Answered by Ustadha Zaynab Ansari, SunniPath Academy Teacher
I am a practising Muslimah, I wear the hijaab but not a jilbaab, recently I have really got it in my heart that I need to and I should wear the jilbaab, I just feel a little confused, please can you give me some encouragement because I could really do with some, because my family don’t really encourage me and I could do with their support, so please help should I or shouldn’t I, it may be the shaytaan playing with my feelings and putting me in doubt. Jazakallah khair and the site is mashallah very good may Allah bless you all for the good work, and may he give you good in this life and the hereafter.
Assalamu alaikum,
I pray this message reaches you in good health and spirits this Ramadan.
Wearing jilbab is very commendable. Since you already wear hijab, you’ve already won half the battle. Nothing should stop you from wearing jilbab. Even if your family does not encourage it, this step is completely up to you. Allah Ta’ala rewards actions done for His sake. Jilbab is one of the best forms of modest dress, so, of course, you should wear it. If you are feeling apprehensive about wearing jilbab out in public, then be aware that your hijab already sets you apart. So, alhamdulillah, you already have the courage to obey Allah and wear your hijab with dignity. Putting on jilbab is simply another step. Keep in mind that there are different forms of jilbab. For example, you can wear a jumper or a dress and still have the coverage that you’d have in a jilbab. You can experiment with different jilbab styles to see what suits you best. Jilbabs are very elegant garments. So don’t worry about what people think. You may even find yourself receiving compliments; the modest dress of Muslim women is both feminine and dignified, and even some non-Muslims appreciate this.
So ask Allah for strength, don’t make it more difficult than it should be, and ignore the naysayers, whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim. You do what you need to do for your deen. And try to find other Muslimahs who are doing the same because a social network is important.
May Allah reward you,
Zaynab
The Status of the Jilbab
Is the Jilbab (outer garment) Obligatory?