A discussion regarding the form of the khimar and the jilbab.

The questioner : Shaykh, is not the jilbab as it is currently known sufficient? The jilbab is not as you mentioned, for example, in this era it starts from here to here and comes from above, not in the form you described where it starts from the head and covers the entire body, and then the khimar comes?

The Shaykh : It is as if you have not heard this statement.

The questioner: No.

The Shaykh : Have you not heard what I said...?

The questioner : I heard.

The Shaykh : All right; how do you say: "Is not this jilbab sufficient?"

The questioner : I understood that the jilbab comes from the head over the chest until the body is complete.

The Shaykh : All right; why do you say: "Is not what is below it sufficient?"

The questioner : If it started from there...

The Shaykh : I am telling you, my brother, why do you say: "Is not what is below it sufficient?"

The questioner : On the basis that the khimar comes on top.

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. I do not know whether it comes on top or below? I do not know?

The questioner : You know.

The Shaykh : Then what is the meaning of your statement that the khimar comes on top? The khimar comes on top and the jilbab comes on top and on top.

The questioner : Then it must be from the jilbab and the khimar.

The Shaykh : Or what is the meaning of my statement? May Allah guide you.

The questioner : ... All right; the other point, you mentioned the jilbab above the khimar.

The Shaykh : It is like that. I am telling you now: the khimar is on top, the khimar is on the head, the jilbab is on top.

The questioner : I mean, for example.

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. The khimar for prayer, my brother, the jilbab is above it.

The questioner : For example, the dress your people wear now, for example, is what is on top called a khimar?

The Shaykh : It would be.

The questioner : And this one that starts from here?

The Shaykh : My wife puts it on top.

The questioner : So where does the jilbab start?

The Shaykh : Oh?

The questioner : Do you wear the jilbab like this?

The Shaykh : No, like this.

The questioner : And the khimar, is this piece on top called a khimar?

The Shaykh : Listen, you may be confused regarding my wife and others. The jilbab is the garment that covers, as you heard, the woman from the head to the feet. This is the jilbab. But the fact that it is two pieces does not contradict this. That is to say, for example, this is the middle of the woman; okay?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : The jilbab comes to here, okay?

The questioner : The jilbab?

The Shaykh : The jilbab is the upper section, and from here, we said it is from the waist, this is the waist.

The questioner : Does not the jilbab come down to the bottom of the foot?

The Shaykh : I will show you, may Allah guide you.

The questioner: Go ahead.

The Shaykh : I told you: it is not necessary for the jilbab to be one piece, but it is necessary that the jilbab covers the entire body. After that, whether it is two pieces or one piece is not important.

The questioner : All right; where is the khimar here?

The Shaykh : Listen, may Allah guide you.

The questioner: Go ahead.

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. I am telling this son-in-law, Abu 'Abdullah, that you are stubborn? Why are you stubborn!! Because stubborn people remain what? Stubborn.
So now, do you see this waist?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : This, I will also teach you with a clearer mark. This is the waist. Above the waist, there is a piece coming down like this, this is a piece coming down like this. Above the head, there is a piece coming down like this, did you see? Here is the head. Did you understand this image?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Is this a jilbab or not a jilbab?

The questioner : A jilbab.

The Shaykh : This, we call it in our region in Syria, this piece, we call it a "fajjah," a piece. This piece, I am now representing it to you in my mind. This piece comes down for the woman to here, and a second piece below it from here to the bottom of the feet. This is a jilbab, but in two pieces. And what we discussed with the women we have in Syria, the Dumanian and Harastanian women, is one piece. It is also found in some... we have it here in Oman, and it may be with you in Egypt, may Allah know. Then we come to this fajjah that we are calling a fajjah, the khimar comes below it to here; so that it covers what? The breasts. Does the khimar for prayer cover or not?

The questioner : ... This dress is not complete from the head.

The Shaykh : There is no power nor strength except with Allah! My brother, understand what we are discussing with you, then ask. Did you understand the khimar or not? The one the woman prays in.

The questioner : The ordinary khimar that is worn, this is the khimar, right?

The Shaykh : Oh?

The questioner : This piece that is worn on top, is not this the khimar?

The Shaykh : Where does this khimar go?

The questioner : To the bottom of the chest.

The Shaykh : When you pray, like when you go out to the market, to the street, when you pray?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Amazing! The woman in the house, when she prays, does she wear the same clothes she wears when she goes out of the house?

The questioner : I have it like this.

The Shaykh : Yes, go and learn then. In the house, she wears a shirt and wears a khimar and prays.
-- The Shaykh: Yes.

Another questioner : Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy.

The Shaykh : I came in the last time, and upon you be peace and Allah's mercy and blessings.

Another questioner : How are you?

The Shaykh: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Another questioner : We remind you often, but in our right, you are busy.

The Shaykh : You do not tire yourself, now from six to eight.

Another questioner : What Allah willed!

The Shaykh: Yes.

Another questioner : All right; do you have time?

The Shaykh : No, I have time, the time is over.

Another questioner : And no question?

The Shaykh : Not even one?

Another questioner : Absolutely not?

The Shaykh: Peace be upon you.

Another questioner : And upon you be peace. --


The Shaykh : What do you call the dress? And the dress was a bit patterned, you go out in it to the street?

The questioner: No.

The Shaykh : All right; in the house, do you pray in it?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : All right; why did you say to me an hour ago: Yes, the woman, just as she prays, goes out to the street? Then this, you are putting the women in difficulty. One is in her profession, one is washing, doing the laundry, and so on, with the vessels of the profession, the vessels of the house, meaning the profession. She has only to cover her head, and as long as the garment is long enough to cover her feet, she prays. It is not necessary for her to wear the jilbab. The jilbab is not obligatory upon her. The khimar is obligatory upon her. Therefore, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .