|
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear brother in Islam, first of all, we’d like to inform you that we all share your feelings from the bottom of our hearts, and we do pray to Almighty Allah to cover you all with His protection in this difficult situation facing millions of Muslims, Amen.
As regards your question, Sheikh Muhammad Hassan Fadl-Allah, the well-known Muslim jurist, states:
"First, we expect from every Muslim sister to safeguard her religious commitment especially under the current critical situation. The issue may be clarified in light of the following two guidelines:
1- A Muslim woman should stick to the teachings of Islam and never show any compromise as regards her Muslim dress, especially wearing the Hijab, which is a religious obligation ordained by Allah.
2- In facing those who leave no stone unturned in trying to put an end to Islam and Muslims, it's required of every Muslim (whether a male or a female) not to show weakness or complacency."
Shedding light on this issue, the eminent Muslim scholar, Dr. `Abdul-Fattah `Ashoor, Professor of the Exegesis of the Qur'an at Al-Azhar Univ., adds:
"As we know, Hijab is a religious obligation ordained by Allah, and it’s not allowed for any female Muslim to disregard such obligation. But given the current situation, here comes into play the juristic rule 'Necessity relaxes the law'; but necessity should be construed in a narrower sense. Therefore, if it’s possible for a female Muslim to endure difficulties and keep wearing Hijab, she should do that and consider her faith in Allah being put to test. Allah says in this regard:'Do people imagine that they will be left (at ease) because they say, We believe, and will not be tested with affliction? Lo! We tested those who were before you. Thus Allah knoweth those who are sincere, and knoweth those who feign.'(Al-`Ankabut: 2-3)
In the light of the above-mentioned verses, we appeal to our sisters in Islam facing this ordeal to show perseverance and steadfastness, assuring them of Allah’s unfailing promise of protection. However, if the matter gets worse and unbearable, to the extent of halting the normal course of life, then they can change a bit from wearing complete Hijab to a partial one, i.e., they can wear something to cover their head and neck. All this is just a precautionary measure against attack or harassment. Should that prove futile, they can then take off Hijab untill things get back to normal.
But this should not be taken as a pretext to drop wearing Hijab altogether. So my advice to our sisters in Islam is to keep guard against devilish scheme to drive them away from Islam. So I say: Study the whole issue and determine which of the two options to take. May Allah protect you all, Amen."
Hijab: Always A Woman’s Business?
|
 |
