الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي أنزل القرآن، وأرسل محمدًا رحمةً للعالمين، نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونؤمن به ونتوكل عليه، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له، ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، يحيي ويميت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير، ونشهد أن سيدنا ومولانا محمداً عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرًا ونذيرًا بين يدي الساعة، من يطع الله ورسوله فقد اهتدى، ومن يعصهما فإنه قد ضل، وإنه لا يضر إلا نفسه ولا يضر الله شيئًا. أما بعد! فيا عباد الله اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. يأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم، ومن يطع الله ورسوله فقد فاز فوزا عظيما.
قال الله تعالى في كتابه الكريم: فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبَّهُمْ أَنّي لا أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِّنْكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى بَعْضُكُم مِنْ بَعْضٍ
My dear Muslim sister, a believer in the One Allah and a follower of His truthful Prophet ﷺ, you are unique. You are unlike other women who live without Allah, who lack role models of Eman, and who do not believe in the reality of Jannah and Jahannam. They may live as they please, dress however they desire, and indulge without restriction, for they lack a Deen to guide and protect them. Their choices may seem liberating, yet they will never taste the blessings of Jannah. For you, however, there is a higher purpose, an honour, and a dignity that others may never know. How, then, could you ever consider imitating them?
Your legacy is a line of noble women who stood firmly upon the Deen of Haq, guiding us with their strength and sacrifices. Among them, Sumayyah, the mother of ‘Ammar ibn Yasir, the first martyr of Islam. She bore unbearable torture and gave her life rather than renounce her Lord. Her reward with Allah will last until the Day of Judgment. And look to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, the unwavering wife of the Prophet ﷺ, who supported him with her wealth, her wisdom, and her belief when others doubted. She gave everything in service to Allah and was honoured with a special place in Jannah made of pearls, where there is neither noise nor fatigue.’ (Narrated by Muslim).
Reflect on Aisha, daughter of Abu Bakr, the scholar and teacher of our ummah, who preserved and transmitted the words of the Prophet ﷺ. Or on Nusaybah bint Ka’b, who defended the Prophet ﷺ with her life at the Battle of Uhud, fearing neither death nor danger. Consider also Asma bint Abu Bakr, who raised her son, Abdullah ibn Zubayr, to be strong and courageous, she would take her son for training with a stick in one hand and a sword in the other, saying to those who questioned her harsh training, “This is the son of Zubayr ibn al-Awwam. Whoever wants to raise men should do as I do.”
Where are the heroes of our Deen who once emerged from the nurturing of Muslim mothers, who carried the banner of Islam with unwavering dignity and strength? Where is an Al-Khansa among us today, the mother who sent her four sons to the Battle of Yarmouk, only to say upon hearing of their martyrdom:
الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ الَّذِي شَرَّفْنِي بِاسْتِشْهَادِهَمْ، وَأَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَجْمَعَنِي بِهِمْ فِي مُسْتَقَرٌ رَحْمَتِهِ
“Praise be to Allah, who honoured me with their martyrdom, and I ask Allah to gather me with them in the abode of His mercy.” And reflect on the early righteous women of our Ummah who reminded their husbands of what is pure, saying to them before they depart,
يَا عَبْدَ اللهِ اتَّقِ اللهَ فِينَا وَلَا تَأْتِنَا إِلَّا بِطِيبٍ مِنْ رِزْقِهِ؛ فَإِنَّا وَاللهِ نَصْبِرُ عَلَى حَرٌ الْجُوعِ وَلَا نَصْبِرُ عَلَى حَرٌ جَهَنَّمَ
“O servant of Allah, fear Allah in us and bring us only what is lawful. By Allah, we can bear the heat of hunger, but we cannot endure the heat of Jahannam.” Now is your time, dear sister, to join this great legacy, to stand apart, to hold fast to a favour given to none but the women of this ummah. Allah commands:
وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَىٰ عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ.”
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which ordinarily appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers/scarves over their necklines and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women (who work in their homes), that which their right hands possess (servants), or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in tawbah, all of you, O believers, that you may succeed.”
This command, with its depth and wisdom, sets guidelines for modesty that elevate the believing woman, protecting her dignity and her Deen. Notice that Allah instructs both men and women to lower their gaze, and yet He singles out adornment as a special instruction for women, highlighting the virtue of restraint. Adornment here refers to anything beyond natural beauty, for a naturally beautiful woman is called “ghaniyah”—self-sufficient in her beauty. Why use the word zeenah and not jamal? Beauty Is Subjective but Adornment Is Universal: regardless of whether a person perceives themselves as beautiful or not, they are still required to observe modesty in terms of covering. The adornment He permits to be shown is limited, confined to what is necessary for daily life, such as a simple ring on the hands or a touch of kohl on the face. It is Allah’s mercy that adornment for women is allowed within limits, yet it should never be excessive or revealing.
Notice the precision of the Qur’anic expression: daraba implies a firm, deliberate act, meaning “let them draw their headcovers over their chests,” guiding women to cover not only their heads but also their necklines and chests, with a secure covering that won’t be blown aside.
For those who argue that hijab is a mere cultural tradition, know that this command was revealed with profound purpose. In the pre-lslamic days of ignorance, women used to wear a sort of headband, which was tied in a knot at the back of the head. The slit of the shirt in the front partly remained open exposing the front of the neck and the upper part of the bosom. There was nothing except the shirt to cover the breasts, and the hair was worn in a couple or two of plaits hanging behind like tails. At the revelation of this verse, the headscarf was introduced among the Muslim women, which was meant to cover the head, the breasts, and the back, completely. The way the Muslim women responded to this command has been described by Aishah (RA) in a vivid manner. She states that when Surah An- Nur was revealed and the people learned of its contents from the Prophet (ﷺ) they immediately went back to their houses and recited the verses before their wives, daughters and sisters. There was an instantaneous response. The Ansar and Muhajirin women, one and all, immediately got up and made scarves from whatever piece of cloth that was handy. The next morning all the women who came to the Prophet’s Mosque for salah were dressed in headscarves. In another tradition Aishah says that thin cloth was discarded and the women selected only coarse cloth for the purpose. (lbn Kathir).
It was a divine mandate adopted with eagerness by those who truly understood its honour.
أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرَّحيم
الحمد لله الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرا ونذيرا بين يدي الساعة اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين، ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.
أما بعد! فيأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله ما استطعتم واسمعوا وأطيعوا وأنفقوا خيرا لأنفسكم. يا عباد الله أوصيكم وإياي بتقوى الله وطاعته
We live in strange times, where men cover themselves more than women. Where men want to be women and women want to be men. Where some even abandon the idea of gender all together. But it cannot be understated, huwajtabakum, He has chosen you to be a Muslim woman just as he has chosen you to be a Muslim man because you have all the qualifications to do the job. That is what “ijtaba’ means. You were chosen because you have what it takes!
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ قُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَأَهۡلِيكُمۡ نَارٗا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلۡحِجَارَةُ
“Oh you who believe, save yourselves and your families from the fire, whose fuel is men and stones.” Brothers, establish the deen in your homes and take this message to your wives, daughters and sisters. And help them to be women of Allah so that they can help you be men of Allah.
Allah has honoured women and elevated their status after the days of Jahilliayh had oppressed them. This honour remains as long as people adhere to the teachings of Islam and do not revert to modern forms of ignorance. This is because Islam is not the legislation of men, but the divine revelation from the Creator of men and women alike. Hijab is an honour intended as a means of protection, modesty, and identification of Muslim women as people of Eman, as stated in Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59): “to be known and not to be harmed.” There is absolute consensus among scholars (whether you follow the Maliki school or the Shafii or the Hanafi or the Hanbali) that wearing a headscarf to cover the hair, neck, and chest, as well as covering the entire body except the hands and face with loose, modest clothing, is an obligation upon every Muslim women in the presence of non-mahram men.
No matter what they tell you about women’s rights and dignity in their systems and laws, they are lying; for there are no rights for women except under Islam, and there is no dignity for you except in the guidance of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. In them lies salvation and success in this world and the Hereafter. Responsibility falls upon both men and women together, so safeguard your Deen, yourself, your home, your children, and your husband, and you will be deserving of Allah’s promise to you of Jannah.
Ya Allah, we are weak, please help us to listen to the words of guidance and follow them. Strengthen our resolve in fulfilling Your commandments and protect us from all that may lead us away from the path that leads to You and ultimate Bliss. Grant us sincerity, modesty, and humility in our words and deeds. Ya Allah, accept our tawbah and grant us success in this world and the Next.
إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُهَا الذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ، وعن أم المومنين عائشة التي أمرنا الله في سورة النور أن ندافع عنها، وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، خُصُوصاً اِلأَنْصَارَ مِنْهُمْ وَالمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَعَنِ التَّابِعِينَ وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ وُلَاةَ أُمُورِ المُسْلِمِينَ لِمَا يُرْضِيكَ وَلِاتِّبَاعِ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُسْتَقِيمِ، وَأَصْلِحْهُمْ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى شُيُوخِنَا، وَعَلَى رئيسنا، وَعَلَى أَمِيرِنَا، وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ أُمَرَاءِ وَزُعَمَاءِ المُسْلِمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى المُسْلِمِينَ فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا تُحِبُّهُ وَتَرْضَاهُ يَا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلَامَ وَالمُسِْلمِينَ. ربنا آتنا في الدنيا حسنة وفي الآخرة حسنة وقنا عذاب النار.
إِنَّ اللهَ يَامُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى، وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَّكَّرُونَ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ. وَقُومُواْ إِلَى صَلاتِكُمْ يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللهُ.
