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Fatwa CenterWoman wearing big hat instead of Hijab
Question
I love the Hijab and have a strong desire to wear it. However, the institution where I work bans it during work but allows wearing hats. To overcome the situation, I am thinking about wearing a big hat in order to cover the front of the head as well as a big head wrap in order to cover the back. Is this permissible? Please advise! I am very perplexed.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Wearing the Hijab is a Sharee'ah obligation, and all Muslim women are required to wear it. It is impermissible for a Muslim woman to take off her Hijab for work or due to any other reason. This matter cannot be subject to tolerance or bargaining. Maintaining one's religiousness is the most important of all duties and the first of all necessities. Allah Almighty has promised those who fear Him that He will make a way out for them and provide them with abundant provision. Allah says (what means): {And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect.} [Quran 65: 2-3]
Furthermore, it was narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, "Never do you abandon something out of fear of Allah Almighty but that Allah will replace it with something better." [Ahmad; authentic chain of narrators]
Thus, you are required to leave this job that conditions abandoning the Hijab. You are not permitted to continue in this work unless you would suffer unavoidable harm if you leave it, as in the case if there is none to provide for you. If it is ultimately necessary to take off your Hijab, then do not do so except according to the extent that necessity entails, and only during the time when it is necessary to take it off. As soon as the necessity disappears, you are required to immediately abandon that job. That is because necessity must only be answered proportionately. What you have mentioned of wearing a hat and head wrap does not replace the Sharee'ah-approved Hijab. Nevertheless, as they cover something of your hair, you are required to wear them when necessary.
Allah knows best.
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