Jul 5, 2010

Why am I wearing niqab?

Assalamualaikum and good morning to all my friends and readers.

Firstly, I'd like to apologize (again) for my lack of update for this blog. Whenever I have some personal issues I seem not to be able to write in English and that's why the absence of any new post. And yesterday when I was planning to update, my laptop crashed and right now I'm using my office desktop, borrowed for a while with my boss consent. I do not like to use the office equipments for my personal benefits. It's not right otherwise it's ok with the b o s s.

As for today, I'd like to reply to questions from different people but has the same purpose.They would like to know why as a Malaysian, I wear niqab.

My simple answer would be I'm wearing it because I want to get closer to Allah. It has nothing connected with people. It has nothing about being Malaysian or not. Niqab is for everyone who wish to wear it. No one ask me to wear it. Not my husband and not my parent. I found that after I started wearing it more than 14 years ago, I become better in my belief in Islam, I practice more, I do more religious work, I learn more about Islam and of course I grew more confident to tell people that I am Muslim. And I found peace.

Insyaallah both ways of hijab is correct. Don't you think so?

Another reason for wearing this niqab is that I believe niqab is sunnah. Some believe it to be fard, depends on which opinion you stand for. As for me it is sunnah but I try to be committed in wearing it  whenever I'm out of my house and around non-mahram (A non-mahram is someone who you can marry, someone who you should cover yourself in front of). 

I've read so many stories and hadiths about women during the time of our beloved Rasulullah saw  who put on the veil in certain situations.  There are hadiths that say that niqab is sunnah and not fard but still everyone is open for their own belief. Do not force others  to believe what you believed but you can tell them about it. If they also later want to believe the same opinion, alhamdulillah. 

There are many ayat from the Qur'an that ask the women of the believers to cover themselves. For example the ayat below:
‘O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks ("Jalabib") veils all over their bodies (screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way Tafseer Al-Qurtabi) that is most convenient that they should be known (as such) and not molested: and Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful." Surah al-Ahzaab: 59
As I am not a scholar, I do not really know how to give my argument on this but if you'd like to read more, please use your internet access to search on 'dalil on niqab' insyaallah you'll find some texts that are interesting to read. Then please make your own conclusion.

Wearing full hijab as what Islam has teaches us is very good, alhamdulillah. I am not complaining. For me niqab is a personal thing between you and Allah. As a Muslim woman, I am an ambassador of Islam and my niqab has been one of the tool, to open the door to communication between me and non-Muslim. I combine my niqab with the best Islamic attitude that I know of.  It's not easy to write about my feelings but if you know me in person, you'll know that wearing niqab does not restrict me from doing so many things socially, politically, economically or academically. 

That's it. I do not know what else to write. Believe it or not, wearing niqab has make me a person as I am now. I'm not perfect. Not at all but insyaallah I will always fear Allah every time I think of doing something bad. Na'uzubillah.

14 comments:

lina said...

Salam Kak chik thank you very much for ur detail explanation....yes i do believe ppl who wearing it felt closed to ALLAH. I salute you kak chik wear this niqab....it not an easy being "istiqomah" like you did it. Congratulation well done over more 14 years with the niqab.

Blue Pearl said...

I think this comment about why you were niqab is something I also face, not with niqab but with abayya - it seems that the perception is that you should only adorn this if you are from the middle east. How incorrect - the Jalabiya is a part of Islam and not limited to a specific culture however the colours, names and style differ in each country.

Ps: Both ways are correct according to your picture.

umm ruman said...

Kalam kak Chik,

For the past few weeks I've known you, there are so many valuable things I learned and how Allah the All-Mighty has opened up another door for me to learn our religion even better.
Kak Chik, in my utmost sincere, I wanted too wear Niqab as the same purpose like yours, to be closer to HIM and to be safe only with HIM but as I propose and asked permission from my husband, there are too many obstacles..some of it came from my in-law.
My heart yearned to cover but as I have to obey my husband then the intention just left struggling in me.
I knew there are reasons why Allah still does not permit me to wear Niqab perhaps I'm not ready mentally and spiritually, perhaps I should learn more to be the best muslimah. Not a day goes by I pray hopefully my hope will eventually came true.
Thank you for this beautiful blog kak Chik..

Unknown said...

Salam Kak Chik,

You're always close to my heart because you are one of the source of my study on niqab...i hate when mens are staring at me whenever i crossed in front of them,i have tried going out with my friends wearing niqab, i'm so happy, the niqab made me feel so secured,but i admit that i am not strong enough and not good enough to present myself as a niqabi...i won't ruined others niqabis image because of my mistake.FYI, i love entertainment so much...i am not strong enough to decrease my interest in movies,music, etc..i want to be a real niqabi who practise good things in daily life like what you do now,still its a blooming love for niqab inside my heart..i think i'm not ready yet..correct me if i'm wrong,your opinion can be my guidance..and yes, there is an obstacles from the beloved peoples around me,thank you..

Unknown said...

wa'alaikummussalam lina.
i hope my story will at least tell people that in this free world, muslim women can choose whatever type of dress they want to wear as long as it properly covers the aurah. isn't that the main purpose? i'm happy the way i am because i've accomplished so many important things after i donned the face veil. alhamdulillah.

Unknown said...

Blue Pearl, sometimes people has limited knowledge and exposure about how flexible it can be to cover our aurah. i mean the dress. muslim women can wear anything from anywhere in this world as long as their aurah is properly covered. it is only clothes. what's important is our aurah. am i correct?

Unknown said...

Wkslm Azah.
Mashaallah... Subhanallah. Praise be to Allah for all that Azah.
I hope your hajat will come true one day. Most importantly your husband will be happy with it. If there are those uncertainties, it will be better to have his consent. I know this is your struggle and I know you will overcome any of the obstacles when you are READY. Insyaallah one day soon.
You are welcome my friend.

Unknown said...

Wkslm Lini.
Thank you my dear friend. It means a lot to me to know that a friend feels like that. I pray that soon you will be able to gradually decrease your interests. Actually you can still like them but maybe just around the house. To make hijrah for the betterment of our life will always be facing obstacles. That's fitrah I think. The big obstacle is usually our family. Take time to increase your good deeds, good behaviours and communicate with them sincerely and lovingly, insyaallah you'll see the different in a positive way when you tell them about wearing niqab.

Sumayah said...

Salaam. I just wanted to ask what do you think about wearing niqab in countries where it attracts a lot of attention? Here in UK niqabi women are stared at and people laugh at them or call them names. Do you think it's advisable to wear niqab in such countries? Does it not go against the principles of modest dress when we attract too much attention covering our faces? Myabe we should rather stick to hijab only in order not to attract too much public (and men's) attention by covering faces as well? I was just curious about your opinion. Jazakallahu khair

Unknown said...

Wkslm Su. Actually Su, what people did there to the niqabi is also done here in a Muslim country. I was stared at and sometimes laugh at and also called ninjas. And I am living in a state where Islam is put on top of everything.
I would say that, living anywhere in this world it's up to you to either wear the niqab or not. The difference might be no stares if you are living in the ME where niqab is common. Niqab can be a tool for dakwah. How? As a niqabi you should present yourself as a good Muslim in every aspect of life. Being open minded, outgoing, friendly are some of the characters that you need to adopt with sincerity because of Him. It is difficult especially when you are living in a non-Muslim country. If by wearing niqab, your life is threaten then it'd be better not to wear it. Furthermore saving life is waajib while niqab is sunnah.

Sumayah said...

Thank you so much for your reply. Actually, I was wearing niqab for 6 months. I live in UK and I got lot of stares, shouting and laughing when I was wearing it and was too shy to go out anywhere alone, only in my husband's company, because of people's reactions to me (although I was never scared for my life, only upset by comments). But I have to study and work and shop...So I stopped wearing niqab some months ago. No one stares at me anymore but I really miss the peace and tranquility which I felt wearing it despite people's reactions...So I am still thinking what to do about it. I wish I lived somewhere where no one treats me badly because of niqab, but maybe I will never have a chance to live in such country! So, I wonder many times what should I do..I think my problem is that I'm shy and get scared when everyone looks at me and laughs at me, it's really upsetting. I really admire you for having courage to wear it, thank you again for reply and may Allah bless you and give you everything that you want:)
Sumayyah

Hurul Jannah said...

Assalamualaikum,
Thank you for these advices and knowledges.I'm very proud of you.May Allah bless you.Syukran jazilan.

Hurul Jannah said...

Assalamualaikum,
Ana would like to thank you for your advices and knowledges that u give.May Allah bless you.Syukran jazilan.

Ghurabaa said...

Assalamualaikum ukhti. I live in singapore and I am only 18. I had already planned to wear the niqab but my dad dislike it. His reasons are more of what he thinks abt those wearing niqabs. I do wear the niqab sometimes when I go to classes or when Im going out with my grp of friends who also wears the niqab. But the thought of wearing and not wearing it smtimds bothers me. What is your advice? Do u think i should continue wearing it and pray that my dad accept it one day or i should follow wht he thinks. I really need your advice <3

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