03-27-2007, 11:07 AM
Bismillah: Assalamo Alikum.
Quote:I just have one more question...
What's the official dress code for Islamic women? Why do some females cover their bodies completely from head to toe (berka), while others allow the exposure of eyes & hands (abaya + niqab), & the majority opt for only a veil & loose casual clothing (modernized societies)???
Are all standards acceptable or is there one in particular that all women must adhere to?
According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing hijaab:
1.Extent:
The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male is to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the extent of covering obligatory is to cover the complete body except the face and the hands up to the wrist. <b>If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body. </b>
The remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.
2. The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.
3. The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see through them.
4. The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.
5. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.
6. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.
Please also note that the complete hijaab, besides the six criteria of clothing, <b>also includes the moral conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual</b>. A person only fulfilling the criteria of hijaab of the clothes is observing hijaab in a limited sense. Hijaab of the clothes should be accompanied by <b>hijaab of the eyes, hijaab of the heart, hijaab of thought and hijaab of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.</b>
Salam
Wael.
