Question:
I have recently, alhamdulillah started wearing full hijaab, which of course includes the niqaab, and i have realised that as i walk down the street, I walk with a lot of confidance and pride; proud of the fact that I am a muslim woman in hijaab, unafraid of the western world. I do not want to appear a weak, submissive stereotype of a Muslim Woman, which is stopping me from walking with my gaze down, as I should be.
I feel, however that this pride and confidance is not right somehow, and that it is preventing me from feeling modest, and having humility, traits of a good muslim woman… please can you tell me the correct way of how a muslim woman should walk and behave when out in public.
What has the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, said about women in hijaab, pride and the way they conduct themselves.
Answered by Ustadha Umm Yusuf Abdul Sattar
Verified by Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Thank you for your question. First, let us commend you on meeting the obligation of hijab and niqab.
What needs to be remembered is that the observance of hijab is an act of obedience to Allah, the Most Exalted. Wearing the hijab is a reflection of your iman and your desire to build a relationship with your Lord. Therefore, wearing hijab and recognizing it as an obligation does not make you proud or overconfident. However, you should not boast about your following the commands of Allah (subhana hu wa ta’ala), thereby making yourself appear superior to others. The fact is that you are a Muslim, fulfilling a command of Allah (subhana hu wa ta’ala).
The important thing to keep in mind is the quality of humility. A Muslim treads on the earth softly, keeping their voice down, guarding their gaze, and maintaining an overall attitude of humility. When a woman is in the public sphere, she should act with the utmost dignity and humility. The Qur’an clearly states in Surah An-Nur (Verses 30-31), “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them. And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty…”
We can also look to Surah Al-Qasas (Verse 25), which provides clear guidance on this issue: “Then there came to him one of the two women, walking with shyness.” In this situation, the defining characteristic of the woman referenced is her walking in public with shyness – meaning that she is not drawing attention to herself, she is not speaking in a loud tone, and that she is conducting her necessary task with the utmost modesty.
May Allah (subhana hu wa ta’ala) grant you success in your worship.
Ustadha Umm Yusuf Abdul Sattar
