The Ruling on Women Appearing Before Men Who Are Not Their Mahrams
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Many men in some families allow their wife, daughter, or sister to appear before men who are not their mahrams, such as their congregation members, friends, and colleagues, and to sit with them and talk to them as if they were mahrams to her. When we advise them, they say that these are their customs and the customs of their fathers. They also claim that their hearts are pure. Among them are those who are arrogant and stubborn, who understand this ruling, and among them are those who are ignorant of it. We ask that you direct advice to our brothers regarding this matter?
Answer: It is obligatory for every Muslim to know that customs must be presented to the pure Shari'ah. Some customs contain good and beneficial things, while others contain bad things. The fact that people are accustomed to something does not indicate that it is permissible, nor does their custom make it permissible. Many of the customs that people practice in their countries or tribes must be presented to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). What Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) have permitted is fine, and it is permissible, and praise be to Allah. What Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) have forbidden must be abandoned, even if it is a custom among people. If people are accustomed to being lax regarding seclusion with a non-mahram woman, or if they are accustomed to her uncovering her face before non-mahrams, this is a false custom that must be removed. It is like if people were accustomed to zina, sodomy, and drinking intoxicants; they would be obligated to abandon it. Custom has no argument for them in this matter; rather, the Shari'ah is above everyone.
So, whoever Allah has guided to Islam must stay away from what Allah has forbidden him, such as intoxicants, zina, theft, undutifulness to parents, and severing family ties, and all other things that Allah has forbidden .
Likewise, the family must respect the command of Allah and His Messenger, and stay away from what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. If it is their custom to uncover their women before them, this is a bad custom that must be removed. It is not permissible for a woman to uncover herself before her paternal cousin, her sister's husband, her husband's brothers, her husband's paternal uncles, or her husband's maternal uncles. Rather, she must observe hijab, and nothing of her should be seen. She covers her body, she covers her face, she covers her head, and she covers her entire body so that nothing of her remains uncovered.
As for speech, there is no harm in speaking to him about necessities: returning his greeting, initiating the greeting, there is no harm in that, but with modesty, with hijab, and with distance from seclusion. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ahzab: 53].
Likewise, it is necessary that the speech be ordinary, moderate speech, without coquetry, softness, or submission. Rather, her speech should be ordinary speech. This is due to the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ahzab: 32]. So, the Exalted and Majestic forbade the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from submitting in speech; that is softening and breaking the voice so that one in whose heart is the disease of lust might hope for her, and think that she is receptive and that there is no barrier with her. So, it is obligatory that her speech be moderate, without indecency and harshness, and without submission, softness, and coquetry, but between that, ordinary speech in her greeting and conversation and the like, without any softness or submission.
She has no seclusion with her husband's brother or her uncle, and it is not permissible for her to uncover her face, hands, feet, or head for him. Rather, she covers her body, due to the generality of the saying of the Exalted: [Al-Ahzab: 53]. So, the Exalted informed that hijab is purer for the hearts of everyone. And He said, the Exalted: [Al-Ahzab: 59].
And the jilbab is a garment that is thrown over the head and body. The woman throws it over her head, covering her face and body over her clothes. And the Exalted said in Surat al-Nur: [Al-Nur: 31], the verse. These are the mahrams for whom it is permissible to display adornment, such as the face, hands, feet, head, and the like.
As for the husband's brother, the sister's husband, the aunt's husband, the maternal aunt's husband, the husband's uncle, and the husband's maternal uncle, all of these are non-mahrams. Adornment is not displayed to them. It is not permissible to display adornment to them. Rather, she speaks to them when necessary from behind a hijab, greets them from behind a hijab, returns their greetings, and asks them about the need she has, but with hijab, with covering, and with modesty.
Likewise, one must beware of tabarruj, which is displaying beauty and charms, due to the saying of the Glorious and Exalted: [Al-Ahzab: 33].
So, it is obligatory for women to fear Allah the Exalted and Majestic and to beware of what Allah has forbidden, which is displaying adornment to non-mahrams and the tabarruj that Allah has forbidden. One must beware of that, because this is purer for the hearts and safer for the society from fitnah, and further from the occurrence of lewd acts and accusations, except for the old woman who does not desire marriage, in whom there is no hope, and who does not adorn herself. She may uncover her face due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) : [Al-Nur: 60].
So, al-qawa'id are the old women, those who do not hope for marriage, meaning: they have no desire for marriage due to their advanced age and old age, and with that, they are not adorned with adornment. But if they are adorned, then no, they do not have the right to uncover. But if they are old women who do not hope for marriage and with that are not adorned with adornment, there is no harm in removing the hijab from her face and hands, because people have no hope in them.
But her modesty is better, even if she is an old woman. Her modesty and covering are better and more excellent. For this reason, the Exalted said: [Al-Nur: 60]; because every drop has a catcher. One of her age, among the elderly, might hope for her. Something of fitnah might occur. So, if she is modest and observes hijab, it is better and more sound. If this is the case for old women who are not adorned, then hijab is better for them. So what about the state of the young girls? The matter is more severe and greater for them. For this reason, hijab is obligatory for them, and staying away from what Allah the Mighty and Majestic has forbidden from means of evil, and striving to be far from every fitnah and from the cause of every fitnah. She should be complete in covering, complete in hijab, and not be in seclusion with a man, even if he is her husband's brother or her husband's uncle.
For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:, meaning: he is feared more; because the woman might be lax with him, and he might enter upon her and she does not find it objectionable, because he is the husband of her brother or the husband of her uncle. So, she might display to him some of her beauties and be lax, and evil might occur. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him), when they asked him about the hamu (in-law), said: . So, one must beware of seclusion with him or displaying adornment to him, because the danger from him is greater.
As for her husband's father, he is a mahram to her; her father, her grandfather, her son, and her son's sons are all mahrams. So, the husband's father and the husband's grandfather are all mahrams. But the mother's husband is not a mahram. The mother's husband is not a mahram. Rather, her father, the husband's father, the husband's grandfather, the husband's son, the daughter's son, and the son's son are all mahrams. But some mahrams might be feared for their evil.
So, it is recommended for the woman to also beware, especially in our time. Some mahrams might not have the taqwa and chastity that protects them. It is recommended for the woman to be cautious, to be astute, and to beware of the causes of evil. If the mahram, such as the husband's son or the husband's father, or the husband's son's son, is feared for his evil, let her be on guard. She should not be in seclusion with him, and she should not display her beauties to him. Rather, it is sufficient for her to show her face and the like, without expanding on that and without seclusion if she fears his evil. For some mahrams are feared for their evil. It is recommended for her to be cautious and to be far from the causes of evil. We ask Allah for well-being for everyone. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: It is obligatory for every Muslim to know that customs must be presented to the pure Shari'ah. Some customs contain good and beneficial things, while others contain bad things. The fact that people are accustomed to something does not indicate that it is permissible, nor does their custom make it permissible. Many of the customs that people practice in their countries or tribes must be presented to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). What Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) have permitted is fine, and it is permissible, and praise be to Allah. What Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) have forbidden must be abandoned, even if it is a custom among people. If people are accustomed to being lax regarding seclusion with a non-mahram woman, or if they are accustomed to her uncovering her face before non-mahrams, this is a false custom that must be removed. It is like if people were accustomed to zina, sodomy, and drinking intoxicants; they would be obligated to abandon it. Custom has no argument for them in this matter; rather, the Shari'ah is above everyone.
So, whoever Allah has guided to Islam must stay away from what Allah has forbidden him, such as intoxicants, zina, theft, undutifulness to parents, and severing family ties, and all other things that Allah has forbidden .
Likewise, the family must respect the command of Allah and His Messenger, and stay away from what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. If it is their custom to uncover their women before them, this is a bad custom that must be removed. It is not permissible for a woman to uncover herself before her paternal cousin, her sister's husband, her husband's brothers, her husband's paternal uncles, or her husband's maternal uncles. Rather, she must observe hijab, and nothing of her should be seen. She covers her body, she covers her face, she covers her head, and she covers her entire body so that nothing of her remains uncovered.
As for speech, there is no harm in speaking to him about necessities: returning his greeting, initiating the greeting, there is no harm in that, but with modesty, with hijab, and with distance from seclusion. Allah the Exalted said:
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 وَقُلُوبِهِنَّLikewise, it is necessary that the speech be ordinary, moderate speech, without coquetry, softness, or submission. Rather, her speech should be ordinary speech. This is due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah, then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet
يَا نِسَاءَ النَّبِيِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِنِ اتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌShe has no seclusion with her husband's brother or her uncle, and it is not permissible for her to uncover her face, hands, feet, or head for him. Rather, she covers her body, due to the generality of the saying of the Exalted:
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 وَقُلُوبِهِنَّO Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًاAnd the jilbab is a garment that is thrown over the head and body. The woman throws it over her head, covering her face and body over her clothes. And the Exalted said in Surat al-Nur:
And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess
وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ ..As for the husband's brother, the sister's husband, the aunt's husband, the maternal aunt's husband, the husband's uncle, and the husband's maternal uncle, all of these are non-mahrams. Adornment is not displayed to them. It is not permissible to display adornment to them. Rather, she speaks to them when necessary from behind a hijab, greets them from behind a hijab, returns their greetings, and asks them about the need she has, but with hijab, with covering, and with modesty.
Likewise, one must beware of tabarruj, which is displaying beauty and charms, due to the saying of the Glorious and Exalted:
And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الأُولَى وَأَقِمْنَ الصَّلاةَ وَآتِينَ الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِعْنَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُSo, it is obligatory for women to fear Allah the Exalted and Majestic and to beware of what Allah has forbidden, which is displaying adornment to non-mahrams and the tabarruj that Allah has forbidden. One must beware of that, because this is purer for the hearts and safer for the society from fitnah, and further from the occurrence of lewd acts and accusations, except for the old woman who does not desire marriage, in whom there is no hope, and who does not adorn herself. She may uncover her face due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) :
And women of post-menstrual age who have no desire for marriage - there is no blame upon them for putting aside their outer garments [but] not displaying adornment. But to modestly refrain [from that] is better for them
وَالْقَوَاعِدُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ اللَّاتِي لا يَرْجُونَ نِكَاحًا فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ يَضَعْنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيْرَ مُتَبَرِّجَاتٍ بِزِينَةٍ وَأَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَيْرٌ لَهُنَّSo, al-qawa'id are the old women, those who do not hope for marriage, meaning: they have no desire for marriage due to their advanced age and old age, and with that, they are not adorned with adornment. But if they are adorned, then no, they do not have the right to uncover. But if they are old women who do not hope for marriage and with that are not adorned with adornment, there is no harm in removing the hijab from her face and hands, because people have no hope in them.
But her modesty is better, even if she is an old woman. Her modesty and covering are better and more excellent. For this reason, the Exalted said:
But to modestly refrain [from that] is better for them
وَأَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَيْرٌ لَهُنَّFor this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Beware of entering upon women, beware of entering upon women. A man from the Ansar said: What about the close male relative? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The close male relative is death.
إياكم والدخول على النساء، إياكم والدخول على النساء، فقال رجل من الأنصار: أرأيت الحمو؟ قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: الحمو الموتThe relative is death
الحمو الموتAs for her husband's father, he is a mahram to her; her father, her grandfather, her son, and her son's sons are all mahrams. So, the husband's father and the husband's grandfather are all mahrams. But the mother's husband is not a mahram. The mother's husband is not a mahram. Rather, her father, the husband's father, the husband's grandfather, the husband's son, the daughter's son, and the son's son are all mahrams. But some mahrams might be feared for their evil.
So, it is recommended for the woman to also beware, especially in our time. Some mahrams might not have the taqwa and chastity that protects them. It is recommended for the woman to be cautious, to be astute, and to beware of the causes of evil. If the mahram, such as the husband's son or the husband's father, or the husband's son's son, is feared for his evil, let her be on guard. She should not be in seclusion with him, and she should not display her beauties to him. Rather, it is sufficient for her to show her face and the like, without expanding on that and without seclusion if she fears his evil. For some mahrams are feared for their evil. It is recommended for her to be cautious and to be far from the causes of evil. We ask Allah for well-being for everyone. 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.