Is it permissible for a woman to uncover her face and hands in front of her husband's male brothers, and what is the meaning of the verses in Surat al-Ahzab regarding this matter, and what should she do?
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The questioner : Is it permissible for a woman to uncover her face and hands in front of her husband's male brothers, or is this forbidden? Some people have said that a woman's face and hands are not 'awrah and it is permissible for her to uncover them after covering her head hair and the rest of her body, while others have said that this is forbidden and it is not permissible for a woman to uncover her face in front of her husband's brothers. I do not know where the truth lies from the error, so I ask you to inform me. I also ask that you clarify for us the meaning of the Quranic verses from Surat al-Ahzab and some of the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). If a woman wants to cover her face in front of her husband's male brothers and other non-mahram men, but her husband threatens to divorce her if she does so and covers her face, what should she do? Does the following verse indicate the obligation of hijab for a woman and command her to cover her face, or not? It is the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ahzab 33:59] What is the meaning of the Messenger of Allah's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying to Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her): Does the meaning of the previous hadith indicate that it is permissible for a woman to uncover only her face and hands in front of men who are her husband's brothers, or not? If it is permissible for a woman to uncover only her face and hands in front of men, what is the meaning of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordering his wives Umm Salama and Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with them both) to veil themselves from Ibn Umm Maktum, who is a blind man who cannot see, when he said to them: One of them said to the Messenger: Is he not blind, unable to see us or know us? The Messenger said to them: Sunan Abi Dawud 4112Da'if (Al-Albani) If the face and hands of a woman are not 'awrah and it is permissible for a woman to uncover them, how does the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say to Ali: Mishkat al-Masabih 3110 I ask for a detailed explanation of this topic. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : This topic is among the most important and most urgent matters requiring clarification of the truth in this era, in which there has been much discussion regarding the issue of women, to the point that some advocates of unveiling bring up doubts they claim are proofs, though they are not proofs in reality.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Many of them know that if they did not ignore what has happened to the women who have built their unveiling and tabarruj (display of adornment) upon an opinion held by some scholars, even though some of the scholars who hold this opinion were extremely cautious in prohibiting what the state of women in this era has reached. If only the matter had been limited to uncovering the face and hands, but the head became exposed, the neck became exposed, the chest became exposed, the arms became exposed, the upper arms became exposed, the feet and legs became exposed, until the matter became a blameworthy thing by the consensus of Muslims, based on what was opened up for these people by the saying of some scholars regarding the permissibility of uncovering the face and hands. Some scholars have mentioned that if fitnah is feared, or if the statement is a means to a forbidden matter, then the statement of permissibility turns into a prohibition, because among the established principles in the science of the Shari'ah is sadd al-dhara'i' (blocking the means to harm), meaning blocking what is a means to what is forbidden. So, a permissible thing, even if it is explicitly permissible, if it necessarily leads to a forbidden matter, that matter becomes forbidden. Do you not see the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-An'am 6:108] How did Allah the Exalted prohibit the cursing of the gods of the polytheists, even though cursing them is a prescribed, indeed obligatory, matter, if cursing them leads to cursing Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He), who is free from every defect and imperfection? And some scholars have mentioned that by the consensus of Muslims, if fitnah is feared from uncovering the face and hands, I mean the palms, then uncovering them becomes forbidden. And fitnah in our time is a reality in uncovering the face and hands.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And based on this, the implication of this statement, in which there is no doubt, is that the scholars have conditioned the permissibility of uncovering the face and hands with the absence of fitnah. If fitnah is feared, it is forbidden. And after this introduction, we answer this question, by the permission of Allah the Exalted, paragraph by paragraph.
Regarding the questioner's statement: "Is it permissible for a woman to uncover her face and hands in front of her husband's male brothers, or is this forbidden?" We say that this is forbidden. Her husband's brothers are like other non-mahram men; it is not permissible for them to look at their brother's wife, and it is not permissible for her to uncover her face and hands in front of them, just as it is not permissible in front of others. In fact, the husband's brothers and relatives are more dangerous than non-mahram strangers. For this reason, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against entering upon women, they said: "O Messenger of Allah, what about the in-laws?" He said: Meaning that one must flee from him as one flees from death.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And based on this, the answer to the following paragraph becomes clear, which is that her husband threatens her with divorce if she does not uncover her face to her brothers. We say that this is a command to disobedience, and it is not permissible for a person to comply with a command to disobedience, because there is no obedience to a created being in disobedience to the Creator. And I am amazed at this man; how does he order his wife to uncover her face to his brothers? This is evidence of a lack of ghayrah (protective jealousy), for a person has ghayrah. A person of sound fitrah (innate disposition) has ghayrah at seeing anyone's face of his woman uncovered in front of him. So we say that this woman must be determined not to uncover her face to his brothers, even if he threatens her with divorce. And the man who has nothing to hold him back from his wife except such a matter means that he has no desire for his wife, for if he had desire for his wife, her determination to veil herself from his brothers would be a cause for him to hold onto her and cling to her.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes. And as for.
The questioner : The evidence.
The Shaykh : The third paragraph is: Does the noble verse, the saying of Allah the Exalted[Al-Ahzab 33:59], indicate the obligation of hijab for a woman? We say yes, it indicates that, because jilbab is the plural of jilbab, which is in the position of the abaya for a woman. And if the obligation is that she draw it over herself, the meaning of that is that she must cover her face. For this reason, Ibn Abbas said: "Allah ordered the women of the believers, when they go out of their homes in need, to cover their faces from above their heads with the jilbab and show one eye" This is the interpretation of Ibn Abbas, as mentioned by Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding him. And the meaning of this is that the verse indicates that it is obligatory for a woman to cover her face. As for what the questioner mentioned regarding the hadith of Asma bint Abi Bakr, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 4104Sahih (Al-Albani), the hadith is weak. Abu Dawud said regarding its narrator, Khalid ibn al-..., that he did not meet Aisha, so it is munqati' (disconnected). And there is also weakness in the hadiths of ..., so two defects gather in it: disconnection and weakness of the chain. It also has a third defect, which is that Asma bint Abi Bakr could not enter upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in thin clothes that reveal her skin, and she was of advanced age when she entered upon him. This is the farthest thing from the truth, because it is contrary to modesty, which is part of faith. So it is defective in both text and chain, and it is not to be used as evidence.
As for what the questioner mentioned regarding the hadith of Umm Salama and Maymunah, when Ibn Umm Maktum entered upon them and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered them to veil themselves from him, the hadith is weak. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) indicated its weakness. Its weakness is indicated by the fact that it contradicts the authentic hadiths that indicate the permissibility of a woman looking at a man if there is no temptation. For Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) used to be covered by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while she watched the Abyssinians playing in the mosque. And Fatimah bint Qays was ordered by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to observe her waiting period in the house of Ibn Umm Maktum, and he said, “He is a blind man; you may remove your clothes in his presence.” And the practice of the people indicates this.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For a woman walks in the market veiled, but she sees the men from behind her veil. If looking at a man’s face were forbidden, it would be obligatory for men to veil themselves from women, just as women veil themselves from men. This is contrary to what is known and customary in the traditions of Muslims. The correct view is that it is permissible for a woman to look at a man’s face, on the condition that there is no temptation. If there is temptation, it is forbidden.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : With this, the answer to the last paragraph becomes clear, in which the hadith of Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) was mentioned, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan ad-Darimi 20:4 This supports what we have mentioned regarding the prohibition of a man looking at a woman’s face, and that it is obligatory for a woman to cover her face from men.
The questioner : Is this hadith authentic? The hadith of Ali ibn Abi Talib?
The Shaykh : It does not come to my mind whether it is authentic or good. But based on the questioner’s citation of it, we say that it supports what we have mentioned and does not contradict it.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah bless you.
This is a message from the questioner, Umm Awf, from Iraq, Baghdad.
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
يا أيها النبي قل لأزواجك وبناتك ونساء المؤمنين يدنين عليهن من جلابيبهن ذلك أدنى أن يُعرفن فلا يؤذينO Aisha, when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it is not fitting that any part of her be seen except this and this, and he pointed to his face and his hands.
يا أسماء إن المرأة إذا بلغت المحيض لم يصلح أن يُرى منها إذا هذا وهذا وأشار إلى ووجهه وكفهVeil yourselves from him.
احتجبا منهAre both of you blind? Do you not see him?
أفعمياوان أنتما ألستما تبصرانهDo not give a second look, ‘Ali, for while you are not to blame for the first you have no right to the second.
يا علي لا تتبع النظرة النظرة فإنها لك الأولى وليست لك الأخرىThe Shaykh : This topic is among the most important and most urgent matters requiring clarification of the truth in this era, in which there has been much discussion regarding the issue of women, to the point that some advocates of unveiling bring up doubts they claim are proofs, though they are not proofs in reality.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Many of them know that if they did not ignore what has happened to the women who have built their unveiling and tabarruj (display of adornment) upon an opinion held by some scholars, even though some of the scholars who hold this opinion were extremely cautious in prohibiting what the state of women in this era has reached. If only the matter had been limited to uncovering the face and hands, but the head became exposed, the neck became exposed, the chest became exposed, the arms became exposed, the upper arms became exposed, the feet and legs became exposed, until the matter became a blameworthy thing by the consensus of Muslims, based on what was opened up for these people by the saying of some scholars regarding the permissibility of uncovering the face and hands. Some scholars have mentioned that if fitnah is feared, or if the statement is a means to a forbidden matter, then the statement of permissibility turns into a prohibition, because among the established principles in the science of the Shari'ah is sadd al-dhara'i' (blocking the means to harm), meaning blocking what is a means to what is forbidden. So, a permissible thing, even if it is explicitly permissible, if it necessarily leads to a forbidden matter, that matter becomes forbidden. Do you not see the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge
ولا تسبوا الذين يدعون من دون الله فيسبوا الله عدوا بغير علمThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And based on this, the implication of this statement, in which there is no doubt, is that the scholars have conditioned the permissibility of uncovering the face and hands with the absence of fitnah. If fitnah is feared, it is forbidden. And after this introduction, we answer this question, by the permission of Allah the Exalted, paragraph by paragraph.
Regarding the questioner's statement: "Is it permissible for a woman to uncover her face and hands in front of her husband's male brothers, or is this forbidden?" We say that this is forbidden. Her husband's brothers are like other non-mahram men; it is not permissible for them to look at their brother's wife, and it is not permissible for her to uncover her face and hands in front of them, just as it is not permissible in front of others. In fact, the husband's brothers and relatives are more dangerous than non-mahram strangers. For this reason, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against entering upon women, they said: "O Messenger of Allah, what about the in-laws?" He said:
The relative is death
الحمو الموتThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And based on this, the answer to the following paragraph becomes clear, which is that her husband threatens her with divorce if she does not uncover her face to her brothers. We say that this is a command to disobedience, and it is not permissible for a person to comply with a command to disobedience, because there is no obedience to a created being in disobedience to the Creator. And I am amazed at this man; how does he order his wife to uncover her face to his brothers? This is evidence of a lack of ghayrah (protective jealousy), for a person has ghayrah. A person of sound fitrah (innate disposition) has ghayrah at seeing anyone's face of his woman uncovered in front of him. So we say that this woman must be determined not to uncover her face to his brothers, even if he threatens her with divorce. And the man who has nothing to hold him back from his wife except such a matter means that he has no desire for his wife, for if he had desire for his wife, her determination to veil herself from his brothers would be a cause for him to hold onto her and cling to her.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes. And as for.
The questioner : The evidence.
The Shaykh : The third paragraph is: Does the noble verse, the saying of Allah the Exalted
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments
يا أيها النبي قل لأزواجك وبناتك ونساء المؤمنين يدنين عليهن من جلابيبهنwhen a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to his face and hands.
إن المرأة إذا بلغت سن المحيض لم يحصل أن يرى منها إلا هذا وهذا وأشار إلى وجهه وكفيهAs for what the questioner mentioned regarding the hadith of Umm Salama and Maymunah, when Ibn Umm Maktum entered upon them and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered them to veil themselves from him, the hadith is weak. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) indicated its weakness. Its weakness is indicated by the fact that it contradicts the authentic hadiths that indicate the permissibility of a woman looking at a man if there is no temptation. For Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) used to be covered by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while she watched the Abyssinians playing in the mosque. And Fatimah bint Qays was ordered by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to observe her waiting period in the house of Ibn Umm Maktum, and he said, “He is a blind man; you may remove your clothes in his presence.” And the practice of the people indicates this.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For a woman walks in the market veiled, but she sees the men from behind her veil. If looking at a man’s face were forbidden, it would be obligatory for men to veil themselves from women, just as women veil themselves from men. This is contrary to what is known and customary in the traditions of Muslims. The correct view is that it is permissible for a woman to look at a man’s face, on the condition that there is no temptation. If there is temptation, it is forbidden.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : With this, the answer to the last paragraph becomes clear, in which the hadith of Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) was mentioned, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not follow one look with another, for the first is yours, but the second is not yours.
لا تتبع النظرة النظرة فإن ... الأولى وليس لك الثانيةThe questioner : Is this hadith authentic? The hadith of Ali ibn Abi Talib?
The Shaykh : It does not come to my mind whether it is authentic or good. But based on the questioner’s citation of it, we say that it supports what we have mentioned and does not contradict it.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah bless you.
This is a message from the questioner, Umm Awf, from Iraq, Baghdad.