants. Maybe one woman out there as ignorant as me, will come up to me in my pink niqab, and blast me some stupid comment about me being suppressed, and my words or my actions as guided by the book of Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala and the Sahabiyat, who followed it, will be the key that unlocks the seal that keeps her in her jaliliya. I don't want to see another human being out there continuing as lost as I was. Islam is soooo peaceful and pure and has all the energy that I need. One girl rocking her abayas and long tiered skirts in Oman was used as a tool by Allah to make me realize that Islam was easy. And then I heard the adhan for the first time, and Allah (subhanAllah) lifted that seal, and it was like whoa! This is the truth. Now what?

Sister, I am sorry for the long and winding answer. But I am still seeking for myself.

Wait for the sister in niqab in the middle of the vid to speak (she's my fave:D)

A Pink Munaqaba

I want to wear niqab here in the West, but there are a few obstacles in my way of yet. I think it would be good for me, but I don't think people should wear it if they don't understand it or believe in it. (That's not my problem but I thought I'd put that out there). I think pink would be the least threatening colour I could wear until people got used to my transformation.

Pink jilbab/abaya from http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://hijabs.ca/store/images/abaya-dressy-08.JPG&imgrefurl=http://hijabs.ca/store/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dindex%26cPath%3D3_12&usg=___a70VatJVYdc1iscxEN-EotLo-o=&h=652&w=266&sz=76&hl=en&start=14&um=1&tbnid=p92g_kpuosTuiM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=56&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlime%2Bgreen%2Bhijab%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1 for $20.00

I often used this site and search through for half niqabs in the colour I want http://www.al-mujalbaba.com/niqaabs.html and then I go to a local store and find a pashmina that matches the exact shade of the niqab. I like matching niqab sets for the most part.

I like this online shop for hijab caps to cover the brows with (since the elastic half niqab won't do the job) http://www.veiledbydesign.com/default.php?cPath=27&sid=1kqc6jak121ovjt5tdflj73no7

Allah commanded all the angels bow down before Adam

I am re-posting a question a sister wrote into a Sheikh because I can appreciate his answer.

ON THE SUBJECT: VERILY, ALLAH IS BEAUTIFUL AND LOVES BEAUTY

Q. My dear friend is a very good person, applying her religion, applying her religion and loving to do what is good. However, she has one thing about her: She loves to be distinguished from her friends. For example, in her dress, she likes to be different from the others, while being properly covered, of course. She does not want anyone to be like her [except in the manner of wanting others to have the same piety and love of right action]... However, at the same time, she is not envious against anyone nor does she wish the others would not have such bounties, even if it is more beautiful than what she pocesses. The only thing in the regard she cares about is to be different from the others. Is this envy or arrogance, as we dislike this characteristic of her very much?

A. I do not know what is in the heart of the lady that makes her behave that way. If it is envy, it is forbidden. But envy implies wishing others would lose the bounty they pocess and even working to destroy it. She does not do that. If it is arrogance and having aversion to having other share with her, then it is also forbidden. But the arrogance that is blameworthy is to reject the truth and look down upon other people, that is, belittle them. It does not include liking good clothes for one's self. Verily, Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty. Perhaps she simply likes to be different and have notoriety in her appearence. So one must look to see what is the cause for that. This might just be a part of her character that sets in the heart of some people without there being a forbidden cause behind it. Allah knows best.

-Sheikh Ibn Jibreen

Ange and I were having a discussion: Some people want to fix everybody but themselves. Which is honorable in a sense to me and I admire their attempts to right what they believe is wrong, but it comes across in an acidic rather than salve-ent way, you know what I mean?

A self-confessed screwed-up Muslim taught me more about Islam than any Sheikh I have heard speaking yet, simply because they refused to try and teach me something they were not an example in. When it comes to my hijab I feel fine in my clothes if a. I wearing an overgarment and it is not see-through, b. I am wearing a khimar that covers my chest c. I am not showing off mad wealth or feigning piety and d. the shape of my body is not displayed (including sexy calf curves so I know exactly where things can open with pants, and when a skirt is needed). I WILL NOT wear garbage bag and tell people GOD is a fashion designer and HE made this for me. Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala made even the Angels bow down before Adam? Shouldn't our appearences, our minds, and our souls, always be dressed, either in thought, cloth, faith, or ideas, to befit that honor????????? There is beauty that exists in nature, such as a flower, and there is beauty that exists indoors, such as woman without her khimar and jilbab, but what is the harm in the woman that sees there is beauty in everything that Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala created, even the cloth she might fashion hijab or khimar from (since every fibre of the garment is already preforming sajood to its Creator though we as men may not know its motions or its language) and seeing that within herself, and on her person, and indeed, in everything around her? If that aids her in rememberance of Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala , Allah indeed knows her intention, and forgives her surely, and guides her, if she remembers and strives to honor her creator in ALL things. Prayer is not the only form of worship and remembrance though surely is it is the best. Every kindness, every beauty, if remembered, is praise for Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala, the Most Beautiful, the Most Bountiful, the most Serene and Merciful, and mentioning His name at the sight of His signs is surely a thing that will make one a better Muslim. All Praise is Yours, O Allah, Subhanallah. No one can create even the smallest part of Your creation. La illaha il allah. There is but one Creator. SubhanAllah.

Cute "Socks" matched with what I consider halal footwear

Just because "high" high heels are makruh for you Miss Muslimah and you consider your feet part of your awrah, doesn't mean you are lacking in any individuality or means of expressing yourself. Take a look at all these pretty shoes I managed to come up with that, provided they didn't make a horrible clip-clack sound, I would consider them halal for myself (not wasting a tonne of money on them of course).

Black Rose Tights from http://www.modcloth.com/store/Womens/Accessories/Socks+and+Tights/Rose+Colored+Tights
for $29.99 USD

Racing Diamond Tights were sold out but I loved them:D

Baby Blue Dots tights from http://www.modcloth.com/store/Womens/Accessories/Socks+and+Tights/Spring+Fever+Sheers+in+Cow+Bell
for $14.99 USD

White Floral Tights from http://www.missselfridge.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=20555&storeId=12554&productId=1086431&langId=-1&categoryId=&parent_category_rn
for $8.00 GBP

Polka-Dot Knee Highs from
http://www.mytights.com/mytights/4757.html
for $19.04 CAD

Pink Plaid tights from http://www.missselfridge.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=20555&storeId=12554&productId=1020551&langId=-1&categoryId=&parent_category_rn=
for $8.00 GBP

Lotsa Love Little Hearts tights from http://www.modcloth.com/store/Womens/Accessories/Socks+and+Tights/Lots+of+Love+Tights
for $29.99 USD

if i bump into one more hateful/ignorant neo-nazi on the street...

You know those ignorant people that make racist/highly prejudiced comments to you randomly on the street? The people that you know have no interest or benefit from hearing about Islam so you usually don't chase after them, maybe even for your own safety? I am gonna chase after this jerk (cuz I am not the smartest kid in the class) and tell the bozo I have cancer. Then I want to see their expression and see if they realize how insane their prejudice is about Islam. I swear I'll only do it once....:D

Are the feet of a woman awrah? i.e do we have to cover our feet

A question that came up on my previous post about halal footwear (http://ilovehishmatheblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/high-heels-can-negate-ones-hijab.html) was the question, are the feet of a woman awrah? How, and in what manner did the Sahaba cover their feet? What is the evidence for covering the feet? And if the feet are awrah how can we go about this "stylishly" in sandals?:D C'mon now, admit the last one's the one you wanted to ask most, ha ha. But on a serrious note, I bet ya'll are most interested in what manner the Sahabiyat covered their feet, and where they got the notion that they had to.

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم ,

IS THE FOOT OF A WOMAN CONSIDERED AWRAH?

Um... yuck. About the photo I mean. No offense Aishwarya, but I don't wouldn't let that guy suck on MY feet.

The Prophet sallalahu allahi wa salaam said in a sahih hadith I have memorized but whose source at this very moment alludes me: “The woman is ‘Awrah, when she leaves [her home] Shaytān (satan - may Allah curse him) looks at her.” All of a woman is awrah. Awrah is an Islamic term that means "beauty". There are different kinds of beauty out there and in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) sexual beauty is termed "hard awrah". Hard awrah is what must be covered by our hijabs. HARD AWRAH IS WHAT IS COVERED BY THE JILBAB AND KHIMAR which are a fard obligation in the Holy Qu'ran http://ilovehishmatheblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/not-imitating-disbelievers-and-what.html. Jilbab is only fard (an obligation) for when one leaves the home, and within the home modest clothing sufficient for salat may be worn instead in front of non-maharam men [and consult the evidences to study this conclusion more in depth for I am not a scholar and this is my humbly educated opinion on the subject and Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala and His Messenger know best], though there are merits in wearing jilbab in front of non-maharam men at all times, even after you have reached the situation and age in life where the Qu'ran makes it permissable for you to remove your jilbabs. We know the following about feet, that they do not have to be covered in front of non-maharams, because of the following hadith: Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet (sallalahu allahi wa salaam) brought Fatimah a slave which he donated to her. Fatimah wore a garment which, when she covered her head, did not reach her feet, and when she covered her feet by it, that garment did not reach her head. When the Prophet (sallalahu allahi wa salaam) saw her struggle, he said: There is no harm to you: Here is only your father and slave. (Hadith no. 4 Sunan Abu Dawud Book 32, Number 4094) . Fatimah R.A did not have to cover her feet or her head (and we know the head is an obligation of khimar to cover) so obviously since this is an issue and feet and head are mentioned in the same instance as things that away from non-maharam men could bring harm, the feet are part of the hard awrah as much as the head (hair, neck, ears, and in some opinions, face) is. This hadith does not make it clear if covering the feet was necessary for salat (prayer) but it does seem to say that there would be harm in the action if a woman failed to cover her feet in front of non-maharam men.

Although often taken as strong Islamic evidence that the face was never and obligation to be covered by those who fight niqab as being mustahaab or wajib/fard this hadith is popularily quoted on hijab blogs that support modest dressing but not niqab or jilbab: Narated By 'Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin : Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (sallalahu allahi wa salaam) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (sallalahu allahi wa salaam) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands. (Abu Dawud, Book 027, Hadith Number 4092). It is unfortunatley not classed as sahih (authentic) because the chain of narration cannot be directly linked to Aisha R.A who it is attributed to. Narrated by Abu Dawud it is a mursal narration at the level of hasan which means it may be considered but not leaned upon for any fatwa which is why it is consequently quite useless in an arguement against niqab---or using it prove that the feet must be covered but that the hands might show. But if it were really from Aisha R.A it would prove that the feet had to be covered and that for women other than the Prophet's wives RA it was merely halal, rather than mustahaab. I am just explaining the importance of this hadith not be sahih so no one tries to bring it up in debate to prove something. This hadith actually is too weak to be considered deciding proof. Or believe me, I'd use it, he he he. My family are anti-niqab and I am anti-sock as often as possible in my own naffs.

The hanafi madhab though is of the opinion that the feet may show so it is a valid opinion. Their rulings comes from the following sources:

i) If the establishment of the nakedness is by the saying of Allah, the Exalted, (from the Qu'ran, translated), "And let them not show their beauty, except that of it which is apparent," then the foot is not customarily a location of beauty (it may be for a minority, but regulations are set according to the general rule), and thus Allah, the Exalted, has said, (from the Qu'ran, translated), "And let them not strike their feet in order to make known that adornment which they are hiding," i.e. the ringing of anklets, and this conveys that the feet themselves are of the beauty which is apparent. This is fortified by the fact that the Mother of the Believers, `A'ishah, said, commenting on the verse, (translated), "And let them not show their beauty except that of it which is apparent", "the toe-ring, a silver ring which is [placed] on the toes." [Narrated by Ibn Abi Hatim, as quoted by Ibn Taymiyyah in Hijab al-Mar'ah , p. 17.]ii ...INSHAALLAH ALL I WILL CHECK THE STRENGTH OF THIS HADITH If the establishment is by the Prophet's saying, "The woman is to be covered," along with it being established that some of her body is excluded due to hardship of [avoiding] exposure, then, by analogy, it should necessitate that the feet also be excluded, due to the corroboration of hardship. This is because she would be put to hardship by her foot showing when she walked barefooted or with shoes, for she may not always find khuffs or socks with which to cover them. Along with this, desire is not aroused by looking at the foot such as is aroused by looking at the face, and so if the face is not `awrah, in spite of the plentiful arousal of desire, then the foot is more appropriate to remain uncovered in view of the hardship associated with covering it. [See Fath al-Qadir : al-Hidayah with its commentaries, vol. I, p.225, and al-Bunayah , vol. II, p.63.] This opinion has been reported by al-Hasan [ibn Ziyad al-Lu'lu'i] from Abu Hanifah. Al-Marghinani graded it as the more authentic opinion in al-Hidayah , and Ibn al-Humam and al-`Ayni acknowledged this in their commentaries thereof. This view has been presented as the madhhab position by later texts, such as Nur al-Idah and al-Durr al-Mukhtar . Al-Thanawi concluded in I`la al-Sunan that it is sounder from the point of rationale. Some of these scholars voiced that the feet are not nakedness in that she is not required to cover them, but they are nakedness for the purposes of looking and touching, i.e. it is not permissible for strange men to look at or touch her feet.

But in the following sahih hadith, where men were clearly cursed and condemned to hellfire for dragging their garments on the ground in arrogance (showing off their wealth by a wanton display of how much fabric they could afford) women were allowed what men were nor ONLY in order to COVER THEIR FEET. Abdullah, son of Umar bin Khattab reported that Allah's Messenger sallalahu alahi wa salaam said: "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look upon the man who trails along his garment in pride." There upon Umm Salamah (a woman of the Sahaba, may Allah be pleased with her) asked, "What should women do with their garments?" The Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam said: "They should lower their garments a hand span," (half their shins down). Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) further said, "Women's feet would still be uncovered." Allah's Messenger sallalhu alahi wa salaam replied: "Let them lower them a forearm's length, but not longer." (At-Tirmidhi)

This states that yet again, as in the case of Fatimah where her modest garment (similiar to an overhead abaya) did not quite hit the foot, that a woman's foot was to be covered when she left the home, to the extent that an exception to a rule was made ONLY for the purpose of covering her feet in front of non-maharam men in public. All of the madhabs are of the same opinion that the feet should be covered when in front of non-maharam men except for hanafi, because of the Prophet's (sallalahu alahi wa salaam) advice to Fatimah. Him saying that there was no harm in her feet showing in front of maharam men is taken to mean that the HARM AND THE WORRY is in the feet being exposed in the presence of non-maharam men, and this is emphasized by the allowance made for the Muslimah's clothing to contain more fabric than a man's garment even though women are just as subject to flaunting their wealth and social status as men are. An exception was made for their modesty, and that exception was made so that the feet, which are harmful to be seen by non-maharam men, could be covered. Ibn `Abidin reported this as one of the authentic views in Radd al-Muhtar. It may be noted that Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah, the Hanbali, also favored this opinion. He says,"And similar [is the case with] the foot. It is permissible for her to show it [in salah] according to Abu Hanifah, and [this] is the stronger [position], for `A'ishah considered it of the apparent beauty. . . . . So, this is an evidence that women used to show their feet initially, just as they used to show their faces and hands . . . . for they used not to walk in khuffs or shoes. [Moreover], to cover these in [salah] poses a great hardship, and Umm Salamah said, 'A woman should pray in an ample garment which covers the tops of her feet,' and so when she makes sajdah, the bottoms of her feet may show." [ Hijab al-Mara'ah wa-Libasuha fi al-Salah , pp. 17-18].

SHOULD ONE WEAR SOCKS? HOW DID THE SAHABIYIAT COVER THEIR FEET?

Not every one of the Sahabiyiat wore khuffs (leather shoes/slippers) or socks all the time or had the ability to afford them so those who say that the wearing of socks is wajib/fard are making legislation where Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala gave none to His Messenger sallalahu alahi wa salaam. If one is to examine the evidence FOR covering the feet we see no actual mention of the women of the sahabiyiat wearing khuffs or socks as part of their hijab. What we DO SEE from the evidences for covering the feet, is that the overgarment (jilbab) was used to cover the feet. The Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam said (of a woman's public clothing, which was the jilbab): "They should lower their garments a hand span," (half their shins down). Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) further said, "Women's feet would still be uncovered." Allah's Messenger sallalhu alahi wa salaam replied: "Let them lower them a forearm's length, but not longer." (At-Tirmidhi). And.. Fatimah wore a garment which, when she covered her head, did not reach her feet, and when she covered her feet by it, that garment did not reach her head. When the Prophet (sallalahu allahi wa salaam) saw her struggle, he said: There is no harm to you: Here is only your father and slave. (Hadith no. 4 Sunan Abu Dawud Book 32, Number 4094). So both Umm Salamah and Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with them) covered their feet in most circumstances with their jilbab. My opinion is, since Umm Salamah's feet did show when she was in sajood, the same way a woman who is a niqabi might have her face exposed during salat, there is no actual way to say that a foot may never show by accident, by what is "apparent of" as Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) her notes that "And let them not show their beauty except that of it which is apparent", "the toe-ring, a silver ring which is [placed] on the toes." [Narrated by Ibn Abi Hatim, as quoted by Ibn Taymiyyah in Hijab al-Mar'ah , p. 17.]ii the foot must be covered by the jilbab. If it peeks out when walking for a slight second, it is showing by what is necessary to expose but should not be left exposed BY the garment for long periods of time. When one is not moving, none of the foot should be seen. If the garment is too short for this, then socks must be worn, for in my opinion covering the feet must be part of the jilbab. This is what I believe was done by the Sahabiyat most sincerly. In conclusion, it is preferable and more precautionary to cover the feet with tights/socks even when wearing a jilbab to prevent the foot from showing when walking and making sajood but if the garment is long enough to cover the feet then one does not have the extra obligation of socks/tights. However, due to the existence of scholarly disagreement on some details, one who follows another opinion in good conscience should not be criticized. And Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala and His Messenger knows best.

I do want to add though that the Prophet sallalahu allahi wa salaam was not afraid or ashamed to talk about/or address the issue of sex, instances when it is halal, and instances when it is not, so I am going to be very blunt with my sisters here married or not, and even the very young girls should be aware of this information in the same way they should be taught not to talk to strangers as children. I had posted some pictures here and these were the tamest pictures I could find off of a foot-fetish site, of which there are many. They range from random pictures taken of women's feet on the street with the women unaware, of men and women licking feet, of women stepping on men (yeah, I'd do that too ladies if some guy tried to take a picture of my feet), of women massaging a man's sexual organ with her feet... Yeah. And forgive me inshaAllah for the horrible image that now be in your head but I think it is necessary to know what is out there in order to protect yourself from it. The police study how crimes are committed so that they can prevent them, so I thought you should know about foot fetishists before you decide whether or not your feet are awrah since there is alot of Islamic evidence to say that they are. I have removed them though, at the request of a sister whose opinion I care about, because she found them disturbing, but in case you can't envision how this fetish is, all you have to do is type "foot fetish" into google and some ugly things will come up.

Foot fetish, or podophilia is a medical term for a pronounced sexual interest in a woman's feet. It is the most common form of sexual preference for otherwise non-sexual objects or parts of the body.
[World Health Organization, International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, (2007), Chapter V, F65 Disorders of sexual preference.
^ Dobson, R. "Heels are the world's No 1 fetish." The Independent; February 25, 2007 ]

In order to estimate the relative frequency of fetishes researchers at the University of Bologna examined 381 Internet discussions of her foot fetish groups, in which at least 5,000 people had been participating. Researchers estimated the prevalences of different fetishes based on (a) the number of discussion groups devoted to a particular fetish, (b) the number of individuals participating in the groups and (c) the number of messages exchanged. It was concluded that the most common fetishes were for body parts or for objects usually associated with body parts (33% and 30% respectively). Among those people preferring body parts, feet and toes were preferred by the greatest number, with 47% of those sampled preferring them. Among those people preferring objects related to body parts, footwear (shoes, boots, etc.) was most preferred (64%). (And I totally am with them on this because my mother owner a clothing boutique for a few years and there was a man that came in and always stole ONE right pump and tried to take pictures of women's feet while he was in the shop).

[ Scorolli C, Ghirlanda S, Enquist M, Zattoni S, Jannini E A (2007). Relative prevalence of different fetishes. International Journal of Impotence Researchadvance online publication 15 February 2007; doi: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901547. http://www.nature.com/ijir/journal/v19/n4/abs/3901547a.html retrieved March 2007.]

In August 2006, AOL released a database of the search terms submitted by their subscribers. In ranking only those phrases that included the word "fetish", it was found that the most common search was for feet.

[AOL's Accidental Release of Search Data - The Sexmind of America. http://aphrodisiology.com/aol-sex-data, accessed June 2007. ]

ANOTHER MIRACLE ABOUT SCIENCE IN ISLAM---something explained by the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam that we are just learning about now: Neurologist Vilayanur S. Ramachandran proposed that foot fetishism is caused by the feet and the genitals occupying adjacent areas of the somatosensory cortex of the human brain, possibly entailing some neural crosstalk between the two. Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala always know best, and sometimes we have yet to discover what He was already told us.

[Kringelbach, Morten. Bodily Illusions. http://www.kringelbach.dk/Preprint_Beagle_BodilyIllusions.html, last accessed Sept 2006.]

Foot fetishisms is so widely acknowledged by modern medicine that actual treatments exist in modern medicine to attempt to cure the condition. One is cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy seeks to change the patient's behavior without analyzing how and why it shows up. It is based on the idea that fetishism is the result of conditioning or imprinting which is wholly agreed upon in Islam, though Islam will also analyze how something occurs . Our sexuality is often conditioned by images and ideas in our societies and in Islam, we try to protect the image of sexuality, and leave it to the safe space between a husband and wife, not out in public. This is done by not engaging in sexual acts in public, and by covering what might be sexually attractive of ourselves. One possible therapy in Cognitive Therapy is aversive conditioning: the patient is being confronted with his fetish and as soon as sexual arousal starts, exposed to a displeasing stimulus. Today a common aversive stimulus are photographs that show unpleasing scenes such. Another possible therapy is a technique called thought stop: the therapist asks the patient to think of his fetish and suddenly cries out "stop!". The patient will be irritated, his line of thought broken. After analyzing the effects of the sudden break together, the therapist will teach the patient to use this technique by himself to interrupt thoughts about his fetish and thus prevent undesired behavior. This is what the jilbab is doing in Islam if a man is suffering from his brain sending confusing neural crosstalk. He is reminded of his role and modesty in Islam as soon as he sees the jilbab, which interupts the stimulus, and helps him to control and understand those brain patterns. Pharmaceutical treatment consists of various forms of drugs that inhibit the production of sex steroids, above all male testosterone and female estrogen. By cutting down the level of sex steroids, sexual desire is diminished. Thus, in theory, a patient might gain the ability to control his fetish and reasonably process his own thoughts without being distracted by sexual arousal. Also, the application may give the patient relief in everyday life, enabling him to ignore his fetish and get back to daily routine. But it doesn't actually solve the problem of the confusing brain patterns the same way cognitive therapy (already practiced by Islam---in a less jarring way than modern science has often done---"modern science" was historically big on painful stimuli such as electric shock treatement as aversive stimulus). (And THEY deign to call Islam barbaric---ha).Anyways... yet again, so my conclusion is that the feet are awrah in front of non-maharam men and that the sahabiayat used their jilbab (overgarments) to cover their feet (as in this picture above, then women are not wearing socks but you can hardly even tell---the foot is not entirely exposed at any period of time). If your jilbab does not cover your feet, then you should wear socks, but due to the existence of scholarly disagreement on some details, one who follows another opinion in good conscience should not be criticized. And Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala and His Messenger knows best.And for all those socks with those it can't be socks sandals girls, well right now it is a huge fashion trend, gorgeous printed tights or plain cute socks with peep toes, flats, and sandals. OF COURSE WITH US MUSLIMAHS, WE SHOULD HAVE A JILBAB OVER ALL THAT LEG SPELNDOUR! But you have to have been sleeping under a rock if you live by those old school style rules like no white after labour day (we're Muslims after all---what about hajj?!) and no socks with sandals is that kinda rule. I'll admit, if my jilbab is long enough to cover my feet and i live someplace hot, I am not going to go to the extra effort of wearing socks. I am not and uber-cautious person by nature. BUT IF my garments don't cover my feet, no matter where in the world I am, I am gonna be covering my feet with sock in front of non-maharam men, even if I have to wear thermal woolies: D Ha ha I hope not. I think it looks lovely unless I borrow my husbands tube socks. THEN it looks kinda lame, but with tights, it is always pretty. And when I buy black pantyhose I kind just snip of the legs and only wear those. I hate panty-hose waist bands. My socks are all tights and I keep the waistbands on the nice fun print ones (cuz I want them to last a long time) but staple black I just keep the legs on.
Yes, indeed, you have to have been sleeping under a rock if you missed out on the fact that all the runways are in tune with people wearing tights and socks with open toe sandals, celebs like Sarah Jessica and Gwenyth Paltrow in tights, and the girls on Gossip Girls making red tights a shopper's dream find. I don't follow ANY of this stuff (a hate trashy celeb gossip and I don't follow celeb fashion--I like runways better) and I STILL know about it:D I don't know why people think that Islamic clothing as per the sunnah is restrictive. It's not. Actually, you simply get to have more clothing than a non-muslim woman, or a Muslimah with bad hijab (and I am not saying if you don't cover your feet you've got bad hijab, just gotta add that because it is one valid opinion, though it is the minority thought among the four madhabs, it is STILL VALID all you harraam police).
Wouldn't these polka-dot tights just look daaaaaarling with a pair of black-bowed peep toe shoes, flat or kitten-heeled?

High Heels CAN Negate One's Hijab

All of the scholars of the four madhabs are pretty much together on this one. That the wearing of high heels is haraam. Alot of my sets feature high heels. In my daily life, I think high heels look pretty but I end up wearing flat sandals and flats. I don't own sneakers. Now that this winter has passed though, I have decided to give up wearing any ridiculously high heeled shoe when I return my winter boots to the winter storage since I read this hadith and it got me being cautious since I had never known before where the scholars had come up with their ruling from [now I do]:

Narrated by Abu Sa’eed Al Khudri, Allah’s Apostle said :"A Jewish women used to put two wooden legs to lengthen her shoes, so that no one could recognise her, for she was very short.”

The Prophet forbade this action that is a kind of cheating others with the same intensity that he cursed plucking the eyebrows. My sets will still include high heeled shoes but know that I myself, will buy heightless shoes (still sylin'). I am short. That is how Allah S.W.T made me and it isn't a bad thing. Please forgive me when I slip of and gently remind me sisters I know IRL:D The sets will continue to contain crazy heels, but only cuz I liked the colour or them. Please find a more halal shoe in the same colour where you live:This shoe I won't wear anymore, even though I could always walk in it without making a sound. It was the height issue, not the sound people, that was actually cursed. The sound thing came from wearing anklets and making loud noises with them in times of jalaliya, and some highheels do the same thing today so women USUALLY are pretty good about staying away from those. But any shoe that makes you considerably taller also counts.

Here is a heeled shoe that I am comfortable with so long as it doesn't make a clicking rat-ta-tat sound when I walk. All shoes make some kind of noise but we all know what kind of noise makes everyone in the mall turn around to stare at us. This heel "called a kitten heel" and always under two inches (some runners out there make you three inches taller) doesn't make me noticeably taller and doesn't have the health drawbacks of the heel pictured above. Still cute, still pretty, still sassy, but nothing overboard ya know?

This, albeit more folksy, would have been what that Jewish woman's shoe looked like that the Prophet allahi wa salaam cursed.

Here is a halal wedge size. Nothing incredibly high. Modest, but still styling and beautiful, oui?

Flats--- you can't even tell they aren't heels when you're wearing an abaya.
And an always halal option is flat sandals. They aren't boring at all.

Shooting Star Abaya

I like the odd ruffle and shooting star design on this abaya http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://hijabs.ca/store/images/abaya-dressy-08.JPG&imgrefurl=http://hijabs.ca/store/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dindex%26cPath%3D3_12&usg=___a70VatJVYdc1iscxEN-EotLo-o=&h=652&w=266&sz=76&hl=en&start=14&um=1&tbnid=p92g_kpuosTuiM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=56&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlime%2Bgreen%2Bhijab%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1. Let me know if of your experiences dealing with this site cuz I am tempted to buy a few things.

Kinda Random Cupcake

I just liked this abaya. Has anyone tried this site http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://hijabs.ca/store/images/abaya-dressy-08.JPG&imgrefurl=http://hijabs.ca/store/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dindex%26cPath%3D3_12&usg=___a70VatJVYdc1iscxEN-EotLo-o=&h=652&w=266&sz=76&hl=en&start=14&um=1&tbnid=p92g_kpuosTuiM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=56&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlime%2Bgreen%2Bhijab%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1? The prices seem too good to be true so I'm being wary... Let me know if you did order and how it went!

Wrap it Up Khaleeji: The White Chiffon Shayla

The key to a lovely look for that special day is one square white turkish hijab for coverage underneath, and a sheer, oblong chiffon shawl (easily purchased at any western bridal boutique). Pin on a floral brooch if wrapping the khaleeji way for insta-elegance. For a tutorial on how to wrap the shayla khaleeji style check out this link http://khaleejia.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-tutorial-how-to-wrap-shayla.html

Mother (of the Muslim Bride) and the Masjid

Is your mother very traditional and uncomfortable with Muslims, but you, her daughter, is one, and, is soon to be married? I have found the best way to soothe out my parents' fears over their convert daughter's life has been to INVOLVE them in it, into a role they are already comfortable with---- PARENTS. It would be nice to have your mother with you at your nikah and for her to visit the Masjid with you she will have to wear hijab. Maybe her own beliefs make this uncomfortable for her so make it something close to what she is comfortable with. This outfit would be ideal for my Christian mother since she already wears hats to church, and has a full wardrobe of suit jackets and scarves. All I have to do is help her pick out a long skirt, and voila!!!!! My mother looks like a Muslimah-my-fair-lady, and all I have to worry about is making sure that all the old Arab bachelors (JJKN) at the masjid aren't checking her out---and that she isn't encouraging them: D Outfit by Tekbir, season past.

The Bachelorette Party-Done Halal

For those of you who are converts/reverts out there, you may have some old friends out there, from before you were Muslim, hearing that you are about to get married, who want to throw you a bachorlette party. The Western-Style Bachelor or Bachelorette party is a disgusting, awful, degrading thing for a Muslimah, so this of course isn't a possiblity. For the groom the Canadian-affair possibly involves strippers, last-chance flirting with women, excessive alcohal, or even being tied up naked and painted and left hitched to a telephone pole downtown by his friends. For a woman it involves usually girls in matching t-shirts with suggestive things written on them, eating cupcakes with suggestively shaped sprinkles, drinking lots of alcohal and maybe seeing strippers or flirting with men. Occasionally, one of these affairs can even end a marriage before one even begins. Sooooooo.... For those of you looking for a way to end out your single days in a stylish, fun, and wholly Islamic manner we have.... the sleep over henna party!!!!!! Yay! (Believe me, you get to do a hell of a lot less of these once you are married---no one has time anymore).
This party involves sweets, friends in dresses (with pajamas packed), a whole lot of goodies, and henna being done for the bride and anyone else who wants to be painted. After the henna is done and dried the girls can swap for pillows and pajamas. It is also traditional to wax the bride before the henna party in Arabic countries for her upcoming wedding night. At most of these parties I went to the bride usually gives her friends and guests a themed token to remember the event, such as tiny ribbon bracelet to go with her lace themed wedding or ect... They usually aren't expensive, and her bestfriends chip in and buy them with her for everyone. Beats bachalorette t-shirts for me. On these nights, I also make the most delicious virgin-cocktails. Mmmmm. Yum. Try it. You'll love it, and have so much fun.
Khaleeji pics taken from www.flamboyant.ae

Abaya Do: flowers on your shayla;how to sew your own hijab

Don't leave half your hair hanging out. Then it's just a shayla, not a hijab.

DO make your own shaylas if you can't afford the designer ones [like I can't]. When I first saw this pic I had the bright idea to go buy some silk flowers. I found some nice ones at the dollar store and at local craft stores. Then when I got home, I took a plain black shayla like this one http://www.sunnahstyle.com/product_info.php?pName=plain-wrap-hijab-black&cName=hijabs-wrapsshaylas for $10.99 USD, wrapped it the way I would normally wear it, and marked with white chalk where I'd like to sew on the flowers so that they would show when wrapped, and not be some bulky thing beneath the material. Then I got to sewing.

I popped out the plastic center of the flower that holds it together, discarded it, and then took the different rounds of petals and reformed them over top of the places on the shayla I had marked with chalk. I stitched them on with a few simple stitches so that they were secure with a colour of thread that matched the colour of the silk flower. Never mind the string underneath doesn't match the shayla's black---I've got a trick for that. Then, I take out some silver-lined seed-beads and a beading needle, and I sew three-five beads in the center of each flower I've sewn on. If you want to do alot of little flowers this is time consuming but the big flowers pictured above? Not so long. In the bigger flowers, I like to put a few swaroski crystal beads. Pretty:D When you've put flowers all the places you want them, just take a black permanent parker, and colour the threads that show underneath. Viola! You have a shayla that looks like it came of a Dubai runway for less than $20.00 Canadian. Which is less than US$.

Abaya Don't: don't wear images/faces

Girls, don't be ridiculous. You can't pray in this. C'mon.

Narrated Said bin Abu Al-Hasan:

While I was with Ibn ‘Abbas a man came and said, “O father of ‘Abbas! My sustenance is from my manual profession and I make these pictures.” Ibn ‘Abbas said, “I will tell you only what I heard from Allah’s Apostle. I heard him saying, ‘Whoever makes a picture will be punished by Allah till he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.’ “Hearing this, that man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale. Ibn ‘Abbas said to him, “What a pity! If you insist on making pictures I advise you to make pictures of trees and any other unanimated objects.”

{Volume 3, Book 34, Number 428: Sahih Bukhari}

Following Ibn 'Abbas's advice, sisters avoid things with faces on your clothes.

Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) having said:

Those who paint pictures would be punished on the Day of Resurrection and it would be said to them: Breathe soul into what you have created.

{Chapter 19, Book 024, Number 5268: Sahih Muslim}

Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
The angels do not enter a house which contains a picture, a dog, or a man who is impure by sexual defilement.

{Book 32, Number 4140: Sunan Abu-Dawud}

Sisters, if the angels won't enter a house with a picture in them, do you think they will go anywhere near you if you have some Prince or some Shiekh's face on your clothing? I once wanted this abaya with a peacock embroidered on it but instead I bought one with a peacock feather embroidered on it, because of this ruling.

Narrated Aisha:

(mother of the faithful believers) I bought a cushion with pictures on it. When Allah’s Apostle saw it, he kept standing at the door and did not enter the house. I noticed the sign of disgust on his face, so I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I repent to Allah and His Apostle . (Please let me know) what sin I have done.” Allah’s Apostle said, “What about this cushion?” I replied, “I bought it for you to sit and recline on.” Allah’s Apostle said, “The painters (i.e. owners) of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them, ‘Put life in what you have created (i.e. painted).’ ” The Prophet added, “The angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.”

{Volume 3, Book 34, Number 318: Sahih Bukhari}

ILOVEHISHMA hates "Muslim" Playboys

I know Arabs aren't the only play-with-your-heart fools out there (I held out rather well in the dating feild of parties and clubs and highschool), and as a Muslim woman who doesn't mix with sexes (I am not friends with them, though I can work side by side with them, or learn and teach about Islam with my brothers in the religion but I never expect a halal and healthy relationship to come from a haraam interaction) I am protected on all sides from getting "played" or having my heart broken.

In my hijab, and my approachable banter about how I love my deen with your average non-muslim Canadian girl on the street (who looks the very image of me before I reverted/converted) I am often approached with questions about Islam, like where to buy hijabs, what are the rights of a Muslim woman, how to become a Muslim woman. My husband likes to think that Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala has made me a tool for all of this, but the truth is, in Islam a woman often comes to the decision to become a Muslim through her own research... Or, as many of these girls I have been approached by, if you ask them where they first learnt about Islam from... they will tell you from their Arab boyfriend. Egyptian, Saudi, Syrian, Somali (these are the most common in my city (and every woman in a store I commonly shop from is dating a "Muslim" Saudi). And I am tired of poor Mexican girls coming to learn about Islam and then their "Muslim" boyfriend breaking up with them as soon as they are serrious about practicing the religion. It makes me sick, and makes my Saudi husband sick. Where is their hayah?! Where is their fear of Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala?! Any sin they committ with a non-muslim woman is worse in the eyes of Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala than one he committs with a Muslim hijabi because at least the Muslim hijabi knows her rights, and the sin is just as much on her shoulders. With the non-muslim woman the sin is all on his, since this girl doesn't know her rights over him in Shariah. She deserves the same route to marriage that we do, the same respect. I know alot of good brothers who respectfully married non-muslim women that they met through chance encounters, not haraam dating, and who they gave their Islamic rights to. Key: if a Muslim man respects you he will marry you, not date you. Plain and simple.

When they tell you their interest in Islam was first piqued by the faith of these non-practicing, club-going, likely alcohol-drinking fornicators, my first reaction is to to jump down these girls throats and scream, if this tool respected you OR his religion he would have already have set up a marriage for you, and explained how men and women don't mix, and he would have gotten you a wali.... I stop myself from this because you don't want offend them about this man they love. I tell them, I am nun who has all the rights a nun doesn't, to be equal to a man in the eyes of God, and to fall in love and marry a person who deserves me. A Muslim man, whether I am Muslim or not, isn't allowed to date or be alone with a woman. Every woman has the right from a Muslim man for him to marry her before he even touches her, to promise to provide for her financially, and give her a home, and food and clothes, and the other rights she has a right to request at marriage. I gently inform them that their man isn't practing his deen to the best of his ability, and they can't become a Muslim just for him. It has to be about them, and their relationship with God, or it won't work, and they'll leave the deen if their man leaves them.

I want every non-muslim woman dating an Arab out there to know, the Muslim community is on YOUR side, not the not-so practicing man's, and you can't become a Muslim to please a man who is hardly a practicing Muslim. If a Muslim man respects you he will marry you and avoid being alone with you until you two are married. There are no fiances that are safe for you to be lovely dovey with in Islam. You meet to know that you could have a relationship together, and then you plan the wedding. Even if you aren't a Muslim, he is supposed to marry you. Alot of people often become Muslim after they are married. Or continue your search without that fool. Islam is the truth. That's the plain and simple reason why so many women who learnt about it from some loser "Muslim" guy are still Muslim. There is only one big scary beautiful and awesome truth, that no matter how you go around trying to disprove it, you realize it is more real and accurate than anything else out there (I am talking about the Qu'ran). Why I became a Muslim? Because Islam is the truth, and it is beautiful, even if alot of people who claim to practice the religion are not, and don't deserve to be the first Muslims you meet.

Arab/Muslim men: I am waaaaaaaaaaay too tired of telling some blonde or Mexican girl who I've met at the mall that you don't really love her, and that you make our religion look bad, and that she is a woman whose search with Islam shouldn't begin with trying to keep you or get you back, ya know? Have a little fear of Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala and love for your sisters in the deen out there, by treating women who could be Muslim sisters with the same kind of respect you want your mother and sister to have. Khadija R.A was a convert/revert. Treat every non-muslim you meet with the kind of respect you'd give her, and we'd see more Muslim women in this world. I love you for the sake of Allah you idiot little brothers. Serriously. Be honorable men, and see the honor in the possibility of a person, and not be selfish pigs.

I LOVE HISHMA store opening 28/4/09 !!!!!!!!!!!!

New location, new goods, make dua for us to be successful and to help women everywhere understand and love their hijabs!

-Girls @ I ♥ Hishma

Afrian Fashion sells Dubai-style abayas

Apparently this site http://www.afrianfashion.com/ stocks high quality abayas (cheaper ones start at forty to sixty dollars and the fancy Dubai ones for $100-140). The prices aren't shown but when you write to ask about the product in order to purchase it they will be. Shipping was reported to be quick and the quality nice. See this sister's post about her experience http://thehijablog.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/thumbs-up-shopping-abaya-from-afrian-fashion/. Basbousa don't tempt me!