The phrase "this is one of our traditions" or "one of our customs" is on the tongues of many people. Perhaps you have some guidance on that?
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The questioner : The phrase "this is one of our traditions" or "one of our customs" is on the tongues of many people. Perhaps you have some guidance on these phrases, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes. We say that many people do not distinguish between worship and tradition, by which they mean custom.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is a deficiency in knowledge, and it is obligatory for us to distinguish between what is part of our religion, in which we have no choice, and what is part of our customs, which are subject to change to something more beneficial and better. Among this is that some people think that the hijab of women and covering their faces from non-mahram men is a custom, not a form of worship. Therefore, they try to make this dependent on time and development, saying that the hijab in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was suitable for the condition they were in, but now what is suitable for the condition of women is different from this ruling. There is no doubt that this is a very wrong statement, for the hijab is not a custom, but rather it is a form of worship that Allah has commanded. Allah the Exalted said regarding the wives of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):[Al-Ahzab 33:53] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 6241 so that a person does not look at a woman while she is in her house and has closed the door on her. So the important point is that the Book and the Sunnah have indicated that the seclusion of women from non-mahram men is not a custom, but rather it is a form of worship that a person does in worship of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), seeking reward, and avoiding sin. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. We return to a message from Jeddah sent by a listener of the program who used the initials S, A, T for his name. He says:
The Shaykh : Yes. We say that many people do not distinguish between worship and tradition, by which they mean custom.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is a deficiency in knowledge, and it is obligatory for us to distinguish between what is part of our religion, in which we have no choice, and what is part of our customs, which are subject to change to something more beneficial and better. Among this is that some people think that the hijab of women and covering their faces from non-mahram men is a custom, not a form of worship. Therefore, they try to make this dependent on time and development, saying that the hijab in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was suitable for the condition they were in, but now what is suitable for the condition of women is different from this ruling. There is no doubt that this is a very wrong statement, for the hijab is not a custom, but rather it is a form of worship that Allah has commanded. Allah the Exalted said regarding the wives of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):
And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.
وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّVerily! The order of taking permission to enter has been enjoined because of that sight
إنما جعِل الاستئذان من أجل النظرThe questioner : May Allah bless you. We return to a message from Jeddah sent by a listener of the program who used the initials S, A, T for his name. He says: