Asalaamu Aleikoom wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu,
What is the ruling on a man preventing his daughter from wearing niqab, perhaps out of not being sure if her intentions are pure, when he believes that the niqab is sunnah but she believes it is fardh and feels she is sinning by not wearing it?
Is it considered as if he is preventing her from doing something fardh even if it may be sunnah because there is a difference of opinion and she believes it is obligatory?
And is this permissable, makruh, or haraam?
JazakhAllah Khairan
0
Preventing one from doing an act that the preventer believes is sunnah...
Started by
Guest_musaafirah_*
, Jan 28 2007 06:57 PM
4 replies to this topic
#3
Posted 29 January 2007 - 12:14 PM
Assalaamu alaikum,
Dear sister, I just sent in your question to Islamtoday. While we are waiting for an answer, here's a fatwa similar to your situation from Islamqa:
Her parents are threatening to hit her if she covers her face
Question:
I am a moslam woman from XXX,I wear higab (cover my hear).
I belive that I have to cover my face but my mother and father think that higab is to cover my hear only I try my best to convince them but no use. my mother threaten me to hit if I ever mention it agin. I don't know what to do I am in bad need for any advice.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Know that wearing hijaab is a duty for women, and it is not optional. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e., their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.)…” [al-Noor 24:31]
and:
“… and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance…” [al-Ahzaab 33:33]
Know that the complete hijaab which you are observing is something which is very good, so you should thank Allaah for it and ask Him to make you steadfast. Be steadfast and Allaah will strengthen your heart.
What your mother has told you about hijaab meaning to cover the hair only is not correct. A woman’s beauty is in her face, not only in her hair, and Allaah has commanded that her beauty should be covered, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… and not to reveal their adornment [beauty]…” [al-Noor 24:31]. The focal point of beauty is the face, so it must be covered, according to the most correct view among the scholars.
Know that Allaah is testing you by means of your mother, so see whether you will obey Him or her.
You have to advise your mother in a number of ways, including the following:
Speaking to her directly, or giving her a tape by one of the scholars which clearly outlines the ruling on hijaab, or giving her a book on this topic. Or you could call one of the shaykhs on the phone and ask your mother to listen to his answer; or take your mother to an Islamic lecture where the correct ruling on this issue will be discussed – or some other means.
If you are patient, keep hammering the point and pray to Allaah to open her heart at the times when du’aa’s are answered, you will get results in sha Allaah. If your mother does not respond, then you do not have to obey her in this particular matter, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Obedience is only in matters that are right and good.” And there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience to the Creator. At the same time, you have to be kind and respectful towards her, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e., Allaah’s Religion – Islamic Monotheism). And verily, Allaah is with the Muhsinoon (good doers).” [al—‘Ankaboot 29:69]
and:
“O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from which the enemy can attack you, and fear Allaah, so that you may be successful.” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:200].
And Allaah is the True Guide, there is no god besides Him.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Dear sister, I just sent in your question to Islamtoday. While we are waiting for an answer, here's a fatwa similar to your situation from Islamqa:
Her parents are threatening to hit her if she covers her face
Question:
I am a moslam woman from XXX,I wear higab (cover my hear).
I belive that I have to cover my face but my mother and father think that higab is to cover my hear only I try my best to convince them but no use. my mother threaten me to hit if I ever mention it agin. I don't know what to do I am in bad need for any advice.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Know that wearing hijaab is a duty for women, and it is not optional. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e., their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.)…” [al-Noor 24:31]
and:
“… and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance…” [al-Ahzaab 33:33]
Know that the complete hijaab which you are observing is something which is very good, so you should thank Allaah for it and ask Him to make you steadfast. Be steadfast and Allaah will strengthen your heart.
What your mother has told you about hijaab meaning to cover the hair only is not correct. A woman’s beauty is in her face, not only in her hair, and Allaah has commanded that her beauty should be covered, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… and not to reveal their adornment [beauty]…” [al-Noor 24:31]. The focal point of beauty is the face, so it must be covered, according to the most correct view among the scholars.
Know that Allaah is testing you by means of your mother, so see whether you will obey Him or her.
You have to advise your mother in a number of ways, including the following:
Speaking to her directly, or giving her a tape by one of the scholars which clearly outlines the ruling on hijaab, or giving her a book on this topic. Or you could call one of the shaykhs on the phone and ask your mother to listen to his answer; or take your mother to an Islamic lecture where the correct ruling on this issue will be discussed – or some other means.
If you are patient, keep hammering the point and pray to Allaah to open her heart at the times when du’aa’s are answered, you will get results in sha Allaah. If your mother does not respond, then you do not have to obey her in this particular matter, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Obedience is only in matters that are right and good.” And there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience to the Creator. At the same time, you have to be kind and respectful towards her, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e., Allaah’s Religion – Islamic Monotheism). And verily, Allaah is with the Muhsinoon (good doers).” [al—‘Ankaboot 29:69]
and:
“O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from which the enemy can attack you, and fear Allaah, so that you may be successful.” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:200].
And Allaah is the True Guide, there is no god besides Him.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
#4
Posted 29 January 2007 - 07:12 PM
Assalaamu alaikum,
We received the following response from Islamtoday:
Fatwa Number: 38584
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: Asalaamu Alaikum Sheikh: A sister from our forums had the following question. InshaAllah you will be able to answer it: "What is the ruling on a man preventing his daughter from wearing niqab, perhaps out of not being sure if her intentions are pure, when he believes that the niqab is sunnah but she believes it is fardh and feels she is sinning by not wearing it? Is it considered as if he is preventing her from doing something fardh even if it may be sunnah because there is a difference of opinion and she believes it is obligatory? And is this permissable, makruh, or haraam?" IslamWay Sisters Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Dear questioner:
Al-Salām `Alaykum wa Rahmah Allah wa Barakātuh.
She should obey her father as long as she is living under his care. The veil is a matter of legitimate disagreement among scholars, and she is allowed to follow her father’s view on the matter as long as she is living under his care, regardless of what her own preferred view on the matter might be.
And Allah knows best.
Fatwā Department Research Committee of IslamToday chaired by Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhāb al-Turayrī
We received the following response from Islamtoday:
QUOTE
Fatwa Number: 38584
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: Asalaamu Alaikum Sheikh: A sister from our forums had the following question. InshaAllah you will be able to answer it: "What is the ruling on a man preventing his daughter from wearing niqab, perhaps out of not being sure if her intentions are pure, when he believes that the niqab is sunnah but she believes it is fardh and feels she is sinning by not wearing it? Is it considered as if he is preventing her from doing something fardh even if it may be sunnah because there is a difference of opinion and she believes it is obligatory? And is this permissable, makruh, or haraam?" IslamWay Sisters Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Dear questioner:
Al-Salām `Alaykum wa Rahmah Allah wa Barakātuh.
She should obey her father as long as she is living under his care. The veil is a matter of legitimate disagreement among scholars, and she is allowed to follow her father’s view on the matter as long as she is living under his care, regardless of what her own preferred view on the matter might be.
And Allah knows best.
Fatwā Department Research Committee of IslamToday chaired by Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhāb al-Turayrī
#5
Posted 13 April 2007 - 08:59 PM
Assalaamu alaikum,
Dear sister, I happened to come across your question on Islamqa.
Question:
A girl wants to wear niqab, has read the evidence, and believes it to be fardh but her father, who is very religious and practicing, feels that niqab is mustahabb (he has studied all the evidence and based his opinion on this. For his own reasons, perhaps he worries for her safety or doubts her intentions as being sincere, he forbids her from wearing niqab. He does, however, allow that she can wear niqab when she completes her memorization of Surah Baqarah (as he feels that this will prove her sincere), but she worries that this is too long and feels she is sinning by not wearing it. She has tried to demonstrate to her father that she is sincere, but it has not been enough. She does not disobey him because she worries for his health, he has heart issues that make him very ill under any stress and her wearing it against his will would cause him to fall sick. When she tries to bring this up to other women, they feel she is insulting them by implying that they are sinning by not covering their faces, though she does not judge them and tells them she is not trying to force her opinion on any of them and they do not understand because they all feel it is sunnah. What should she do? And because her father believes it is simply sunnah and not fardh, is he obtaining sin from preventing her? Is it haraam for him to do this? And can you give me som daleel for this?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is obligatory for a woman to cover her face in front of non-mahrams according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions, because of a great deal of evidence that has been explained in the answer to question no. 11774.
Secondly:
It is not permissible for a girl to obey her father or mother by not covering her face, because there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator.
Similarly, it is not permissible for a father to tell his daughter to uncover her face, even if he thinks that niqaab is mustahabb, so long as she is convinced that it is obligatory, because she is obliged to do what she knows and is convinced of, and she will be asked about that on the Day of Resurrection. A person will not move on, on the Day of Resurrection, until he is asked about his knowledge and what he did with it. She will not be asked about her father’s opinion and what he believed. If she does not wear niqaab, then she is disobeying her Lord, so what good will obeying her father do her in that case?
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no obedience if it involves disobedience towards Allaah; obedience is only in that which is right and proper.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (7257) and Muslim (1840).
Thirdly:
If we assume that it is mustahabb and not waajib for a Muslim woman to cover her face before non-mahram men, neither the father nor anyone else has any right to tell her to uncover her face, because by doing so he is going against the ruling and command of Allaah. How can a Muslim man allow himself to hear the command of Allaah and His Messenger then issue instructions to the contrary, and tell someone not to do what Allaah and His Messenger have enjoined? Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision”
[al-Ahzaab 33:36]
“And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad’s) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them”
[al-Noor 24:63]
The matter is more serious than whether the niqaab is obligatory or mustahabb; the one who forbids what is enjoined by Allaah and His Messenger must re-examine his faith.
Just imagine, O you who enjoins something that goes against the command of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), if the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told your daughter to cover her face when you were sitting there, as something that is mustahabb as you believe, and not as something obligatory. Would you go against the command of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or would you tell her to hear and obey?
No believer has any choice but to hear and obey, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allaah (His Words, the Qur’aan) and His Messenger (Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã), to judge between them, is that they say: “We hear and we obey.” And such are the successful (who will live forever in Paradise)”
[al-Noor 24:51]
What is the difference between the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that is heard directly and the Sunnah that has been transmitted to us via trustworthy men and proven reports?
Why would we obey him in the first case and disobey him in the second?
Fourthly:
If the father fears that his daughter may be harassed if she wears niqaab, and this is a well-founded fear for obvious reasons, such as the Muslim woman living in a place where women who wear niqaab are harassed, there is nothing wrong with him telling her not to wear the niqaab, and in that case she should obey him so as to ward off harm. But if his fear stems from paranoia and worries that are not based on reality, then it is not permissible for the girl to obey him by not wearing niqaab in that case.
Fifthly:
The girl should try to advise her father and convince him that she has the freedom to choose the opinion that she believes to be correct, whether that is by finding out the evidence for it or by following scholars whom she trusts, and it is not permissible for her, according to sharee’ah, to forsake this opinion because it is not in accordance with her father’s view. Similarly, it is not permissible for him to make her follow his view, and by not allowing her to wear niqaab he is causing her to fall into sin and disobedience, whether that is by not wearing it once, twice or more. Every time she goes out in front of non-mahrams with her face uncovered, she is sinning thereby.
Perhaps she can seek the help of people who can convince her father about that.
Perhaps it is clear from this answer that this issue is not about convincing her father that wearing niqaab is obligatory. That may or may not be achieved, based on how clear the evidence is and the means used to convince him. Rather the issue that must be focused on is that the girl is not obliged to follow her father’s opinion and it is not permissible for her to forsake what she is convinced of for the sake of his opinion, and it is not permissible for him to make her follow his opinion. There is no point in making her fall into sin until she has memorized Soorat al-Baqarah, or until he is certain of the sincerity of her intentions, for she is sinning every time she goes out without niqaab, as stated above.
If the father understands this, and lets her do what she wants, this is what is wanted. If he persists in not allowing her, then the basic principle is that she should not obey him, as stated above. But if she is afraid that he may become sick because of her going against his wishes, then she may uncover her face when she is with him, and cover it when she goes out on her own, without telling him about that.
We ask Allaah to help her and make her steadfast.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Dear sister, I happened to come across your question on Islamqa.
Her father thinks that niqaab is mustahabb and tells her not to wear it, but she thinks it is obligatory
Question:
A girl wants to wear niqab, has read the evidence, and believes it to be fardh but her father, who is very religious and practicing, feels that niqab is mustahabb (he has studied all the evidence and based his opinion on this. For his own reasons, perhaps he worries for her safety or doubts her intentions as being sincere, he forbids her from wearing niqab. He does, however, allow that she can wear niqab when she completes her memorization of Surah Baqarah (as he feels that this will prove her sincere), but she worries that this is too long and feels she is sinning by not wearing it. She has tried to demonstrate to her father that she is sincere, but it has not been enough. She does not disobey him because she worries for his health, he has heart issues that make him very ill under any stress and her wearing it against his will would cause him to fall sick. When she tries to bring this up to other women, they feel she is insulting them by implying that they are sinning by not covering their faces, though she does not judge them and tells them she is not trying to force her opinion on any of them and they do not understand because they all feel it is sunnah. What should she do? And because her father believes it is simply sunnah and not fardh, is he obtaining sin from preventing her? Is it haraam for him to do this? And can you give me som daleel for this?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is obligatory for a woman to cover her face in front of non-mahrams according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions, because of a great deal of evidence that has been explained in the answer to question no. 11774.
Secondly:
It is not permissible for a girl to obey her father or mother by not covering her face, because there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator.
Similarly, it is not permissible for a father to tell his daughter to uncover her face, even if he thinks that niqaab is mustahabb, so long as she is convinced that it is obligatory, because she is obliged to do what she knows and is convinced of, and she will be asked about that on the Day of Resurrection. A person will not move on, on the Day of Resurrection, until he is asked about his knowledge and what he did with it. She will not be asked about her father’s opinion and what he believed. If she does not wear niqaab, then she is disobeying her Lord, so what good will obeying her father do her in that case?
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no obedience if it involves disobedience towards Allaah; obedience is only in that which is right and proper.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (7257) and Muslim (1840).
Thirdly:
If we assume that it is mustahabb and not waajib for a Muslim woman to cover her face before non-mahram men, neither the father nor anyone else has any right to tell her to uncover her face, because by doing so he is going against the ruling and command of Allaah. How can a Muslim man allow himself to hear the command of Allaah and His Messenger then issue instructions to the contrary, and tell someone not to do what Allaah and His Messenger have enjoined? Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision”
[al-Ahzaab 33:36]
“And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad’s) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them”
[al-Noor 24:63]
The matter is more serious than whether the niqaab is obligatory or mustahabb; the one who forbids what is enjoined by Allaah and His Messenger must re-examine his faith.
Just imagine, O you who enjoins something that goes against the command of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), if the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told your daughter to cover her face when you were sitting there, as something that is mustahabb as you believe, and not as something obligatory. Would you go against the command of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or would you tell her to hear and obey?
No believer has any choice but to hear and obey, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allaah (His Words, the Qur’aan) and His Messenger (Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã), to judge between them, is that they say: “We hear and we obey.” And such are the successful (who will live forever in Paradise)”
[al-Noor 24:51]
What is the difference between the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that is heard directly and the Sunnah that has been transmitted to us via trustworthy men and proven reports?
Why would we obey him in the first case and disobey him in the second?
Fourthly:
If the father fears that his daughter may be harassed if she wears niqaab, and this is a well-founded fear for obvious reasons, such as the Muslim woman living in a place where women who wear niqaab are harassed, there is nothing wrong with him telling her not to wear the niqaab, and in that case she should obey him so as to ward off harm. But if his fear stems from paranoia and worries that are not based on reality, then it is not permissible for the girl to obey him by not wearing niqaab in that case.
Fifthly:
The girl should try to advise her father and convince him that she has the freedom to choose the opinion that she believes to be correct, whether that is by finding out the evidence for it or by following scholars whom she trusts, and it is not permissible for her, according to sharee’ah, to forsake this opinion because it is not in accordance with her father’s view. Similarly, it is not permissible for him to make her follow his view, and by not allowing her to wear niqaab he is causing her to fall into sin and disobedience, whether that is by not wearing it once, twice or more. Every time she goes out in front of non-mahrams with her face uncovered, she is sinning thereby.
Perhaps she can seek the help of people who can convince her father about that.
Perhaps it is clear from this answer that this issue is not about convincing her father that wearing niqaab is obligatory. That may or may not be achieved, based on how clear the evidence is and the means used to convince him. Rather the issue that must be focused on is that the girl is not obliged to follow her father’s opinion and it is not permissible for her to forsake what she is convinced of for the sake of his opinion, and it is not permissible for him to make her follow his opinion. There is no point in making her fall into sin until she has memorized Soorat al-Baqarah, or until he is certain of the sincerity of her intentions, for she is sinning every time she goes out without niqaab, as stated above.
If the father understands this, and lets her do what she wants, this is what is wanted. If he persists in not allowing her, then the basic principle is that she should not obey him, as stated above. But if she is afraid that he may become sick because of her going against his wishes, then she may uncover her face when she is with him, and cover it when she goes out on her own, without telling him about that.
We ask Allaah to help her and make her steadfast.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
1 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users
