I have relatives in Makkah al-Mukarramah who force me to meet my husband's brother. In past years, when I visited them, I would wear the hijab but not cover my face, even though I knew that was not permissible, but out of fear of severing family ties.

The questioner : May the Shaykh be honored. I have relatives in Makkah al-Mukarramah who force me to meet my husband's brother. In past years, when I visited them, I would wear the hijab but not cover my face, even though I knew that was not permissible, but out of fear of severing family ties. I know that if I refused to meet my husband's brother, it would lead to conflict and thus severing of family ties. I also know that these relatives do not listen to advice. I intended to go to Makkah al-Mukarramah to perform 'Umrah this year, but I was told that when going to Makkah, I must visit these relatives so as not to sever family ties. I refused to go for 'Umrah seeking the Face of Allah the Exalted and Majestic so that I would not meet my husband's brother. Is my refusal correct or not? And what do you advise me regarding my second 'Umrah? May Allah reward you. I ask for your guidance and advice.

The Shaykh : Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said: Thus, he made obedience to those in authority subordinate to obedience to Allah and His Messenger. So, if obedience to Allah and His Messenger conflicts with obedience to those in authority, the priority is obedience to Allah and His Messenger. Therefore, there is no obedience to a created being in disobedience to the Creator. It is not permissible for you to uncover your face in front of your husband's brother while you know that it is forbidden. It is obligatory for you to cover it, even if it leads to severing ties between you and your relatives, because they are the ones who severed the ties, and they have no right to be obeyed in disobedience to Allah the Exalted and Majestic.
So you must perform what Allah has made obligatory upon you, and know that you are supported against them if they cut you off for your upholding of the limits of Allah the Exalted and Majestic. It is obligatory for them to say regarding the rulings of Allah: "We hear and we obey," and not to let customs override the Shari'ah of Allah, because the Shari'ah is the ruler and not the ruled, and customs are the ruled and not the ruler.
And let it be known that among the most dangerous things for a woman are her husband's relatives; indeed, they may be more dangerous to her than strangers. They said: O Messenger of Allah! What about the in-laws? He said: Meaning that he is the evil from which one must flee, i.e., from seclusion with him. This is because the in-law, being a relative of the husband, enters the home of his relative without anyone rebuking him for being a relative. He enters believing that the house is his and does not care, so Satan flows through him like blood and whispers to him regarding fitnah until fitnah occurs. How many victims of Satan are there in this matter? Therefore, one must be extremely cautious of exposing oneself to fitnah with the husband's relatives.
In summary, the answer is that it is obligatory for this woman questioner to cover her face from her husband's brother, even if it leads to their anger and their boycotting her. However, she must perform the obligatory duty of maintaining family ties, and if they fall short, the sin is upon them.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.