Question: 

I would like to find out with regards to the ruling of the scarf of a woman. We understand that it must not resemble the hump of a camel but what exactly does this mean?

Answer: 

The Hadith you refer to has been narrated by Imam Muslim Rahimahullah in his famous Kitab, Saheeh Muslim.

وعنه قا ل : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "صِنفان من أهل النار لم أرهما : قوم معهم سياط كأذناب البقر يضربون بها الناس، ونساء كاسيات عاريات مميلات مائلات، رءوسهن كأسنمة البخت المائلة لا يدخلن الجنة، ولا يجدن ريحها، وإن ريحها ليوجد من مسيرة كذا وكذ ا "

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah Radhiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, "There are two types of people who will enter the Hellfire, whom I have not yet seen: people who will have whips similar to ox-tails with which they will beat people, and women who will be dressed, yet nude, seducing men while themselves being inclined towards them. Their heads will be like the swaying humps of Bactrian camels. They will neither enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance, even though its fragrance can be smelled from such-and-such a distance."

The ‘Ulama have interpreted this Hadith in different ways. Some are of the opinion that it refers to those women who tie pieces of cloth in their hair1 (which make it resemble the humps of camels, or draw attention to their beauty just as the humps of these camels draw attention to their beauty), while others are of the opinion that it means those women who walk in a haughty manner, rather than lowering their heads in modesty.2 Some have also explained it to mean those women of our time who bundle up their hair on their heads.

Either one of the above meanings is viable. Therefore, one should try her utmost to save herself from the severe repercussions mentioned in this Hadith by steering clear of all the different interpretations.

AND ALLAH TA'AALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST

ANSWERED BY: Sohaib Patel 

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY: Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B. 

Islamic Date:٢٩ جمادي ا لخرى ١٤٤١ 

English Date: 24 February 2020

1 قال النووي )في شرحه على مسلم ١٤ / ١١٠ (: "ومعنى رؤوسهن كاسنمة البخت: ان يكبرنها ويعظمنها بلف عمامة او عصابة او نحوها" )تكملة فتح الملهم ج ٤ )

2 )رءوسهن كأسنمة البخت( : بضم موحدة وسكون معجمة. في النهاية: البختي من الجمال، والأنثى بختية جمع بخت وبخاتي جمال طوال الأعناق، واللفظة معربة أي: يعظمنها ويكبرنها بلف عصابة ونحوها، وقيل: يطمحن إلى الرجال لا يغضضن من أبصارهن، ولا ينكسن رءوسهن )مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح ٦ / ٢٣٠٢ دار الفكر، بيروت - لبنان (