Don’t Describe Women

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “A woman should not look at or touch another woman so that she may describe this woman to her husband in such a way as if he were actually looking at her.” [Bukhari]

 

Describing another woman’s virtues, especially her physical attributes, to a man, may cause undesirable thoughts and sometimes a secret desire to build up in him for the other woman. Therefore, the Shariah has prohibited women to describe other women to their husbands.

 

Allah, Most Merciful, has guided us in every way!

Best for a Woman

Ali (radi Allahu anhu) narrated: “Once the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked the Companions, ‘What is the best thing for a woman?’ Nobody answered. Later when I went home, I asked Fatimah the same question. She (radi Allahu anha) replied, ‘The best thing for a woman is to protect herself from the eyes of men.’ I told the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) Fatimah’s answer. He replied, ‘Indeed, Fatimah is a part of me.’” [Kashf-ul Astaar]

Fatimah (radi Allahu anha) is one of the four perfect women who will ever live on earth, and it is no wonder that it is so, since she so intuitively knew what is right from what is wrong.

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) approved of her answer, that the best thing for a woman is to protect herself from the eyes of men.

There is so much emphasis placed on women to guard themselves from men and stay in their homes that their participation even in the highly rewarded congregational prayers, funerals and burials is not considered desirable. For them, the greater reward is in their acting on the words of their Creator and Nourisher: “And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former Times of Ignorance.” [Quran: Surah Ahzab, Ayat 33]

 

Best Deed of Women

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The best deed of the women of my Ummah is contentment and withdrawal from men.” [Shara’i Hijab]

Contentment and withdrawal from men are linked. Contentment with whatever Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has bestowed on one is required in order to keep away from mingling with men.

Why does the need to unnecessarily mingle arise? It arises out of a desire for the things of this world. What are the attractions of this world? They are money (the luxuries and recreation it buys) and fame. We really need to ask ourselves how much shopping and recreation is necessary. After all, isn’t there an eternity in Jannah for this? When it comes to work, we need to ask ourselves whether it is to fend off starvation or to maintain a certain standing in society by being associated with a particular career.

For a woman to fully guard herself from the eyes of men she needs to keep her focus on the ocean of Akhirah and suppress her desires for this drop of a world. If she can rein in her desires for the things of this world, she will not feel the need to go out so much.

Eeman is like an airplane ride, the higher up you go, the smaller the things of this world seem. When my Eeman is high enough the things of this world will become invisible to me and I won’t notice what others are wearing and showing off, let alone want them for myself. But till I get to cruising altitude I’ll be burning a lot of fuel. It’s hard work, but the burning fuel is another name for Taqwa: the more I have of it, the higher my level in Jannah, inshaAllah.

 

Women’s Prayer More Rewarded At Home

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “It is better for a woman to offer her Salat in her bedroom than in her living room; and it is better for her to offer her Salat in her living room than in her courtyard.” [Abu Dawud]

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) conveyed Allah’s command that it is better for women to offer their Salat at home and that too the more privately the better.

However, it is permissible for women to come out of their homes when necessary and it is permissible for them to go to the Masjid, provided that they cover themselves properly and do not wear perfume, noisy ornaments, or anything else that attracts attention to themselves.

Aisha (radi Allahu anha) said: “The women of Bani Israeel used to make wooden sandals which they wore to their places of worship, and they used to provide attractions for men; so Allah forbade them to go to the Masjid. [Musnad Abdur Razzaq]

In another Hadith we find this saying of Aisha (radi Allahu anha): “If the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) had seen the attitude of women which they adopted after him, he would have surely stopped them from coming to the Masjid as the women of Bani Israeel were stopped.” [Muslim]

When Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) is telling me that it is better for me to offer my prayers at home than in the Masjid, I need to seriously ask myself why I’m going to the Masjid, if I am.

Best for a Woman

Ali (radi Allahu anhu) narrated: “Once the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked the Companions, ‘What is the best thing for a woman?’ Nobody answered. Later when I went home, I asked Fatimah the same question. She (radi Allahu anha) replied, ‘The best thing for a woman is to protect herself from the eyes of men.’ I told the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) Fatimah’s answer. He replied, ‘Indeed, Fatimah is a part of me.’” [Kashf-ul Astaar]

Fatimah (radi Allahu anha) is one of the four perfect women who will ever live on earth, and it is no wonder that it is so, since she so intuitively knew what is right from what is wrong. 

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) approved of her answer, that the best thing for a woman is to protect herself from the eyes of men.

There is so much emphasis placed on women to guard themselves from men and stay in their homes that their participation even in the highly rewarded congregational prayers, funerals and burials is not considered desirable. For them, the greater reward is in their acting on the words of their Creator and Nourisher: “And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former Times of Ignorance.” [Quran: Surah Ahzab, Ayat 33

How to wear hijab-a few very basic styles for newbies

A few basic styles we put together for a hijab tutorial filmed and produced by 14th Road Productions (www.14throad.com)

No Pin Hijab Tutorial