Can I Do Wudu Without Hijab? The Explanation You're Looking For

Hi again! Hijab (حِجَابٌ) is an attribute that is synonymous with Muslim women. In general, the hijab is something that is used to cover the genitals. But it is often understood as a cloth used to cover the head. In the context of discussing wudu, there is one question that you must understand the answer to: can I do wudu without hijab?

Whatever your reason for opening this article, I am sure you are looking for an explanation about wudu without hijab. Trust me! I will not disappoint you on this day. That's what I'm going to explain now. You just need to read this article to the end!

Hijab in Islam: Is It Obligatory for Muslim Women?

Hi! First of all, I will explain one basic topic of discussion in this article: is hijab obligatory for Muslim women? You should understand that first because it can help you understand this topic perfectly.

In general, if you read some Islamic legal literature, you will find an explanation that wearing the hijab is an obligation for Muslim women. You can find this explanation in the two verses of the Quran below:

وَقُلْ لِّلْمُؤْمِنٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ اَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوْجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِيْنَ زِيْنَتَهُنَّ اِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلٰى جُيُوْبِهِنَّۖ وَلَا يُبْدِيْنَ زِيْنَتَهُنَّ اِلَّا لِبُعُوْلَتِهِنَّ اَوْ اٰبَاۤىِٕهِنَّ اَوْ اٰبَاۤءِ بُعُوْلَتِهِنَّ اَوْ اَبْنَاۤىِٕهِنَّ اَوْ اَبْنَاۤءِ بُعُوْلَتِهِنَّ اَوْ اِخْوَانِهِنَّ اَوْ بَنِيْٓ اِخْوَانِهِنَّ اَوْ بَنِيْٓ اَخَوٰتِهِنَّ اَوْ نِسَاۤىِٕهِنَّ اَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ اَيْمَانُهُنَّ اَوِ التّٰبِعِيْنَ غَيْرِ اُولِى الْاِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ اَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِيْنَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوْا عَلٰى عَوْرٰتِ النِّسَاۤءِ ۖوَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِاَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِيْنَ مِنْ زِيْنَتِهِنَّۗ وَتُوْبُوْٓا اِلَى اللّٰهِ جَمِيْعًا اَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ

And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed. (An-Nur [24]; 31).

يٰٓاَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِّاَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنٰتِكَ وَنِسَاۤءِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيْبِهِنَّۗ ذٰلِكَ اَدْنٰىٓ اَنْ يُّعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَۗ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِيْمًا

O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. (Al-Ahzab [33]; 59).

However, there is a difference of opinion among Islamic jurists about which parts of a woman's body must be covered with the hijab. Some Islamic law experts say that all women's bodies must be covered with the hijab. Some other Islamic jurists say the entire body except the face and two palms. Several other Islamic legal experts say that women may not wear the hijab to cover their heads. I'm not going to explain much about it because it's not related to the main topic in this discussion.

The main point I want to make here is that the hijab is obligatory for Muslim women, but there are differing opinions about what parts of their body should be covered with the hijab.

Is Covering Aurat Obligatory in Wudu?

Hi! Now I will explain the answer to one question that you should understand well: is covering Aurat obligatory in wudu? You have to understand that because it is one of the important questions about wudu without hijab that you have to understand very well.

As a Muslim, of course you already understand that the hijab is a cloth that is used to cover the hair or head. In general, women understand the hijab because hair or head is one of the private parts that non-mahram men are not allowed to see (this is according to some Islamic law experts). So, understanding whether Muslim women are obliged to cover their Auratin wudu is one of the important things.

In short, if you read some Islamic legal literature on wudu, you will find no explanation that covering Aurat is something that must be done in wudu. What has to be done in wudu is washing and wiping several parts of the body with Niyyah and certain procedures as I have explained in the previous paragraphs.

So, once again, covering Aurat is not an obligation in wudu. In other words, you can perform wudu naked.

But some practitioners of Islam have a different opinion. They argue that wudu should be done by covering Aurat because wudu is one of worship. Worship must be done by covering Aurat. For me, their opinion has a side of truth. It is an opinion about the perfect etiquette in wudu. But obligatory or not is a discussion of Islamic law, not Islamic ethics.

Can I Do Wudu Without Hijab?

Hi! Are you still with me? Now I will explain the main topic in this discussion: can I do wudu without hijab? You must understand the explanation below very well so that there are no more questions about it in your mind. Of course, if you have other questions about it, you can write them in the comment column. I will be very happy if I can dialogue with you.

Actually, you can answer the question which is the main topic of this discussion very easily if you understand what I have explained in the previous few paragraphs. Okay! Does not matter. I'll be more specific.

In the previous few paragraphs, I explained that the function of the hijab is to cover Aurat. Covering Aurat is not an obligation in wudu. So, the answer to that question is “Yes. You can do wudu without hijab.”

Do you have questions? Please write in the comment column!