Going Out Unnecessarily

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah remains displeased with a woman who emerges from her home wearing perfume and gives men the opportunity to look at her, until she returns home.” [Tabrani]

May Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) give us the opportunity to behave like believing women. If we need to go out of our houses, we should dress plainly and not use perfume, heels, or jingly ornaments that will attract attention towards us.

Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says: “And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former Times of Ignorance.” [Quran: Surah Ahzab, Ayat 33] This Commandment states that the best way for women to observe Hijab is to stay in their homes and not to come out without a valid necessity. Observing Hijab in this manner is known as Hijab Bil Buyoot (observing Hijab by way of staying home).

Since Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) wants women to emerge from their homes as little as possible, He (subhana wa ta’ala) has kept all the reward for us in it. All the levels of Paradise are for us, but they are earned through obedience to Allah’s commands and without the same requirements that are placed on men.

Thus, the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Jihad, Friday prayer, and going to the cemetery for burials are not required of women.” [Tabrani]

When these highly rewarded deeds are not things that women are encouraged to participate in, then how much time should we be spending shopping, in the place most hated to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) - the market/bazaar/malls?