Women Going to Mosques in This Era and Its Conditions
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
He asks: Is it permissible for women to go to the mosques in this era?
The Shaykh:
And there is no harm if the Sharia conditions are met, for this is the case in every era. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 566 and their homes are better for them, and let them go out in a state of undress, meaning not adorned and not perfumed, and not alluring. Rather, they should go out as the women of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) went out when the hijab was revealed. They went out with hijabs on their heads, as if they were crows, acting on what Allah the Exalted commanded and hastening to obey the command of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. They wrapped themselves in their outer garments in execution of the command of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, in His saying: "Let them draw their veils over their bosoms," [Al-Ma'idah 5:108] "That is better so that they may be recognized and not harassed," [Al-Ahzab 33:59]. If the Muslim woman adheres to the etiquettes of Islam when she goes out to the mosque, leaving off perfume, leaving off adornment, covering herself with loose, concealing clothing, and avoiding the places of men and mixing with them, then there is no blame on her for that. And even with all this, her prayer in her home is better; with all this, her prayer in her home is better.
The presenter:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Shaykh:
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He reward you. Does his phrase "in this time" not have a specific implication, Shaykh Salih?
The Shaykh:
It is as if he is saying that women in this time have learned, become cultured, and practiced going out. This is wrong. The Shari'ah is comprehensive for every time and place until the Hour comes. It is obligatory to follow the directives and etiquettes of the Shari'ah in every time and place. In fact, this time may require more caution, because leniency has increased in it, and corruption has increased. Therefore, in this time, caution must be greater than before, because the previous time was a time of righteousness and piety, whereas in this time, evil has increased, so one must be more reserved. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He reward you. Shaykh Salih, do you not see that he intends another meaning, namely that this time has become corrupt, and that the reservation regarding women must be greater?
The Shaykh:
Yes, what we understand is that he intends the second meaning that we mentioned last. Yes.
He asks: Is it permissible for women to go to the mosques in this era?
The Shaykh:
And there is no harm if the Sharia conditions are met, for this is the case in every era. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not prevent the female servant your women from visiting the mosques of Allah.
لا تمنعوا إماء الله مساجد اللهThat is more likely
ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَنto bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused.
يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَThe presenter:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Shaykh:
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
And their homes are better for them.
وبيوتهن خير لهن.The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He reward you. Does his phrase "in this time" not have a specific implication, Shaykh Salih?
The Shaykh:
It is as if he is saying that women in this time have learned, become cultured, and practiced going out. This is wrong. The Shari'ah is comprehensive for every time and place until the Hour comes. It is obligatory to follow the directives and etiquettes of the Shari'ah in every time and place. In fact, this time may require more caution, because leniency has increased in it, and corruption has increased. Therefore, in this time, caution must be greater than before, because the previous time was a time of righteousness and piety, whereas in this time, evil has increased, so one must be more reserved. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He reward you. Shaykh Salih, do you not see that he intends another meaning, namely that this time has become corrupt, and that the reservation regarding women must be greater?
The Shaykh:
Yes, what we understand is that he intends the second meaning that we mentioned last. Yes.
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 02/010 — archive.org (17:44)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.