The Fitna of World Hijab Day: Lest it become another Bid’ah

By: Iftikhar Islam

We are witnessing a new craze in the society in the name of World Hijab Day. 1st February is to be celebrated as Hijaab Day where women who support hijab (some of them) would wear abaya or scarf to show gratitude towards hijab – the most controversial subject in today’s time. Islam is a complete way of life which got completed at the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and it is recorded in the Qur’an saying “…This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…” (5:3). There is no concept of illogical days in Islam such as Mother’s day, Father’s day, Children’s day, Teacher’s day, Valentine’s Day, and the so called “Hijab Day”. If we read the history of various bid’ah prevailing in the society, we would be startled to know it was started with a good intention and to benefit the society but as time passed it took the form of bid’ah and various misleading activities erupted in the society because of that. 

Today it’s simple awareness; tomorrow the fashion industry will pick it as a lucrative business; it would be followed by great pomp and show with nude women advertising these so-called “hijabs” with bollywood jingles playing alongside and that would be “World Hijab Day”! 

Even though this day has not become so popular, we can see the pictures of so called “hijabi” women continuously being circulated on social networking sites in the name of HIJAB. Astagfirullah… May Allah protect the society from this fitnah! Why my dear sisters want to share their pictures on social networking sites? Even their face comes under hijab (not covering of face is in normal condition when women don’t apply anything on face, not even face wash). We should realize and fear Allah in participating in any kind of innovation. No doubt “World Hijab Day” is an innovation and it would lead to an immoral society in the future. How can we expect our women folk to come out and display their hijab? Was this the purpose of hijab? We don’t need any show off; our matters are with Allah alone! We can create awareness of observing hijaab by gathering a group of sisters and interacting with them and making them understand the concept of hijab. We only need to make them comprehend the commandment of Allah because hijab is done for the sake of Allah alone! 

Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an “Say (O Muhammad): "If you (really) love Allah then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."” (3:31) and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) clearly warned us through his eloquence of speech “I enjoin you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey even if it be an Abyssinian slave, for those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided Khulafa. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is a deviation. (Sunan Abi Dawud 4607; Tirmidhi 2676; Ibn Majah 42) The Prophet (peace be upon him) also used to say “…The best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The most evil matters are those that are newly-invented, and every innovation (Bid'ah) is a going astray…” (Ibn Majah 45). He (peace be upon him) also said "If somebody innovates something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected." Imam Bukhari (May Allah increase his status in Jannah) reported this hadeeth in the book of “Peacemaking” and chapter of “Reconciliation”. Even if you are making peace, it should be on the principles taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). 

We work for Islam and try to protect it from the attacks of Westerners and people of distorted ideologies, we work sincerely to promote it but we fail to realize and ponder upon the ayat which Allah repeats thrice in the Glorious Qur’an saying “It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they who associate others with Allah dislike it. (In one ayat Allah ends it as “enough is Allah as a witness” (48:28)) (9:33; 61:9). We need to just follow the commandments given by Allah and fear that we don’t come under the ayat of Surah Kahf where Allah says “Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds!” (18: 103-104) 

People may come up with the excuse of saying “see how many people are benefited by this” There are many Muslims who ask the same question to defend their bid’ah. Hijab day will have more destruction than benefit. We need to concentrate on the way of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and work accordingly, whether we achieve results or not is immaterial. We have to just follow the Prophet (peace be upon him) (If we love Allah)! 

People say “World Hijab Day is not an act of worship but rather an effective way to create global awareness of the issue that is being attacked unfairly.” Islam does not need any special days to create such an awareness, we should respect the wisdom of our Creator behind revealing ayats that speak of covering up, and observe hijab regularly. 

Today we are just celebrating it in our homes; tomorrow we may come out in the name of ‘Hijab day’, and later on this day will have the same significance which other days have including Valentine’s day. This day will help non-mahrams to interact with each other and cross the borders of hijab. 

If we are really concerned about hijab, then we must follow the commandment of hijab right from lowering the gaze, dressing modest, behaving good to conveying the importance. How many are ready to un-friend non-mahrams, stop chatting with them in private, and importantly stop posting those updates which provokes non-mahrams to comment on it and later on which leads to a discussion. How many are ready to be away and keep in secret those sisters who have chosen Hijab in their life. 

Hijab day will be a mockery of hijab and lest it become another bid’ah, we have to stop it right from its roots, right from its start. In other words, we have to nip it in the bud!

I urge my sisters to understand the danger which comes out of Hijab day and you will be responsible in promoting those things which are not part of Islam. Remember… This day has a fixed date and every year it will increase its celebration. Sisters I warn you about the corporate world, they are coming up with fancy burqa, glamorous jilbab, only scarf as a hijab; and my sisters are falling into prey of those productions and considering it as hijab. Hijab day will no doubt promote those hijabs which are not at all hijab in Islam. 

Hijab in Islam protects the women. It keeps them as secrets, as jewels. You should not share the pictures of other sisters who chose to wear hijab. Hijab in Islam does not allow sisters to spread their pictures in websites and social networking sites. It will not help your fellow brothers to lower their gazes on the contrary it will provoke them to see the pictures which are circulated on social sites. 

May Allah help us in understanding His deen as understood by the beloved companions of His and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and make the supporters understand the evils coming out of “World Hijab Day”.