Handbags and Hijabs

I don't think niqab is a Saudi issue. Women wear black and the men in Saudi wear white and head-dress, it's like a uniform and you can't tell who is rich or poor etc. But that is Saudi, where everyone wears it, and they have other problems anyway.

If you live in a majority non-Muslim area, wearing all-black or neon orange for that matter is irresponsible. Non-Muslim women's magazines tell woman how to dress so that all eyes are on them. Muslim women should dress so that they adhere to Islamic requirements and wear colours that do not bring all eyes on them.

I think actually greys would be a good colour for urban environment. Or maybe that invisibilty cloth from this anime.

I don't see why we should have definite colors for women. i don't think there is any hadith that women should wear all black... if there is can some one please post it. On the other hand, I think i've heard that it is recommended for men to wear white and for women to wear colorful clothes.

I don't understand why men are so hell bent on defining what women should wear BUT most NOT ALL take the rules and regulations of men covering very lightly. This mentality reeks of double standards.

No where in the hadiths does it say, women should wear black abayas or jilbabs. Did the ummahaat ul momineen wear all black?

Since most of us live in the west, i think it is better for us to wear normal colors instead of sticking to all black specially when we all know black has negetive connotations to it. Did any one hear about the niqabi in the US who was waiting outside a bank.. she got cops called over her cuz someone thought she was a bank robber. I'm not saying do not wear niqab.. but dressed in all black can lead to misunderstandings.

Grey is a duller colour and stands out less in daytime I think. In colour psychology in the west, black worn by women implies subservience to men.

Topic Of Fatwa
Dress & Adornment
Question of Fatwa
Dear scholars, as-Salamu `alaykum. My question is: Is it really the responsibility of the husband to decide what his wife wears? Is he to decide whether or not she wears a one piece coat or a long jacket and a long skirt (two pieces) as well as deciding on its color and style, along with the color and style of the hijab? Can you give me an idea about the manner of dress of the Prophet's wives (peace and blessings be upon him) because as an active Muslim women in da'wah I feel that wearing the one piece coat will be perceived by non-Muslims like wearing a winter's coat. Am I right? Jazakum Allah khayran.
Name of Mufti Da`iyah Zienab Mostafa
Content of Reply

Wa `alaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.

In her response to your question, the prominent Muslim scholar and da`I, Zeinab Mustafa states:

“Dear sister in Islam,

May Allah bless you and reward you for your keenness to follow Islam. When Almighty Allah revealed the verse of hijab in Surat An-Nur, He set the requirements of the Islamic dress code for us. A woman has to cover her body. There is no precise description given, which means that she can cover herself in whatever way she wants as long as she covers her entire body except for the face and hands.

The matter of the dress code in Islam is flexible in order to accommodate people in every time, and every culture, and there is no certain design for the outfit, and no color recommended or prohibited. So you can choose whichever color you want as long as you follow the command of Allah.

Concerning your husband, you can discuss this issue with him to realize the fact that you live in a western society and that you are carrying the message of Islam to people, therefore you need to be like a normal person amongst them. It is very important for you and him as active Muslims, to communicate with people so they can accept you and the message you bring. It is important for people to see you in the best image and shape.

The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), used to wear a black cloak because this was the custom at that time and it was obligatory for them to cover their faces as well. However, this does not apply to all Muslim women. Allah asked Muslim women to follow the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in terms of behavior and acts of worship. It is important for us to follow them in those ways. Some women follow them in their way of dressing, and I ask Allah to accept this from them, but it is not obligatory to follow their way of dress especially if you live in a western environment."

http://www.islamonline.net/fatwa/eng...FatwaID=114487

Black or colour, a brother did say to me he found niqabis <another stronger word for alluring>.

I don't think you have understood the article/fatwa. Somethings are culture, that predate Islam, like the colour of the cloth. What is not culture, what came from Islam, would be the way they use the cloth to cover themselves, hence looking like crows - because before putting it on their heads the cloth was just part of their aprons etc.

I also don't like how a woman dresses in all black, but her husband is dressed western. that shows to non-Muslims that she is "oppressed" or Islamic restrictions apply to women only etc. (obviously we know different). Where as if the couple were dressed similarly as in both non-western dress (husband in a thobe etc.) then the wife stands out less and people less likely to think she is oppressed.

Point is follow Islam and blend in with sutable colours and style, not following fashion, don't stand out by wearing all black in the wrong place and colours in the wrong place. So when in Saudi wear all black. In Malaysia/West Africa wear colours. In London wear grey LOL

Somethings like not remarrying were specific to the Prophet's (SAW) wives. I will ask a scholar if covering the face was also specific to them.

agree with u bro

format_quote Originally Posted by 3washey

Assalamu’Alaykum

Hadith - Abu Dawud, Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin
When the verse "That they should cast their outer garments over their persons" was revealed, the women of Ansar came out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer garments.

so tell me what color is a CROW?

The female companions were known to wear black and dark colors (such as the hadith above, "crows on their heads"),



but other colors are also permissible for a woman to wear. She must not wear any color, however, in vanity.

Subhanallah you say that "we all know black has negetive connotations to it"
when i see a muslim women wearing all black u know what i see i see POWER i see a women that is FEARLESS to me i dont now maybe because i am a niqabi think that BLACK is POSITIVE. and u also say that dressed in " ALL BLACK all black can lead to misunderstandings" i dont want to blend in i like being the only one walking down the street wearing ALL BLACK

I think you are taking the crow thing too far... just because the hadith says they were like crows on their head doesn't mean it has to be black in color.

You guys are misunderstanding what i am saying. I guess its to do with where you live.

Sis you live in canada and abdul i'm assuming you live in UK. Both countries with considerable muslim population.. where it is easier to wear niqab and all in black .. without fears of backlash.

How would you feel wearing a full niqab in an all-white remote US town? I wear a jilbaab and i live in a small college town where there are only 10 muslims max and I'm extra careful when i go out cuz of heavy conservative hick population in this town.

I have nothing against niqaabis But i don't see the point of wearing niqaab in a place where you know you will be getting more attention cuz of your clothes and this attention CAN be unwanted and harmful. Just like how the lady waiting outside the bank was mistakenly arrested. So why wear something when you know there can be harmful repercussions to it.. SPEcially when its not even fardh.

why because its STRANGE let me be strange it is sad that if you contemplate the state of Muslims, you will find that Islam is indeed something strange to most of them and if i was that sister i would be happy why?.... because Islam started out strange and will go back to being strange, but GOOD TIDINGS to the strangers who rectify what the people have corrupted.

It is strange to people whose hearts are sealed.. but if you talk to sincere non-muslims.. to them islam really is A very simple way of life.

Sometimes i see us making islam so hard for ourselves... when in reality it is NOT.

Say what? Maybe you get influenced to easily by the west. A sister in black, is a sister to fear.

Want to know what I think? When I see a sister in black, I turn away not only because she is a sister, but because black is not very attractive. If I see a sister in bright colours and normal clothes as you like to put it, my eye tends to follow for quite some time. So, would it be good to have eyes following you or not?

Bro it is all about the person. Believe it or not there are men who have niqab fetishes and who think women in niqaab are sexy Nouzubillah! And i never said normal clothes.... even if it is normal clothes.. as long as the they are modest and are NOT attractive.. how is that not modest and islamic attire?

I know it is useless arguing about this.. but i see alot of men going on and on about women wearing islamic clothing but Don't really care about men dressing modestly and imitating the kuffar. We have more men in the masajid who wear their pants low and pretend to be all gangsta than women who wear unislamic clothing. Naseeha and criticism should be balanced.

Salam bro, I understand what u mean but there is nothing wrong in shariah with the hajab having matching accesories as long as they all fit the criteria. But along with the hajab the sister is required to wear a jilbab which is a loose outer garment when she goes into public life.