The Responsibility of Rulers in Protecting the Women of Muslims

Question:
It is necessary, Honorable Shaykh Salih, to say a word to the rulers.

Answer:
The rulers of affairs include the fathers, husbands, and brothers of young women, as well as the general rulers of the Muslims, such as the princes and those in positions of responsibility in the institutions. All of these are among the rulers of affairs, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) . It is incumbent upon the head of the household to protect the women in his home, for he is a shepherd and responsible for his flock. Allah the Exalted says: . Likewise, those in authority, including the men in the institutions and the princes, are required to care for the conditions of the society under their control. They must enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, prevent women from displaying their adornment and mixing with men, follow up on the conditions of the Muslims, and inspect their affairs. They should do this so that they can address these problems with wisdom and deliberation, thereby keeping society, homes, and families away from falling into what Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has forbidden. If these people neglect their specific and general responsibilities, corruption will occur in the nation and morals will be ruined. The poet says: "Nations are their morals as long as they remain; if their morals are gone, they are gone." We must not be lenient regarding the matter of morals under the pretext that this is a matter of freedoms, or under the pretext that there is trust, as they say, in men and women, for Satan is dominant and man is weak. Every person is under the protection and assistance of Allah. Therefore, the rulers of affairs, whether in their specific or general capacity, should fear Allah regarding those under their control. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .