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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner, we are pleased to receive your question, which shows the confidence you place in us. May Allah reward you abundantly for your interest in knowing the teachings of Islam.
In the first place, we would like to stress that the Islamic rules of satr or covering for women are intended to safeguard and preserve the honor and dignity of women. This is an idea that should be communicated to new Muslim women but in gradual steps. By steps, the desired results can be achieved. With rigidity, we are more likely to drive new Muslims away. When it comes to new Muslims, a special handling should be applied, and graduation in introducing the noble teachings of Islam should be used.
Islam requires women not only to cover the hair, but to wear long, loose, opaque clothing as well. To focus so much attention on the head-covering alone may result in the absurd dress we see on many young Muslim women in some Arab countries: a head scarf on top of skin tight jeans and t-shirts. It is best to encourage a new Muslimah to change her style of dress gradually, perhaps from the bottom up rather than from the top down.
In his response to the question, the prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states the following:
“Weighing harms and benefits in Islamic jurisprudence or fiqh al-muazanat requires us to deal with the question in hand carefully and gradually. This is to say, we are to take gradual steps until we can convince that woman of the obligation of wearing a head-cover as a Muslim woman. Gradation in this regard may further require us to accept that woman’s uncovered head, though this is unlawful in Islam, for fear that otherwise she may give up Islam, which is a far greater harm than committing something unlawful. Accepting the lesser of two evils in this case is a principle applied when necessary, as agreed upon in Islamic jurisprudence.
Having to accept such woman’s uncovered head should not make us despair of her returning to the right path of Islam. So, we are to supplicate Almighty Allah to guide her so that she may repent. We are, at the same time, to be fair to her and treat her kindly.
We should convince Muslim women that covering their head is a religious obligation, that Almighty Allah and His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered Muslim women to abide by this. This is unanimously agreed upon by all Muslim scholars both in past and present times. Almighty Allah says: “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms…” (An-Nur: 31)
Almighty Allah also says: “O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, that so they may be recognized and not annoyed.” (Al-Ahzab: 59)
This shows that Almighty Allah has made it obligatory upon Muslim women to wear the head-cover as a sign of modesty, so that they be distinguished from the non-Muslim women and those who are not firm in faith. By wearing the head-cover, Muslim women give the impression that they are straight and serious, not loose or frivolous. In that way, no loose men will tease them in any way.
Pious Muslim women are to try to get close to and positively affect the woman in question, so that she may follow in their footsteps. Muslims acquainted with that woman must bear in mind that they are to treat her fairly and kindly, as Almighty Allah gives better results for the thing that is dealt with kindly than that dealt with violently.
Though wearing the head-cover is an obligation upon the Muslim woman, yet it is regarded as a branch, not one of the main principles of Islam. Taking this into account, if imposing the head-cover on a woman that has newly embraced Islam by insisting on her doing so will repel her and may make her give up Islam altogether, it will be better to tolerate her neglecting that obligation. It is not wise in general in Islam that we risk observing a principal obligation (such as believing) for the sake of observing a secondary one (such as hijab).”
You can also read:
Requirements of the Muslim Woman's Dress
Hijab and New Converts
Hijab, Why?
Hijab: Always A Woman’s Business?
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to write back!
May Allah guide you to the straight path, and guide you to that which pleases Him, Amen.
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