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Evidence from the Qur’aan

In the Quran, Allah (a'zza wa jall) says: {O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the faithful to draw their Jalaabeeb close around them; that is better that they will be recognized and not annoyed. And God is ever Forgiving, Gentle.} (Surah al-Ahzab, ayah 59 (33:59)).

In this verse there is a clear command for Muslim women to wear a garment which Allah (a'zza wa jall) has referred to as ‘jilbaab’. The word "jalaabeeb" is the plural of "jilbaab". The Jilbaab is an outer-garment, an extra layer, something worn over the normal clothing.

Allah Most High says: “O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and believing women that they should cast their Jalaabeeb [outer- garments] over their persons. That is most convenient that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.” (Surah al-Ahzab, 59).

The above verse is clear in determining that it is obligatory (fardh) upon a woman to cover herself with a jilbaab. This leaves us with a question, what is a jilbaab?

The sources in Islamic law are primarily the Qur’aan and Sunnah[1]. The Qur’an, the book held sacred by Muslims, contains approximately 500 verses dealing with diverse topics which are of a legal relevance. The Sunnah represents the repository of reports of sayings, acts and consent of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam). The role of the Sunnah is seen as an elaboration of the Quranic injunctions. There are other sources which derive from the two primary sources and they are the Ijmaa’ (legal consensus), Qiyaas (analogical deduction) and other disputed sources but they are not relevant to the discussion at hand.

The Arabic word ‘Islaam’ simply means to 'surrender (to Allah)'. Hence, the essence of our religion is this surrender or submission, which requires trust on our part. Trust that Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta'ala) will be there for us, trust that He knows what is best for us.

Submission to Allah (a'zza wa jall) requires that we put Him before ourselves. That we put our desires second to His desire for us. That we acknowledge that He knows better than we do what is right for us.