HIjab Q&A

Question: A law was passed by the rulers of a Muslim land forcing the young women and all women to remove their hijaabs, in particular their face coverings. Is it permissible for me to execute that order? You should also realize that the one who refuses to obey that command will be punished by, for example, removal from work or school or imprisonment.

Response: This trial that has be fallen your land is from those events by which the servants are tested and tried. Allaah has said in the Qur.aan, {Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, 'We believe,' and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah will certainly make [it] known [the truth of] those who are true, and will certainly make [it] known [the falsehood of] those who are liars}, [al-Ankabut 2-3]. In my opinion, it is obligatory upon the Muslim sisters of that land to refuse to obey the rulers in that evil order. This is because there is no obedience to evil, rejected orders. Allaah says, {O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those of you who are in authority}, [an-Nisaa. 59]. If one ponders over this verse, one notes that Allaah has stated, {Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those of you who are in authority}, [an-Nisaa. 59]. That is, the word "obey" is not repeated directly before "those of ,you who are in authority". This indicates that obedience to those in authority is conditional upon obedience to Allaah and obedience His Messenger. If their orders are in contradiction to obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, then they are not listened to or obeyed in that matter that they have ordered. ((There is no obedience to the created if it involves disobedience to the Creator.))1 The hurt that these women face in this matter is part of what one must be patient with. They must seek Allaah's help in being patient. We ask Allaah to guide their leaders to the truth. I do not think that such a compulsion can exist unless the woman leaves her house. In her house, it is not possible that they could force such a thing upon her. Hence, the sisters should try to stay in their houses until the matter is rectified. If her studies involve a disobedience to Allaah, then her studies are not permissible. Instead, she should study what she needs for her religion and worldly needs and, usually, this can be done in her household. In sum, it is never allowed to obey the rulers in a command that is an evil and wrong in itself.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa al-Mar.ah

http://www.fatwa-online.com/

RULING ON WEARING HIGH HEELS

Praise be to Allaah.

Wearing high heels is not permissible because it exposes women to the risk of falling, and we are commanded in sharee’ah to avoid danger in a general sense, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And do not kill yourselves”

[al-Nisa’ 4:29]

“and do not throw yourselves into destruction”

[al-Baqarah 2:195]

It also makes women look taller than they really are and makes their posteriors appear more prominent, and this is a kind of deception and showing the adornments which the believing woman is forbidden to show, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam)” [al-Noor 24:31]

From Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, Majallat al-Buhooth, 9/46.

Moreover, it also makes a woman lean forward (maa’ilah ila al-amaam), so there is the fear that the warning issued to those women who walk with an enticing gait (al-maa’ilaat al-mumilaat) may apply to her too [in the hadeeth which says that such women will never even smell the fragrance of Paradise from afar]. It also harms the back, as has been proven medically. The heels also make a sound which attracts the attention of men and is a temptation to them. We ask Allaah to keep us all safe and sound.