She asks in her letter: Is it permissible for a woman to uncover her face when traveling in foreign countries at her husband's command, or is it not?
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The questioner : She asks in her letter: Is it permissible for a woman to uncover her face when traveling in foreign countries at her husband's command, or is it not?
The Shaykh : First, it must be known that the Shari'ah of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not differ in the lands of Islam and the lands of disbelief; it is one and the same in both.
Second, a Muslim should have strength, determination, and a distinct personality that imposes what his religion requires upon others. If these foreigners come to us in their clothes and according to their customs, why should we not go to them in our clothes, which are the requirement of our Shari'ah? Clothing, or rather hijab, is not a matter of custom that differs from one time to another or from one land to another. Rather, hijab is a matter of the Shari'ah that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) made obligatory in His Book, and the Sunnah also indicates this. Therefore, it is not permissible for a woman to uncover her face in foreign countries or anywhere else, even if her husband commands her to do so, becauseMishkat al-Masabih 3696.
Third, we say that a husband should be jealous of his wife and eager to protect and preserve her. How can one imagine a Muslim husband commanding his wife to uncover her face and hands, making her exposed to the aggression of the wicked, their pursuit, and their looking at her? Perhaps this leads to gestures, signals, laughter, and talk. We regret that these husbands command their wives to uncover their faces in foreign lands.
There is no doubt that the stronger a man is in personality, determination, and decisiveness, and the more he applies his religion in all the lands of Allah, the more awe-inspiring and respected he is among non-Muslims. One whom I trust told me that he traveled to a foreign country with his wife, who was veiled, but she had placed a niqab on her face, opening it for her eyes to look through. He said, "The Muslims, when we pass by them in those lands, thank us, and the foreigners never harm us in any way." I wish that Muslims were like this man, who had strength of determination and strength of faith in Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The Shaykh : First, it must be known that the Shari'ah of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not differ in the lands of Islam and the lands of disbelief; it is one and the same in both.
Second, a Muslim should have strength, determination, and a distinct personality that imposes what his religion requires upon others. If these foreigners come to us in their clothes and according to their customs, why should we not go to them in our clothes, which are the requirement of our Shari'ah? Clothing, or rather hijab, is not a matter of custom that differs from one time to another or from one land to another. Rather, hijab is a matter of the Shari'ah that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) made obligatory in His Book, and the Sunnah also indicates this. Therefore, it is not permissible for a woman to uncover her face in foreign countries or anywhere else, even if her husband commands her to do so, because
A creature is not to be obeyed when it involves disobedience to the "Creator.”
لا طاعة لمخلوق في معصية الخالقThird, we say that a husband should be jealous of his wife and eager to protect and preserve her. How can one imagine a Muslim husband commanding his wife to uncover her face and hands, making her exposed to the aggression of the wicked, their pursuit, and their looking at her? Perhaps this leads to gestures, signals, laughter, and talk. We regret that these husbands command their wives to uncover their faces in foreign lands.
There is no doubt that the stronger a man is in personality, determination, and decisiveness, and the more he applies his religion in all the lands of Allah, the more awe-inspiring and respected he is among non-Muslims. One whom I trust told me that he traveled to a foreign country with his wife, who was veiled, but she had placed a niqab on her face, opening it for her eyes to look through. He said, "The Muslims, when we pass by them in those lands, thank us, and the foreigners never harm us in any way." I wish that Muslims were like this man, who had strength of determination and strength of faith in Allah (Mighty and Majestic).