Ruling on a woman uncovering her face before a non-mahram
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السؤال:
From the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Amman, Al-Wuhdat. A message was sent by one of the sisters, and at the end of the message she wrote: A listener from Jordan. In her message she says: Is it permissible to uncover the face before a paternal uncle, and relatives who are not mahrams, such as a sister's husband, a maternal uncle's son, a husband's brother, and others?
Answer:
It is not permissible for a woman to uncover her face for these people; because a sister's husband, a husband's brother, a paternal uncle, a maternal uncle's son, and their like are all not mahrams. They are all in the status of a non-mahram (stranger). So she must not uncover her face for them, but she may speak to them and greet them without uncovering, and without shaking hands. "May Allah reward you, so-and-so, peace be upon you... and upon you be peace... how are you... how is your family... how are your children..." and the like of that, without shaking hands and without uncovering; because the greatest adornment of a woman is her face, it is the greatest adornment. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says in His great Book: [Al-Ahzab: 53].
And He says, Glorified is He: [Al-Nur: 31]. "Al-Bu'ul" means: husbands. [Al-Nur: 31]. And a husband's brother is not among these, nor is a sister's husband among these, nor is a paternal uncle among these, nor is a maternal uncle's son among these, nor is a friend among these. It is obligatory for a woman to be cautious of what Allah has forbidden for her, and to stay away from the causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and not to obey her husband in what Allah has forbidden, even if the husband is lenient. She must strive for the safety of her conscience and the purity of her religion from falling into what Allah has forbidden; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 2625Sahih (Al-Albani) Mishkat al-Masabih 3696.
So there is no harm in greeting without shaking hands, and without uncovering. Likewise, seclusion (khalwah) is not permissible. She must not sit alone with her husband's brother, nor alone with her sister's husband; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 2:94 So it is obligatory to be cautious. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
From the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Amman, Al-Wuhdat. A message was sent by one of the sisters, and at the end of the message she wrote: A listener from Jordan. In her message she says: Is it permissible to uncover the face before a paternal uncle, and relatives who are not mahrams, such as a sister's husband, a maternal uncle's son, a husband's brother, and others?
Answer:
It is not permissible for a woman to uncover her face for these people; because a sister's husband, a husband's brother, a paternal uncle, a maternal uncle's son, and their like are all not mahrams. They are all in the status of a non-mahram (stranger). So she must not uncover her face for them, but she may speak to them and greet them without uncovering, and without shaking hands. "May Allah reward you, so-and-so, peace be upon you... and upon you be peace... how are you... how is your family... how are your children..." and the like of that, without shaking hands and without uncovering; because the greatest adornment of a woman is her face, it is the greatest adornment. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says in His great Book:
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 وَقُلُوبِهِنَّAnd He says, Glorified is He:
not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers
وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّtheir fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women
أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّObedience is in matters which are good and universally recognized.
إنما الطاعة في المعروفA creature is not to be obeyed when it involves disobedience to the "Creator.”
لا طاعة لمخلوق في معصية الخالقSo there is no harm in greeting without shaking hands, and without uncovering. Likewise, seclusion (khalwah) is not permissible. She must not sit alone with her husband's brother, nor alone with her sister's husband; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
A man should not be alone with a woman, for Satan is the third among them.
لا يخلون رجل بامرأة فإن الشيطان ثالثهماThe presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.