Monday, September 06, 2010

Camel hump or beehive Hijab? You choose.

Recently there has been an issue about wearing those "volumised" type of hijabs. I heard about this issue in Malaysia and I guess in the UK we are just about to catch up with the 'trend'. Before I start, let me just say that I have no intention on interpreting the Hadiths, as I am in no place to do so. However, I am just intrigued as to how people think about the said topic.

Ok, so let's talk about the "volumised hijab". People are getting conscious about this style because there is a Hadith that states: Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said. "I will not be a witness for two types of people who are destined for the Fire: people with whips, like the tails of cows, who beat the people (ie, tyrannical rulers who are the enmies of their own people), and women who, although clothed, are yet naked, seducing and being seduced, their hair styled like the tilted humps of camels. These will not enter the Garden nor will its fragrance even reach them, although its fragrance reaches a very great distance. (Reported by Muslim). There have been a few questions being raised regarding this hadith.

The famous question is, how big of the hump is considered too big/unacceptable??!

I have to say that internet has been the best source for getting information. We can get merely anything and everything from the internet. However, when it comes to Islamic topic that we are unsure of it's always BEST to seek the knowledge from a reputable scholar, if possible face-to-face or directly as we do not know who is behind those Usernames. Facebook can also be beneficial sometimes, but most of the time, it is rather evil. We could get infos that we need to know from some of the groups we've joined BUT are they infos we are sure to be valid or are they infos we have been WANTING to hear regardless of it being right or wrong? The info we get might not be true but since that is what we want to hear, we will take it all in and claim it to be very sufficient and precise explanation.

So back to the hijab question, personally to me, people should not raise question about the size of the hump. It states in the hadith as "humps of camel" but why make ourselves confused as to the size of the hump? Why not go further down the line and find out how wrong it is to adorn such style? The real question is, WHY risk it???! Why would one go to an extent of beautifying themselves but at the same time is not sure of what is the proper Islamic/Halal way to do it?

When it comes to Hadiths, we cannot just pick and choose what suits us. We have to read other Hadiths to be sure of what is being said. There are Hadiths about doubtfulness. Why not seek those type of Hadith while we are at it. For instance, in this discussed topic, the people who were discussing the topic have not consulted any scholars opinion as to the size of it hence, they are still in doubt about the size of the hump. Here are a few Hadiths about being in doubt:

On the authority of Al-Hasan bin Ali, the grandson of the messenger of Allah, who said : I memorized from the messenger of Allah his saying :"Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt."At-Tirmidhi

On the authority of Abu Hurairah, who said : The messenger of Allah said :"Part of someone's being a good Muslim is his leaving alone that which does not concern him."At-Tirmidhi

On the authority of Abu Hurairah, who said : the messenger of Allah said :"Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good. Allah has commanded the faithful to do that which he commanded the messengers, and the Almighty has said: "O ye messengers ! Eat of the good things and do right". And Allah the Almighty has said : "O ye who believe! Eat of the good things where with We have provided you" Then he mentioned [the case of] a man who, having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky [saying] : "O Lord! O Lord!" - while his food is unlawful, his drink unlawful, his clothing unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can he be answered !" related by Muslim.


This topic was raised in one of the "fashion" hijab Facebook group. What annoyed me most is not that this topic was being discussed, but instead, people are promoting a video to make this "hump" not so camel-like, apparently small enough to be acceptable. How sure are they that this is the "perfect size"? I don't get annoyed easily but when people use Islam as a shield to make everything possible, then I get annoyed and furious. The thing that was really annoying is not about the question of the "hump" itself, I don't mind the question. It's good to know that people are asking questions before commiting to do something. I don't mind if it was their natural hair that created this "acceptable hump" either but..... The worse part of it was that, there are people who is making Youtube videos teaching people to use fake flower clips to make this volumised look!!! What is the necessity to this if I may ask?

Sometimes there are a few people who would come out with such discussions because they want to know what the fatwaa says about so and so. But to me, in the end of the day, it is your TAQWA (self-restraint) that should be taken into consirderation. If you feel the doubt and don't feel confident, then ask yourself.....

Why do you NEED to commit into such a thing?
How do u FEEL when you do it?
How do you feel when you know forbidden things have been stated in the Quran and Hadith and yet you're still doing it?
Also, since many of us are not sure how big this hump is supposed to be, why not just do a normal Hijab style?
Why do things that are of a grey area and jeopradise ourselves in the Hereafter?

Sorry for the bit of rant but I think Fashion and Islam just do not go along together. No doubt we are meant to look great and presentable but to an extent of risking ones good deeds? There was an interpretation about the hadith that I find rather clear and would like to share it here. Ru’oosahunna ka asnimat il-bukht (translated here as “with something on their heads that looks like the humps of camels”), this may mean that they make their heads look bigger with veils and turbans, which are wrapped around the head, so that they look like the humps of camels. This is the well-known interpretation. Al-Maaziri said: it may be that what is meant is that they will not lower their gaze in the presence of men, rather they will look directly at them. Allah knows best. Iskandar pointed out to me that with those big huge hijab/hair, it would be difficult to carry the weight forward therefore the head would be tilted too far back (see picture above) and it's difficult and doesn't feel natural to tilt the head downwards to lower the gaze. So, this brings us to an ayah "Allah does not love any proud boaster". (57:23) Also a hadith agreed upon by Bukhari and Muslim, The Prophet (peace be on him) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at the person who trails his robe behind him out of pride."

If you have extra time, do read up Iskandar's blog about dressing moderately. Insha'Allah it will be beneficial info.

May we guide each other to the righteous path, Insha'Allah. Choose wisely not randomly, as ALLAH knows what's best for us.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very good post! I was just talking to my sister about this. I think that we are missing the point about the purpose of the hijab. it is not supposed to be "sexy" or a fashion statement. I do like to match my scarf with my outfit and wear a pretty one on special occasions but insha allah, I try not to go overboard and put a lot of emphasis on it. It seems like we are going overboard and the hijab is not representing modesty anymore.

Thank you for the post lady! I'll share with my sisters :)

Anonymous said...

Saheeh Muslim # 2128 (5633). The wording is:

"There are two types of people from the people of the hell-fire whom I've never seen before. A people who had whips like the tails of cows beating the people with them. Women who are dressed but naked. Those who sway and cause others to sway, whose heads are like the humps of camels. They will not enter into paradise nor smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be smelled from the distance of such such."

Anonymous said...

Saheeh Muslim # 2128 (5633). The wording is:

"There are two types of people from the people of the hell-fire whom I've never seen before. A people who had whips like the tails of cows beating the people with them. Women who are dressed but naked. Those who sway and cause others to sway, whose heads are like the humps of camels. They will not enter into paradise nor smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be smelled from the distance of such such."

Janzilla said...

Assalamualikum,
May I ask you to please attend www.sunnahfollowers.net and get the true account of this hadith from the people of knowledge who teach there for free based on Quran and Sunnah

Anonymous said...

I think your post is so valid, especially at the moment, with all these hijabi youtubers,vloggers, bloggers coming out all of a sudden. We all know that the internet is where people get all their information and inspiration from and it is so wrong how so many girls are exposing the wrong message. No-one is perfect and it is up to Allah SWT to judge what is wrong and what is right. However, we all are growing as Muslims. These days all the girls are dying to get hold of a khaleeji flower clip just because their favourite youtuber uses it. I live in England and at the moment there's almost a hijab culture. Girls where it just so that they can experiment with about 3 different hairbands and huge flower clips under or on their hijab. It really embarrasses me when I see a sister with a huge alien head walking on the roads or in shopping centres. It's sooo cringe worthy. And then when people try and point out that this is wrong, they're classed as 'haters'. No one likes to be told they're doing something wrong. But surely all this hype about how to look hot in a hijab or how to give hijab extra volume is getting way out of hand. At the end of the day, if someone tries to defend the 'camel hump' or protests that what they do with their hijab is not wrong, then that's between them and Allah SWT.And anyone who follows should think before they start doing the same. However, they should realise by doing it publicly on the internet, over facebook or youtube, so many other girls are encouraged to 'be like them'. I can't quote directly from the hadith but I have read that on the Day of Judgement each person will be accountable for his own deeds. You won't be able to say oh i did this because Dina Toki-o said it was okay...or because YaztheSpaz says it doesn't matter. It's each man for himself. So why take the risk?

ummifour said...

Alhamdulillaah sister this is an excellent blog post, unfortunately as you have probably seen since writing this-at least in most English cities this has become a MAJOR fashion amongst even 'conservative' hijabis (and some niqabis even), it has become completely acceptable and most Islamic clothing stores and businesses are now selling the relevant accessories to acheive this look. It turns heads and not in a good way and like you have very rightly pointed out-if in doubt leave it out is by far the best policy. InshaAllaah this fashion goes away soon but I get the feeling those with an agenda to twist Islamic rulings to their desires will run with this until the hijab no longer resembles anything that can be recognised from Qur'an and ahadith :(

Anonymous said...

you are defo not aloud to place a camel hum or flower in your hair because the punsihment in islaam is very severe allah has mentioned several times that is is not aloud yet people do not listen here is a hadeeth
"whoever elevates there hair or wears camel hum will not enter paradise and they will not be able to even smell the beautiful fragance of heven"

Anonymous said...

watch this short video regarding the camel hump sisters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1se4CWJ-IGc

Unknown said...

Subhanallah, I wrote my blog post on this topic too. And then I came across yours! subhanallah.

I agree with you sis, mashallah well written. Please have a look at my post