I am planning to start hijab, but everytime I try to start, I stop myself because my sisters in law are pretty modern and I don’t want to be left behind in terms of fashion. Secondly, I can’t stop myself from comparing my worship with one of my other cousins? I try to refrain from doing so but can’t. What shall I do?
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
Fashion does not hold any value as compared to the commandments of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala and the teachings of His beloved messenger Rasulullah Sallallaho Alyhi Wasallam. Instead, it has been mentioned in the ahadith of Rasulullah Sallallaho Alyhi Wasallam that in the eyes of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala, the value of this world is not even equal to the value of a mosquito’s wing. That is the reason why there is no flexibility in choosing the world or the people in it, over His commandments, nor there is any room for such comparison.
Nevertheless, there has been severe rebuke mentioned for people in the hereafter, who engage in fashion and insist on resembling the nonbelievers (i.e. immitating their looks, actions etc.). Therefore, we should keep such mentions of rebuke and punishments in our mind. It is utter foolishness and peak of silliness to leave the commandments of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala, for the creation who has been created by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala, in order to achieve the worthless benefits of this insignificant world. Be courageous and become steadfast on this commandment of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala. As a result of your actions, the peace, solace and happiness Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala will provide you, it will have no comparison to the temporary and insignificant satisfaction one receives by engaging in fashion, which only amounts as loss of time and money, and is a sin due to crossing the boundaries which the Islamic Shari‘ah has set.
عن ابن عمر رضي اللّٰہ عنہما قال: قال رسول اللّٰہ صلی اللّٰہ علیہ وسلم: من تشبہ بقوم فہو منہم۔ (سنن أبي داؤد، کتاب اللباس / باب في لبس الشہرۃ ۲؍۵۵۹ رقم: ۴۰۳۱ )
قال القاري: أي من شبّہ نفسہ بالکفار مثلاً في اللباس وغیرہ، أو بالفساق أو الفجار، أو بأہل التصوف والصلحاء الأبرار ’’فہو منہم‘‘: أي في الإثم أو الخیر عند اللّٰہ تعالیٰ … الخ۔
(بذل المجہود، کتاب اللباس / باب في لبس الشہرۃ ۱۲؍۵۹)
فقط واللہ اعلم بالصواب