By Momodou Justice Darboe
It is the count-down to Hijab Fashion Week and all roads will on Friday lead to Semaj Garden in Senegambia where a scintillating array of young Hijab-wearing girls will do the cat-walk but Movement for Islamic Research and Dawah(MIRD) has condemned the event, describing it as contrary to the teachings of Islam.
Hijab Modelling Agency, established with the overriding aim of projecting young Hijabis in positive light, is poised to host a fun-filled night of events that is expected to attract notable figures in the fashion industry and the larger public.
According to organizer Hijab Modelling Agency, the events are intended to provide a platform for Hijab-wearing young women to have a taste of fashion and the feeling of being a model while being modest.
“In addition, to train them the way of life in the fashion world in positive ways and to become professional models who will represent their motherland [The Gambia] on international runway events involving modest fashion,’’ stated a press release issued to the media ahead of the Friday Hijab Fashion Week.
However, MIRD has come out strongly to denounce the Hijab Fashion Week.
In a press release issued to this medium on Thursday, MIRD states: ‘’We condemn in the strongest possible terms the evil activity organized by some people who call themselves Hijab Modeling Agency. In Islam, everything is cleared for us. There are no editions, concoctions, deletions, additions or innovations in Islam.’’
The release adds, quoting the Quran: ‘’This day, I (Allah) have perfected your religion for you, I have completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.
“The verse above serves as a seal to any invention that anyone may introduce to Islam. The prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘whoever does any deed (in Islam) that is not based upon our commandment it is rejected.'”
According to the release, Hijab Fashion Week is prohibited in Islam in that women are prohibited in Islam to display their adornments to other than their husbands or close male relatives who are prohibited to marry them.
“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of Ignorance. (The Glorious Qur’an).
“The above stated event will undoubtedly include display of beauty and adornment by adult Muslim sisters for marketing purposes which will certainly attract the opposite gender to lust for illegal sexual desires which will defeat the entire purpose of Hijaab as Hijaab literally means a barrier, a shield, a protection meant to preserve the Muslim woman against the oppression of illegal sexual relations,’’ the release said.
“We know very well that this ‘Hijaab Week’ is an eye-catching event that is intended to market your products, display your adornment to open spectators/attendance. There is no justification for this in Islam,’’ stated the release.
“It never was practiced during the time of the prophet(PBUH) nor was it ever practiced by any of the predecessors amongst the times of the truthful scholars, including female Islamic scholars,” said the dispatch.
But Rohey Jeng president of Hijab Modelling Agency told The Fatu Network the argument MIRD is peddling is faulty as the event is only meant to promote modesty ‘through hijab.’
“We are just trying to promote modesty, we are all hijabs and we are just trying to promote hijab fashion designers. And we are really not trying to make a mockery of Islam,” Rohey said.
