may Allah bless you and your husband too and continue to bring you closer to him everyday,ameen. Allah grant you both Jannatul Firdous,ameen.

I remember the hadith you are refering to. Indeed those loved by Allah are tested the most. Our beloved Prophet sallaAllahu alayhi wa sallam is the most beloved to Allah and he was the most tested. The amount of trials he had to endure are witness to the love Allah has for him.

With every cloud comes rain which may make you wet . With every trial may come hardship. But that rain or that hardship waters the land cleansing it and the most beautiful fruits come from it. This is the silver lining that comes with the cloud. Allah is indeed the most Wise.

With every good thing comes trial. That is the beauty of Allah’s Mercy…that when He sends us something new in our life, He mixes wonderful things with tests…to increase our growth, our rewards, and erase our sins. As long as you understand that every trial is a blessing and it is ALL GOOD, then insha’Allah those trials – big and small – will just be navigational blips on the map of life.

I was amazed at how many trials I have faced since marrying. However, each time I face a huge one I remember that I was clearly guided to this marriage and Allah Willed it for me so I could become closer to Him and better as a person. Seven years later, I’m grateful for every one…because it has brought me so much further. Trials are big ladders…taking us closer and closer to Jennah and teaching us how to do our best in situations for the pleasure of Allah. Everything done for the pleasure of Allah brings about the pleasure of ourselves and those kindred spirits around us.

I did a workshop on how to face hardships, and a hadith I related said (not verbatim) that the stronger the believer, the bigger the trials as Allah wants them to reach him without any account. It is a barometer of your heart, so the more trials the more clean and beautiful your heart insha’Allah. It’s all good.

Truly nothing brings us closer to Allah and raises our level of faith and practice than marriage…the beauty and the trial of it. It truly is a completion of our religion. After 36 years of single life, I was finally blessed with a husband and I have found that nothing reaches one to those higher levels of deen more than wanting Allah’s Pleasure and Jennah al Firdous for someone other than yourself and striving to get them there.

I’m thrilled for you, my sister. May Allah Bless your union generously and give you both the ultimate success in this life and the next. Al hamdu l’Illahi Rabb il aal Ameen!

…..
Revelation of Al-Hijab

Hadith – Bukhari 1:148
The wives of the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) used to go to Al-Manasi, a vast open place (near Baqia at Madinah) to answer the call of nature at night. ‘Umar used to say to the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) “Let your wives be veiled,” but Allah’s Apostle(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) did not do so. One night Sauda bint Zam’a the wife of the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) went out at ‘Isha’ time and she was a tall lady. ‘Umar addressed her and said, “I have recognized you, O Sauda.” He said so, as he desired eagerly that the verses of Al-Hijab (the observing of veils by the Muslim women) may be revealed. So Allah revealed the verses of “Al-Hijab” (A complete body cover excluding the eyes).

The Noble Qur’an – Al-Ahzab 33:5
O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils)* all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

*the arabic word here is Jalabeeb (plural of Jalbaab), which is the loose outer garment that covers all a woman’s body. It says here to use the Jalabeeb to cover all, and scholars say this means to use it to cover her head (agree upon by all scholars) and her face (agreed by many scholars, not all) and one or both eyes, in order for it to be known that she is a free woman and so not to be exposed to any harm.

Hadith – Bukhari 6:282
‘Aisha(R.A.) used to say: “When (the Verse): ‘They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms,’ was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces.”

Hadith – Abu Dawud, Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu’minin
When the verse “That they should cast their outer garments over their persons” was revealed, the women of Ansar came out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer garments.

The lower half of the hijab is a garment that does not show the woman’s figure. Jeans and certain obvious garments do not meet this requirement.

Hadith – Abu Dawud, Narrated Dihyah ibn Khalifah al-Kalbi
The Apostle(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) of Allah was brought some pieces of fine Egyptian linen and he gave me one and said: Divide it into two; cut one of the pieces into a shirt and give the other to your wife for veil. Then when he turned away, he said: And order your wife to wear a garment below it and not show her figure.

Prescribed Methods of Covering

Tafseer – Ibn Katheer

“Allah commanded the muslim women to cover this sheet on top of them to cover their bodies except one eye, when it is necessary for them to come out of their homes.”

Tafseer – Commentary by Ibn Jarir and Ahkam-ul-Quran, Vol.III, p.457

Imam Muhammad bin Sirin said: “When I asked Ubaida bin Sufyan bin al-Harith (ra) the meaning of this verse and how the jalbaab was to worn, he demonstrated it to me by pulling a sheet of cloth over his head to cover his entire body, leaving the left eye uncovered. This was also the explanation of the word ‘Alaihinna in this verse”
Tafseer – Alu’si, Rul-ul-Ma’ani, Vol. 22, p. 89

“Ibn Jarir Tabari and Ibn Al-Mundhir described the method of wearing the jalbaab according to Ibn Abbas (ra) and Qatadah (ra). The sheet should be wrapped around from the top, covering the forehead, then bringing one side of the sheet to cover the face below the eyes so that most of the face and the upper body is covered. This will leave both eyes uncovered (which is allowed in necessity).

Color of Garment

The female companions were known to wear black and dark colors (such as the hadith above, “crows on their heads”), but other colors are also permissible for a woman to wear. She must not wear any color, however, in vanity.

Hadith – Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.715
…’Aisha said that the lady (came), wearing a green veil …

Hadith – Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.733
that he had seen Um Kulthum, the daughter of Allah’s Apostle(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), wearing a red silk garment.

Hadith – Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.713
The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) was given some clothes including a black Khamisa. The Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said, “To whom shall we give this to wear?” The people kept silent whereupon the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said, “Fetch Um Khalid for me.” I (Um Khalid) was brought carried (as I was small girl at that time). The Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) took the Khamisa in his hands and made me wear it and said, “May you live so long that your dress will wear out and you will mend it many times.” On the Khamisa there were some green or pale designs (The Prophet saw these designs) and said, “O Um Khalid! This is Sanah.” (Sanah in a Ethiopian word meaning beautiful).

Hadith – Sunan of Abu Dawood #4055, Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-’As

We came down with the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) from a turning of a valley. He turned his attention to me and I was wearing a garment dyed with a reddish yellow dye. He asked: What is this garment over you? I recognised what he disliked. I then came to my family who were burning their oven. I threw it (the garment) in it and came to him the next day. He asked: Abdullah, what have you done with the garment? I informed him about it. He said: Why did you not give it to one of your family to wear, for there is no harm in it for women.

Must a Woman Wear Niqab (Veil)?

The general understanding in Islam regarding Sunnah, is that if the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) or any of his wives (RA) or companions (RA) are recorded in authentic hadith to have engaged in an act that is not haram (prohibited) as defined by Qur’an or Sunnah, then the act is declared halal (permissible). If the companions engaged in an act that the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) was aware of and did not speak out against, it is halal.
It is well-known that the wives of the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) covered their faces any time non-mahram men were near. A woman named Asma, who was not a wife of the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) , was also recorded as covering her face. Easily, one can conclude that wearing veil is halal (permissible).
However, Muslims and Muslimahs across the world have been in “hot debate” for centuries, over the issue of whether or not covering the face is obligatory upon a Muslimah. Those who argue that it is not required, point to the use of the word khimar in the Qur’an, and explain that today’s modern khimar does not cover the face, and argue that khimar has never referred to the covering of the face, but only to that of the hair, neck, and bosoms. While one cannot deny the support of Hadith that indicate that the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam)’s wives wore khimar, one must realize that they also covered their faces at all times in the presence of non-mahram men.

BASING ON CULTURE VS. QURAN AND SUNNAH. …

Most Muslim men, even in America, would be pleased if their wives veil, but some state that a veil draws too much attention, causing men to look upon her more than normal. However, one must realize that when men ‘look’, they have nothing of her to see! Regardless, this issue must stick to understanding and implementing Qur’an and Sunnah, and not making excuses based on the current culture. Muslims are ordered not to imitate the dress of any non-Muslim culture, so, surely, we cannot make the choice to wear Niqab based on the pressures of modern day society; instead, we choose, insha’Allah, to fear Allah, swt, and not mankind!

When in a state of ihram, the muslimah cannot wear niqab. However, according to several scholars, such as Sheikh ibn Baz, even when in a state of ihram, “she should lower her headcovering or outer cloak over her face when she is in the presence of non-mahram men.” So, it is to say that she should not cover her face around the other women during ihram, but that she should cover it if a non-mahram man approaches. He bases this on the hadith below, narrated by ‘Aisha .

In Fathul Bari, chapter Hajj, a tradition reported on the authority of Aisha (RA) says:
“A woman in a state of Ihram (during Hajj and Umrah) should stretch her head – cloth over to her face to hide it.”

Hadith – Recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and ibn Majah, Narrated ‘Aisha. [In his work Jilbab al-Marah al-Muslimah, al-Albani states (p. 108) that it is hasan due to corroborating evidence. Also, in a narration from Asma, Asma also covered her face at all times in front of men.]

Narrated ‘Aisha (RA) who said, “The riders would pass us while we were with the Messenger of Allah ). When they got close to us, we would draw our outer cloak from our heads over our faces. When they passed by, we would uncover our faces.”

According to Shaikh ibn Uthaimin, “she is not required to cover her face during the prayer unless there are non-related men around her. She must then cover her face from them, as it is not allowed for a woman to uncover her face except to her husband and her male relatives i.e., mahram.”

If a woman is not around any non-mahram men and does not fear that any will enter her area of salah, she may reveal her face and hands. This is agreed upon by the group of scholars.

So, whether agreeing that niqab is required or not, one must surely acknowledge that it is a desirous sign of piety. What better example of sunnah to follow for a muslimah than that of the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) and his wives RA. Every Muslimah is encouraged to cover to the fullest, showing only one or both eyes.

A woman does not have to wear a niqab (affixed veil), but she should emulate the female companions by using her hijab or other items, to lift and cover her face when a non-mahram man approaches, even during ihram (hajj), as this is in accordance with sunnah.

Hadith – Muwatta 20.16

Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that Fatima bint al-Mundhir said, “We used to veil our faces when we were in ihram in the company of Asma bint Abi Bakr as-Siddiq.”

The following Fatawa is from Sheikh Ibn Uthaimin:
“The Islamic hijab is for the women to cover everything that is forbidden for her to expose. That is, she covers everything that she must cover.
“The first of those bodily parts that she must cover is her face. It is the source of temptation and the source of people desiring her. Therefore, the woman must cover her face in front of those men that are not Mahram (i.e. father, huband, etc.).

“As for those who claim that Islamic hijab is to cover the head, shoulders, back, feet, shin and forearms while allowing her to uncover her face and hands, this is a very amazing claim. This is because it is well-known that the source of temptation and looking is the face. How can one say that the Shariah does no allow the exposure of the foot of the woman while it allows her to uncover her face?

“It is not possible that there could be in the Esteemed, Wise and Noble Shariah a contradiction. Yet everyone knows that the temptation from uncovering the face is much greater than the temptation that results from the uncovering of the feet. Everyone also knows that the most sought after aspect of the woman for men is the face. If you told a prospective groom that a woman’s face is ugly but her feet are beautiful, he would not propose to such a woman.
“However, if you told him that her face was beautiful but her hands, palms, or shins were less than beautiful, he would still propose to her. From this one can conclude that the face is the first thing that must be covered.

“There are also evidences from the Book of Allah (SWT) and the Sunnah of our Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam). There are also statements from the Companions, the leading Imams and the great scholars of Islam that indicate that it is obligatory for the woman to cover all of her body in the presence of non-Mahram men. This obviously indicates that it is obligatory upon the woman to cover her face in front of such men.”
The following information can be found on this website…
http://www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/niqab1.htm
This can be found at the following website

As for following religious scholars, read what Allah (SWT) says in Quran 9:31 about those who received the scripture before. They took their religious scholars as lords besides Allah (SWT). There widely reported Hadith of the Prophet that explain that this means the people followed the laws of the scholars that were not from Allah (SWT). So, we must ask ourselves, do we follow our scholars instead of Allah (SWT) by taking what they say about how believing women should dress to be recognized instead of the clear instructions of Allah (SWT)?

We must remember that Allah (SWT) has declared that shirk is the only unforgivable sin, and that the Prophet said shirk will enter the Muslim Ummah like a black ant crawling on a black rock in a dark night.

Allah (SWT) tells believing women exactly how to dress to be recognized, and nowhere does Allah (SWT) instruct women to wear hijab or niqab. These are inventions of human beings.

A person needs to understand that alongside a great book needs to come a great teacher.

The Prophet sallaAllahu alayhi was sallam brought the Quran and he taught it to the people. As such we have been left with the Quran and the Sunnah which helps explain the Quran.

Please do not overlook the Sunnah of the Prophet sallaAllahu alayhi wa sallam as it tells us how to implement the commandments within theQuran.

For example within the Quran it will never tell you there are 4 fardh rakaats for Dhur, Asr and Esha. That is found in the Sunnah, in the Ahadith of the Prophet sallaAllahu alayhi wa sallam.Therefore we must be incredibly careful. The ahadith explain the verse that you have stated in more depth.

It is also dangerous to divert from the teachings of the ulema. Not one of the ulema will say that wearing hijab is not an obligation.

masalaama

Regarding what identifies a woman as a Muslim, should we go by what we, or others may think or feel, or should we go by what God, the Most Mercful has said? God has clearly told believing women how to dress in order to be recognized as believers, and it is not hijab or abaya, or niqab. God says in the Quran:

Yā ‘Ayyuhā An-Nabīyu Qul Li’zwājika Wa Banātika Wa Nisā’i Al-Mu’uminīna Yudnīna `Alayhinna Min Jalābībihinna Dhālika ‘Adná ‘An Yu`rafna Falā Yu’udhayna Wa Kāna Allāhu Ghafūrāan Raĥīmāan(33:59)

meaning:

[Oh Prophet! Tell your girls and the believing women to lengthen their garments. That is most appropriate, so that they will be recognized and not harmed.. God has been Forgining Merciful]

Yudnīna is from the root d-n-y, from which we get dunya, for the lower, earthly world. It means to make something lower or closer to the ground. The verb is used with the preposition `Alayhinna , meaning on themselves. This is followed by the partitive Min, which designations part of something. In this case part of Jalābībihinna, literally, their garments. The way one mkes part of one’s garment nearr to the ground on oneself is by lengthening.

God does not tell us we are to be identified by hijab, or abaya, or nigab. That is all human convention. If we want to be recognized as believing women, we must ask ourselves, do we chose what human beings say identifies us, or what God says identifies us?

Wa salaam.

assalamu alaykum

I am from south africa and currently running a youth magazine.

i have noticed that many of your articles and poems are impressively written and very moving.

with your permission, it would be a great privilege to publish your works.

i eagerly await response.

wassalaam