By: Tahsin Farzy
Fashion Trends! Everybody is in a frenzy about these words, and even Muslim youth are keeping up with the latest fads. Whether it’s oversized shirts or ripped jeans, all are in. Although some trends can be awful at times, I personally don’t have a problem with them and really appreciate some of them. The popular low-rise jeans, on the other hand, I mean, what the heck was going on?
Even though some trends are pretty good, they can still be considered culturally unsuitable to some people. As Muslims, we should appreciate more subdued options. The excessive misrepresentation of our modest clothing commonly called hijab is distressing and diminishes its significance of humility and purity. This is a topic that I believe deserves to be discussed.
As Muslims, we believe in dressing modestly as commanded in the Holy Qur’an as meant to safeguard modesty and dignity. The most beautiful element, the hijab, commonly known to specifically refers to the headscarf or head covering worn by Muslim women, is a representation of a woman’s commitment to her belief and her reverence for her Almighty.
The term “hijab” in its essence is used by contemporary Muslims to refer to a dress code that covers the body, and is typically associated with Muslim women’s clothing. The basic requirements of hijab are that it should be loose, opaque (not transparent), and cover the parts of the body that are considered private by Muslims, known as the “awrah”. For women, this typically includes everything except the face and hands. Men’s “awrah” – their minimum requirement for covering – is the area between their navels and their knees.
It has been observed that the wearing of hijab as a fashion statement, rather than for its intended purpose, has become prevalent in recent times. Although there is nothing wrong in being a hijabi and being fashionable, it is important to note that the conventional and appropriate method of wearing a headscarf is to fully conceal the chest, neck and hair. Regrettably, certain individuals choose to wear it only on their head, leaving their chest exposed or even wear it in a manner that reveals their hair, which is a deviation from the intended method of wearing a headscarf. Such an approach is not deemed suitable and runs counter to the purpose of wearing a hijab.
The turban, for example, which simply covers the hair, is the current fashion trend. However, it is not suited for people who want to fully cover their awrah because it does not provide sufficient covering. Furthermore, many ladies nowadays tie their hijabs in artistic ways to flaunt their jewelry, particularly the earrings which may be perceived as fashionable. It’s worth noting that there’s more to hijab than just a way to cover intimate parts; rather, it serves to reflect modesty and religious devotion. The Quran does encourage women to be modest in their dress and not to draw attention to themselves through their adornments, as stated in Surah An-Nur verse 31.
Many people also overlook the fact that wearing a hijab with tight clothing is inappropriate as it draws attention to the shape of the body rather than modestly covering it. Hijab is undoubtedly something you would love to wear since it brings you closer to Allah. However, wearing it while revealing other parts of the body, could make the whole purpose pointless.
Therefore, when choosing to wear a hijab, it is important to ensure that it is worn in a way that adheres to the necessary requirements of modesty. Wearing a hijab is a personal choice and should be done thoughtfully. Incorporating the hijab into fashion should not be viewed as a way to devalue or degrade it.: They should draw their veils over their necks and their bosoms (The Quran, Surah An-Nur 24:31)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tahsin Subah Farzy is from Bangladesh. She is currently in the process of completing her IALs. She is also engaged in work as a ghostwriter for another content writer.