At some point, a Muslim girl wrote me an e-mail to ask if Islam permits ladies to put on a towel on their heads as an Islamic head cowl (Hijab).
She defined that she was occurring trip along with her household and needed to know if she may use a towel substituting her traditional Islamic headcover (Hijab) across the resort, swimming pool, sizzling baths and so forth.
It was an uncommon request, and I used to be uncertain tips on how to reply it, so I researched the difficulty to search out out.
Here’s what I found.
By Authors Maryam Hussain and Mohammed Francis
(Click on on the hyperlink to leap to the part and the arrow to get again)
Islam permits Muslim ladies to put on a towel in its place head cowl (Hijab) supplied it covers their our bodies completely from head to foot, apart from the face and arms (Awrah). It have to be loose-fitting and non-hugging. Nonetheless, sporting towels on this approach is usually uncommon and socially unacceptable.
After some thought, I agree that utilizing a towel as a headcover (Hijab) could generally be obligatory in public.
For instance, at house, there are moments when ladies must reply the doorbell rapidly, transfer from the spa or swimming pool to their resort rooms or go about their properties within the presence of unrelated (Non-Mahram) males.
Since sporting a towel as a headcover (Hijab) is permissible, why can we not often see ladies sporting towels as a substitute of the normal headcover (Hijab) in public locations?
On this article, I’ll clarify how towelling meets the necessities for sporting the Islamic headcover (Hijab), the place ladies could generally put on it, regardless that it isn’t appropriate or a sensible gown possibility.
1.Girls Can Put on A Towel (Hijab) Offered She Covers Sufficiently
In sure circumstances, Islam permits ladies to make use of a towelling as a short lived headcover (Hijab) in entrance of unrelated (Non-Mahram) males supplied the towelling materials and some other types of free clothes she wears with it (Khimar), cowl her total physique from head to toe, apart from face and arms (Awrah).
Moreover, some students like Shaikh Muhammad Uthaymeen (HA) and Shaikh Saleh Al Fawzan (HA) preserve {that a} girl should additionally cowl her face as they think about that to be Awrah.
So, if a girl can maintain a thick towel in place over her physique and her face with out by chance revealing herself or inflicting pointless discomfort, then Islam permits its use.
2. Proof Towelling Is Permissible Feminine Costume (Hijab)
3. Proof In The Holy Quran
A headcover (Hijab) manufactured from towelling is suitable in Islam because it absolutely complies with the circumstances of appropriate feminine apparel, however provided that a girl wears it accurately.
Loads of Quranic and Hadith proof exists to incorporate the sayings of the Prophet’s companions (Sahaba). It signifies how Islam obliges all Muslim ladies to cowl their our bodies fully, together with the eyes, in entrance of male non-relatives (Non-Mahram).
Sporting one towel or a number of towels over the pinnacle and physique ladies will obtain this.
Students use the next verse of Allah (SWT) within the Holy Quran to make rulings (Fatwa) regarding correct apparel for Muslim females. Within the blessed Holy Quran, Surah Al Noor 23:31, Allah (SWT) instructions Muslim ladies to:
decrease their gaze, guard their virginity, and not reveal their adornments besides what often seems or is obvious.
Right here, on this verse, Allah (SWT) calls for ladies maintain their our bodies and the way they beautify them lined up.
Later in the same verse, Allah (SWT) says overlaying up should occur in entrance of unrelated males (Non-Mahram). For fathers, brothers, uncles and shut male relations, a girl could show her bodily magnificence within the traditional approach.
After Allah (SWT) had revealed Surah Al Noor 23:31 to the ladies of Ansari males (wives, daughters, sisters, and so forth), they understood it effectively. Listening to the freshly revealed verse from their husbands, some rapidly untied their waist belts, and others made giant shawls or cowl sheets.
The next morning, the ladies started to supply their prayers (Salat) with Prophet Mohammed (SAW), and the (new) shawls overlaying them made it seem like crows have been sitting on their heads.
Using this Quranic verse as clear proof, all Muslim students agree that ladies ought to cowl themselves completely in public locations from head to toe.
Convincingly, some students even embody overlaying the face.
If ladies cowl the pinnacle (Hijab) and gown to cowl the hair, neck, shoulders and breast space in a free, flowing and unrevealing approach, then towelling materials fully satisfies these circumstances.
4. Proof From The Lifetime of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) – Sunnah
As soon as, somebody requested the opinion of the well-known companion, Ibn Abbas (RA) concerning the following Quranic verse instructing Prophet Mohammed’s (SAW) wives, daughters and Muslim ladies tips on how to gown.
O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing ladies to attract cloaks over their our bodies.
Within the verse, Allah (SWT) informs ladies to attract their cloaks (Jilbab) loosely over themselves to differentiate them of their look from the ladies of the time of ignorance (Jahiliyyah) and from the slave ladies.
Demonstrating tips on how to put on it, Ibn Abbas (RA) confirmed others by drawing the cloak (Jilbab) over himself, overlaying his physique and face, and revealing just one eye and leaving it uncovered. Commentaries on Al Azhab 33:59
5. Conditions The place Girls Might Put on Towelling Materials As A Headcover (Hijab)
Now we all know it’s Islamically appropriate for Muslim ladies to put on towels on their heads (Hijab) and to cowl their our bodies fully (Awrah).
It could be appropriate to put on them, however placing thick towelling materials in your head and over the face isn’t a fantastic style selection. Different supplies like nylon, polyester and crepe do the job significantly better.
Such supplies are lighter, extra elegant, and higher suited to use as an Islamically compliant headcover (Hijab).
In fact, towelling may be very vibrant, thick, absorbent and appropriate materials for drying off, however not for the cat-walk.
A: In The House – No Headcover Obligatory Besides With Strangers
At house, there isn’t any want for a girl to cowl the physique or head out of modesty within the presence of shut male family resembling fathers, brothers and uncles. (Mahram)
Nonetheless, if grownup male guests are current, she MUST gown in correct Islamic apparel.
On this case, Islam permits a girl to briefly put on a towel over her head (Hijab), throughout her face (Niqab) and a bathrobe or a loosely hanging tub towel to cowl the physique (Jilbaab). Then, she will transfer concerning the house and stay in full view of non-related males (non-Mahram).
B: Emergencies In The House – A Headcover Required
Equally, a Muslim girl could place a big towel on her head (Hijab), elevating it to cowl the face (Niqab) to look on the essential door to simply accept mail deliveries or enable relations to enter the house.
Islam additionally permits ladies to put on a towel as a headcover (Hijab) to open and shut home windows, run errands outdoors within the backyard, clear the yard, acquire the dry washing, and so forth.
In my house nation, when there may be lots of rain, I maintain a big towel useful to rapidly throw over myself if I’ve to pop outdoors into the backyard to do family chores.
In my case, a easy lengthy towel works effectively and is healthier and extra handy than an umbrella or a raincoat. It’s a momentary answer however supreme for doing fast jobs round the home.
C: Outside Emergencies – A Headcover Required
Girls will probably maintain an umbrella useful than a towel when it rains closely.
Nonetheless, in a heavy downpour, she will defend her head and higher physique from the deluge utilizing a big towel (s) if accessible.
Likewise, a girl could lose her regular headcover (Hijab), or it might rip or develop into dirty. On this case, Islam permits her to placed on towelling as a short lived measure.
D: In Prayer (Salat) – A Headcover Important
When a girl affords prayers (Salat), Islam permits her to make use of a towel as a headcover (Hijab) whether it is extensive sufficient to cowl her head, neck, and your entire size of her torso and legs.
Nonetheless, giant, vibrant seashore towels are cumbersome and troublesome to safe on the pinnacle and physique. So, for the prayers at house (Salat), most ladies at the moment use a specifically designed billowing prayer gown with a hood and convenient sleeves.
The prayer robe consists of skinny, mild nylon materials and is straightforward to put on, a sensible various to the traditional cloaks (Jilbab) and headcovers (Hijab).
Regardless of the place, a girl should absolutely cowl herself when praying at house, within the mosque, or public prayer rooms.
If she uncovers any a part of herself, aside from her face and arms, through the prayer, it turns into invalid, and she must repeat it.
E: At The Pool, Seashore – A Headcover Is Important
In mixed-gender swimming swimming pools, public seashores, at spas, saunas, hairdressers or magnificence salons. and so forth, ladies can’t fairly put on standard headcovers (Hijab) manufactured from artificial supplies.
So, within the pool or seashore, ladies sporting a Burkini is significantly better than different varieties of feminine swimwear as a result of it’s far much less revealing.
Nonetheless, even this (dreadful) so-called Islamic various does a poor job of overlaying the pinnacle and torso for it to be Islamically compliant.
The artificial materials of a Burkini is stretchy and clingy. When moist, it sucks and sticks tightly onto the physique, clearly displaying off the bodily contours and intimate physique components.
In the event you MUST put on one, please cowl your head and physique completely with a big towel earlier than you enter and after you allow the water.
Drape a big, plainly colored seashore towel over your head and let it dangle round your torso and legs as you progress between the pool, sea or showers to your seating space.
Immersed in water, males can’t simply see ladies swimming and shifting about. Nonetheless, as you climb up the ladder to exit the pool or the ocean, the residual water will trigger the fabric to cling tightly to your physique, thus exposing all of your intimate components intimately for all of the world to see.
You’ll be able to keep away from this by inserting a large sufficient seashore towel on a plastic chair subsequent to the pool or on the seaside beforehand. Higher, you’ll be able to have somebody hand it to you instantly after you exit the water.
F: At Feminine ONLY Spas, Saunas, Hairdressers & Magnificence Salons – No Headcover Required
Fortunately, within the Muslim world, not less than, spas, saunas, hairdressers and sweetness salons are principally male-free environments.
Solely feminine workers serve these institutions, so naturally, within the absence of males, Islam doesn’t obligate ladies to put on a cloak (Jilbab / Abaya) or headcover (Hijab).
For apparent causes, I strongly discourage my Muslim sisters from taking hairdresser appointments with male hair stylists or male-run magnificence parlours, even when they’ve glorious reputations.
Additionally, if after a spa or sauna, it’s important to maintain a towel wrapped round your hair to dry it and must step outdoors or get to your automotive to drive house, maintain a larger-than-usual piece of appropriate materials and use that to cowl your self.
6. Conclusion
Islam permits utilizing a towel as a head cowl (Hijab) so long as it covers your entire physique and contains the hair, head, neck, shoulders, torso, and ft (Awrah). Some students even argue that she should additionally cowl her face and arms.
The towel or mixture of towels ought to dangle loosely over the pinnacle and the physique and prolong to the ground. She shouldn’t safe the towelling so tightly that it hugs the physique.
Throughout prayers (Salat), a girl can use a towel as a head cowl (Hijab), although it isn’t supreme. She ought to all the time make certain to cowl her hair and physique as she affords the 5 day by day prayers.
At house, her shut male relations don’t require a girl to put on a headcover (Hijab) until unrelated male guests are current, wherein case she will put on a substitute towel (Hijab) as she strikes about the home.
On the swimming pool, the seashore, the sauna, spa, golf equipment, hairdressers and sweetness salons, to do fast chores, and in emergencies a girl could use a towel as a short lived substitute headcover (Hijab).
7. Associated Questions
Does Islam Permit Girls To Expose Their Necks Whereas Sporting a Headcover (Hijab)? No! Islam prohibits ladies from displaying their necks to unrelated (non-Mahram) males). The kind of head cowl (Hijab) ought to be giant sufficient to fully cowl the pinnacle, hair, neck, shoulders and higher torso. Nothing of the physique ought to present besides the face and arms.
Can Muslim Girls Present The Hairline and Ears Whereas Sporting A Headcover (Hijab)? No! In some Muslim international locations, ladies like to indicate some hairline by positioning the headcover (Hijab) increased up on the crown. Some additionally choose to tuck it over the ears and expose them. Islam prohibits these style statements.
8. References and Helpful Hyperlinks
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