The Islamic dress code for Muslim women (the hijab) can be viewed from multiple perspectives. Religiously, the hijab is a mandated obligation established by definitive ayahs. Socially and ethically, the hijab acts as a contributing factor in regulating societal behavior, which is one of the Sharia objectives of this obligation. From a social perspective, the hijab reduces significant social disparities between classes. Politically, the hijab has symbolized the success of politically religious movements. Culturally, the hijab is considered one of the most prominent symbols representing the identity of our Islamic civilization, which has led to much rejection and resistance from other civilizations, especially in its Western form.
Assimilation or Integration
The hijab appears to symbolize a significant intellectual dilemma our Ummah is experiencing. One side takes an entirely closed stance on identity, including its historical cultural heritage, placing the different other in a circle of accusation and suspicion, making the conspiracy theory an explanatory memo for all events. This side believes that any attempt to link the hijab with fashion or “lifestyle” is a conspiracy to strip the hijab of its essence, spearheaded by the West and its allies. Instead of banning the hijab as France did with its extreme secularism, the hijab is being transformed into a “non-hijab,” merely a small cover that hides a small part of the hair, then transpires and reveals the rest of the body; thus, the hijab and the Ummah's cultural identity melt away.
Conversely, there is a second side within the Islamic circle that believes there has been a surrender to the fear stemming from our cultural decline, pushing us to expand the base of blocking means and clinging to some historical models of dress without a religious basis. Consequently, we have estranged the modernity and contemporary trend. Proponents of this view believe that we can integrate while preserving our true identity by critiquing and sifting through the heritage, separating the religious from human traditions. Similarly, a Muslim woman can wear a hijab that meets all the Sharia conditions while also being in line with fashion trends and even the latest “trends”!
Religious and Trendy!
In this context, many pages and blogs have emerged seeking to combine religious dress code with fashion. Millions of girls follow famous Instagram and TikTok influencers who offer advice and examples of clothing that are both religious and contemporary.
Global brands have also sought to invest in the market for hijabi clothing. There are now hijabi fashion shows and hijabi models, with billions invested in this promising market with high purchasing power. However, the question remains: Does this market adhere to the Islamic conditions of the hijab? This question cannot be definitively answered, as there are many loose, covering clothes that do not reveal or describe the body and are not glitzy. On the other hand, there are many clothes labeled for hijabis but are tight and attention-grabbing, missing one or more religious conditions. The final choice remains with the Muslim woman to select what pleases Allah and suits her taste.
However, we cannot deny that the abundance of non- religious clothing under the name of hijabi clothing exerts pressure and temptation on Muslim girls, inviting some to compromise to keep up with what is available in the market. Worse still, over time, and with the increasing demand for these trendy, non- religious clothes, the production of religious, tasteful clothes diminishes to the point of scarcity. Girls may be forced to buy other clothes, increasing their sales and production in a miserable cycle that stifles the production of elegant, religious clothes.
Some defend trendy clothes that do not meet religious conditions by arguing that they attract many non-hijabi girls as a first or preparatory step into the world of hijab. In this context, we cannot ignore the modest fashion trend that is prevalent in many parts of the world, including the non-Muslim world, as it is considered more elegant than the provocative clothes that reveal and describe the female body. While proponents of the first view see these attempts as merely confusing clear and evident truths of religious clothing, proponents of the second view believe that no effort should be underestimated, no matter how small. We should appreciate even an atom's weight of good, as the first adornment of ignorance is less severe than the nudist clubs.
Psychological Dimensions
It is clear, then, that combining religious clothing with a trendy style represents a difficult equation. If we want to be honest in our analysis, the solution is challenging. But is it worth the effort to try to combine the religiosity of clothing and elegance at the same time, to search and analyze for a realistic solution? Doesn't this seem like a psychological defeat in front of a civilization that considers the value of the body central and sees itself as the only one with the right to determine what is elegant and what is not? Is this attempt at combining religiosity and trendiness a fabrication and a trap meant to drag us into a deep pit?
In my opinion, trying to reconcile and solve this difficult equation is extremely important if we want to be realistic in our approach and not ignore any factors. The most important of these factors is that we are in an era that has changed its features from the past. There is no longer the old distinction between the House of Islam and the House of disbelief, and the large Muslim communities in the West are a testament to this. Social media influencers have also become a reality, as have the abundance of goods and products, social freedom spaces, and various rebellious movements. The deep desire of girls to appear elegant and contemporary is also a reality that cannot be ignored or overlooked, as the love of adornment is an inherent trait in females; “So is one brought up in ornaments while being during conflict unevident [attributed to Allah]?” (Az-Zukhruf: 18)
We live in an era where the values of beauty have occupied a high position that cannot be ignored but can be refined with Sharia standards; “And not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof.” (An-Nur: 31) Thus, elegant coordinated clothes or simple, beautiful jewelry can fulfill these deep feminine needs. If a woman's inner adornment represents her private domain at home, satisfying this psychological need completely, her outer adornment gives her confidence and ease of movement. Therefore, there is a great need to create production lines that balance the two sides of this equation without compromise or forgery. This is not complicated, especially since the textile and clothing industries are well-established in our countries.
This is not a call to compromise with the status quo or to raise the flag of defeat in the era of globalization, but rather a good reading of reality's data without affecting the established Islamic rules while avoiding any historical imitation far from the prophetic era.
The possibility of combining hijab and elegance helps the Muslim girl reduce the area of temptation, not the opposite, and it also relieves much psychological pressure from her shoulders. If the Muslim woman has a battle to fight, let it be a real battle, not an imagined one. The hijab is a battle of constants, but its form, as long as it meets the conditions, is variable. Thus, the hijab remains an act of worship, a symbol, and a thorn in the sides of its haters.
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