Ruling on a woman abandoning hijab on the pretext of people's criticism
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Question:
In the final questions from this questioner from Yemen, she says: “Your Eminence, we know that hijab is obligatory for women, but some women do not observe it. They say: ‘We know it is obligatory, but we are unable to do it. We fear that people will speak ill of us with words that are not recommended, and we are shy of them.’ They also say: ‘We are confident in Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He),”and our hope in Allah is great, and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. So what is your advice to such women, Your Eminence?”
Answer:
It is obligatory for women to wear hijab, to adhere to the teachings of the Shari'ah, and to remain steadfast upon them. It is not permissible for anyone to contravene the Shari'ah on the grounds that he has a good opinion of Allah, or to please so-and-so, or so that so-and-so does not criticize her. This is an error and an abomination. One must adhere to the Shari'ah and hold fast to it, even if so-and-so says this or that, or if people criticize her and say that she is rigid, or that she is extreme, or that she is severe. This does not concern her. Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Ahzab: 53], making it a purification for the hearts of all. And He the Exalted said in Surat al-Nur: [Al-Nur: 31], the verse.
It is obligatory for a woman to observe hijab and cover herself from non-mahram men. As for her husband and her mahram relatives, there is no harm in them seeing her face and hands; there is no harm. But to expose herself to non-mahram men—such as her husband’s brother, her cousin, her neighbors, or her companions—is not permissible. Rather, it is obligatory to cover oneself and avoid suspicion and danger. It is also not permissible to be in seclusion with a non-mahram man. No one is allowed to take a dispensation based on being accommodating, or on the belief that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, or the like. For He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is Forgiving and Merciful, and He is also severe in punishment (Glorified and Exalted is He),as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said::[Al-Hijr 15:49] And that My punishment is the painful punishment[Surat al-Hijr: 49-50]. And He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:[Surat Ghafir: 3].
It is obligatory for all believing men and women to adhere to the teachings of the Shari'ah, to hold fast to the teachings of the Shari'ah, to perform the obligations of Allah, and to beware of the prohibitions of Allah, even if people dislike it, and even if people criticize them. For Allah is more deserving of being feared, and more deserving of having His command followed, and of ceasing from what He has forbidden (Glorified and Exalted is He),Yes.
In the final questions from this questioner from Yemen, she says: “Your Eminence, we know that hijab is obligatory for women, but some women do not observe it. They say: ‘We know it is obligatory, but we are unable to do it. We fear that people will speak ill of us with words that are not recommended, and we are shy of them.’ They also say: ‘We are confident in Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He),”and our hope in Allah is great, and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. So what is your advice to such women, Your Eminence?”
Answer:
It is obligatory for women to wear hijab, to adhere to the teachings of the Shari'ah, and to remain steadfast upon them. It is not permissible for anyone to contravene the Shari'ah on the grounds that he has a good opinion of Allah, or to please so-and-so, or so that so-and-so does not criticize her. This is an error and an abomination. One must adhere to the Shari'ah and hold fast to it, even if so-and-so says this or that, or if people criticize her and say that she is rigid, or that she is extreme, or that she is severe. This does not concern her. Allah the Exalted says:
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 وَقُلُوبِهِنَّexcept to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers
وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّIt is obligatory for a woman to observe hijab and cover herself from non-mahram men. As for her husband and her mahram relatives, there is no harm in them seeing her face and hands; there is no harm. But to expose herself to non-mahram men—such as her husband’s brother, her cousin, her neighbors, or her companions—is not permissible. Rather, it is obligatory to cover oneself and avoid suspicion and danger. It is also not permissible to be in seclusion with a non-mahram man. No one is allowed to take a dispensation based on being accommodating, or on the belief that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, or the like. For He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is Forgiving and Merciful, and He is also severe in punishment (Glorified and Exalted is He),as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said::
[O Muhammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful.
نَبِّئْ عِبَادِي أَنِّي أَنَا الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ The forgiver of sin, acceptor of repentance, severe in punishment
غَافِرِ الذَّنْبِ وَقَابِلِ التَّوْبِ شَدِيدِ الْعِقَابِIt is obligatory for all believing men and women to adhere to the teachings of the Shari'ah, to hold fast to the teachings of the Shari'ah, to perform the obligations of Allah, and to beware of the prohibitions of Allah, even if people dislike it, and even if people criticize them. For Allah is more deserving of being feared, and more deserving of having His command followed, and of ceasing from what He has forbidden (Glorified and Exalted is He),Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.