The Ruling on the Khimar in Islam
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Question:
What is the ruling on the khimar in Islam? That is, is it obligatory like the hijab, for example, or is it merely recommended? And if it is obligatory, does she wear it in front of her sister’s husband, her paternal cousins, and her maternal cousins, or does she wear it only in the street and public places? And what is the evidence for this from the Qur’an or the Sunnah?
Answer:
The khimar is called a khimar because it covers what is behind it. From this root comes the covering of a vessel, and from it comes khamr (intoxicants), because it covers the intellect and wastes it. So the khimar is the covering placed on the head and face to hide it from people. The woman is commanded to cover herself and wear the khimar from those who are not her mahram (relatives one may not marry); for the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic): :[Al-Ahzab 33:53] So the hijab is the khimar, or the door, or the wall, or something similar that covers her: [Al-Ahzab: 53]. Thus, in Surat al-Ahzab, He (Glorified and Exalted is He) made it clear that the hijab is purer for the hearts of men and women. So it is obligatory for the woman to veil herself and cover her entire body from those who are not her mahram.
Her sister’s husband is not one of her mahram, and likewise her paternal cousins, her maternal cousins, her maternal aunt’s sons, and her paternal aunt’s sons are not mahram for her. Likewise, her husband’s brother, her husband’s paternal uncle, and her husband’s maternal uncle are not mahram.
The mahram are only her husband’s father, her husband’s paternal grandfather, her husband’s son, her husband’s son’s son, and her husband’s daughter’s son, meaning: his children and his children’s children, male and female, and his fathers and grandfathers. These are mahram. Likewise, her own father and her grandfathers, her sons and her sons’ sons and her daughters’ sons, and likewise her brothers and her brothers’ sons and her sisters’ sons, and likewise her maternal uncles and her paternal uncles. These are mahram.
As for the maternal uncle, the paternal uncle, the son of the paternal aunt, and the son of the maternal aunt, they are not mahram (a relative one may not marry), and he is permitted to marry her. The wisdom behind this, and Allah knows best, is as is well known: that hijab (the covering prescribed for women) is purer for hearts and further from immorality and fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). If a woman reveals herself and shows her face, perhaps one who sees her will be tempted by her and his heart will become attached to her, leading to fitnah and corruption. Out of Allah's mercy, He prescribed hijab so that fitnah would not occur and so that a man's heart would not become attached to a woman who is not suitable for him or is forbidden to him. Both the believing man and the believing woman are commanded to have taqwa (mindfulness of Allah) and to be cautious of what causes the anger of Allah . Revealing oneself to non-mahram is among the causes of Allah's anger and among the causes of the occurrence of immorality. And success is from Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
What is the ruling on the khimar in Islam? That is, is it obligatory like the hijab, for example, or is it merely recommended? And if it is obligatory, does she wear it in front of her sister’s husband, her paternal cousins, and her maternal cousins, or does she wear it only in the street and public places? And what is the evidence for this from the Qur’an or the Sunnah?
Answer:
The khimar is called a khimar because it covers what is behind it. From this root comes the covering of a vessel, and from it comes khamr (intoxicants), because it covers the intellect and wastes it. So the khimar is the covering placed on the head and face to hide it from people. The woman is commanded to cover herself and wear the khimar from those who are not her mahram (relatives one may not marry); for the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic): :
And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition
وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍThat is purer for your hearts and their hearts
ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّHer sister’s husband is not one of her mahram, and likewise her paternal cousins, her maternal cousins, her maternal aunt’s sons, and her paternal aunt’s sons are not mahram for her. Likewise, her husband’s brother, her husband’s paternal uncle, and her husband’s maternal uncle are not mahram.
The mahram are only her husband’s father, her husband’s paternal grandfather, her husband’s son, her husband’s son’s son, and her husband’s daughter’s son, meaning: his children and his children’s children, male and female, and his fathers and grandfathers. These are mahram. Likewise, her own father and her grandfathers, her sons and her sons’ sons and her daughters’ sons, and likewise her brothers and her brothers’ sons and her sisters’ sons, and likewise her maternal uncles and her paternal uncles. These are mahram.
As for the maternal uncle, the paternal uncle, the son of the paternal aunt, and the son of the maternal aunt, they are not mahram (a relative one may not marry), and he is permitted to marry her. The wisdom behind this, and Allah knows best, is as is well known: that hijab (the covering prescribed for women) is purer for hearts and further from immorality and fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). If a woman reveals herself and shows her face, perhaps one who sees her will be tempted by her and his heart will become attached to her, leading to fitnah and corruption. Out of Allah's mercy, He prescribed hijab so that fitnah would not occur and so that a man's heart would not become attached to a woman who is not suitable for him or is forbidden to him. Both the believing man and the believing woman are commanded to have taqwa (mindfulness of Allah) and to be cautious of what causes the anger of Allah . Revealing oneself to non-mahram is among the causes of Allah's anger and among the causes of the occurrence of immorality. And success is from Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.