I just finished watching the 4 part soundcloud series you linked under your video, and I was blown away at time and laughing at times and overall, I'm just becoming a bigger fan of Dr. Khalid the more I listen to him.
In the recordings, he mentioned he wanted to publish his research on this topic. Has he done so already?
Also, while your post was primarily for women, it's extrmely valuable for men too. My main motivation to explore this topic is that I want to be a more Islamically informed father someday iA, and it's highly likely that I'll be raising daughters (if not mine, then someone else's as an uncle in the community), and I need to be able to answer their questions about hijab when the time comes. This is all to say that I'm very grateful for you doing all this. I can see the opposition and unkindness you're facing in the comments. May Allah swt bless you and your husband and guide us all to Him.
May God bless and reward you for what the vast majority of Muslims will not do — fearlessly engage knowledge and explore the unknown (chasing frogs down rabbit holes). This is why knowledge is the highest form of worship—it is for the brave and humble. The more you know, the more you realize how little you know. I wish more of our brothers and sisters would be like you. Thank you for being you. May God guide and aid us all. 🤲🏼❤️
That I had the cuiosity and oppennes to your message is all from Allah swt. It also helps that my own studies of sorts under my sheikh since age 9 have developed in me a greater neutrality perhaps, or wasaṭ-ness, if that makes sense. What I found amusing was that my early childhood mirrored that of Dr. Khaled very much, in that I became a hafiz by age 6 and memorized upwards of 5000 ahadith by 13. I don't retain much of the hadiths I memorized, but the point is that at a very young age, I started learning Arabic and had a huge volume of direct exposure to hadiths in Sahih al-Bukhari, and I had all sorts of questions.
My journey obv took a much different route afterwards and I'm not even a student of knowledge in any real capacity, but that foundational period instilled some sensibilities in me. I should mention that my parents and sheikh took great care in who I was learning from. A young mind is very moldable. Alhamdulillah.
Thank you for this and for the courage that comes from being bold and outright. Target audience reached! I've been reflecting a lot on how different things feel when it comes to religious education, accessibility, tik Tok scholars, and the way that fear (unfortunately always fear) pushes out singular perspectives on things that are nuanced. This is a much needed and appreciated voice.
Grace! Mashallah what Allah has given us all is aql. The ability to reason is not created equal in all of us, but to be able to question out loud in a marriage to a scholar, how beautiful.
My father and my father in law both raised me to ask questions, Bangladeshi and Indian men born in the 1950s, brought up in a secular worldview. Hijab was a political thing, a class thing, and none of the working women in my family on either side of the family wore it nor had the inclination toward it. The right to choose was a given for these men (and my mom and my mother in law by extension). One worked in pharma and one in public education and both saw the potential discrimination of wearing hijab at work. So they chose safety.
I’m not sure when and how hijab became “the sixth pillar” of Islam in America, but definitely worth understanding. What led to this as the proxy by which we judge righteousness? May God forgive our arrogance.
I love hijab and am hosting a hijab party this weekend but I respect others’ journeys and your husband’s scholarship over random people. Who is granted authority is a huge thing in our community. I felt your yearning for truth in the video.
I met you in Princeton years ago and I felt the sincerity. You cannot find that on digital platforms and our words cannot always convey the truth or reality. What resonated for me specifically is how God chooses ambiguity on purpose. Zina there is no ambiguity. Interest there is no ambiguity. But khimar, there is ambiguity. How remarkable is the Creator. And yes, there is consensus. But there is consensus that there is genocide but we're arguing about a woman's right to choose how she performs piety. At least we're not the French and our laws don't blatantly discriminate against freedom of religion.
Salaams dearest Sadia! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful experience and your kind words. Yes, choice and reasoning are gifts and responsibilities that come with the pursuit of knowledge. The operative cause (‘illa) in Islamic law for covering was modesty and protection from harm, so what is the right choice when it causes harm? Every woman’s situation is different and I believe that is why God was ambiguous on this point—giving women the freedom to choose according to their circumstances and conscience. The “sixth pillar” view correlates to patriarchy, colonialism and Wahhabism, but it takes education to understand and deconstruct. I wholeheartedly agree that our much greater concerns should be how to stop the genocide rather than argue over a headscarf but the case study of how people respond to the hijab issue exemplifies the problem of privileging inherited claims and the status quo over critical thinking, enlightenment, empowerment and liberation. I believe we need a constant engagement with Quranic ethics to keep the vibrancy of our beautiful message alive. We fail when we stop questioning and using our God-given intellects to strive to be at the forefront of everything virtuous, good and relevant to our times. Thank God you were raised to question! May it never stop! 🤲🏼❤️😊
One kid is a questioner and for a questioner to raise another questioner is like striking gold. She asked for a Tafsir book for her 10th birthday.
I’m very selective about who is her teacher.
I try very much to hold onto the questions — that’s why I write online, to find others who are questioners but also to know I’m not the only one who questions. My favorite line is “which of your favors will you deny” and there are so many things God asks as questions but they are not really questions.
Our questioning —as it brings us closer to our Creator who doesn’t seem bothered by questions — is one of the favors. For the vast majority of people even in the comments here, questioning is a useless pass time but I appreciate the intellectual curiosity.
i explore hijab over the heart here.. its still not fully baked... but its where I've landed so please bear with me... my kid started to wear hijab!!! and I'm still processing... https://sadiakalam.substack.com/p/hijab-over-the-heart
Thank you for such a thoughtful video and write up. It is a sad state of affairs when a thoughtful, compassionate woman not wearing a hijab is seen as a “red flag” to so many Muslims, yet Andrew Tate’s alleged human sex trafficking is a sin to be forgiven and not the most reprehensible of moral failings that call his character into question and that of those who protect him. Where on earth are Muslim’s moral priorities? But I digress. I’m so glad the Usuli Institute exists to keep me sane and on a path where ethics, morals, beauty and critical thinking are an inherent and integral part of Islam and knowing God. Otherwise it’d be an even lonelier experience being a convert who has cared to read the Quran and learn even a small amount about the cultural and sociological history of medieval and modern Islam. (Eg where fiqh developed during the height of Persian Islam was established in the context of their existing culture, where a (free) woman out in public without a head covering was seen as an extremely scandalous and immodest thing - ie what was “usually apparent” was much less today or over in N African Muslim countries! Much like women in medieval Europe were culturally required to as well!)
Wasalaams. I didn’t wear the hijab growing up and only started a few months ago. A lot of Muslim south Asians don’t wear the hijab.
So I appreciate your personal opinion but practicing Islam is about following the sunnah, the consensus of the majority of scholars and authentic narrations that have existed for the last 1400 years and of course the word of God.
Regardless of whether women wear the hijab or not, it’s a huge statement to say that it’s not compulsory. Islam is a timeless religion and the sunnah is still applicable now. The verse that orders women to cover their breasts implies that Muslim women are already covering their hair. Wear the hijab or don’t, it’s not my business. Yet claiming it’s not obligatory, especially as this is only a contemporary opinion inspired by potential secularism, is very misleading.
May the Almighty reward you for your dedication, passion, and concern. If you had watched the video, you’d know it is not an encouragement for women to wear or not wear the hijab, but a deeply personal journey of exploration, reflection on empowerment, and a testimony by a fellow Muslim. Just as you’ve arrived at your own destination of opinion and practice, beloved Grace did too through long study, sincere inquiry, and meaningful engagement with our tradition.
You don’t have to agree, but you also don’t have to discredit something that has always existed within Islamic thought. The idea that interpretive diversity is a modern invention is simply untrue. If you had taken the time to watch the video, you would have seen that. Instead, you rushed to respond emotionally, perhaps thinking you are doing a favor to Islam, but you’re not. You are defending your insecurity, and that is a sadness in itself.
Islam is a religion of humility, depth, and mercy. If we were truly following the Sunnah, no one would feel entitled to police others in matters of sincere conscience and scholarly backing. And yet, it’s often those who most loudly claim to follow the Sunnah who violate its essence the most. If you watch the video, you don’t need to change your opinion, but perhaps you’ll walk away with more compassion.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey with your help, it’s that my experience and voice do matter and they shouldn’t be silenced just because others are louder or simply inherited the beauty that Allah, in His infinite mercy, guided us to, Alhamdulillah. Trauma responses are real (lol) but healing comes when we face them head-on. 💥
Your words here in the comment section alone attest to the power of your voice and an outlook beautifully seasoned by learning, hard-earned empathy and deep reflection. God curated that path for you and you have a gift that deserves to be shared, if nothing else, as an expression of gratitude to our Maker. May God bless and empower you always. With so much respect and admiration <3
Wasalaams. I did watch the video. I think the error is how the video is titled ‘why I don’t wear the hijab and why it’s not a sin’- Perhaps it’s misleading to say that not wearing the hijab is not a sin? Do you yourself have any scholars on hand that you can quote to back this claim?
May Allah SWT guide us all. Thanks for your concern over my well-being.
Salaams sister Sakina, I chose my words carefully and that is exactly what I meant. Please do check out the links I provide in the description of the video. :)
Grace, such a beautiful read. I resonate so deeply with this. It helps my perspective which is plagued with pop culture Islam. It’s hard because that’s what disrupts my own mind and my own thinking, and ultimately, impedes my relationship with God. Thanks for this. ❤️❤️❤️ (also subtrack demographic v YouTube is a whole different universe).
Thank you so much for your kind comments! The best antidote to pop culture Islam is real knowledge. Please consider checking out our work at the Usuli Institute, especially the Project Illumine series: ethical deep dives into all 114 chapters of the Qur’an and then the natural continuation - a re-engagement with the life and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad to decolonize and reclaim our beautiful faith. Life-transforming to say the least. May God bless and guide us all!
With all due respect, I approach my faith much differently than you, perhaps because I am a convert (I ask lots of questions - that's how I was able to get over all of the obstacles to becoming Muslim) and am married to an Islamic jurist (I have access to deep wisdom and knowledge from the entire Islamic jurisprudential and intellectual tradition). I am not afraid to challenge and interrogate the things that don't sit well with my intellect or conscience, and actively engage "mainstream narratives" about God's Word, especially when they can cause harm. At the Usuli Institute, we took three years to do ethical deep dives into all 114 chapters of the Qur'an, which deepened my understanding of the richness, sophistication and vibrancy of the Islamic message. I fully believe that we are here to engage our tradition and make it come alive for our day and age so that we can be forward thinking about justice, humanism, and virtue for humanity, not just Muslims. Islam is a message to uplift all of humanity, not just Muslims. Minority opinions matter because I have seen that this is where the Mozarts, Einsteins, and other geniuses of our world reside. Music is part of being human - young children intuitively start moving and dancing when they hear music - they are reacting to the beauty inherent to music already embedded in their souls from God. So I don't believe that music is not allowed in our glorious beautiful Islamic tradition, which has its own vibrant historical musical tradition. I have learned that many of these "mainstream narratives" have been corrupted by politics, colonialism, orientalism and Islamophobic forces, which we must challenge if we are to rise above the nadir of civilization where Muslims now reside. If you feel more safe and comfortable remaining within the boundaries of those mainstream narratives, that is perfectly fine. But God curated a life for me in which intellectual, spiritual, creative and human exploration must be pursued. I believe God gave us intellects and expects that we use them to continually elevate our world towards virtuous enlightenment, empowerment and liberation. And God Knows Best.
Actually this is not “my personal approach to Islam”(which, by the way, I simply refer to as Islam and not as MY faith because Islam is not meant to have multiple versions of it), but is a Hadith. I thought you would know that.
"The Prophet (SAW) says when you are doubtful; “That which is lawful is clear, and that which is unlawful is also quite clear. Between these two is that which is ambiguous, which most people do not know. One who avoids the doubtful safeguards his faith and his honor.”
And lest you accuse me of being some uncaring Arab who never struggled with things like Hijab, let me tell you, I am not an Arab and I did not wear a Hijab until 3-4 years back.
As for being a revert, I actually have a lot of empathy with reverts because I see some of my bigger struggles like the one with Hijab reflected in their experiences.
Lastly, NO ONE in Islam is meant to follow without questioning. Indeed, it is the beauty of Islam that it also makes logical sense and is one of the things that initially attracts reverts. What you are referring to, following God’s words without question, is actually Christianity and many other religions.
As for your questioning of mainstream narratives, that is a good quest when needed, but shouldn’t be the main reason of why you do what you do. This is not a case of being a rebel for the sake of it (and I say this as someone who couldn’t care less about most mainstream stuff), and once again this is Islam we are talking about, not some cultural phenomenon where we can define things as mainstream or not.
“Islam is a message to uplift all of humanity, not just Muslims.”: Yes, which is why things like banning porn and taking interest is now being studied seriously by non Muslims as well.
“Minority opinions matter because I have seen that this is where the Mozarts, Einsteins, and other geniuses of our world reside.”: I am sorry but I missed the cue where a conversation about Islamic scholars turned into one about western male achievers of their time? If you had to make it relevant maybe you could have enlisted Muslim women such as Aisha RA and Khadijah RA, both of whom were quite unconventional for their times yet wore the Hijab.
“Colonialism and Islamophobia”: All the research I have seen shows how colonialism actually made Hijab LESS appealing, which is the narrative that you happen to have bought into.
“Music”: This is not even a part of your original topic so it tells me that it is another Islamic ruling you don’t agree with personally. And again, I am not foreign to it (and most Arab nations aren’t, all of them happen to create music these days). As a former music lover, the way babies and even animals dance to it actually showed me how deeply it can get embedded in and impact the Nafs.
“If you feel more safe and comfortable remaining within the boundaries of those mainstream narratives, that is perfectly fine.”: You seem to be making assumptions about me without knowing anything about me or my intellectual abilities. I am all for growth and education and challenging the norms, but it has caused me to question the western ones that I believed blindly before while for you it had caused the opposite.
“Our day and age”: So many have justified bending rulings of Islam with this excuse in recent times, including making it okay to be gay etc. Again, there is one version of Islam and if the Quran needed to change with the times, we would have been told so by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or by Allah in the Quran itself.
Not to mention, staying current with the times is what caused Christianity and many others to lose the very essence of their message.
Regardless of your personal position, I believe it is better to not share views like this because in case it is a sin, you will be sinning by calling so many others to it. And Allah knows best.
Your comment reflects a troubling but unfortunately common attitude, that Islam belongs more to those born into it than those who chose it. The irony here is striking, while you caution against “personal opinions” and claim objectivity, your entire response is steeped in personal experience, assumptions, and a tone of religious inheritance, as though Islam is a birthright rather than a truth to be discovered and lived.
You also seem to forget that some of the greatest Muslims, those closest to the Prophet, were converts. The early companions, who suffered, questioned, doubted, and ultimately submitted with both heart and intellect, were NOT passive recipients of culture. They were pioneers of faith. To diminish the insights or legitimacy of a convert who has rigorously studied and consulted with centuries of scholarly thought simply because she approaches her religion with critical thought is not only unjust, but even worse, it echoes the very arrogance of the Quraysh, who rejected the Prophet’s message because it disrupted their inherited status quo.
Grace explicitly stated that her positions are not based on whims or rebellion, but grounded in extensive scholarship, namely from scholars who are NOT beholden to political regimes or “scholars for dollars,” as we’ve tragically seen emerge in certain regions and then are imported throughout the world. Islam is not frozen in the moment a consensus formed under the influence of empire, patriarchy, or politics. Ijma can be one individual when everyone else drowns in their illusions and misguidance. Our tradition is rich, diverse, and filled with interpretive depth that many today are either unaware of or are conveniently unwilling to explore because it threatens their comfort zone.
You warn against bending Islam to fit the times, but fail to understand that Islam was revealed to transcend time. The guidance remains, yes, but how we engage it, interpret it, and live it must remain dynamic and rooted in ethical sincerity. There is a world of difference between submission and stagnation.
Lastly, if you are not a scholar, then issuing sweeping pronouncements and discrediting others’ scholarly-backed positions is beyond your scope. The safest position is not always the loudest, nor the most inherited, it is the one arrived at with sincerity, knowledge, and humility.
Thank you so much @Tetyana for this brilliant, measured and powerful response. So grateful for your beautiful, wise and humble words that educate us all. <3
Where in my entire comment have I said anything against reverts (which both of you call as converts, while I learned from reverts themselves that they prefer this term over converts).
I guess you missed my mentioning the Hadith or maybe that does not count as research for you.
Grace keeps mentioning her husband as the jurist to validate her claims. Never did she say she is a scholar. Not to mention, scholars have been wrong in the past too and have been called out for being such.
And if I had to take up the word of a scholar, would I choose one backed up by thousands over centuries or a few over the 21st century?!
I end this the same way I ended it for Grace, which is to say you are free to choose your path, just don’t go around justifying it and saying that’s what it says in Islam, because that will be to your own detriment if you are in the wrong. Your saying Hijab is or is not allowed is not going to harm me or other Hijabis, but it sure can harm you.
As you can see, two converts (yes, CONVERTS, as we choose to call ourselves) have already made it clear which term we prefer. With respect, since you haven’t lived that journey, your opinion on how we identify isn’t relevant.
It also seems you missed the essence of my message by becoming entangled in minutiae, so I’ll conclude my engagement here. The reality is, there is no shortage of scholars, past or present. Some align with one position, others with another. That plurality is not a flaw, it’s a beautiful feature of our rich tradition that testifies to its universality. And ultimately, it is Allah alone who judges those who sincerely strive to seek the truth, and perhaps you may not realize that in our tradition, it is the effort and sound methodology that hold weight, not merely the conclusion one arrives at.
As for your closing statement, when one’s certainty becomes a shield to deflect humility, it reveals an ego masquerading as religiosity aka pietistic affectations. I sincerely pray we all rise above that.
It seems you are projecting and using complicated jargon like Grace to justify your position, a tactic often employed by those not knowing much but wanting to be seen as knowledgeable.
You didn’t mention anything, yet again, about the Hadith or about Grace not being a scholar or about where exactly I said anything about reverts. Probably because you realised your missteps and thought it better to conclude the discussion, even if it lasted for just one comment on your side.
Speaking of scholars, funnily enough, you feel free to question scholars but when I question Grace’s views you challenge that by asking am I a scholar?! Goes to show that rules are bendable for you in here too.
I have seen what your priorities are and don’t feel the need to continue this thread. May Allah guide us, protect us from the misguiders and protect us from being the ones misguiding others.
Atiba, after reading this whole thread, I felt that none of this escalation was necessary and it made me a bit upset. I assume your first comment was in good faith and was meant to share your opinion. And perhaps I’m right to assume that the responses felt like an attack, due to the way you responded back, but I am sure it was also meant in good faith. I find it unfortunate that an opportunity for discussion and sharing opinions turned to this and that hearts were not open. “I thought you would know that” is usually interpreted as being condescending. I ask that you may step back and take a look at how this may have made Grace and others feel. I’m not saying this to attack you or in a patronizing tone, I hope you will believe me when I state this intention. We are all entitled to our opinions, but let us remain respectful. Grace’s opinion is islamically correct, it is within the bounds of Islam, even if some of her opinions are minority opinions. There are some things, as you mentioned you knew so I’m reiterating points that have been made, that are clearly black and white. Other things are not as black and white and that includes something like the ruling on hijab. Any knowledgeable scholar will tell you this. I find it really surprising that you would go so far as to speak in a way that strongly suggests you believe you are more knowledgeable than a scholar of Islam (Grace’s husband) who spent years studying jurisprudence. Would you like to confirm if this is the case or not? I personally find that very bold and arrogant so I hope it wasn’t. Respect discourse, and respectfully disagree with opinions. Give advice with respect, not in a way that is perceived as condescension. Nobody likes to be wrongly judged and misunderstood. Nobody likes to have wrong assumptions made about them, something you have done concerning Grace. Please take some time to reflect. The tone of your messages really saddened me and I’m speaking from a place of deep love and compassion here. I hope in the future conversations on these topics could turn out as more of a discussion and less as an attack on others. Side note, I understand where you’re coming from with a lot of the points you made. I think there’s a lot of merit in what you say and I find it interesting. When it comes to colonialism, I don’t necessarily agree with what you’re saying and maybe I can leave you with this. In Algeria, during the colonization by the French, the hijab became a symbol of resistance. Women wore it more and hung onto it with more fervour than they did previously because it found new meaning. Hijab became a tool of resistance and of binding community. I would argue, this is an example to illustrate how colonialism made hijab more appealing for Muslim communities, precisely because their faith was threatened. I’d love to hear why you said the opposite or if maybe you see a new perspective now.
I find it surprising that my comments made you upset but not the ones accusing me, in no uncertain terms, of being extremely biased against reverts. Some of which were hinted at by Grace herself.
Just like Grace, you have made the mistake of calling these my opinions, while I have stated the generally accepted view (and Hadith) regarding avoiding doubtful things.
“I thought you would know that” was mentioned in response to Grace telling she is learned yet mistaking my paraphrasing of a Hadith as my personal opinion.
As for colonialism, I hope you know that it extended much further than France and Algeria, and to cultures that were not related to Algeria in any way?
In Algeria itself, the resistance involved wearing white Niqabs, which is very different to how most countries do Hijab.
Not to mention, Hijab superseded colonialism by centuries.
I hope you mean well, but even your good words are sometimes easy to misinterpret. That is just how the nature of debate goes. Surely, anyone who is debating on such a controversial topic will need to be open to such criticism.
I have not even challenged Grace’s husband, whose views I happen to know nothing about. My stating it is better to stay away from the doubtful - from what you say is not black and white - is a caution backed by a Hadith. Also, my challenge comes not from my own knowledge but from the opinion of the majority of scholars.
I also find it surprising that people challenge the majority opinion without even being scholars themselves but want someone challenging the minority opinion to be a scholar.
I wish you the best but won’t be continuing the conversation.
Khadijah could not have worn hijab except as cultural dress (ie a veil on the back of her head, without bosom covered and no loose cloak) as she died before the revelation of the hijab ayat which are well documented to have been revealed in Madinah. Where did you get that information from? If it was online, beware that many self styled “scholars” are actually preachers with little rigorous education beyond memorisation. And people sharing Hadith online to align with Saudi funded Wahhabi Islam is extremely problematic as they ignore the Hadith sciences of all four madhabs who discuss issues of providence and consistency, and often are poorly translated and lack context. The Wahhabis on the other hand are the ones bringing a new approach to 20th century Islam by throwing anything but the most basic literalism out the window along with 1400 years of tradition. These preachers with large followings do not have decades of academic experience, unlike Grace’s husband.
Okay, so what of Aisha RA? Nonetheless I am not engaging in further discussion with you all if you indiscriminately keep accusing me of things because I am a born Muslim and projecting it saying I make assumptions about you as a revert, or about those supporting Hijab not having done their research while you have.
And I don’t follow Saudi rulings because as I already mentioned I am not an Arab.
Not to mention the idea of staying cautious from calling others to potential sin which you all scoff at.
My dear, no one called you an Arab. You don’t need to be Arab to be affected by it. Saudi spread Wahhabism is everywhere, especially on the internet. If you hold the view that topics like hijab are black and white, that’s a sign you’ve been influenced by Saudi-funded Islam. Many local imams around the world study in Medinah and come home spouting black and white wahhabi thinking. And the internet and social media is full of it! What was mainstream Islam a hundred years ago is not mainstream today. Muslim women in Malaysia and Africa weren’t wearing hijab until Saudi money trained their imams that it is the 6th pillar of Islam in the 1980s!!! Dupata was sufficient in south Asian culture as modest dress but suddenly after 1200 years it’s every strand of hair that needs covering there? Most importantly, Wahhabism taught that no Hadith can be questioned, and as such no authoritatian leader can be challenged.
Have you ever gone on sunnah.com for Hadith? Their gradings are not always the original gradings by Bukhari or Muslim, but ones made by Wahhabi scholars in the 19th and 20th century! And translations are Saudi Kingdom approved. It’s not your fault but they have rigged so many sources of Islam to suit their political agenda which is frankly, completely unislamic and blasphemous. We have a rich intellectual tradition that has been stolen from us and that’s all we’re trying to get you to see.
As for Aisha (RA) we don’t actually have reliable Hadith about what she wore. And many of her sayings about women’s clothing are contradictory and unclear. Only Allah knows. May he guide us all.
It is your assumption that I get my rulings from social media, which is the last place where I go to for any kind of knowledge, Islamic or not.
Also you go from accusing social media of everything to then talking about imams in the 1980s.
As a South Asian, let me inform you, women did and continue to do wear dupatta as their only Hijab, but contrary to your misunderstanding this is a product of Hindu culture. Most women in South Asia don’t care to cover “every strand of their hair”, but do it the way hindus do. Culturally, many Muslim leaders like Mughals also drank alcohol. Doesn’t make it okay.
No one said Hadith cannot be questioned, there are many doubtful Hadith, but I am sure we will disagree on which ones belong to which category.
To anyone, past, present or future, wishing to continue this thread:
Sorry but I am not going to respond to you.
I have seen how you criticise me for my words yet sweep even the harshest of accusations against me under the rug.
I have seen how you claim to be open minded but stereotype anyone who is a born Muslim following the majority opinion as uninformed and biased against reverts.
I have seen how you challenge the majority opinion based on one video but challenge anyone who challenges the said video by asking are you a scholar?!
As such, I end this stating the same Hadith that you erroneously keep referring to as my personal opinion:
"The Prophet (SAW) says when you are doubtful; “That which is lawful is clear, and that which is unlawful is also quite clear. Between these two is that which is ambiguous, which most people do not know. One who avoids the doubtful safeguards his faith and his honor.”
May Allah guide us all, prevent us from committing sins and from justifying and calling others to them. Ameen.
Asalamu alaikum Atiba, I wanted to chime in to say, what may be doubtful for you may not be doubtful for another. One of Allah’s Names is al-Wasi’, the Vast. May He reward you for your striving to stay away from what’s doubtful for you.
There is a saying, that ‘the paths to God are as many as there are human breaths.’ Your battle will be different from someone else’s. Your standpoint will be different from someone else’s. What’s amazing is there is room for differences on this path, and the gap has the potential to bring us closer to God through our character. Our understanding is always changing, potentially always deepening. May Allah deepen and connect our hearts.
Grace, I’m so happy to have come across this on my feed ❤️ I’ve been watching Usuli Institute’s YouTube videos for a year or so now and I’m so grateful for all the work you’ve done. I struggle a lot with my faith and as a revert I really struggle with social acceptance, loneliness, and what my family will think. Your testimony has brought me a lot of comfort in knowing that there will be a positive outcome, no matter the obstacles.
I couldn’t scroll past your comment without sharing something, Lilia. You reminded me of what I recently learned from Dr. Abou El Fadl’s tafsir of surah Ya-Sin. (He spoke of how the surah is not for the dead as so often claimed, but a powerful wake-up call for the living, to shake us from the chains that numb and blind the soul. How tragic is that when we limit its meaning to rituals for the deceased, we ourselves risk becoming the “living dead.” Similarly, same applies with the issue of hijab in this case.) The reminder was (first to the Prophet and by extension to us all): do not expect ease or for the majority to uphold truth. This path is paved with struggle, and it is often the marginalized few who carry the light with quiet strength and unwavering conviction.
Sending love and hugs from one convert to another, from a heart that has long been nourished by Usuli teachings and Grace. ❤️
The Hijab is compulsory, whether one decides to wear it or not is obviously a personal choice as everyone gets judged by Allah for their own actions. Though, spreading false facts like this is misinformation if you were to objectively reflect on this and look at the facts and evidence.
Please watch the video and consider the substance before reacting to the title. The facts and evidence do not support your claim. I have provided many links in the description which support my testimony. And God Knows Best.
May Allah guide you sister. Hijab is a Black and White topic and all Great knowledgable Scholars of Islam agree to it being compulsory. It's mentioned in the Quran in Verse 59 in Surah Al-Ahzab (33) and Many Ahadiths exist too. The Fact that you refer to colonisation, ethics or whatever other arguments and are trying to justify this is just a side track to remove the guilt and make it more palatable. If you don't want to wear it that's fine your choice no one can force you not even your husband, but going around and saying it's not compulsory and adding some spice to it is misleading! You can not deny the words of Allah and the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) just because you feel uneasy or unhappy about a ruling.
May Allah guide you. Knowledge is the highest pursuit in Islam and if you study the evidence, you will find that hijab is most certainly NOT a black and white issue. The fact that you can so easily waive away nuance, history, politics, sociology, colonialism, anthropology, and more tells me that you do not sufficiently honor the vast Islamic intellectual tradition. If you really want to do this topic justice, study the sources I have provided. At the Usuli Institute, we completed ethical deep dives into all 114 chapters of the Qur'an. We spent five 3-hour long class sessions on Surah 33: Al Ahzab alone (15+ hours). We discuss verse 59 in great detail here: https://youtu.be/TUhSJtHUxCQ?si=R1rFQEdSvrZ9JLG3 There is so much depth and nuance to this topic that when you say this is a black and white topic, I must say that unfortunately, you are the one that is misleading others. And God Knows Best.
By this statement, you have effectively made the hijab the sixth pillar of Islam, which neither God nor the Prophet (PBUH) did in Islam. If you believe this, then it is incumbent upon you alone, as it is your right to decide for yourself, but to make it a general, normative claim for all women and all times is simply unfounded from an Islamic jurisprudential POV, not to speak of historical, political, anthropological, sociological and other POV's. Islam is a message for all of humanity, so if what you were saying were true, God would ask for all women, regardless of time or context, to be covered. God would have been clear on this command if that is what God wanted. It is not a clear command. Please educate yourself by at a minimum, watching this excellent 4-part series on the hijab evidence by Dr. Sitara Akram: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb4bb0J1ylsIEHJF_C1a7SAJCILcEnjUh&si=HfzKXayZH12DNR7m. It is learned, insightful and accessible. If you want the opinion of a learned jurist reflecting on the entire juristic tradition, see the links in the description to my video. To make such a sweeping, unequivocal statement as you have is especially jarring for those of us who have taken the time to study the evidence and the tradition. And God knows best.
It seems you’ve fully convinced yourself that hijab isn’t obligatory and will totally reject any concrete evidence proving it is. You are taking the weak arguments that “prove” that it’s not obligatory and putting them on a pedestal while totally brushing off the concrete evidences and proofs from all the major scholars that prove it is. Which is why I don’t bother arguing with such people since they only listen to things that confirm with their beliefs and reject anything that contradicts them regardless of whether their beliefs have any truth to them or not. It’s called confirmation bias. So I guess the only thing I will say to you is may Allah guide you and help you (and me and all Muslims) understand His religion properly and give us the ability to follow it in a way that He is pleased. Ameen. 🩵
It seems from your comment that you have not watched my video. My argument is actually far more nuanced. If you feel the hijab is obligatory upon you, then it IS obligatory upon you, but let that decision come from due diligence and study, not simply from inherited claims. The minority opinions, those you call "weak" - mind you that they are from learned jurists who spent their lives dedicated to studying Islamic jurisprudence, so I find it a bit disrespectful and inappropriate to judge from a station of far less learning - are legitimate and provide substantive evidence for alternative views to be determined. Our history is rich with minority opinions on all kinds of matters. You may not be familiar with how the Islamic jurisprudential landscape operates, but our intellectual tradition is vast, rich and sophisticated - the classical far more than the modern. There is room for women who, unlike you, don't believe that the hijab is obligatory yet have been told otherwise and are lead to believe they are committing a sin, which causes them unjust harm. I have been blessed by God to be exposed to the inner workings of the Islamic jurisprudential tradition. The fact that there is space for interpretation means that there is space for women to act according to their own intuition and conscience without the weight of societal shame from Muslims, not to mention harms from the non-Muslim world. If you refuse to study and understand the historical context of the Qur'anic verses when they were revealed, how they have been interpreted over time, the impact of patriarchy and colonialism, and even the correlation of veiling and seclusion of women to their social status, all of which is elucidated in the links I provided, then you are not giving knowledge its due. Knowledge is the highest form of jihad (struggle). Instead of dismissing my public testimony before God as "confirmation bias," I would invite you to consider the substance that I present as evidence, including the evidence of the scholars I cite, who are far more learned and credentialed than you or I. And God Knows Best.
Have you engaged with any of the content Grace linked before assuming she has just decided this stance on a whim? Please try to engage with those sources and consider their merits, whether or not you change your mind. The pursuit of knowledge is always to be commended and may it be rewarded by The Almighty. The video you linked is of a woman who used her gender and position as an OB/GYN to just three years ago claim that FGM is acceptable under Islam, as if small girls can consent. That is not a preacher I would personally give any airtime to if you care for the rights of and justice for women and girls, as Allah shows us in the Quran. May Allah guide us all to the straight path - the path of justice, mercy and compassion.
Blessed Friday, Grace! Always a pleasure to read and listen to you, and even more to watch you. You're such a kind soul and your words are always eloquent and on point. I am halfway through your video with Sitara, too! If there was a way for me to visit the Usuli Institute, I would do it right away. But I live in Germany and I'm a student who really, really needs to save up. If I ever visit the US it would only be with the purpose of visiting the Institute! God knows how much you guys have helped me through my spiritual journey. Allahuma barik.
If you want to engage the substance of my testimony and arguments, perhaps it would be best if you watch my video. I’m calling attention to a nuance of Islamic law that perhaps women don’t know that would allow them to make an informed decision and relieve them from unjust harm. Let’s not make assumptions about others’ intentions without proper due diligence. And God knows best.
Initially, I intended a response grounded in Islamic knowledge. However, I reconsidered, as you and your husband seem to embody the Prophet's (peace be upon him) warning: "إنَّ أَخْوَفَ ما أَخَافُ على أُمَّتي كلُّ مُنافقٍ عَلِيْمِ اللسان" (Indeed, the most fearful of what I fear for my nation is every hypocrite eloquent of tongue). Islam's emergence was as something foreign, and it shall return to that state; "فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ" (So blessed are the strangers) – truly devout Muslims today may find themselves as strangers.
Nevertheless, I feel a deep sadness for you and your husband, the scholar. I urge you to first seek forgiveness from Allah and then His guidance; this is not a trivial matter, nor a mere transaction, nor a subject for jest – it is the very essence of faith, the principles of religion, the core of 'aqida (creed). Refrain from such manipulation. I could readily challenge the scholars you cite regarding the non-obligation of hijab. Why do you treat the commands of Allah with such disregard, minimizing their significance? It is perplexing that you begin by advocating a detailed personal examination, yet you disseminate what feels like a devilish encouragement towards self-indulgence and the casual commission of sin. But as I have stated, a profound sorrow remains for you and your misguided spouse.
And finally, to the sisters and brothers who read these words: always remember our inherent fallibility, our creation with the capacity for sin. Indeed, Allah has stated that were humanity (the Ummah) to cease transgression, He would replace us with those who would sin and then seek His forgiveness, which He would grant. Thus, sin followed by sincere repentance is not the ultimate perdition. Rather, the truly tragic and perilous path lies in the deceptive game of distorting the fundamentals of Islam, truths known even to children, and declaring the Haram (forbidden) as permissible. This is the very precipice of Kufr (disbelief) and Shirk (associating partners with Allah), the gateway to the fire. This singular truth is the core of my intention in writing; I hold no concern for her ilk – my fervent hope rests with you, the reader of these lines.
And finally, the established greeting of Islam is Assalamu Alaykum (peace be upon you), not the fragmented "greetings of peace " – two distinct concepts. Or is even this sacred tradition now subject to alteration?
First, thank you for affirming my position as a stranger. I fully agree and am grateful to God. Second, it is a serious matter to accuse someone, especially an Islamic jurist who has dedicated his life to the study of God’s law, of being a hypocrite. Are you qualified to judge him, me or anyone for that matter? Third, to denigrate my personal experience and testimony before God is unkind to say the very least. Perhaps you should actually watch the video before judging so harshly. While you are eloquent of words, the substance of your critique lacks proper knowledge and due diligence. I provide a wealth of Islamic knowledge resources in the links in the description of my videos. Also see my latest video on the reaction to my original video on hijab. And yes, please do challenge the scholars I cite. Healthy discourse is always preferable to unjust defamation. Lastly, I believe God knows that my greetings of peace represent an invitation to members of my viewing audience who are not Muslim. I don’t believe God will judge me on my Arabic language abilities (or lack thereof) over my conviction that as an ambassador of God’s religion, I should be welcoming to all. I only wish that some of my fellow co-religionists would extend the same level of openness and kindness towards me. And God knows best. May God forgive us all for our shortcomings.
Thank you for tirelessly informing others. May Allah enlighten us on the depth of knowledge the Sheikh has acquired. To me it’s saddening that many feel so comfortable in their ignorance. May Allah guide us all.
The sheer arrogance of some of these commentors is astounding. Like the sheer gall they have. One can respectfully disagree with you and maintain civility and humility, and praise you for what they think you’re doing well and perhaps debate with you or advise you on other things. But damn, some of these people literally have their egos stuffed in their eyes ears and mouths.
I haven’t agreed nor disagreed with your main argument, since I need to read up on the resources you linked, but gosh, I’m sorry you have to deal with such utter nonsense. Even if you were dead-wrong, you deserve more grace (pun intended) from fellow Muslims. Do they forget that you call towards the Oneness of God and that make us all siblings in faith? Granted you’re an aunty in faith for me haha.
I had no intention of revisiting this discussion—I’ve already made it clear that engaging with you on matters of substance is futile. My experience has taught me that with people like you, it’s a waste of time. Worse yet, you didn’t even grasp the meaning or context of the Hadith I referenced! The full Hadith is included below for clarity.
Amr ibn ‘Awf reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the religion began as something strange and it will return to being strange, so blessed are the strangers who restore my Sunnah which the people after me had distorted.”
Let me make this unmistakable: I was not calling you the ‘stranger.’ This Hadith describes those who are 180 degrees opposite to you! How could you be a stranger when you openly admit Muslim women don’t even recognize you as a Muslim on the streets?
You cannot possibly be the 'stranger' whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) praised and blessed—not when you refuse to strive even slightly for this Deen! You feel isolated because of the hijab? You reduce it to some abstract 'concept of modesty'—as if it's negotiable by location: In America, take it off! In Scandinavia, wear a bikini! In the Amazon, go naked! A revolving costume for social approval?
And you dare think the Prophet (peace be upon him) was referring to you as the stranger? Look at yourself: You speak like them, dress like them, and even pressure Muslim women to abandon the hijab to 'fit in.' You're no stranger—you're the most “common” of conformists in these corrupt times! The true strangers are those who hold firm, while people like you dilute the faith to appease the crowd. Repent before regret finds you too late.
It’s tragic, and heartbreaking, to see individuals like you, convinced you’re spreading ‘authentic’ knowledge, when in reality, you’re either deeply ignorant or carrying out an external agenda. The result is the same: you distort the faith while failing to comprehend even a well-known Hadith.
My final advice to you and your husband: Repent. Seek Allah’s forgiveness. Stop toying with the Deen of Allah. You will never harm Islam, Allah has promised to protect it, but you will harm yourselves. On the Day of Judgment, none of your misled followers will be of any help to you.
I was not mistaken in suggesting that given the position I am taking, in this day and age, perhaps I am the stranger. From your comments, it is obvious that you have either not watched or not understood the substance of my video, so I find it curious that you take such a vitriolic stance and insist on such ad hominem attacks. Knowledge is the greatest struggle (jihad). Manners (adab) is at the foundation of our faith. A kind word is charity. May God guide us all to the best path and forgive our shortcomings. And God Knows Best.
It’s always fascinating when someone thinks that quoting a single hadith (stripped of its depth, context, and mercy) somehow places them on par with generations of scholars who BLED ink in pursuit of knowledge, character, and God-consciousness.
You dismiss a Woman of immense Grace, knowledge, and dignity, as well as a Man whose scholarship and integrity are recognized globally, not just for his defense of rich and beautiful Islamic tradition, but for standing against the very ideological reductionism you so passionately yet ignorantly perform. If you think reciting hadith like slogans qualifies as religious authority, then by that logic, parroting legal jargon should be enough to make you a Supreme Court justice, lol.
Let’s be real, not a single God-conscious and self-respecting teacher from our rich Islamic tradition would take on a student who purposely weaponizes sacred knowledge to not only belittle, but also degrade others, while displaying the kind of moral arrogance that the Prophet (pbuh) repeatedly warned AGAINST. If character is the gateway to knowledge, you’ve been violently knocking at the wrooooong door.
You don’t restore the sunnah by burning down the house of Islamic ethics. You restore it through humility, scholarship, and service NONE of which are found in your attempt at a digital fatwa cloaked in self-righteous fury.
The only thing “strange” here is that you believe a tantrum disguised as theological critique could somehow stand next to a life devoted to truth, justice, and tradition.
May Allah protect our religion not just from ignorance, but from inflated egos dressed up as guardians of faith. 🤲
Thank you so much dear Walyullah for your kind words, generosity of spirit and commitment to learning and knowledge. May Allah bless, reward and honor you for your intentions and due diligence. Your beautiful name is so fitting! 😊
Hi Grace, I don't have a lot to say but that I believe that hijab should be encouraged in the faith as it is obeying Allah's words and a form of spiritual and physical protection (especially in the west). I also believe that it pleases Allah when we follow His commands to us in the Quran. I believe that to read Allah's words and say, "I'm gonna' follow what Allah says to please Him" is the best way.
It takes knowledge, intellect and a desire for seeking Truth to give full meaning to understanding God's Words and commands. In other words, we need to do the work to determine what God's Words and commands specifically are. Hijab is a nuanced and layered topic. To make a general statement that "hijab should be encouraged," and "I'm gonna follow what God says to please him," assumes that hijab and what God says about hijab is clear and unequivocal, which is simply not true. However, as I stated in my video, this is for women to arrive at for themselves individually. If a woman believes it is an obligation upon her, then it is. But it is between her and her God, and this decision should come from due diligence and study, not from inherited claims or accepting the status quo, especially since doing so can lead to unjust harm. Those who study this issue will find that it is not a black and white matter. If you want to learn more, see the excellent 4-part series on hijab by Dr. Sitara Akram on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb4bb0J1ylsIEHJF_C1a7SAJCILcEnjUh&si=_e19MkjWi6k2r4yR. Knowledge is the highest form of struggle and worship. If we do not honor knowledge and seeking Truth in this issue and every other issue, I believe that we are not being just and virtuous before God. God gave us an intellect and expects us to use it. And God Knows Best.
I have taken time to reflect and I’ll say this: I did my research years back, and I still believe that interpreting Islamic law requires credentials beyond being well-read. The jurist should be the one talking about this. I’m not sure what qualifies you to make such a big claim. If I felt strongly about a minority opinion, I wouldn’t have the audacity to advocate for it because I’d be effecting and influencing the lives of others and I don’t have the qualifications for that.
An online forum is not the place for a scholarly discussion, but a sharing of feelings back and forth. All it does it create confusion, division, and encourage people to follow their own desires that isolate them from the Muslim community. Islam is not a religion to go at solo. We’re not isolated!
In the end, it will be each of us alone answering to God, as we are each accountable for our own deeds, so in many ways, yes, it is a religion to go at solo. For all of the juristic opinions available, ultimately, we each have been given a God-given right to decide according to our conscience, and I believe God expects us to use our intellects, hearts and abilities to arrive at the most ethical conclusions possible. I am not making audacious claims. I rely on the opinions of jurists in sharing my testimony and share many scholarly resources so people can do their own due diligence. As I explained in my video, given the dire circumstances for Muslims in our time, I believe that empowering the individual, especially women, is critical. I am calling for the use of critical thinking and honoring knowledge. I am opposed to women being silenced by shame because they think they are committing a sin when our tradition says otherwise. God knows my intentions, and I pray for God's mercy and forgiveness if I am in error. May God guide us all to the most beautiful and elevated path always. And God Knows Best.
First, I want to acknowledge your decades-long commitment to Islam, your leadership at The Usuli Institute, and your engagement with Islamic scholarship. Your voice and journey as a convert and community leader are valuable and respected. I offer these reflections in the spirit of sincere dialogue and mutual concern for our community’s spiritual and ethical well-being.
1. The Scholarly Consensus on Hijab
While you reference minority opinions, it is important to recognize that the overwhelming consensus (ijma’) of classical and contemporary scholars-across all major Sunni and Shia schools-is that hijab (covering the hair and body except the face and hands) is fard (obligatory) for adult Muslim women. This is based on clear Qur’anic injunctions (24:31, 33:59) and supporting hadith. The consensus of the Ummah is a foundational principle, as the Prophet ﷺ said, “My Ummah will never agree upon misguidance,” emphasizing unity in core religious matters.
2. Contextual Exceptions vs. Permanent Rulings
Islamic jurisprudence does recognize exceptions based on darura (necessity) or khawf (fear/harm). For example, if a woman faces real and immediate danger due to wearing hijab, scholars permit her to remove it temporarily. However, this is an exception, not a redefinition of the obligation itself. In countries like the U.S., where Muslim women have legal protections and rights, the argument of necessity generally does not apply. Using minority opinions about exceptional contexts as a blanket justification for abandoning hijab or modest dress risks misrepresenting traditional rulings.
3. Modesty: More Than Headscarf-Holistic and Gender-Neutral
Modesty (haya’) in Islam is a comprehensive concept that applies to both men and women. It is not limited to the headscarf, but includes the overall style, fit, and nature of clothing. The Qur’an and Sunnah emphasize loose, opaque, and non-revealing clothing that does not accentuate the body’s shape or resemble attire specific to the opposite gender (tashabbuh).
For example: Wearing tight pants, leggings, or form-fitting clothes that reveal the “junk in the trunk and front” is inconsistent with Islamic modesty, regardless of whether a woman wears a hijab or not. The Prophet ﷺ warned about being “clothed yet naked,” referring to those whose clothing reveals rather than conceals the body.
This principle applies to men as well. Men wearing tight pants or clothing that shows the shape of their private parts is also not modest by Islamic standards.
Contemporary Western-style clothing-such as pantsuits or outfits modeled after men’s attire-can be problematic if they are form-fitting or blur the distinction between genders. Traditionally, both men and women wore loose garments like the thobe, abaya, or jilbab to fulfill the Qur’anic command to “draw their garments over themselves” (33:59). Wearing a jacket over a thobe or abaya, or ensuring that pants are loose and paired with a long top, better aligns with Islamic modesty. (If I were a Muslim woman, I wouldn't wear a suit jacket even if styled for women because it has roots from a Western feminist concept of Western non-Muslim women trying to look like their male counterparts in the workplace, much of Western fashion is tied to that.)
4. Historical Practice and the Majority Interpretation
It is sometimes argued that the majority interpretation of hijab and modesty is a product of cultural inertia or fear of challenging prevailing norms. However, the reality is that the three rightly guided generations (the Salaf)-the Prophet’s companions, their followers, and the next generation-practiced and transmitted these understandings as part of their sincere commitment to the Qur’an and Sunnah, not simply as a cultural artifact.
Remember, these generations practiced perfect Islam according to the Prophet.
To suggest that they were merely conforming to social pressures or lacked the courage to question tradition is, respectfully, a mischaracterization. The early Muslims were known for their integrity, critical thinking, and willingness to stand for the truth, even when it went against the broader society (you are essentially throwing those intelligent sisters under the bus with this notion). Their consensus (ijma’) on issues of modesty and hijab was rooted in their direct engagement with revelation and the Prophet’s example.
5. Our Interpretation vs. Cultural Artifact
Islamic modesty is not a cultural artifact, but a religious principle that has guided diverse cultures for centuries. While the expression of modesty may vary in details, the core principles-looseness, non-transparency, and not resembling the opposite gender-have remained remarkably consistent across time and geography. To claim that our interpretation is the cultural artifact, while dismissing the lived practice of the early generations as mere conformity, reverses the historical and methodological reality. The enduring consensus is not the result of uncritical adherence, but of sincere, collective engagement with the sources of our faith.
6. Contemporary Attitudes and Western Feminism
It’s important to recognize that many of the attitudes promoting individualism and subjective redefinition of religious obligations are rooted in contemporary Western ideologies, such as secular humanism and feminism. While these philosophies claim to empower, they often prioritize personal autonomy over divinely revealed guidance. This approach is a recent phenomenon and stands in contrast to the humility and submission to God’s will that have always been central to Islamic spirituality. Adopting these frameworks risks replacing the timeless wisdom of revelation with the shifting trends of flawed human philosophies. Sincerity in faith means anchoring our ethics and priorities in the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the consensus of the Ummah-not in contemporary social movements.
7. Empowerment Through Submission, Not Redefinition
True empowerment in Islam comes through submission to Allah’s guidance, which includes both spiritual and ethical dimensions. While it is important to critically engage with tradition and adapt to new contexts, it is equally important to avoid redefining clear religious principles in ways that may cause confusion or division within the Ummah. Presenting minority opinions as equivalent to the scholarly consensus can unintentionally undermine communal unity and the clarity that many Muslims seek in their faith.
8. A Call for Respectful Dialogue and Unity
Your scholarship and personal testimony add valuable perspectives to the conversation. At the same time, I hope we can all agree on the importance of upholding the core values of modesty, dignity, and sincere devotion that Islam teaches, while supporting each other in navigating the challenges of faith in diverse societies.
9. Declaring the Lawful Unlawful (or Vice Versa) Is a Serious Matter
Finally, I must emphasize that to categorically declare that something which the Ummah has agreed upon as obligatory-such as hijab-is not obligatory, and to assure others that neglecting it is not a sin, is itself a grave error in Islamic law.
In fact, to knowingly declare as lawful what Allah and His Messenger have deemed unlawful (or vice versa) is itself a sin, as established in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
This is not a matter of personal conscience or empowerment, but a matter of accountability before God for the integrity of His religion.
Sincere intentions do not change the divine limits set by revelation and consensus.
In summary, my points are:
Modesty in Islam is holistic, applies to both genders, and is not limited to the headscarf.
Tight, form-fitting, or gender-ambiguous clothing is not modest, regardless of wearing a hijab and or abaya.
The consensus of the early generations was rooted in sincere engagement with revelation, not uncritical conformity.
Islamic modesty is a religious principle, not a cultural artifact.
Exceptions for necessity do not redefine the general rule, especially in societies where Muslims have rights and safety.
Presenting minority opinions as mainstream risks confusion and division.
Contemporary attitudes rooted in Western feminism and secularism are not a sincere substitute for Islamic guidance.
To declare that something is not a sin when it is, by consensus, a sin-is itself a sin.
True empowerment comes through sincere submission to Allah’s guidance.
May Allah grant us all sincerity, humility, and a deeper understanding of His guidance.
I just finished watching the 4 part soundcloud series you linked under your video, and I was blown away at time and laughing at times and overall, I'm just becoming a bigger fan of Dr. Khalid the more I listen to him.
In the recordings, he mentioned he wanted to publish his research on this topic. Has he done so already?
Also, while your post was primarily for women, it's extrmely valuable for men too. My main motivation to explore this topic is that I want to be a more Islamically informed father someday iA, and it's highly likely that I'll be raising daughters (if not mine, then someone else's as an uncle in the community), and I need to be able to answer their questions about hijab when the time comes. This is all to say that I'm very grateful for you doing all this. I can see the opposition and unkindness you're facing in the comments. May Allah swt bless you and your husband and guide us all to Him.
May God bless and reward you for what the vast majority of Muslims will not do — fearlessly engage knowledge and explore the unknown (chasing frogs down rabbit holes). This is why knowledge is the highest form of worship—it is for the brave and humble. The more you know, the more you realize how little you know. I wish more of our brothers and sisters would be like you. Thank you for being you. May God guide and aid us all. 🤲🏼❤️
"وما توفيقي إلا بالله"
That I had the cuiosity and oppennes to your message is all from Allah swt. It also helps that my own studies of sorts under my sheikh since age 9 have developed in me a greater neutrality perhaps, or wasaṭ-ness, if that makes sense. What I found amusing was that my early childhood mirrored that of Dr. Khaled very much, in that I became a hafiz by age 6 and memorized upwards of 5000 ahadith by 13. I don't retain much of the hadiths I memorized, but the point is that at a very young age, I started learning Arabic and had a huge volume of direct exposure to hadiths in Sahih al-Bukhari, and I had all sorts of questions.
My journey obv took a much different route afterwards and I'm not even a student of knowledge in any real capacity, but that foundational period instilled some sensibilities in me. I should mention that my parents and sheikh took great care in who I was learning from. A young mind is very moldable. Alhamdulillah.
Subanallah beautiful.
Thank you for this and for the courage that comes from being bold and outright. Target audience reached! I've been reflecting a lot on how different things feel when it comes to religious education, accessibility, tik Tok scholars, and the way that fear (unfortunately always fear) pushes out singular perspectives on things that are nuanced. This is a much needed and appreciated voice.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words. May God empower you always! 🤲🏼❤️
Grace! Mashallah what Allah has given us all is aql. The ability to reason is not created equal in all of us, but to be able to question out loud in a marriage to a scholar, how beautiful.
My father and my father in law both raised me to ask questions, Bangladeshi and Indian men born in the 1950s, brought up in a secular worldview. Hijab was a political thing, a class thing, and none of the working women in my family on either side of the family wore it nor had the inclination toward it. The right to choose was a given for these men (and my mom and my mother in law by extension). One worked in pharma and one in public education and both saw the potential discrimination of wearing hijab at work. So they chose safety.
I’m not sure when and how hijab became “the sixth pillar” of Islam in America, but definitely worth understanding. What led to this as the proxy by which we judge righteousness? May God forgive our arrogance.
I love hijab and am hosting a hijab party this weekend but I respect others’ journeys and your husband’s scholarship over random people. Who is granted authority is a huge thing in our community. I felt your yearning for truth in the video.
I met you in Princeton years ago and I felt the sincerity. You cannot find that on digital platforms and our words cannot always convey the truth or reality. What resonated for me specifically is how God chooses ambiguity on purpose. Zina there is no ambiguity. Interest there is no ambiguity. But khimar, there is ambiguity. How remarkable is the Creator. And yes, there is consensus. But there is consensus that there is genocide but we're arguing about a woman's right to choose how she performs piety. At least we're not the French and our laws don't blatantly discriminate against freedom of religion.
Jazakallah khairun.
Salaams dearest Sadia! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful experience and your kind words. Yes, choice and reasoning are gifts and responsibilities that come with the pursuit of knowledge. The operative cause (‘illa) in Islamic law for covering was modesty and protection from harm, so what is the right choice when it causes harm? Every woman’s situation is different and I believe that is why God was ambiguous on this point—giving women the freedom to choose according to their circumstances and conscience. The “sixth pillar” view correlates to patriarchy, colonialism and Wahhabism, but it takes education to understand and deconstruct. I wholeheartedly agree that our much greater concerns should be how to stop the genocide rather than argue over a headscarf but the case study of how people respond to the hijab issue exemplifies the problem of privileging inherited claims and the status quo over critical thinking, enlightenment, empowerment and liberation. I believe we need a constant engagement with Quranic ethics to keep the vibrancy of our beautiful message alive. We fail when we stop questioning and using our God-given intellects to strive to be at the forefront of everything virtuous, good and relevant to our times. Thank God you were raised to question! May it never stop! 🤲🏼❤️😊
One kid is a questioner and for a questioner to raise another questioner is like striking gold. She asked for a Tafsir book for her 10th birthday.
I’m very selective about who is her teacher.
I try very much to hold onto the questions — that’s why I write online, to find others who are questioners but also to know I’m not the only one who questions. My favorite line is “which of your favors will you deny” and there are so many things God asks as questions but they are not really questions.
Our questioning —as it brings us closer to our Creator who doesn’t seem bothered by questions — is one of the favors. For the vast majority of people even in the comments here, questioning is a useless pass time but I appreciate the intellectual curiosity.
i explore hijab over the heart here.. its still not fully baked... but its where I've landed so please bear with me... my kid started to wear hijab!!! and I'm still processing... https://sadiakalam.substack.com/p/hijab-over-the-heart
Thank you for such a thoughtful video and write up. It is a sad state of affairs when a thoughtful, compassionate woman not wearing a hijab is seen as a “red flag” to so many Muslims, yet Andrew Tate’s alleged human sex trafficking is a sin to be forgiven and not the most reprehensible of moral failings that call his character into question and that of those who protect him. Where on earth are Muslim’s moral priorities? But I digress. I’m so glad the Usuli Institute exists to keep me sane and on a path where ethics, morals, beauty and critical thinking are an inherent and integral part of Islam and knowing God. Otherwise it’d be an even lonelier experience being a convert who has cared to read the Quran and learn even a small amount about the cultural and sociological history of medieval and modern Islam. (Eg where fiqh developed during the height of Persian Islam was established in the context of their existing culture, where a (free) woman out in public without a head covering was seen as an extremely scandalous and immodest thing - ie what was “usually apparent” was much less today or over in N African Muslim countries! Much like women in medieval Europe were culturally required to as well!)
Wasalaams. I didn’t wear the hijab growing up and only started a few months ago. A lot of Muslim south Asians don’t wear the hijab.
So I appreciate your personal opinion but practicing Islam is about following the sunnah, the consensus of the majority of scholars and authentic narrations that have existed for the last 1400 years and of course the word of God.
Regardless of whether women wear the hijab or not, it’s a huge statement to say that it’s not compulsory. Islam is a timeless religion and the sunnah is still applicable now. The verse that orders women to cover their breasts implies that Muslim women are already covering their hair. Wear the hijab or don’t, it’s not my business. Yet claiming it’s not obligatory, especially as this is only a contemporary opinion inspired by potential secularism, is very misleading.
May the Almighty reward you for your dedication, passion, and concern. If you had watched the video, you’d know it is not an encouragement for women to wear or not wear the hijab, but a deeply personal journey of exploration, reflection on empowerment, and a testimony by a fellow Muslim. Just as you’ve arrived at your own destination of opinion and practice, beloved Grace did too through long study, sincere inquiry, and meaningful engagement with our tradition.
You don’t have to agree, but you also don’t have to discredit something that has always existed within Islamic thought. The idea that interpretive diversity is a modern invention is simply untrue. If you had taken the time to watch the video, you would have seen that. Instead, you rushed to respond emotionally, perhaps thinking you are doing a favor to Islam, but you’re not. You are defending your insecurity, and that is a sadness in itself.
Islam is a religion of humility, depth, and mercy. If we were truly following the Sunnah, no one would feel entitled to police others in matters of sincere conscience and scholarly backing. And yet, it’s often those who most loudly claim to follow the Sunnah who violate its essence the most. If you watch the video, you don’t need to change your opinion, but perhaps you’ll walk away with more compassion.
Again, thank you so much dear @Tetyana for your wise and empathetic words. Much love and appreciation <3
If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey with your help, it’s that my experience and voice do matter and they shouldn’t be silenced just because others are louder or simply inherited the beauty that Allah, in His infinite mercy, guided us to, Alhamdulillah. Trauma responses are real (lol) but healing comes when we face them head-on. 💥
Your words here in the comment section alone attest to the power of your voice and an outlook beautifully seasoned by learning, hard-earned empathy and deep reflection. God curated that path for you and you have a gift that deserves to be shared, if nothing else, as an expression of gratitude to our Maker. May God bless and empower you always. With so much respect and admiration <3
Wasalaams. I did watch the video. I think the error is how the video is titled ‘why I don’t wear the hijab and why it’s not a sin’- Perhaps it’s misleading to say that not wearing the hijab is not a sin? Do you yourself have any scholars on hand that you can quote to back this claim?
May Allah SWT guide us all. Thanks for your concern over my well-being.
Ameen. Feel free to take a look at the description beneath the title, there’s a wealth of helpful resources.
Salaams sister Sakina, I chose my words carefully and that is exactly what I meant. Please do check out the links I provide in the description of the video. :)
Thank you for your reply Grace
Grace, such a beautiful read. I resonate so deeply with this. It helps my perspective which is plagued with pop culture Islam. It’s hard because that’s what disrupts my own mind and my own thinking, and ultimately, impedes my relationship with God. Thanks for this. ❤️❤️❤️ (also subtrack demographic v YouTube is a whole different universe).
Thank you so much for your kind comments! The best antidote to pop culture Islam is real knowledge. Please consider checking out our work at the Usuli Institute, especially the Project Illumine series: ethical deep dives into all 114 chapters of the Qur’an and then the natural continuation - a re-engagement with the life and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad to decolonize and reclaim our beautiful faith. Life-transforming to say the least. May God bless and guide us all!
Already a long time listener ❤️❤️ thanks, Grace!!!
Awesome!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Even if you argue that it is not a majority opinion nor a black and white issue, there are two things to keep in mind:
1. Usually it is better to go with the majority opinion, because minority opinions also state things such as music not being Haram etc
2. It is better to avoid things that are doubtful anyway
May Allah guide us all.
With all due respect, I approach my faith much differently than you, perhaps because I am a convert (I ask lots of questions - that's how I was able to get over all of the obstacles to becoming Muslim) and am married to an Islamic jurist (I have access to deep wisdom and knowledge from the entire Islamic jurisprudential and intellectual tradition). I am not afraid to challenge and interrogate the things that don't sit well with my intellect or conscience, and actively engage "mainstream narratives" about God's Word, especially when they can cause harm. At the Usuli Institute, we took three years to do ethical deep dives into all 114 chapters of the Qur'an, which deepened my understanding of the richness, sophistication and vibrancy of the Islamic message. I fully believe that we are here to engage our tradition and make it come alive for our day and age so that we can be forward thinking about justice, humanism, and virtue for humanity, not just Muslims. Islam is a message to uplift all of humanity, not just Muslims. Minority opinions matter because I have seen that this is where the Mozarts, Einsteins, and other geniuses of our world reside. Music is part of being human - young children intuitively start moving and dancing when they hear music - they are reacting to the beauty inherent to music already embedded in their souls from God. So I don't believe that music is not allowed in our glorious beautiful Islamic tradition, which has its own vibrant historical musical tradition. I have learned that many of these "mainstream narratives" have been corrupted by politics, colonialism, orientalism and Islamophobic forces, which we must challenge if we are to rise above the nadir of civilization where Muslims now reside. If you feel more safe and comfortable remaining within the boundaries of those mainstream narratives, that is perfectly fine. But God curated a life for me in which intellectual, spiritual, creative and human exploration must be pursued. I believe God gave us intellects and expects that we use them to continually elevate our world towards virtuous enlightenment, empowerment and liberation. And God Knows Best.
Actually this is not “my personal approach to Islam”(which, by the way, I simply refer to as Islam and not as MY faith because Islam is not meant to have multiple versions of it), but is a Hadith. I thought you would know that.
"The Prophet (SAW) says when you are doubtful; “That which is lawful is clear, and that which is unlawful is also quite clear. Between these two is that which is ambiguous, which most people do not know. One who avoids the doubtful safeguards his faith and his honor.”
And lest you accuse me of being some uncaring Arab who never struggled with things like Hijab, let me tell you, I am not an Arab and I did not wear a Hijab until 3-4 years back.
As for being a revert, I actually have a lot of empathy with reverts because I see some of my bigger struggles like the one with Hijab reflected in their experiences.
Lastly, NO ONE in Islam is meant to follow without questioning. Indeed, it is the beauty of Islam that it also makes logical sense and is one of the things that initially attracts reverts. What you are referring to, following God’s words without question, is actually Christianity and many other religions.
As for your questioning of mainstream narratives, that is a good quest when needed, but shouldn’t be the main reason of why you do what you do. This is not a case of being a rebel for the sake of it (and I say this as someone who couldn’t care less about most mainstream stuff), and once again this is Islam we are talking about, not some cultural phenomenon where we can define things as mainstream or not.
“Islam is a message to uplift all of humanity, not just Muslims.”: Yes, which is why things like banning porn and taking interest is now being studied seriously by non Muslims as well.
“Minority opinions matter because I have seen that this is where the Mozarts, Einsteins, and other geniuses of our world reside.”: I am sorry but I missed the cue where a conversation about Islamic scholars turned into one about western male achievers of their time? If you had to make it relevant maybe you could have enlisted Muslim women such as Aisha RA and Khadijah RA, both of whom were quite unconventional for their times yet wore the Hijab.
“Colonialism and Islamophobia”: All the research I have seen shows how colonialism actually made Hijab LESS appealing, which is the narrative that you happen to have bought into.
“Music”: This is not even a part of your original topic so it tells me that it is another Islamic ruling you don’t agree with personally. And again, I am not foreign to it (and most Arab nations aren’t, all of them happen to create music these days). As a former music lover, the way babies and even animals dance to it actually showed me how deeply it can get embedded in and impact the Nafs.
“If you feel more safe and comfortable remaining within the boundaries of those mainstream narratives, that is perfectly fine.”: You seem to be making assumptions about me without knowing anything about me or my intellectual abilities. I am all for growth and education and challenging the norms, but it has caused me to question the western ones that I believed blindly before while for you it had caused the opposite.
“Our day and age”: So many have justified bending rulings of Islam with this excuse in recent times, including making it okay to be gay etc. Again, there is one version of Islam and if the Quran needed to change with the times, we would have been told so by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or by Allah in the Quran itself.
Not to mention, staying current with the times is what caused Christianity and many others to lose the very essence of their message.
Regardless of your personal position, I believe it is better to not share views like this because in case it is a sin, you will be sinning by calling so many others to it. And Allah knows best.
Your comment reflects a troubling but unfortunately common attitude, that Islam belongs more to those born into it than those who chose it. The irony here is striking, while you caution against “personal opinions” and claim objectivity, your entire response is steeped in personal experience, assumptions, and a tone of religious inheritance, as though Islam is a birthright rather than a truth to be discovered and lived.
You also seem to forget that some of the greatest Muslims, those closest to the Prophet, were converts. The early companions, who suffered, questioned, doubted, and ultimately submitted with both heart and intellect, were NOT passive recipients of culture. They were pioneers of faith. To diminish the insights or legitimacy of a convert who has rigorously studied and consulted with centuries of scholarly thought simply because she approaches her religion with critical thought is not only unjust, but even worse, it echoes the very arrogance of the Quraysh, who rejected the Prophet’s message because it disrupted their inherited status quo.
Grace explicitly stated that her positions are not based on whims or rebellion, but grounded in extensive scholarship, namely from scholars who are NOT beholden to political regimes or “scholars for dollars,” as we’ve tragically seen emerge in certain regions and then are imported throughout the world. Islam is not frozen in the moment a consensus formed under the influence of empire, patriarchy, or politics. Ijma can be one individual when everyone else drowns in their illusions and misguidance. Our tradition is rich, diverse, and filled with interpretive depth that many today are either unaware of or are conveniently unwilling to explore because it threatens their comfort zone.
You warn against bending Islam to fit the times, but fail to understand that Islam was revealed to transcend time. The guidance remains, yes, but how we engage it, interpret it, and live it must remain dynamic and rooted in ethical sincerity. There is a world of difference between submission and stagnation.
Lastly, if you are not a scholar, then issuing sweeping pronouncements and discrediting others’ scholarly-backed positions is beyond your scope. The safest position is not always the loudest, nor the most inherited, it is the one arrived at with sincerity, knowledge, and humility.
Peace.
Thank you so much @Tetyana for this brilliant, measured and powerful response. So grateful for your beautiful, wise and humble words that educate us all. <3
Where in my entire comment have I said anything against reverts (which both of you call as converts, while I learned from reverts themselves that they prefer this term over converts).
I guess you missed my mentioning the Hadith or maybe that does not count as research for you.
Grace keeps mentioning her husband as the jurist to validate her claims. Never did she say she is a scholar. Not to mention, scholars have been wrong in the past too and have been called out for being such.
And if I had to take up the word of a scholar, would I choose one backed up by thousands over centuries or a few over the 21st century?!
I end this the same way I ended it for Grace, which is to say you are free to choose your path, just don’t go around justifying it and saying that’s what it says in Islam, because that will be to your own detriment if you are in the wrong. Your saying Hijab is or is not allowed is not going to harm me or other Hijabis, but it sure can harm you.
As you can see, two converts (yes, CONVERTS, as we choose to call ourselves) have already made it clear which term we prefer. With respect, since you haven’t lived that journey, your opinion on how we identify isn’t relevant.
It also seems you missed the essence of my message by becoming entangled in minutiae, so I’ll conclude my engagement here. The reality is, there is no shortage of scholars, past or present. Some align with one position, others with another. That plurality is not a flaw, it’s a beautiful feature of our rich tradition that testifies to its universality. And ultimately, it is Allah alone who judges those who sincerely strive to seek the truth, and perhaps you may not realize that in our tradition, it is the effort and sound methodology that hold weight, not merely the conclusion one arrives at.
As for your closing statement, when one’s certainty becomes a shield to deflect humility, it reveals an ego masquerading as religiosity aka pietistic affectations. I sincerely pray we all rise above that.
Pietistic affectations is such a cool word! Loved reading your comments btw.
It seems you are projecting and using complicated jargon like Grace to justify your position, a tactic often employed by those not knowing much but wanting to be seen as knowledgeable.
You didn’t mention anything, yet again, about the Hadith or about Grace not being a scholar or about where exactly I said anything about reverts. Probably because you realised your missteps and thought it better to conclude the discussion, even if it lasted for just one comment on your side.
Speaking of scholars, funnily enough, you feel free to question scholars but when I question Grace’s views you challenge that by asking am I a scholar?! Goes to show that rules are bendable for you in here too.
I have seen what your priorities are and don’t feel the need to continue this thread. May Allah guide us, protect us from the misguiders and protect us from being the ones misguiding others.
Atiba, after reading this whole thread, I felt that none of this escalation was necessary and it made me a bit upset. I assume your first comment was in good faith and was meant to share your opinion. And perhaps I’m right to assume that the responses felt like an attack, due to the way you responded back, but I am sure it was also meant in good faith. I find it unfortunate that an opportunity for discussion and sharing opinions turned to this and that hearts were not open. “I thought you would know that” is usually interpreted as being condescending. I ask that you may step back and take a look at how this may have made Grace and others feel. I’m not saying this to attack you or in a patronizing tone, I hope you will believe me when I state this intention. We are all entitled to our opinions, but let us remain respectful. Grace’s opinion is islamically correct, it is within the bounds of Islam, even if some of her opinions are minority opinions. There are some things, as you mentioned you knew so I’m reiterating points that have been made, that are clearly black and white. Other things are not as black and white and that includes something like the ruling on hijab. Any knowledgeable scholar will tell you this. I find it really surprising that you would go so far as to speak in a way that strongly suggests you believe you are more knowledgeable than a scholar of Islam (Grace’s husband) who spent years studying jurisprudence. Would you like to confirm if this is the case or not? I personally find that very bold and arrogant so I hope it wasn’t. Respect discourse, and respectfully disagree with opinions. Give advice with respect, not in a way that is perceived as condescension. Nobody likes to be wrongly judged and misunderstood. Nobody likes to have wrong assumptions made about them, something you have done concerning Grace. Please take some time to reflect. The tone of your messages really saddened me and I’m speaking from a place of deep love and compassion here. I hope in the future conversations on these topics could turn out as more of a discussion and less as an attack on others. Side note, I understand where you’re coming from with a lot of the points you made. I think there’s a lot of merit in what you say and I find it interesting. When it comes to colonialism, I don’t necessarily agree with what you’re saying and maybe I can leave you with this. In Algeria, during the colonization by the French, the hijab became a symbol of resistance. Women wore it more and hung onto it with more fervour than they did previously because it found new meaning. Hijab became a tool of resistance and of binding community. I would argue, this is an example to illustrate how colonialism made hijab more appealing for Muslim communities, precisely because their faith was threatened. I’d love to hear why you said the opposite or if maybe you see a new perspective now.
I wish you peace and all the best.
Sister Lilia,
I find it surprising that my comments made you upset but not the ones accusing me, in no uncertain terms, of being extremely biased against reverts. Some of which were hinted at by Grace herself.
Just like Grace, you have made the mistake of calling these my opinions, while I have stated the generally accepted view (and Hadith) regarding avoiding doubtful things.
“I thought you would know that” was mentioned in response to Grace telling she is learned yet mistaking my paraphrasing of a Hadith as my personal opinion.
As for colonialism, I hope you know that it extended much further than France and Algeria, and to cultures that were not related to Algeria in any way?
In Algeria itself, the resistance involved wearing white Niqabs, which is very different to how most countries do Hijab.
Not to mention, Hijab superseded colonialism by centuries.
I hope you mean well, but even your good words are sometimes easy to misinterpret. That is just how the nature of debate goes. Surely, anyone who is debating on such a controversial topic will need to be open to such criticism.
I have not even challenged Grace’s husband, whose views I happen to know nothing about. My stating it is better to stay away from the doubtful - from what you say is not black and white - is a caution backed by a Hadith. Also, my challenge comes not from my own knowledge but from the opinion of the majority of scholars.
I also find it surprising that people challenge the majority opinion without even being scholars themselves but want someone challenging the minority opinion to be a scholar.
I wish you the best but won’t be continuing the conversation.
May Allah guide us all.
Khadijah could not have worn hijab except as cultural dress (ie a veil on the back of her head, without bosom covered and no loose cloak) as she died before the revelation of the hijab ayat which are well documented to have been revealed in Madinah. Where did you get that information from? If it was online, beware that many self styled “scholars” are actually preachers with little rigorous education beyond memorisation. And people sharing Hadith online to align with Saudi funded Wahhabi Islam is extremely problematic as they ignore the Hadith sciences of all four madhabs who discuss issues of providence and consistency, and often are poorly translated and lack context. The Wahhabis on the other hand are the ones bringing a new approach to 20th century Islam by throwing anything but the most basic literalism out the window along with 1400 years of tradition. These preachers with large followings do not have decades of academic experience, unlike Grace’s husband.
Okay, so what of Aisha RA? Nonetheless I am not engaging in further discussion with you all if you indiscriminately keep accusing me of things because I am a born Muslim and projecting it saying I make assumptions about you as a revert, or about those supporting Hijab not having done their research while you have.
And I don’t follow Saudi rulings because as I already mentioned I am not an Arab.
Not to mention the idea of staying cautious from calling others to potential sin which you all scoff at.
May Allah guide us all.
My dear, no one called you an Arab. You don’t need to be Arab to be affected by it. Saudi spread Wahhabism is everywhere, especially on the internet. If you hold the view that topics like hijab are black and white, that’s a sign you’ve been influenced by Saudi-funded Islam. Many local imams around the world study in Medinah and come home spouting black and white wahhabi thinking. And the internet and social media is full of it! What was mainstream Islam a hundred years ago is not mainstream today. Muslim women in Malaysia and Africa weren’t wearing hijab until Saudi money trained their imams that it is the 6th pillar of Islam in the 1980s!!! Dupata was sufficient in south Asian culture as modest dress but suddenly after 1200 years it’s every strand of hair that needs covering there? Most importantly, Wahhabism taught that no Hadith can be questioned, and as such no authoritatian leader can be challenged.
Have you ever gone on sunnah.com for Hadith? Their gradings are not always the original gradings by Bukhari or Muslim, but ones made by Wahhabi scholars in the 19th and 20th century! And translations are Saudi Kingdom approved. It’s not your fault but they have rigged so many sources of Islam to suit their political agenda which is frankly, completely unislamic and blasphemous. We have a rich intellectual tradition that has been stolen from us and that’s all we’re trying to get you to see.
As for Aisha (RA) we don’t actually have reliable Hadith about what she wore. And many of her sayings about women’s clothing are contradictory and unclear. Only Allah knows. May he guide us all.
It is your assumption that I get my rulings from social media, which is the last place where I go to for any kind of knowledge, Islamic or not.
Also you go from accusing social media of everything to then talking about imams in the 1980s.
As a South Asian, let me inform you, women did and continue to do wear dupatta as their only Hijab, but contrary to your misunderstanding this is a product of Hindu culture. Most women in South Asia don’t care to cover “every strand of their hair”, but do it the way hindus do. Culturally, many Muslim leaders like Mughals also drank alcohol. Doesn’t make it okay.
No one said Hadith cannot be questioned, there are many doubtful Hadith, but I am sure we will disagree on which ones belong to which category.
I will leave it at that. Allah knows best.
To anyone, past, present or future, wishing to continue this thread:
Sorry but I am not going to respond to you.
I have seen how you criticise me for my words yet sweep even the harshest of accusations against me under the rug.
I have seen how you claim to be open minded but stereotype anyone who is a born Muslim following the majority opinion as uninformed and biased against reverts.
I have seen how you challenge the majority opinion based on one video but challenge anyone who challenges the said video by asking are you a scholar?!
As such, I end this stating the same Hadith that you erroneously keep referring to as my personal opinion:
"The Prophet (SAW) says when you are doubtful; “That which is lawful is clear, and that which is unlawful is also quite clear. Between these two is that which is ambiguous, which most people do not know. One who avoids the doubtful safeguards his faith and his honor.”
May Allah guide us all, prevent us from committing sins and from justifying and calling others to them. Ameen.
Asalamu alaikum Atiba, I wanted to chime in to say, what may be doubtful for you may not be doubtful for another. One of Allah’s Names is al-Wasi’, the Vast. May He reward you for your striving to stay away from what’s doubtful for you.
There is a saying, that ‘the paths to God are as many as there are human breaths.’ Your battle will be different from someone else’s. Your standpoint will be different from someone else’s. What’s amazing is there is room for differences on this path, and the gap has the potential to bring us closer to God through our character. Our understanding is always changing, potentially always deepening. May Allah deepen and connect our hearts.
Grace, I’m so happy to have come across this on my feed ❤️ I’ve been watching Usuli Institute’s YouTube videos for a year or so now and I’m so grateful for all the work you’ve done. I struggle a lot with my faith and as a revert I really struggle with social acceptance, loneliness, and what my family will think. Your testimony has brought me a lot of comfort in knowing that there will be a positive outcome, no matter the obstacles.
I couldn’t scroll past your comment without sharing something, Lilia. You reminded me of what I recently learned from Dr. Abou El Fadl’s tafsir of surah Ya-Sin. (He spoke of how the surah is not for the dead as so often claimed, but a powerful wake-up call for the living, to shake us from the chains that numb and blind the soul. How tragic is that when we limit its meaning to rituals for the deceased, we ourselves risk becoming the “living dead.” Similarly, same applies with the issue of hijab in this case.) The reminder was (first to the Prophet and by extension to us all): do not expect ease or for the majority to uphold truth. This path is paved with struggle, and it is often the marginalized few who carry the light with quiet strength and unwavering conviction.
Sending love and hugs from one convert to another, from a heart that has long been nourished by Usuli teachings and Grace. ❤️
Your reply really touched me. Thank you for sharing this wisdom. Sending my love back ❤️
The Hijab is compulsory, whether one decides to wear it or not is obviously a personal choice as everyone gets judged by Allah for their own actions. Though, spreading false facts like this is misinformation if you were to objectively reflect on this and look at the facts and evidence.
Please watch the video and consider the substance before reacting to the title. The facts and evidence do not support your claim. I have provided many links in the description which support my testimony. And God Knows Best.
May Allah guide you sister. Hijab is a Black and White topic and all Great knowledgable Scholars of Islam agree to it being compulsory. It's mentioned in the Quran in Verse 59 in Surah Al-Ahzab (33) and Many Ahadiths exist too. The Fact that you refer to colonisation, ethics or whatever other arguments and are trying to justify this is just a side track to remove the guilt and make it more palatable. If you don't want to wear it that's fine your choice no one can force you not even your husband, but going around and saying it's not compulsory and adding some spice to it is misleading! You can not deny the words of Allah and the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) just because you feel uneasy or unhappy about a ruling.
May Allah guide you. Knowledge is the highest pursuit in Islam and if you study the evidence, you will find that hijab is most certainly NOT a black and white issue. The fact that you can so easily waive away nuance, history, politics, sociology, colonialism, anthropology, and more tells me that you do not sufficiently honor the vast Islamic intellectual tradition. If you really want to do this topic justice, study the sources I have provided. At the Usuli Institute, we completed ethical deep dives into all 114 chapters of the Qur'an. We spent five 3-hour long class sessions on Surah 33: Al Ahzab alone (15+ hours). We discuss verse 59 in great detail here: https://youtu.be/TUhSJtHUxCQ?si=R1rFQEdSvrZ9JLG3 There is so much depth and nuance to this topic that when you say this is a black and white topic, I must say that unfortunately, you are the one that is misleading others. And God Knows Best.
There are things in Islam which are open to interpretation and things that are concrete. Hijab is an obligation such as prayer and fasting
By this statement, you have effectively made the hijab the sixth pillar of Islam, which neither God nor the Prophet (PBUH) did in Islam. If you believe this, then it is incumbent upon you alone, as it is your right to decide for yourself, but to make it a general, normative claim for all women and all times is simply unfounded from an Islamic jurisprudential POV, not to speak of historical, political, anthropological, sociological and other POV's. Islam is a message for all of humanity, so if what you were saying were true, God would ask for all women, regardless of time or context, to be covered. God would have been clear on this command if that is what God wanted. It is not a clear command. Please educate yourself by at a minimum, watching this excellent 4-part series on the hijab evidence by Dr. Sitara Akram: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb4bb0J1ylsIEHJF_C1a7SAJCILcEnjUh&si=HfzKXayZH12DNR7m. It is learned, insightful and accessible. If you want the opinion of a learned jurist reflecting on the entire juristic tradition, see the links in the description to my video. To make such a sweeping, unequivocal statement as you have is especially jarring for those of us who have taken the time to study the evidence and the tradition. And God knows best.
It seems you’ve fully convinced yourself that hijab isn’t obligatory and will totally reject any concrete evidence proving it is. You are taking the weak arguments that “prove” that it’s not obligatory and putting them on a pedestal while totally brushing off the concrete evidences and proofs from all the major scholars that prove it is. Which is why I don’t bother arguing with such people since they only listen to things that confirm with their beliefs and reject anything that contradicts them regardless of whether their beliefs have any truth to them or not. It’s called confirmation bias. So I guess the only thing I will say to you is may Allah guide you and help you (and me and all Muslims) understand His religion properly and give us the ability to follow it in a way that He is pleased. Ameen. 🩵
https://youtube.com/shorts/cD1cQ9Iwsfc?feature=shared
It seems from your comment that you have not watched my video. My argument is actually far more nuanced. If you feel the hijab is obligatory upon you, then it IS obligatory upon you, but let that decision come from due diligence and study, not simply from inherited claims. The minority opinions, those you call "weak" - mind you that they are from learned jurists who spent their lives dedicated to studying Islamic jurisprudence, so I find it a bit disrespectful and inappropriate to judge from a station of far less learning - are legitimate and provide substantive evidence for alternative views to be determined. Our history is rich with minority opinions on all kinds of matters. You may not be familiar with how the Islamic jurisprudential landscape operates, but our intellectual tradition is vast, rich and sophisticated - the classical far more than the modern. There is room for women who, unlike you, don't believe that the hijab is obligatory yet have been told otherwise and are lead to believe they are committing a sin, which causes them unjust harm. I have been blessed by God to be exposed to the inner workings of the Islamic jurisprudential tradition. The fact that there is space for interpretation means that there is space for women to act according to their own intuition and conscience without the weight of societal shame from Muslims, not to mention harms from the non-Muslim world. If you refuse to study and understand the historical context of the Qur'anic verses when they were revealed, how they have been interpreted over time, the impact of patriarchy and colonialism, and even the correlation of veiling and seclusion of women to their social status, all of which is elucidated in the links I provided, then you are not giving knowledge its due. Knowledge is the highest form of jihad (struggle). Instead of dismissing my public testimony before God as "confirmation bias," I would invite you to consider the substance that I present as evidence, including the evidence of the scholars I cite, who are far more learned and credentialed than you or I. And God Knows Best.
Have you engaged with any of the content Grace linked before assuming she has just decided this stance on a whim? Please try to engage with those sources and consider their merits, whether or not you change your mind. The pursuit of knowledge is always to be commended and may it be rewarded by The Almighty. The video you linked is of a woman who used her gender and position as an OB/GYN to just three years ago claim that FGM is acceptable under Islam, as if small girls can consent. That is not a preacher I would personally give any airtime to if you care for the rights of and justice for women and girls, as Allah shows us in the Quran. May Allah guide us all to the straight path - the path of justice, mercy and compassion.
Speaking your truth takes courage. Thank you
Thank you so much for your kind words of support! Much appreciated ❤️
Blessed Friday, Grace! Always a pleasure to read and listen to you, and even more to watch you. You're such a kind soul and your words are always eloquent and on point. I am halfway through your video with Sitara, too! If there was a way for me to visit the Usuli Institute, I would do it right away. But I live in Germany and I'm a student who really, really needs to save up. If I ever visit the US it would only be with the purpose of visiting the Institute! God knows how much you guys have helped me through my spiritual journey. Allahuma barik.
Thank you so much dearest Rania for your precious message! It means so much! Insha’Allah we will meet one day in person. ❤️🤲🏼
The pleasure is mine Grace. Inshallah it will come true ❤️
If you don’t want to wear Hijab—that’s fine, it’s your choice. But let’s not change Islamic law to fit our preferences.
If you want to engage the substance of my testimony and arguments, perhaps it would be best if you watch my video. I’m calling attention to a nuance of Islamic law that perhaps women don’t know that would allow them to make an informed decision and relieve them from unjust harm. Let’s not make assumptions about others’ intentions without proper due diligence. And God knows best.
For those who missed this link in the description of my video, here is a fatwa (non-binding legal opinion) which you may find helpful by the eminent scholar and Islamic jurist, Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl: https://www.searchforbeauty.org/2016/01/02/fatwa-on-hijab-the-hair-covering-of-women/
Initially, I intended a response grounded in Islamic knowledge. However, I reconsidered, as you and your husband seem to embody the Prophet's (peace be upon him) warning: "إنَّ أَخْوَفَ ما أَخَافُ على أُمَّتي كلُّ مُنافقٍ عَلِيْمِ اللسان" (Indeed, the most fearful of what I fear for my nation is every hypocrite eloquent of tongue). Islam's emergence was as something foreign, and it shall return to that state; "فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ" (So blessed are the strangers) – truly devout Muslims today may find themselves as strangers.
Nevertheless, I feel a deep sadness for you and your husband, the scholar. I urge you to first seek forgiveness from Allah and then His guidance; this is not a trivial matter, nor a mere transaction, nor a subject for jest – it is the very essence of faith, the principles of religion, the core of 'aqida (creed). Refrain from such manipulation. I could readily challenge the scholars you cite regarding the non-obligation of hijab. Why do you treat the commands of Allah with such disregard, minimizing their significance? It is perplexing that you begin by advocating a detailed personal examination, yet you disseminate what feels like a devilish encouragement towards self-indulgence and the casual commission of sin. But as I have stated, a profound sorrow remains for you and your misguided spouse.
And finally, to the sisters and brothers who read these words: always remember our inherent fallibility, our creation with the capacity for sin. Indeed, Allah has stated that were humanity (the Ummah) to cease transgression, He would replace us with those who would sin and then seek His forgiveness, which He would grant. Thus, sin followed by sincere repentance is not the ultimate perdition. Rather, the truly tragic and perilous path lies in the deceptive game of distorting the fundamentals of Islam, truths known even to children, and declaring the Haram (forbidden) as permissible. This is the very precipice of Kufr (disbelief) and Shirk (associating partners with Allah), the gateway to the fire. This singular truth is the core of my intention in writing; I hold no concern for her ilk – my fervent hope rests with you, the reader of these lines.
And finally, the established greeting of Islam is Assalamu Alaykum (peace be upon you), not the fragmented "greetings of peace " – two distinct concepts. Or is even this sacred tradition now subject to alteration?
First, thank you for affirming my position as a stranger. I fully agree and am grateful to God. Second, it is a serious matter to accuse someone, especially an Islamic jurist who has dedicated his life to the study of God’s law, of being a hypocrite. Are you qualified to judge him, me or anyone for that matter? Third, to denigrate my personal experience and testimony before God is unkind to say the very least. Perhaps you should actually watch the video before judging so harshly. While you are eloquent of words, the substance of your critique lacks proper knowledge and due diligence. I provide a wealth of Islamic knowledge resources in the links in the description of my videos. Also see my latest video on the reaction to my original video on hijab. And yes, please do challenge the scholars I cite. Healthy discourse is always preferable to unjust defamation. Lastly, I believe God knows that my greetings of peace represent an invitation to members of my viewing audience who are not Muslim. I don’t believe God will judge me on my Arabic language abilities (or lack thereof) over my conviction that as an ambassador of God’s religion, I should be welcoming to all. I only wish that some of my fellow co-religionists would extend the same level of openness and kindness towards me. And God knows best. May God forgive us all for our shortcomings.
Thank you for tirelessly informing others. May Allah enlighten us on the depth of knowledge the Sheikh has acquired. To me it’s saddening that many feel so comfortable in their ignorance. May Allah guide us all.
The sheer arrogance of some of these commentors is astounding. Like the sheer gall they have. One can respectfully disagree with you and maintain civility and humility, and praise you for what they think you’re doing well and perhaps debate with you or advise you on other things. But damn, some of these people literally have their egos stuffed in their eyes ears and mouths.
I haven’t agreed nor disagreed with your main argument, since I need to read up on the resources you linked, but gosh, I’m sorry you have to deal with such utter nonsense. Even if you were dead-wrong, you deserve more grace (pun intended) from fellow Muslims. Do they forget that you call towards the Oneness of God and that make us all siblings in faith? Granted you’re an aunty in faith for me haha.
I had no intention of revisiting this discussion—I’ve already made it clear that engaging with you on matters of substance is futile. My experience has taught me that with people like you, it’s a waste of time. Worse yet, you didn’t even grasp the meaning or context of the Hadith I referenced! The full Hadith is included below for clarity.
Amr ibn ‘Awf reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the religion began as something strange and it will return to being strange, so blessed are the strangers who restore my Sunnah which the people after me had distorted.”
عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّ الدِّينَ بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا وَيَرْجِعُ غَرِيبًا فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ الَّذِينَ يُصْلِحُونَ مَا أَفْسَدَ النَّاسُ مِنْ بَعْدِي مِنْ سُنَّتِي
Let me make this unmistakable: I was not calling you the ‘stranger.’ This Hadith describes those who are 180 degrees opposite to you! How could you be a stranger when you openly admit Muslim women don’t even recognize you as a Muslim on the streets?
You cannot possibly be the 'stranger' whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) praised and blessed—not when you refuse to strive even slightly for this Deen! You feel isolated because of the hijab? You reduce it to some abstract 'concept of modesty'—as if it's negotiable by location: In America, take it off! In Scandinavia, wear a bikini! In the Amazon, go naked! A revolving costume for social approval?
And you dare think the Prophet (peace be upon him) was referring to you as the stranger? Look at yourself: You speak like them, dress like them, and even pressure Muslim women to abandon the hijab to 'fit in.' You're no stranger—you're the most “common” of conformists in these corrupt times! The true strangers are those who hold firm, while people like you dilute the faith to appease the crowd. Repent before regret finds you too late.
It’s tragic, and heartbreaking, to see individuals like you, convinced you’re spreading ‘authentic’ knowledge, when in reality, you’re either deeply ignorant or carrying out an external agenda. The result is the same: you distort the faith while failing to comprehend even a well-known Hadith.
My final advice to you and your husband: Repent. Seek Allah’s forgiveness. Stop toying with the Deen of Allah. You will never harm Islam, Allah has promised to protect it, but you will harm yourselves. On the Day of Judgment, none of your misled followers will be of any help to you.
I was not mistaken in suggesting that given the position I am taking, in this day and age, perhaps I am the stranger. From your comments, it is obvious that you have either not watched or not understood the substance of my video, so I find it curious that you take such a vitriolic stance and insist on such ad hominem attacks. Knowledge is the greatest struggle (jihad). Manners (adab) is at the foundation of our faith. A kind word is charity. May God guide us all to the best path and forgive our shortcomings. And God Knows Best.
My God, where do I even start? SMH.
It’s always fascinating when someone thinks that quoting a single hadith (stripped of its depth, context, and mercy) somehow places them on par with generations of scholars who BLED ink in pursuit of knowledge, character, and God-consciousness.
You dismiss a Woman of immense Grace, knowledge, and dignity, as well as a Man whose scholarship and integrity are recognized globally, not just for his defense of rich and beautiful Islamic tradition, but for standing against the very ideological reductionism you so passionately yet ignorantly perform. If you think reciting hadith like slogans qualifies as religious authority, then by that logic, parroting legal jargon should be enough to make you a Supreme Court justice, lol.
Let’s be real, not a single God-conscious and self-respecting teacher from our rich Islamic tradition would take on a student who purposely weaponizes sacred knowledge to not only belittle, but also degrade others, while displaying the kind of moral arrogance that the Prophet (pbuh) repeatedly warned AGAINST. If character is the gateway to knowledge, you’ve been violently knocking at the wrooooong door.
You don’t restore the sunnah by burning down the house of Islamic ethics. You restore it through humility, scholarship, and service NONE of which are found in your attempt at a digital fatwa cloaked in self-righteous fury.
The only thing “strange” here is that you believe a tantrum disguised as theological critique could somehow stand next to a life devoted to truth, justice, and tradition.
May Allah protect our religion not just from ignorance, but from inflated egos dressed up as guardians of faith. 🤲
Thank you so much dear Walyullah for your kind words, generosity of spirit and commitment to learning and knowledge. May Allah bless, reward and honor you for your intentions and due diligence. Your beautiful name is so fitting! 😊
Hi Grace, I don't have a lot to say but that I believe that hijab should be encouraged in the faith as it is obeying Allah's words and a form of spiritual and physical protection (especially in the west). I also believe that it pleases Allah when we follow His commands to us in the Quran. I believe that to read Allah's words and say, "I'm gonna' follow what Allah says to please Him" is the best way.
It takes knowledge, intellect and a desire for seeking Truth to give full meaning to understanding God's Words and commands. In other words, we need to do the work to determine what God's Words and commands specifically are. Hijab is a nuanced and layered topic. To make a general statement that "hijab should be encouraged," and "I'm gonna follow what God says to please him," assumes that hijab and what God says about hijab is clear and unequivocal, which is simply not true. However, as I stated in my video, this is for women to arrive at for themselves individually. If a woman believes it is an obligation upon her, then it is. But it is between her and her God, and this decision should come from due diligence and study, not from inherited claims or accepting the status quo, especially since doing so can lead to unjust harm. Those who study this issue will find that it is not a black and white matter. If you want to learn more, see the excellent 4-part series on hijab by Dr. Sitara Akram on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb4bb0J1ylsIEHJF_C1a7SAJCILcEnjUh&si=_e19MkjWi6k2r4yR. Knowledge is the highest form of struggle and worship. If we do not honor knowledge and seeking Truth in this issue and every other issue, I believe that we are not being just and virtuous before God. God gave us an intellect and expects us to use it. And God Knows Best.
I have taken time to reflect and I’ll say this: I did my research years back, and I still believe that interpreting Islamic law requires credentials beyond being well-read. The jurist should be the one talking about this. I’m not sure what qualifies you to make such a big claim. If I felt strongly about a minority opinion, I wouldn’t have the audacity to advocate for it because I’d be effecting and influencing the lives of others and I don’t have the qualifications for that.
An online forum is not the place for a scholarly discussion, but a sharing of feelings back and forth. All it does it create confusion, division, and encourage people to follow their own desires that isolate them from the Muslim community. Islam is not a religion to go at solo. We’re not isolated!
In the end, it will be each of us alone answering to God, as we are each accountable for our own deeds, so in many ways, yes, it is a religion to go at solo. For all of the juristic opinions available, ultimately, we each have been given a God-given right to decide according to our conscience, and I believe God expects us to use our intellects, hearts and abilities to arrive at the most ethical conclusions possible. I am not making audacious claims. I rely on the opinions of jurists in sharing my testimony and share many scholarly resources so people can do their own due diligence. As I explained in my video, given the dire circumstances for Muslims in our time, I believe that empowering the individual, especially women, is critical. I am calling for the use of critical thinking and honoring knowledge. I am opposed to women being silenced by shame because they think they are committing a sin when our tradition says otherwise. God knows my intentions, and I pray for God's mercy and forgiveness if I am in error. May God guide us all to the most beautiful and elevated path always. And God Knows Best.
For those who missed this link in the description of my video, here is a fatwa (non-binding legal opinion) which you may find helpful by the eminent scholar and Islamic jurist, Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl: https://www.searchforbeauty.org/2016/01/02/fatwa-on-hijab-the-hair-covering-of-women/
I think you framed ot better than I could
I think you need to reexamine your framing for the reasons I explain here and elsewhere.
I was talking about this comment https://gracesong.substack.com/p/why-i-dont-wear-hijab-and-why-it/comment/111308012?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=319yex
Dear Sister Grace,
Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
First, I want to acknowledge your decades-long commitment to Islam, your leadership at The Usuli Institute, and your engagement with Islamic scholarship. Your voice and journey as a convert and community leader are valuable and respected. I offer these reflections in the spirit of sincere dialogue and mutual concern for our community’s spiritual and ethical well-being.
1. The Scholarly Consensus on Hijab
While you reference minority opinions, it is important to recognize that the overwhelming consensus (ijma’) of classical and contemporary scholars-across all major Sunni and Shia schools-is that hijab (covering the hair and body except the face and hands) is fard (obligatory) for adult Muslim women. This is based on clear Qur’anic injunctions (24:31, 33:59) and supporting hadith. The consensus of the Ummah is a foundational principle, as the Prophet ﷺ said, “My Ummah will never agree upon misguidance,” emphasizing unity in core religious matters.
2. Contextual Exceptions vs. Permanent Rulings
Islamic jurisprudence does recognize exceptions based on darura (necessity) or khawf (fear/harm). For example, if a woman faces real and immediate danger due to wearing hijab, scholars permit her to remove it temporarily. However, this is an exception, not a redefinition of the obligation itself. In countries like the U.S., where Muslim women have legal protections and rights, the argument of necessity generally does not apply. Using minority opinions about exceptional contexts as a blanket justification for abandoning hijab or modest dress risks misrepresenting traditional rulings.
3. Modesty: More Than Headscarf-Holistic and Gender-Neutral
Modesty (haya’) in Islam is a comprehensive concept that applies to both men and women. It is not limited to the headscarf, but includes the overall style, fit, and nature of clothing. The Qur’an and Sunnah emphasize loose, opaque, and non-revealing clothing that does not accentuate the body’s shape or resemble attire specific to the opposite gender (tashabbuh).
For example: Wearing tight pants, leggings, or form-fitting clothes that reveal the “junk in the trunk and front” is inconsistent with Islamic modesty, regardless of whether a woman wears a hijab or not. The Prophet ﷺ warned about being “clothed yet naked,” referring to those whose clothing reveals rather than conceals the body.
This principle applies to men as well. Men wearing tight pants or clothing that shows the shape of their private parts is also not modest by Islamic standards.
Contemporary Western-style clothing-such as pantsuits or outfits modeled after men’s attire-can be problematic if they are form-fitting or blur the distinction between genders. Traditionally, both men and women wore loose garments like the thobe, abaya, or jilbab to fulfill the Qur’anic command to “draw their garments over themselves” (33:59). Wearing a jacket over a thobe or abaya, or ensuring that pants are loose and paired with a long top, better aligns with Islamic modesty. (If I were a Muslim woman, I wouldn't wear a suit jacket even if styled for women because it has roots from a Western feminist concept of Western non-Muslim women trying to look like their male counterparts in the workplace, much of Western fashion is tied to that.)
4. Historical Practice and the Majority Interpretation
It is sometimes argued that the majority interpretation of hijab and modesty is a product of cultural inertia or fear of challenging prevailing norms. However, the reality is that the three rightly guided generations (the Salaf)-the Prophet’s companions, their followers, and the next generation-practiced and transmitted these understandings as part of their sincere commitment to the Qur’an and Sunnah, not simply as a cultural artifact.
Remember, these generations practiced perfect Islam according to the Prophet.
To suggest that they were merely conforming to social pressures or lacked the courage to question tradition is, respectfully, a mischaracterization. The early Muslims were known for their integrity, critical thinking, and willingness to stand for the truth, even when it went against the broader society (you are essentially throwing those intelligent sisters under the bus with this notion). Their consensus (ijma’) on issues of modesty and hijab was rooted in their direct engagement with revelation and the Prophet’s example.
5. Our Interpretation vs. Cultural Artifact
Islamic modesty is not a cultural artifact, but a religious principle that has guided diverse cultures for centuries. While the expression of modesty may vary in details, the core principles-looseness, non-transparency, and not resembling the opposite gender-have remained remarkably consistent across time and geography. To claim that our interpretation is the cultural artifact, while dismissing the lived practice of the early generations as mere conformity, reverses the historical and methodological reality. The enduring consensus is not the result of uncritical adherence, but of sincere, collective engagement with the sources of our faith.
6. Contemporary Attitudes and Western Feminism
It’s important to recognize that many of the attitudes promoting individualism and subjective redefinition of religious obligations are rooted in contemporary Western ideologies, such as secular humanism and feminism. While these philosophies claim to empower, they often prioritize personal autonomy over divinely revealed guidance. This approach is a recent phenomenon and stands in contrast to the humility and submission to God’s will that have always been central to Islamic spirituality. Adopting these frameworks risks replacing the timeless wisdom of revelation with the shifting trends of flawed human philosophies. Sincerity in faith means anchoring our ethics and priorities in the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the consensus of the Ummah-not in contemporary social movements.
7. Empowerment Through Submission, Not Redefinition
True empowerment in Islam comes through submission to Allah’s guidance, which includes both spiritual and ethical dimensions. While it is important to critically engage with tradition and adapt to new contexts, it is equally important to avoid redefining clear religious principles in ways that may cause confusion or division within the Ummah. Presenting minority opinions as equivalent to the scholarly consensus can unintentionally undermine communal unity and the clarity that many Muslims seek in their faith.
8. A Call for Respectful Dialogue and Unity
Your scholarship and personal testimony add valuable perspectives to the conversation. At the same time, I hope we can all agree on the importance of upholding the core values of modesty, dignity, and sincere devotion that Islam teaches, while supporting each other in navigating the challenges of faith in diverse societies.
9. Declaring the Lawful Unlawful (or Vice Versa) Is a Serious Matter
Finally, I must emphasize that to categorically declare that something which the Ummah has agreed upon as obligatory-such as hijab-is not obligatory, and to assure others that neglecting it is not a sin, is itself a grave error in Islamic law.
In fact, to knowingly declare as lawful what Allah and His Messenger have deemed unlawful (or vice versa) is itself a sin, as established in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
This is not a matter of personal conscience or empowerment, but a matter of accountability before God for the integrity of His religion.
Sincere intentions do not change the divine limits set by revelation and consensus.
In summary, my points are:
Modesty in Islam is holistic, applies to both genders, and is not limited to the headscarf.
Tight, form-fitting, or gender-ambiguous clothing is not modest, regardless of wearing a hijab and or abaya.
The consensus of the early generations was rooted in sincere engagement with revelation, not uncritical conformity.
Islamic modesty is a religious principle, not a cultural artifact.
Exceptions for necessity do not redefine the general rule, especially in societies where Muslims have rights and safety.
Presenting minority opinions as mainstream risks confusion and division.
Contemporary attitudes rooted in Western feminism and secularism are not a sincere substitute for Islamic guidance.
To declare that something is not a sin when it is, by consensus, a sin-is itself a sin.
True empowerment comes through sincere submission to Allah’s guidance.
May Allah grant us all sincerity, humility, and a deeper understanding of His guidance.
JazakAllahu khairan for your time and attention.