Assalamualaikum
Which from the children of Shaytaan are leading us astray (if any)? Allah save us from all of them. Ameen
`The Little Devils.'
Hadhrat Umar Radhi-Allahu-Anhu has said that the children of shaitaan are many from which nine are prominent : Zaleetoon, Watheen, Laqoos, Ra'waan, Haffaaf, Murrah, Mussawwit, Daasim, Walhaan. Each of their occupations and methods of leading people astray are different.
1) Zaleetoon's occupation is to sit in the streets and at shops with his fellow companions, spreading mischief and evil, leading Allah's people astray so that in the hereafter they may be used as fuel for the fire of hell.
2) Watheen's work is to influence people in such a way that his own actions lead him to calamities, thus, driving him away from the Lord.
3) Laqoos' task is to make the actions of fire-worshippers appear more decorative and to prevent them from discontinuing this form of worship, so that due to fire worshipping they themselves will become the prey of the fire of hell.
4) Ra'waan's victims are people who possess power and money. His aim is to induce them towards insolence and evil so that they make decisions without consulting Allah's guidance. Thus, in this way they themselves will fulfill Ra'awaan's needs and accomplish his tasks, whilst this cursed sits back calmly. This reality can be witnessed today in the world where decisions are made merely by strength and leadership.
5) Haffaaf has been allocated the job of creating mischief by tempting people towards the drinking of wine and spirits.
6) Murrah's responsibility is to attract people towards musical instruments due to which they will become negligent of their compulsions of life,and that no-one is saved from this wicked sin is his constant worry.
7)Al-Mussawit spread's false and dangerous rumours amongst people which creates arguments and evil.
8)Daasim enters homes especially when the head of the house enters without uttering salaam and remembering the Almighty.He causes conflict between man, his wife and the family. On occasions it leads to violence and divorce between a couple.
9)Walhaan's duty is to distract man when carrying out ablution and wavers his intent when performing salaah, consequently corrupting salaah
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Birthday celebrations
Celebrating birthdays is not allowed
What is the evidence on celebrating birthdays, is it allowed in Islam?
The evidence in the Qur’aan and Sunnah indicates that celebrating birthdays is a kind of bid’ah or innovation in religion, which has no basis in the pure sharee’ah. It is not permitted to accept invitations to birthday celebrations, because this involves supporting and encouraging bid’ah. Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Or have they partners with Allaah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not allowed…?” [al-Shoora 42:21]
“Then We have put you (O Muhammad) on a plain way of (Our) commandment. So follow that, and follow not the desires of those who know not. Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allaah (if He wants to puish you). Verily, the zaalimoon (wrongdoers) are awliyaa’ (protectors, helpers, etc.) to one another, but Allaah is the Wali (Protector, Helper) of the muttaqoon (pious).” [al-Jaathiyah 45:18-19]
“Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord, and follow not any awliyaa’ (protectors, helpers, etc.) besides Him. Little do you remember!” [al-A’raaf 7:3]
According to saheeh reports, the Prophet , (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does something that is a not part of this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) will have it rejected” (reported by Muslim in his Saheeh); and “The best of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad , (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The most evil of things are those which have been newly invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going astray.” There are many other ahaadeeth that convey the same meaning.
Besides being bid’ah and having no basis in sharee’ah, these birthday celebrations also involve imitation of the Jews and Christians in their birthday celebrations. The Prophet , (Sal) said, warning us against following their ways and traditions: “You would follow the ways of those who came before you step by step, to such an extent that if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would enter it too.” They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?” He said, “Who else?” (Reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim). The Prophet , (Sal ) also said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”(Fataawa Islamiyyah, 1/115)
Mawlid al-Nabi (the Prophet’s birthday)
Why some people accept and some unaccept the celebration of the prophet ( What is your opinion?
Praise be to Allaah.,
There is nothing in the Qur’aan to say that we should celebrate the Mawlid or birthday of the Prophet ,, (Sal).
The Prophet himself , (Sal) did not do this or command anyone to do it, either during his lifetime or after his death.
Indeed, he told them not to exaggerate about him as the Christians had exaggerated about Jesus (Sal). He said: “Do not exaggerate about me as the Christians exaggerated about the son of Maryam. I am only a slave, so say, ‘The slave of Allaah and His Messenger.’” (al-Bukhaari). What has been reported is that the Prophet , (Sal) made the day of his birth a day of worship, which is different to celebration. He was asked about fasting on Mondays, and he said: “That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was entrusted with the Mission or when I was first given Revelation.” (Muslim, al-Nisaa’i and Abu Dawood).
Moreover, we know that the Sahaabah - were the people who loved the Prophet most. Was it reported that Abu Bakr, who was the closest of people to him and the one who loved him the most, celebrated the birthday of the Prophet ,, (Sal)? Was it reported that ‘Umar, who ruled for twelve years, or ‘Uthmaan, did this? Was it reported that ‘Ali, his relative and foster son, did this? Was it reported that any of the Sahaabah did this? No, by Allaah! Is it because they were not aware of its importance, or did they not truly love the Prophet , (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)? No one would say such a thing except one who has gone astray and is leading others astray.
Did any of the imaams – Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafi’i, Ahmad, al-Hasan al-Basri, Ibn Seereen – do this or command others to do it or say that it was good? By Allaah, no!
It was not even mentioned during the first and best three centuries. The Prophet , (Sal) said in a saheeh hadeeth: “The best of mankind are my generation (of my century), then those who come after them, then those who come after them. Then there will come a people who will not care if their testimony comes before their oath or vice versa (i.e., they will not take such matter seriously).” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim and al-Tirmidhi).
The celebration of the Prophet’s birthday appeared many centuries later, when many of the features of true religion had vanished and bid’ah had become widespread.
Thus this celebration became a sign of one’s love for the Prophet , (Sal)? But can it be possible that the Sahaabah, the imaams and the people of the best three centuries were unaware of it, and it was only those who came later who were aware of its importance?!
What the Qur’aan tells us is that love of the Prophet , (Sal) is demonstrated by following the guidance he brought. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Say: ‘Obey Allaah and the Messenger.’ But if they turn away, then Allaah does not like the disbelievers.” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:31-32]
The first aayah explains that love is just a claim, but the proof of sincerity is following what the Prophet , (Sal) brought.
The second aayah reaffirms the importance and necessity of obeying Allaah and His Messenger. Hence Allaah ended the aayah with a very stern warning in which those who refuse to obey are described as kaafirs, and Allah does not love the disbelievers.
We ask Allaah to keep us safe from that.
The Prophet , (Sal) told us of the danger of not obeying him, and the danger of adding to what he brought. The celebration of Mawlid or his birthday is indeed an addition to what he brought – as all the scholars agree. He said: “The best of speech is the Book of Allaah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The most evil of things are those which are newly-invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going astray.” ( Muslim and al-Nisaa’i).
We ask Allaah to protect us from bid’ah
Is Muhammad , (Sal) created from light? What is wrong with celebrating his birthday?
In our locality there are people who hold celebrations of the birthday of the Prophet (Sal) every year. They think that the Prophet , (Sal ) is not like the rest of mankind, but that he is light from the Light of Allaah Himself, that he is present and watching in every place, and that he himself attends every gathering held to celebrate his birthday, he hears what the people say about him, and he is there with them. For that reason they stand up and say in unison: “Yaa Nabi-Allaah, yaa Rasool-Allaah, yaa Habeeb-Allaah, salaam ‘alayka (O Prophet of Allaah, O Messenger of Allaah, O Beloved of Allaah, peace be upon you).” They call out to him as if he were present and ask for his help and support.
What is the Islamic ruling on this? Is it correct or not? Is it sunnah, bid’ah, or what?
Praise be to Allaah alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger and his family and companions.
1. Celebrating the birthday of the Prophet , (Sal) is an innovation (bid’ah) which goes against the guidance of the Prophet , (Sal) and of the Rightly Guided Khaleefahs (al-khulafaa’ al-raashidoon) and the Sahaabah, may Allaah be pleased with them. It is proven that the Prophet , (Sal) said: “Whoever does anything that is not part of this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), will have it rejected.”
2. Believing that the Prophet , (Sal) is not like the rest of humanity, and that he is light from the Light of Allaah Himself is not a correct belief, because it contradicts the Qur’aan. Allaah has stated that the Prophet , (Sal) is human, and has explained what makes the Prophet , (Sal) different from the rest of mankind. He said (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘I am only a man like you. It has been inspired to me that your God is One God (Allaah). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” [al-Kahf 18:110]
Mankind, human beings, are created, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him He created his wife (Hawwa/Eve), and from them both He created many men and women…” [al-Nisaa’ 4:1]
“O mankind, if you are in doubt about the Resurrection, then verily! We have created you from dust, then from a nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge)…” [al-Hajj 22:5]
“O Prophet! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, - and as one who invites to Allaah by His leave, and as a lamp spreading light.” [al-Ahzaab 33:45-46]
In contrast, Allaah is the First, and He has no beginning, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him), and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of every thing.” [al-Hadeed 57:3]
Allaah called His Prophet “light” and a “lamp spreading light” because of the guidance and light with which Allaah sent him, with which Allaah guides all those who answer his call (Sal), as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
… Indeed, there has come to you a light (Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) and a plain Book (this Qur’aan).” [al-Maa’idah 5:15]
3. Saying that he is present and watching in every place, that he is himself present at every gathering to celebrate his birthday, and that he hears what the people present are saying, is all false. There is no basis for this in either the Qur’aan or the Sunnah.
4. Calling on him and seeking his help and support is a form of major shirk which is not permitted, whether one is calling on the Prophet , (Sal) or on any other created being, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… so invoke not anyone along with Allaah.” [al-Junn 72:18]
“And whoever invokes (or worships) besides Allaah, any other god of whom he has no proof, then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-kaafiroon (the disbelievers) will not be successful.” [al-Mu’minoon 23:117]
(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 3/4)
The Muslim should follow, not innovate. He should believe in Allaah alone, call on Him alone and seek His help alone. He should not call on or seek the help of anyone else. The consequences of shirk are devastating, as it will wipe out all a person’s good deeds and lead to his doom in Hell. Bid’ah is a serious matter, which will cause a person’s deeds to be thrown back at him, not accepted. The Muslim should love, respect, honour and obey the Prophet , (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and give his words precedence over the words of any other human being, but it is not permitted to exaggerate about him, or to raise his status above that which has been bestowed upon him by Allaah, or to call on him instead of Allaah, because this is a violation of the rights of Allaah, and involves directing acts of worship to someone other than Allaah, when they should only be directed towards Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted. We ask Allaah to help us to do that which will please Him and to avoid that which will earn His wrath, and to help us to love Him and His Prophet , (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad. And Allaah knows best.
O you who believe, enter into submission totally.(2:208)
“According to the mufasirun the word as-salam, translated here as submission refers to the deen of Islam.
We live in a world where there are, in numerical terms, more people who consider themselves Muslims, in other words, people of Islam, than in any previous period of history and yet, according to the way of Allah ta’ala categorically defines it in His Book, Islam has ceased to exist. Nowhere in the world is there any group of people governed according to what Allah has sent down in the Book as demonstrated for us by the Prophet, , salla’llahu alayhi wa sallam, and his Companions, radiya’ilahu’anhum, and continuing through all the subsequent generations down virtually to our own time.
How is it, therefore, possible for so many people to find no incongruity in the fact that they are Muslims when, properly speaking, Islam does not exist anywhere? What has happened is that Islam has been redefined and that this new definition has been accepted by the vast majority of Muslims without their realising, for the vast majority, that it has happened. It is a confidence trick that has been played on a vast scale, quite consciously instigated and carried out by the enemies of Islam, the colonial powers and their Jewish advisors, over the past 200 years.
As we know from the ayats quoted above and many others it is obligatory for Muslims to be governed according to the laws of Allah (Dar al-Islam) and correspondingly forbidden for them to be governed by any other laws (Dar al-Harb). In order to ensure that this happens Allah ta’ala gives us clear instructions. He says, subhanahu wata’ala, in suratu-l’Baqara ayat 193: Fight them until idolatry is no more and the deen belongs to Allah alone.
(Excerpts from fatwa delivered by Hajj Abdallaqq Sayf Al-ilm Bewley at the Sixth Conference of Islamic Fiqh held at the Aula Magna, Faculty of Science, Granada University, Granada, Spain, August 1992.)
65:10 - Allah has prepared for them a severe Punishment (in the Hereafter). Therefore fear Allah O ye men of understanding who have believed! for Allah hath indeed sent down to you a Message
5524 -There is no excuse for us to go astray, seeing that Allah in His infinite Mercy has explained to us His Message by His many Signs around us and clearly by means of the human Teachers and Messengers whom He has sent for our instruction:
Mutakallif
11:98 - He will go before his people on the Day of Judgment and lead them into the Fire (as cattle are led to water): but woeful indeed will be this leading (and) the place led to! 1600
1600 Awrada = to lead, as cattle, down to their watering place. The metaphor is apt. The true herdsman is trusted by his normal flock, and he leads them in the heat of the day down to pleasant and cool watering places in order that they may slake their thirst and be happy. The false leader does the opposite: he takes them down to the fire of eternal misery! And yet men sin against their own intelligence, and follow the false leader like cattle without intelligence! (11.98)
38:86 - Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this (Qur'an) nor am I a pretender.
Mutakallif: a man who pretends to things that are not true, or declares as facts things that do not exist, one who takes upon himself tasks to which he is not equal. True prophets are not people of that kind. (38.86)
What is the evidence on celebrating birthdays, is it allowed in Islam?
The evidence in the Qur’aan and Sunnah indicates that celebrating birthdays is a kind of bid’ah or innovation in religion, which has no basis in the pure sharee’ah. It is not permitted to accept invitations to birthday celebrations, because this involves supporting and encouraging bid’ah. Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Or have they partners with Allaah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not allowed…?” [al-Shoora 42:21]
“Then We have put you (O Muhammad) on a plain way of (Our) commandment. So follow that, and follow not the desires of those who know not. Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allaah (if He wants to puish you). Verily, the zaalimoon (wrongdoers) are awliyaa’ (protectors, helpers, etc.) to one another, but Allaah is the Wali (Protector, Helper) of the muttaqoon (pious).” [al-Jaathiyah 45:18-19]
“Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord, and follow not any awliyaa’ (protectors, helpers, etc.) besides Him. Little do you remember!” [al-A’raaf 7:3]
According to saheeh reports, the Prophet , (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does something that is a not part of this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) will have it rejected” (reported by Muslim in his Saheeh); and “The best of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad , (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The most evil of things are those which have been newly invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going astray.” There are many other ahaadeeth that convey the same meaning.
Besides being bid’ah and having no basis in sharee’ah, these birthday celebrations also involve imitation of the Jews and Christians in their birthday celebrations. The Prophet , (Sal) said, warning us against following their ways and traditions: “You would follow the ways of those who came before you step by step, to such an extent that if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would enter it too.” They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?” He said, “Who else?” (Reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim). The Prophet , (Sal ) also said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”(Fataawa Islamiyyah, 1/115)
Mawlid al-Nabi (the Prophet’s birthday)
Why some people accept and some unaccept the celebration of the prophet ( What is your opinion?
Praise be to Allaah.,
There is nothing in the Qur’aan to say that we should celebrate the Mawlid or birthday of the Prophet ,, (Sal).
The Prophet himself , (Sal) did not do this or command anyone to do it, either during his lifetime or after his death.
Indeed, he told them not to exaggerate about him as the Christians had exaggerated about Jesus (Sal). He said: “Do not exaggerate about me as the Christians exaggerated about the son of Maryam. I am only a slave, so say, ‘The slave of Allaah and His Messenger.’” (al-Bukhaari). What has been reported is that the Prophet , (Sal) made the day of his birth a day of worship, which is different to celebration. He was asked about fasting on Mondays, and he said: “That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was entrusted with the Mission or when I was first given Revelation.” (Muslim, al-Nisaa’i and Abu Dawood).
Moreover, we know that the Sahaabah - were the people who loved the Prophet most. Was it reported that Abu Bakr, who was the closest of people to him and the one who loved him the most, celebrated the birthday of the Prophet ,, (Sal)? Was it reported that ‘Umar, who ruled for twelve years, or ‘Uthmaan, did this? Was it reported that ‘Ali, his relative and foster son, did this? Was it reported that any of the Sahaabah did this? No, by Allaah! Is it because they were not aware of its importance, or did they not truly love the Prophet , (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)? No one would say such a thing except one who has gone astray and is leading others astray.
Did any of the imaams – Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafi’i, Ahmad, al-Hasan al-Basri, Ibn Seereen – do this or command others to do it or say that it was good? By Allaah, no!
It was not even mentioned during the first and best three centuries. The Prophet , (Sal) said in a saheeh hadeeth: “The best of mankind are my generation (of my century), then those who come after them, then those who come after them. Then there will come a people who will not care if their testimony comes before their oath or vice versa (i.e., they will not take such matter seriously).” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim and al-Tirmidhi).
The celebration of the Prophet’s birthday appeared many centuries later, when many of the features of true religion had vanished and bid’ah had become widespread.
Thus this celebration became a sign of one’s love for the Prophet , (Sal)? But can it be possible that the Sahaabah, the imaams and the people of the best three centuries were unaware of it, and it was only those who came later who were aware of its importance?!
What the Qur’aan tells us is that love of the Prophet , (Sal) is demonstrated by following the guidance he brought. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Say: ‘Obey Allaah and the Messenger.’ But if they turn away, then Allaah does not like the disbelievers.” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:31-32]
The first aayah explains that love is just a claim, but the proof of sincerity is following what the Prophet , (Sal) brought.
The second aayah reaffirms the importance and necessity of obeying Allaah and His Messenger. Hence Allaah ended the aayah with a very stern warning in which those who refuse to obey are described as kaafirs, and Allah does not love the disbelievers.
We ask Allaah to keep us safe from that.
The Prophet , (Sal) told us of the danger of not obeying him, and the danger of adding to what he brought. The celebration of Mawlid or his birthday is indeed an addition to what he brought – as all the scholars agree. He said: “The best of speech is the Book of Allaah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The most evil of things are those which are newly-invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going astray.” ( Muslim and al-Nisaa’i).
We ask Allaah to protect us from bid’ah
Is Muhammad , (Sal) created from light? What is wrong with celebrating his birthday?
In our locality there are people who hold celebrations of the birthday of the Prophet (Sal) every year. They think that the Prophet , (Sal ) is not like the rest of mankind, but that he is light from the Light of Allaah Himself, that he is present and watching in every place, and that he himself attends every gathering held to celebrate his birthday, he hears what the people say about him, and he is there with them. For that reason they stand up and say in unison: “Yaa Nabi-Allaah, yaa Rasool-Allaah, yaa Habeeb-Allaah, salaam ‘alayka (O Prophet of Allaah, O Messenger of Allaah, O Beloved of Allaah, peace be upon you).” They call out to him as if he were present and ask for his help and support.
What is the Islamic ruling on this? Is it correct or not? Is it sunnah, bid’ah, or what?
Praise be to Allaah alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger and his family and companions.
1. Celebrating the birthday of the Prophet , (Sal) is an innovation (bid’ah) which goes against the guidance of the Prophet , (Sal) and of the Rightly Guided Khaleefahs (al-khulafaa’ al-raashidoon) and the Sahaabah, may Allaah be pleased with them. It is proven that the Prophet , (Sal) said: “Whoever does anything that is not part of this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), will have it rejected.”
2. Believing that the Prophet , (Sal) is not like the rest of humanity, and that he is light from the Light of Allaah Himself is not a correct belief, because it contradicts the Qur’aan. Allaah has stated that the Prophet , (Sal) is human, and has explained what makes the Prophet , (Sal) different from the rest of mankind. He said (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘I am only a man like you. It has been inspired to me that your God is One God (Allaah). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” [al-Kahf 18:110]
Mankind, human beings, are created, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him He created his wife (Hawwa/Eve), and from them both He created many men and women…” [al-Nisaa’ 4:1]
“O mankind, if you are in doubt about the Resurrection, then verily! We have created you from dust, then from a nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge)…” [al-Hajj 22:5]
“O Prophet! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, - and as one who invites to Allaah by His leave, and as a lamp spreading light.” [al-Ahzaab 33:45-46]
In contrast, Allaah is the First, and He has no beginning, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him), and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of every thing.” [al-Hadeed 57:3]
Allaah called His Prophet “light” and a “lamp spreading light” because of the guidance and light with which Allaah sent him, with which Allaah guides all those who answer his call (Sal), as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
… Indeed, there has come to you a light (Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) and a plain Book (this Qur’aan).” [al-Maa’idah 5:15]
3. Saying that he is present and watching in every place, that he is himself present at every gathering to celebrate his birthday, and that he hears what the people present are saying, is all false. There is no basis for this in either the Qur’aan or the Sunnah.
4. Calling on him and seeking his help and support is a form of major shirk which is not permitted, whether one is calling on the Prophet , (Sal) or on any other created being, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… so invoke not anyone along with Allaah.” [al-Junn 72:18]
“And whoever invokes (or worships) besides Allaah, any other god of whom he has no proof, then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-kaafiroon (the disbelievers) will not be successful.” [al-Mu’minoon 23:117]
(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 3/4)
The Muslim should follow, not innovate. He should believe in Allaah alone, call on Him alone and seek His help alone. He should not call on or seek the help of anyone else. The consequences of shirk are devastating, as it will wipe out all a person’s good deeds and lead to his doom in Hell. Bid’ah is a serious matter, which will cause a person’s deeds to be thrown back at him, not accepted. The Muslim should love, respect, honour and obey the Prophet , (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and give his words precedence over the words of any other human being, but it is not permitted to exaggerate about him, or to raise his status above that which has been bestowed upon him by Allaah, or to call on him instead of Allaah, because this is a violation of the rights of Allaah, and involves directing acts of worship to someone other than Allaah, when they should only be directed towards Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted. We ask Allaah to help us to do that which will please Him and to avoid that which will earn His wrath, and to help us to love Him and His Prophet , (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad. And Allaah knows best.
O you who believe, enter into submission totally.(2:208)
“According to the mufasirun the word as-salam, translated here as submission refers to the deen of Islam.
We live in a world where there are, in numerical terms, more people who consider themselves Muslims, in other words, people of Islam, than in any previous period of history and yet, according to the way of Allah ta’ala categorically defines it in His Book, Islam has ceased to exist. Nowhere in the world is there any group of people governed according to what Allah has sent down in the Book as demonstrated for us by the Prophet, , salla’llahu alayhi wa sallam, and his Companions, radiya’ilahu’anhum, and continuing through all the subsequent generations down virtually to our own time.
How is it, therefore, possible for so many people to find no incongruity in the fact that they are Muslims when, properly speaking, Islam does not exist anywhere? What has happened is that Islam has been redefined and that this new definition has been accepted by the vast majority of Muslims without their realising, for the vast majority, that it has happened. It is a confidence trick that has been played on a vast scale, quite consciously instigated and carried out by the enemies of Islam, the colonial powers and their Jewish advisors, over the past 200 years.
As we know from the ayats quoted above and many others it is obligatory for Muslims to be governed according to the laws of Allah (Dar al-Islam) and correspondingly forbidden for them to be governed by any other laws (Dar al-Harb). In order to ensure that this happens Allah ta’ala gives us clear instructions. He says, subhanahu wata’ala, in suratu-l’Baqara ayat 193: Fight them until idolatry is no more and the deen belongs to Allah alone.
(Excerpts from fatwa delivered by Hajj Abdallaqq Sayf Al-ilm Bewley at the Sixth Conference of Islamic Fiqh held at the Aula Magna, Faculty of Science, Granada University, Granada, Spain, August 1992.)
65:10 - Allah has prepared for them a severe Punishment (in the Hereafter). Therefore fear Allah O ye men of understanding who have believed! for Allah hath indeed sent down to you a Message
5524 -There is no excuse for us to go astray, seeing that Allah in His infinite Mercy has explained to us His Message by His many Signs around us and clearly by means of the human Teachers and Messengers whom He has sent for our instruction:
Mutakallif
11:98 - He will go before his people on the Day of Judgment and lead them into the Fire (as cattle are led to water): but woeful indeed will be this leading (and) the place led to! 1600
1600 Awrada = to lead, as cattle, down to their watering place. The metaphor is apt. The true herdsman is trusted by his normal flock, and he leads them in the heat of the day down to pleasant and cool watering places in order that they may slake their thirst and be happy. The false leader does the opposite: he takes them down to the fire of eternal misery! And yet men sin against their own intelligence, and follow the false leader like cattle without intelligence! (11.98)
38:86 - Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this (Qur'an) nor am I a pretender.
Mutakallif: a man who pretends to things that are not true, or declares as facts things that do not exist, one who takes upon himself tasks to which he is not equal. True prophets are not people of that kind. (38.86)
Friday, February 16, 2007
A Warning from the Quran
A Warning from the Quran
As-Salam-o-Alaikum!
Surah Nuh:
71:1 - We sent Noah to his People (with the Command):
"Do thou warn thy people before there comes to them a grievous Penalty." 5705
71:2 - (Nuh said ) "O my People! I am to you a Warner clear and open: 5706
71:3 -"That ye should worship Allah fear Him and obey me: 5707
5707 Three aspects of man's duty are emphasized:
(1) true worship with heart and soul;
(2) God-fearing recognition that all evil must lead to self-deterioration and Judgment;
(3) hence repentance and amendment of life, and obedience to good men's counsels. (71.3)
5 He said: "O my Lord! I have called to my People night and day:
6 "But my call only increases (their) flight (from the Right)." 5709
7 "And every time I have called to them that thou mightest forgive them they have (only) thrust their fingers into their ears covered themselves up with their garments grown obstinate and given themselves up to arrogance. 5710
24 "They have already misled many; and grant Thou no increase to the wrongdoers but in straying (from their mark)." 5722
25 Because of their sins they were drowned (in the flood) and were made to enter the Fire (of Punishment): and they found in lieu of Allah none to help them. 5723
obstinate and given themselves up to arrogance.
They have already misled many;
Even in this year of 2007– this position remains the same.!
3832 Allah's Revelation, through the holy Prophet, was not meant for one family or tribe, one race or set of people. It was meant for all mankind, to whom, if they turn to Allah, it is a Message of the glad tidings of His Mercy, and if they do not turn to Him, it is a warning against sin and the inevitable Punishment. That the Punishment does not come immediately (as far as they perceive) is no reason for doubting it. It has been declared in clear and unequivocal terms, and nothing can be more certain. Why delay? Why ask carping questions? Why not profit by the Message, turn to Allah in repentance, and bring forth the fruits of righteousness? (34.28) (Surah
Surah Al-i'Imran 3:104 - Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity. 431
*****
Hijab or Niqab
Hijab or Niqab ?
Confusion continues - unabated – on the question of Hijab or Niqab – on Muslim women’s dress.
What is originally required by the Quran is hijab (purdah) and a later modified version is the niqab (face – veil)
Today more and more sisters than ever before are making the decision to don the niqab (FACE VEIL) due to various incidents they encounter in many parts of the world. In doing so, they are indeed brave – but are they adhering to the Islamic injunctions in this connection? There is confusion and it is imperative that we examine this carefully and try to follow according to Shariah.
PURDAH – In this system, there is controversy among the Muslim.
(1) the new enlightened sections of Muslims between the old conservative school of thought (close and complete confinement of women in their homes) and
(2) inclined to Western Culture.
Women in early Islam:
1a) They were not totally confined to their homes.
b). They participated on economic, social and religious activities
c). They did not make themselves objects of attraction.
d). They avoided intermixture of sexes by remaining apart from men.
As regards 1 above – (Holy Quran) says:-
33:33 - And stay quietly in your houses and make not a dazzling display like that of the former Times of ignorance; and establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey Allah and His Apostle. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you ye Members of the Family and to make you pure and spotless. 3714. 3715.
This was life in Arabia in pre-Islamic days of women, and they had to change to Islamic principles
And by this injunction, they were to lead a life of decency and responsibility without displaying their
charms and indulge in amorous talks with strangers by which they suffered. So the Quran wanted Muslim
women to take more interest in the affairs of their homes and not to wander about displaying their beauty to
charm and attract the men . So she should feel that her primary interest lies at home and come out only
during pressing necessities which has the following restrictions:
33:59 - O prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient that they should be known (as such) and not molested: and Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. 3764 3765 3766 3767.
3764 This is for all Muslim women, those of the Prophet’s household, as well as the others. They were asked to cover themselves with outer garments when walking out of doors. (33.59)
3765 Jilbab, plural Jalabib: an outer garment; and long gown covering the whole body, or a cloak covering the neck and bosom. (33.59)
3765 The object was not to restrict the liberty of women, but to protect them from harm and molestation. In the East and in the West a distinctive public dress of some sort or another has always been a badge of honour or distinction, both among men and women. This can be traced back on the earliest civilisation. Assyrian Law in its palmiest days say ( 7th century B.C.), enjoined the veiling of married women and forbade the veiling of slaves and women of ill fame: see Cambridge Ancient History, 111.107. (33.59)
3767 That is, if a Muslim woman sincerely tries to observe this rule, but owing to human weakness fails short of the ideal, then “Allah is Oft – Forgiving. Most Merciful”. (33.59)
24:30-Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will
make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. 2983
2983 The rule of modesty applies to men as well as women. A brazen stare by a man at a woman (or even at a man)is a breach of refined manners. Where sex is concerned, modesty is not only “good form “: it is not only to guard the weaker sex, but also to guard the spiritual good of the stronger sex. (24.30)
24:31- And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands their fathers their husbands’ fathers their sons their husbands’ sons their brother or their brothers’ sons or their sisters’ sons or their women or the slaves whom their right hands posses or male servants free of physical needs or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss. 2964 2985 2986 2987.
2984 The need for modesty is the same in both men and women. But on account of the differentiation of the sexes in nature, temperaments, and social life, a greater amount of privacy is required for women than for men, especially in the matter of dress and the uncovering of the bosom. (24.31)
2985 Zinat means both natural beauty and artificial ornaments. I think both are implied here, but chiefly the former. The woman is asked not to make a display of her figure except to the following classes of people: (1) her husband, (2) her near relatives whom a certain amount of neglige is permissible; (3) her women, 4) slaves, male and female, as they would be in constant attendance; but this item would now be blank, with the abolition of slavery; (5) men who are free from sexual desire and who usually frequent the houses; and (6) infants or small children before they get a sense of sex. Cf.also xxxviii.59 (24.31)
2986 It is one of the tricks of showy or unchaste women to tinkle their ankle ornaments, to draw attention to themselves, (24.31)
2987 While all these details of the purity and good form of domestic life are being brought to our attention, we are clearly reminded that the chief object we should hold in view is our spiritual welfare. All our brief life on this earth is a probation, and we must make our individual, domestic, and social life all contribute to our holiness, so that we can get the real success and bliss which is the aim of our spiritual endeavour. (24.31)
It is therefore clear that it is not intended in the Quran to prohibit totally the movements of women outside their homes. If so, in getting out should they hide their faces by means of a veil or (NIQAB)?
2988 Verse 33:59 speaks of a Jilbab (Outer Garment) over their persons when abroad; and Verse 24:31 –Not to Display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof.
Jilbab means an over - garment,; a long and loose gown which covers the body from neck to the feet. Ordinary dress, even if it covers all parts of the body exposes the beauty and charm of women. So it is very necessary that they put on a long over - garment over their ordinary clothes.
Could they uncover their hands, feet and faces and is Niqab necessary? The interpretation of the words: “Except what (must ordinarily) Appear thereof.” This means the HANDS, FEET AND THE FACE.
Sunan of Abu –Dawood
Hadith 4092 Narrated by
Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin
Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma ‘. when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah
Fiqh 1.113
Woman’s aurah & hijab
There is no such dispute over what constitutes a woman’s aurah. It is stated that her entire body is ‘aurah and must be covered, except her hands and face. Says Allah in the Qur’an, “And to display of their adornment only that which is apparent (do not expose any adornment or beauty save the hands and face)”. It has been authentically related from Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn ‘Umar and ‘Aishah that the Prophet said, “Allaha does not accept the prayer of an adult woman unless she is wearing a headcovering (khimar, hijab).” This is related by “the five,” except for an-Nasa’i, and by ibn Khuzaimah and al-Hakim. At-Tirmidhi grades it as hassan.
It is related from Umm Salamah that she asked the Prophet,”Can a woman pray in a long shirt (like a night shirt) and head covering with a loincloth?” He said, “If the shirt is long and flowing and covers the top of her feet.” This is related by Abu Dawud. The scholars say it is sahih in mauqoof form (as a statement of Umm Salamah and not that of the Prophet).
It is also related that “Aishah was asked, “In how many garments is a woman to pray?” She answered, “Ask ‘Ali ibn Abu Talaib and then return to me and tell me what he said.” ‘Ali’s answer was, “In a headcover and a long flowing shirt.” This was told to ‘Aaishah and she said,”He has told the truth.”
The clothes worn must cover the ‘aurah, even if they are tight enough to highlight those features. If the clothes are so thin that one’s skin color can be seen, they are not suitable for prayer.
According to famous jurists of Islam :-
IMAM MALIK...-The entire body of a woman is included in satr (i.e. parts which should be kept covered) except the hands and face.
IMAM SHAFI’I – Also makes an exception in favour of the face and hands.
IMAM AHMED - Entire body of a woman should be kept fully covered except the face.
IMAM HANBAL – Entire body of a woman should be kept fully covered except the face.
IMAM ABU HANIFAH – says it is not lawful for a stranger to see any part of a woman’s body, but he can
See her face and hands.
IMAM ABU YUSUF...In addition to the face and the hands, the wrists of a woman may also be lawfully
Seen.
According to Ibn Hazm in his book al - Muhalla that the Quranic words ‘they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof, expressly permit the uncovering of the face and the hands.
See Hadith below:
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 8.247 Narrated byAbdullah bin Abbas
Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas rode behind the Prophet as his companion rider on the back portion of his she camel on the Day of Nahr (slaughtering of sacrifice, 10th Dhul-Hijja) and Al-Fadl was a handsome man. The Prophet stopped to give the people verdicts. In the meantime, a beautiful woman from the tribe of Khath'am came, asking the verdict of Allah's Apostle. Al-Fadl started looking at her as her beauty attracted him. The Prophet looked behind while Al-Fadl was looking at her; so the Prophet held out his hand backwards and caught the chin of Al-Fadl and turned his face (to the other side) in order that he should not gaze at her. She said, "O Allah's Apostle! The obligation of Performing Hajj enjoined by Allah on His worshipers, has become due (compulsory) on my father who is an old man and who cannot sit firmly on the riding animal. Will it be sufficient that I perform Hajj on his behalf?" He said, "Yes."
.”Ibn Hazm argues that if it were prohibited for a woman to uncover her face outside her home, how is it possible that the Prophet (Sal) should have tolerated her to appear uncovered in public? Moreover, how could Ibn Abbas know whether she was ugly or pretty? Ibn Hazm therefor declares that the uncovering of the face and hands in public is lawful for a woman.
From these opinions it is clear that a veil which totally covers the face of a woman is not necessary and she is permitted to come out with faces and hands uncovered in case of genuine need. Barring the face, the hands and the feet, all other parts, including the neck, should be completely covered and a long over - garment put on, which leaves no part of the body exposed.
SOME VIEWS:
Whoever intends to marry a woman should look at her.
She is allowed to pray with the face uncovered, but must cover the head. If she prays with her head uncovered, then she must repeat such prayers.
The awrah of the free woman is her whole body except the face and the two hands upto the wrist.
The soles of the feet are not awrah.
Prophet (Sal) forbade the woman in IHRAM to put on the face veil or gloves .She may need to uncover them for such day to day matters as buying, selling, giving, taking, etc.
It is Al-Nur 24:31 – which deals with the rule of covering the Muslim woman’s awrah.
Ibn Jarir explains the phrase” Beyond what may decently be apparent thereof” on Nur 24:31 – means that they should not reveal their adornments except to people who are their mahram (those who are not allowed for them in marriage) the hidden ones – the anklet, the two bracelets, the two ear-rings and the necklace which can be seen only by the husbands.,and the clothes – this can be seen by anyone. (Ibn Mas’ud)
Maliki and Hanafi say that the apparent ornaments are the face and hand.
Hanbali say that every part of the woman is awrah.
Shafi’i do not regard the face and hands as awrah.
24:60 – Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer) garments provided they make not a wanton display of their beauty: but it is best for them to be modest: and Allah is One Who sees and knows all things. 3040 3041
3040 For elderly women in the home the rules of dress and decorum are not so exacting as for younger women, but they are also enjoined to study modesty, both because it is good in itself, and example to the younger people . (24.60)
3041 Another example of a refrain: see n.3039 above. Verses 58 and 59 were closer connected: their refrain was practically identical. This verse, though ancillary, is less closely connected: its refrain comes in like a half - note in a melody. (24.60) .
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
Hadith 269 Narrated by
Ziyad ibn Hudayr
Umar said to me: Do you know what demolishes Islam? I said: No.Whereupon he said: it is the slip of a scholar and the dispute of the hypocrite by the Book, and the commands of the misquided rulers which demolish it..
Transmitted by Darimi.
A Muslim woman who covers her head is making a statement about her identity. Any one who sees her will know that she is a Muslim and has good moral character. Many Muslim women who cover are filled with dignity and self esteem, they are pleased to be identified as a Muslim woman. As a chaste, modest, pure woman, she does not want her sexuality to enter into interactions with men in the smallest degree. A woman who covers herself is concealing her sexuality but allowing her feminity to be brought out.
FOR HIJAB:
1. Avoid thin clothing which exposes the body and reveal its shape,
2. This should be loose enough so as not to reveal the shape of the woman’s body – preferably a cloak over other clothes. If the clothing is loose enough, an outer garment will not be necessary.
3 Wear thick clothes so as not to show the colour of the skin or the shape of the body.
4. The hijab should give an over - all dignified appearance – not attracting men’s attention, not shiny and flashy. (preferably black).
5. Avoid dressing like men and avoid dressing like the unbelievers.
6. Be modest, not excessively fancy and also not excessively ragged to gain admiration or sympathy.
7. One’s behaviour, manners, speech and appearance in public goes hand in hand with hijab.
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
Hadith 3887 Narrated by
Abdullah ibn Abbas
The Prophet’s standard was black and his banner white.
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah
Fiqh 5.65b
Muslim reported that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) entered Makkah wearing a black turban and without an ihram. It is said about Ibn ‘Umar that he returned after travelling part of the way and entered Makkah without ihram.
Sahih Muslim Hadith
Hadith 3148 Narrated by
Amr ibn Hurayth
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) addressed the people (on the day of the Victory of Mecca) with black turban on his head.
76:29 – This is an admonition: whosoever will let him take a (straight) Path to his Lord.
77:15 – Ah woe that Day to the Rejecters of Truth!
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 7.33 Narrated by
Usama bin Zaid
The Prophet said,”After me I have not left any affliction more harmful to men than women.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 7.158 Narrated by
Anas
I will narrate to you a Hadith I heard from Allah’s Apostle and none other than I will tell you of it. I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “From among the portants of the Hour are the following: Religious knowledge will be taken away: general ignorance (in religious matters) will increase; illegal sexual intercourse will prevail; drinking of alcoholic drinks will prevail. Men will decrease in number, and women will increase in number, so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man.”
HIJAB – A SYMBOL OF LIBERATION
By Samuel Cole:
(A freelance writer living in Carob)
“The term Hijab comes from the Arabic world “hijaba”, which means to hide from view. It is the long dress and veil worn by many Muslim women with the function of distinguishing them from non-Muslims, reminding them of their Islamic faith, and concealing them from the public view of males. In many of the more traditional Muslim societies women tend to remain outside the public sphere of men, devoting themselves to child rearing and taking care of the home. In part because of this apparent restriction from the public realm, many Americans see the Muslim hijab as a symbol of female oppression.
Despite this perception, Islam is growing rapidly in America and female converts outnumber males four to one. Hijab is not a symbol of oppression, but is instead a symbol of liberation. Young Muslim women are reclaiming the hijab., to give back to women the ultimate control over their bodies. Yet to most Americans this is a strange assertion. How can a law that restricts a woman’s dress be liberating”? To Muslims the answer is easy . The Islamic tradition of hijab frees women from being perceived primarily as sexual objects. (Non-Muslim) women are taught from early childhood that their worth is proportional to their attractiveness. It is not hard to understand this: leafing through the ads of any woman’s magazine, even a male reader can sense the incredible pressure on women to conform to some ever - changing and abstract image of female beauty. Is it any wonder that American woman spend billions of dollars on hair and beauty products, or that they subject themselves to plastic surgery, drugs, and diets, or that in despair they fall into neurotic cycles of anorexia and bulimia? It is the pursuit of a mirage and mdash, one that degrades and sickens the pursuers.
The hijab liberates a Muslim woman from this insidious oppression. She need not concern herself with her hair or makeup before she goes out. Underneath her hijab she can remain if she so wishes, simply herself unshaved, unpainted, unplucked, or even a little overweight. All this without having to worry about what others think of her. The tradition of hijab, is simply a woman’s assertion that judgement of her physical person is to play no role whatsoever in social interaction. Since a Muslim woman is invisible behind her veil, she can be appreciated only for her intellectual qualities. Thus the importance of her intelligence and personality.
But the sacrifice of health (and self-esteem) in a futile pursuit of physical attractiveness is not the worst effect of sexual objectification. Societies that view women as sexual objects have a horrendous rate of violence toward women. In the United States, one out of every four women will be sexually assaulted at some time in her life. And even in relatively non-violent Canada, one woman is assaulted every six minutes. Women in our society live with the awareness that they must always be cautious of dark alleys and fearful of strangers. This is true oppression, a type that stems directly from the perception of women as sexual objects.
In the few societies that closely adhere to the Quran and in many repressive Islamic regimes this sort of violence towards women is quite low. In 1990 the number of reported rapes in Egypt, a relatively westernized Islamic society with a secular government, was only 17 (Israel reported 369 rapes that same year)
My sister (now a Muslim convert in Lahore) told me that as a Muslim woman, she feels a respect and security on the streets of Pakistan that she had never felt in 30 years of living in America. It does seem hard to ignore the fact that many Islamic women enjoy a level of protection and respect that is unheard of in the West. In some countries this is no doubt in part the result of Islamic law that imposes draconian punishment on offenders. But extreme enforcement of religious law is not practised in moderate Islamic countries such as Egypt or Pakistan; and there it seems Muslim tradition alone protects the dignity of women.
Nevertheless, Islam and its tradition of hijab can seem an extreme solution to the sexual objectification of women. Can’t society simply be changed through more education? Or perhaps through encouraging men to practise some self - restraint? In fact this has been a goal of the women’s movement for years. But although there has been some success at increasing career and educational opportunities for women, the oppression of women continues unabated. One only needs to peruse the horror section of the local video store to see that the most common victims of violence portrayed in popular films are women. And not surprisingly statistics in the United States point to more violence directed at women, not less.
The problem in western society; as some Muslim writers see it, is that predominantly Judeo-Christian cultures have no convention of equality between men and women. Instead, these traditions hold Eve to be ultimately responsible for original sin and the downfall of man.
The story in Genesis is a cornerstone in the foundation of our culture. As such, it has institutionalized an essentially inferior status for women. This is not so in the tradition of Islam. Eve is not blamed for tempting Adam. Together they sinned, together they are guilty, and together they both begged for (and received) forgiveness from God. It is true that Islam holds women and men to be different in the most integral qualities. But unlike Judeo-Christian doctrine, the Quran pass women and men on equal footing before God and thus as equally, and innately valuable to society.
Unfortunately, many of us see Islam as a religion of suicidal bombers or of bearded zealots intent on returning us all to a cultural stone - age. But this image is perhaps unfair. All religions have their own fair proportion of crazies. Islam, however, is the largest and the fastest growing of the world’s monotheistic religions, and has (quite properly) more than most. Still the Muslims have something to offer for women. Pierre Craibites (an American judge) writes: “Muhammad, 1300 years ago, assured to the mothers, wives and daughters of Islam a rank and dignity (still) not generally assured to women by the laws of the West.”
The conversion of my sister to Islam was a shock and then a mystery to me for many years. It did not seem possible for an intelligent feminist woman, to without coercion, suddenly chuck her ideas and embrace the religion of the mysogynist Ayatollah. Within my family the subject is beyond the bounds of rational discussion, and it is only from my; sister’s very recent letters that I may have finally acquired an understanding of her unique brand of feminism: You see, in adopting Islam she has rejected a culture that assigns value to a person based on a masculine ideal of success. In exchange she has adopted a culture where she is value as an equal... for no other reason than that she is a woman.
From THE DAILY NEWS
28th January, 2000.
“PURDAH” Stands for protection, says KAMALA SURAYYA
Mumbai, Thursday (PTI)
“In life or death,” I will not abandon my new religion and if I am killed may my blood inspire people,” Dr> Kamala Surayya, 67-years old celebrated authoress who recently embraced Islam, has said.
I have had too much freedom and now would like to throw it down like a used weapon. Give me a second chance so that I can lead a disciplined and clean life,” she told a seminar on On “Indian Muslims: Agenda for the 21st century” on Sunday here.
Referring to her controversial decision to change her religion, she said +purdah+(veil) had afforded her a previously experienced anonymity+purdah+ she said, stood for protection. In it, women could go anywhere in the world and not be touched or teased, the authoress felt.
Kamala Das, now rechristened as Dr.Kamala Surayya, said in an emotional tone “I have come here as a very happy woman, probably at the end of my life. I want you to love me.”
She observed: “You will hear terrible scandals about my life that the media has created, about all those alleged love affairs I am supposed to be having. Allah knows the truth. He is my new master. My old age has been abandoned on roadside. Now I dream of a future where I can be of use to all Muslims.”
In Kerala, she said, men were experiencing feelings of inferiority due to dowry demanded in arranged marriages. Men felt they were beggars for sale while women were becoming like men in all spheres because of the dowry they were bringing in.
She was later presented two +fez+ caps for her sons and a nose cloth to complement her+burqa+ by Khair-e-ummat trust which organised the seminar.
*****
Some points from a question-and-answer session with Shaykh Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaani
produced by:JAM'IAT IHYAA' MINHAAJ AL-SUNNAH24 BISHOPS HILL, IPSWICH, SUFFOLK, IP3 8EN
Topics:
What is the ruling for wearing the 'Niqaab' (face-veil) these days, and gloves? And further, if she feelsthere is a chance of 'fitnah' so she wants to wear this,but the parents refuse to let her, then what should shedo?Ans. If their refusal only refers to her not covering her face and hands, then she has to obey her parents in that,but if their refusal includes more than that, then,"There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator." Since covering the body except for the face and hands is obligatory for the Muslim woman, andcovering her face and hands is not obligatory but'mustahabb' (recommended). So if the parents do not wanther to cover her face and hands, then there is no harm inher obeying them and no sin in it, as opposed to whatwould be the case if they wished her to uncover otherthan that, in which case she owes no obedience to them since that is a sin. What is the ruling regarding a woman's wearing a scarfon her head?Ans. That is not enough - she has to wear a 'khimaar'which covers the head and chest. The scarf is not loosefitting and does not cover enough.Should not the shoulders also be covered by it?Yes, that is the 'khimaar'. It is a wide cover coveringthe head and shoulders. When we say that it covers thechest, then it covers the shoulders since it is wide. Butas regards the head-scarf we often see a woman wearing itrevealing a part of the neck due to it, but the 'khimaar'covers the neck and shoulder, and Allaah ta'aala ordersthat saying:WALYADRIBNA BIKHUMURIHINNA 'ALAA JUYOOBIHINNAThe head-scarf is as they say these days a compromise,and there is no such thing in Islaam!Many people hold that the khimaar' is a covering forthe face.Ans. That is ignorance with regard to the language. The'khimaar' is a covering for the head and the man alsowears the khimaar - putting it upon his head - the sameas for the woman. He ta'aala said:WALYADRIBNA BIKHUMURIHINNA 'ALAA JUYOOBIHINNAIf the khimaar covered the face then He ta'aala would notsay WALYADRIBNA meaning pull/draw together, but he wouldhave said "let fall" [ using the verb 'sadala' ]. This isignorance regarding the language.Is it permissible for women to wear high-heeled shoes?Ans. That is not permissible. It involves resembling theDisbelieving Women or the wicked women. It has its originamong the Jewish women before Islaam. When one of themwanted to attend a gathering where her lover was present,then she would wear a pair of high shoes for him to seeher, being taller. Then after a time that became high-heeled shoes! Further, this type of shoe changes awoman's way of walking, causing her to tilt from left toright and therefore the wicked and the unbelievers choosethis type of shoe. Therefore a Muslim woman following theSharee'ah should not wear high-heeled shoes - speciallysince many times it causes her to fall.
*****
Confusion continues - unabated – on the question of Hijab or Niqab – on Muslim women’s dress.
What is originally required by the Quran is hijab (purdah) and a later modified version is the niqab (face – veil)
Today more and more sisters than ever before are making the decision to don the niqab (FACE VEIL) due to various incidents they encounter in many parts of the world. In doing so, they are indeed brave – but are they adhering to the Islamic injunctions in this connection? There is confusion and it is imperative that we examine this carefully and try to follow according to Shariah.
PURDAH – In this system, there is controversy among the Muslim.
(1) the new enlightened sections of Muslims between the old conservative school of thought (close and complete confinement of women in their homes) and
(2) inclined to Western Culture.
Women in early Islam:
1a) They were not totally confined to their homes.
b). They participated on economic, social and religious activities
c). They did not make themselves objects of attraction.
d). They avoided intermixture of sexes by remaining apart from men.
As regards 1 above – (Holy Quran) says:-
33:33 - And stay quietly in your houses and make not a dazzling display like that of the former Times of ignorance; and establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey Allah and His Apostle. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you ye Members of the Family and to make you pure and spotless. 3714. 3715.
This was life in Arabia in pre-Islamic days of women, and they had to change to Islamic principles
And by this injunction, they were to lead a life of decency and responsibility without displaying their
charms and indulge in amorous talks with strangers by which they suffered. So the Quran wanted Muslim
women to take more interest in the affairs of their homes and not to wander about displaying their beauty to
charm and attract the men . So she should feel that her primary interest lies at home and come out only
during pressing necessities which has the following restrictions:
33:59 - O prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient that they should be known (as such) and not molested: and Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. 3764 3765 3766 3767.
3764 This is for all Muslim women, those of the Prophet’s household, as well as the others. They were asked to cover themselves with outer garments when walking out of doors. (33.59)
3765 Jilbab, plural Jalabib: an outer garment; and long gown covering the whole body, or a cloak covering the neck and bosom. (33.59)
3765 The object was not to restrict the liberty of women, but to protect them from harm and molestation. In the East and in the West a distinctive public dress of some sort or another has always been a badge of honour or distinction, both among men and women. This can be traced back on the earliest civilisation. Assyrian Law in its palmiest days say ( 7th century B.C.), enjoined the veiling of married women and forbade the veiling of slaves and women of ill fame: see Cambridge Ancient History, 111.107. (33.59)
3767 That is, if a Muslim woman sincerely tries to observe this rule, but owing to human weakness fails short of the ideal, then “Allah is Oft – Forgiving. Most Merciful”. (33.59)
24:30-Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will
make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. 2983
2983 The rule of modesty applies to men as well as women. A brazen stare by a man at a woman (or even at a man)is a breach of refined manners. Where sex is concerned, modesty is not only “good form “: it is not only to guard the weaker sex, but also to guard the spiritual good of the stronger sex. (24.30)
24:31- And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands their fathers their husbands’ fathers their sons their husbands’ sons their brother or their brothers’ sons or their sisters’ sons or their women or the slaves whom their right hands posses or male servants free of physical needs or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss. 2964 2985 2986 2987.
2984 The need for modesty is the same in both men and women. But on account of the differentiation of the sexes in nature, temperaments, and social life, a greater amount of privacy is required for women than for men, especially in the matter of dress and the uncovering of the bosom. (24.31)
2985 Zinat means both natural beauty and artificial ornaments. I think both are implied here, but chiefly the former. The woman is asked not to make a display of her figure except to the following classes of people: (1) her husband, (2) her near relatives whom a certain amount of neglige is permissible; (3) her women, 4) slaves, male and female, as they would be in constant attendance; but this item would now be blank, with the abolition of slavery; (5) men who are free from sexual desire and who usually frequent the houses; and (6) infants or small children before they get a sense of sex. Cf.also xxxviii.59 (24.31)
2986 It is one of the tricks of showy or unchaste women to tinkle their ankle ornaments, to draw attention to themselves, (24.31)
2987 While all these details of the purity and good form of domestic life are being brought to our attention, we are clearly reminded that the chief object we should hold in view is our spiritual welfare. All our brief life on this earth is a probation, and we must make our individual, domestic, and social life all contribute to our holiness, so that we can get the real success and bliss which is the aim of our spiritual endeavour. (24.31)
It is therefore clear that it is not intended in the Quran to prohibit totally the movements of women outside their homes. If so, in getting out should they hide their faces by means of a veil or (NIQAB)?
2988 Verse 33:59 speaks of a Jilbab (Outer Garment) over their persons when abroad; and Verse 24:31 –Not to Display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof.
Jilbab means an over - garment,; a long and loose gown which covers the body from neck to the feet. Ordinary dress, even if it covers all parts of the body exposes the beauty and charm of women. So it is very necessary that they put on a long over - garment over their ordinary clothes.
Could they uncover their hands, feet and faces and is Niqab necessary? The interpretation of the words: “Except what (must ordinarily) Appear thereof.” This means the HANDS, FEET AND THE FACE.
Sunan of Abu –Dawood
Hadith 4092 Narrated by
Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin
Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma ‘. when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah
Fiqh 1.113
Woman’s aurah & hijab
There is no such dispute over what constitutes a woman’s aurah. It is stated that her entire body is ‘aurah and must be covered, except her hands and face. Says Allah in the Qur’an, “And to display of their adornment only that which is apparent (do not expose any adornment or beauty save the hands and face)”. It has been authentically related from Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn ‘Umar and ‘Aishah that the Prophet said, “Allaha does not accept the prayer of an adult woman unless she is wearing a headcovering (khimar, hijab).” This is related by “the five,” except for an-Nasa’i, and by ibn Khuzaimah and al-Hakim. At-Tirmidhi grades it as hassan.
It is related from Umm Salamah that she asked the Prophet,”Can a woman pray in a long shirt (like a night shirt) and head covering with a loincloth?” He said, “If the shirt is long and flowing and covers the top of her feet.” This is related by Abu Dawud. The scholars say it is sahih in mauqoof form (as a statement of Umm Salamah and not that of the Prophet).
It is also related that “Aishah was asked, “In how many garments is a woman to pray?” She answered, “Ask ‘Ali ibn Abu Talaib and then return to me and tell me what he said.” ‘Ali’s answer was, “In a headcover and a long flowing shirt.” This was told to ‘Aaishah and she said,”He has told the truth.”
The clothes worn must cover the ‘aurah, even if they are tight enough to highlight those features. If the clothes are so thin that one’s skin color can be seen, they are not suitable for prayer.
According to famous jurists of Islam :-
IMAM MALIK...-The entire body of a woman is included in satr (i.e. parts which should be kept covered) except the hands and face.
IMAM SHAFI’I – Also makes an exception in favour of the face and hands.
IMAM AHMED - Entire body of a woman should be kept fully covered except the face.
IMAM HANBAL – Entire body of a woman should be kept fully covered except the face.
IMAM ABU HANIFAH – says it is not lawful for a stranger to see any part of a woman’s body, but he can
See her face and hands.
IMAM ABU YUSUF...In addition to the face and the hands, the wrists of a woman may also be lawfully
Seen.
According to Ibn Hazm in his book al - Muhalla that the Quranic words ‘they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof, expressly permit the uncovering of the face and the hands.
See Hadith below:
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 8.247 Narrated byAbdullah bin Abbas
Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas rode behind the Prophet as his companion rider on the back portion of his she camel on the Day of Nahr (slaughtering of sacrifice, 10th Dhul-Hijja) and Al-Fadl was a handsome man. The Prophet stopped to give the people verdicts. In the meantime, a beautiful woman from the tribe of Khath'am came, asking the verdict of Allah's Apostle. Al-Fadl started looking at her as her beauty attracted him. The Prophet looked behind while Al-Fadl was looking at her; so the Prophet held out his hand backwards and caught the chin of Al-Fadl and turned his face (to the other side) in order that he should not gaze at her. She said, "O Allah's Apostle! The obligation of Performing Hajj enjoined by Allah on His worshipers, has become due (compulsory) on my father who is an old man and who cannot sit firmly on the riding animal. Will it be sufficient that I perform Hajj on his behalf?" He said, "Yes."
.”Ibn Hazm argues that if it were prohibited for a woman to uncover her face outside her home, how is it possible that the Prophet (Sal) should have tolerated her to appear uncovered in public? Moreover, how could Ibn Abbas know whether she was ugly or pretty? Ibn Hazm therefor declares that the uncovering of the face and hands in public is lawful for a woman.
From these opinions it is clear that a veil which totally covers the face of a woman is not necessary and she is permitted to come out with faces and hands uncovered in case of genuine need. Barring the face, the hands and the feet, all other parts, including the neck, should be completely covered and a long over - garment put on, which leaves no part of the body exposed.
SOME VIEWS:
Whoever intends to marry a woman should look at her.
She is allowed to pray with the face uncovered, but must cover the head. If she prays with her head uncovered, then she must repeat such prayers.
The awrah of the free woman is her whole body except the face and the two hands upto the wrist.
The soles of the feet are not awrah.
Prophet (Sal) forbade the woman in IHRAM to put on the face veil or gloves .She may need to uncover them for such day to day matters as buying, selling, giving, taking, etc.
It is Al-Nur 24:31 – which deals with the rule of covering the Muslim woman’s awrah.
Ibn Jarir explains the phrase” Beyond what may decently be apparent thereof” on Nur 24:31 – means that they should not reveal their adornments except to people who are their mahram (those who are not allowed for them in marriage) the hidden ones – the anklet, the two bracelets, the two ear-rings and the necklace which can be seen only by the husbands.,and the clothes – this can be seen by anyone. (Ibn Mas’ud)
Maliki and Hanafi say that the apparent ornaments are the face and hand.
Hanbali say that every part of the woman is awrah.
Shafi’i do not regard the face and hands as awrah.
24:60 – Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer) garments provided they make not a wanton display of their beauty: but it is best for them to be modest: and Allah is One Who sees and knows all things. 3040 3041
3040 For elderly women in the home the rules of dress and decorum are not so exacting as for younger women, but they are also enjoined to study modesty, both because it is good in itself, and example to the younger people . (24.60)
3041 Another example of a refrain: see n.3039 above. Verses 58 and 59 were closer connected: their refrain was practically identical. This verse, though ancillary, is less closely connected: its refrain comes in like a half - note in a melody. (24.60) .
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
Hadith 269 Narrated by
Ziyad ibn Hudayr
Umar said to me: Do you know what demolishes Islam? I said: No.Whereupon he said: it is the slip of a scholar and the dispute of the hypocrite by the Book, and the commands of the misquided rulers which demolish it..
Transmitted by Darimi.
A Muslim woman who covers her head is making a statement about her identity. Any one who sees her will know that she is a Muslim and has good moral character. Many Muslim women who cover are filled with dignity and self esteem, they are pleased to be identified as a Muslim woman. As a chaste, modest, pure woman, she does not want her sexuality to enter into interactions with men in the smallest degree. A woman who covers herself is concealing her sexuality but allowing her feminity to be brought out.
FOR HIJAB:
1. Avoid thin clothing which exposes the body and reveal its shape,
2. This should be loose enough so as not to reveal the shape of the woman’s body – preferably a cloak over other clothes. If the clothing is loose enough, an outer garment will not be necessary.
3 Wear thick clothes so as not to show the colour of the skin or the shape of the body.
4. The hijab should give an over - all dignified appearance – not attracting men’s attention, not shiny and flashy. (preferably black).
5. Avoid dressing like men and avoid dressing like the unbelievers.
6. Be modest, not excessively fancy and also not excessively ragged to gain admiration or sympathy.
7. One’s behaviour, manners, speech and appearance in public goes hand in hand with hijab.
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
Hadith 3887 Narrated by
Abdullah ibn Abbas
The Prophet’s standard was black and his banner white.
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah
Fiqh 5.65b
Muslim reported that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) entered Makkah wearing a black turban and without an ihram. It is said about Ibn ‘Umar that he returned after travelling part of the way and entered Makkah without ihram.
Sahih Muslim Hadith
Hadith 3148 Narrated by
Amr ibn Hurayth
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) addressed the people (on the day of the Victory of Mecca) with black turban on his head.
76:29 – This is an admonition: whosoever will let him take a (straight) Path to his Lord.
77:15 – Ah woe that Day to the Rejecters of Truth!
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 7.33 Narrated by
Usama bin Zaid
The Prophet said,”After me I have not left any affliction more harmful to men than women.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 7.158 Narrated by
Anas
I will narrate to you a Hadith I heard from Allah’s Apostle and none other than I will tell you of it. I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “From among the portants of the Hour are the following: Religious knowledge will be taken away: general ignorance (in religious matters) will increase; illegal sexual intercourse will prevail; drinking of alcoholic drinks will prevail. Men will decrease in number, and women will increase in number, so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man.”
HIJAB – A SYMBOL OF LIBERATION
By Samuel Cole:
(A freelance writer living in Carob)
“The term Hijab comes from the Arabic world “hijaba”, which means to hide from view. It is the long dress and veil worn by many Muslim women with the function of distinguishing them from non-Muslims, reminding them of their Islamic faith, and concealing them from the public view of males. In many of the more traditional Muslim societies women tend to remain outside the public sphere of men, devoting themselves to child rearing and taking care of the home. In part because of this apparent restriction from the public realm, many Americans see the Muslim hijab as a symbol of female oppression.
Despite this perception, Islam is growing rapidly in America and female converts outnumber males four to one. Hijab is not a symbol of oppression, but is instead a symbol of liberation. Young Muslim women are reclaiming the hijab., to give back to women the ultimate control over their bodies. Yet to most Americans this is a strange assertion. How can a law that restricts a woman’s dress be liberating”? To Muslims the answer is easy . The Islamic tradition of hijab frees women from being perceived primarily as sexual objects. (Non-Muslim) women are taught from early childhood that their worth is proportional to their attractiveness. It is not hard to understand this: leafing through the ads of any woman’s magazine, even a male reader can sense the incredible pressure on women to conform to some ever - changing and abstract image of female beauty. Is it any wonder that American woman spend billions of dollars on hair and beauty products, or that they subject themselves to plastic surgery, drugs, and diets, or that in despair they fall into neurotic cycles of anorexia and bulimia? It is the pursuit of a mirage and mdash, one that degrades and sickens the pursuers.
The hijab liberates a Muslim woman from this insidious oppression. She need not concern herself with her hair or makeup before she goes out. Underneath her hijab she can remain if she so wishes, simply herself unshaved, unpainted, unplucked, or even a little overweight. All this without having to worry about what others think of her. The tradition of hijab, is simply a woman’s assertion that judgement of her physical person is to play no role whatsoever in social interaction. Since a Muslim woman is invisible behind her veil, she can be appreciated only for her intellectual qualities. Thus the importance of her intelligence and personality.
But the sacrifice of health (and self-esteem) in a futile pursuit of physical attractiveness is not the worst effect of sexual objectification. Societies that view women as sexual objects have a horrendous rate of violence toward women. In the United States, one out of every four women will be sexually assaulted at some time in her life. And even in relatively non-violent Canada, one woman is assaulted every six minutes. Women in our society live with the awareness that they must always be cautious of dark alleys and fearful of strangers. This is true oppression, a type that stems directly from the perception of women as sexual objects.
In the few societies that closely adhere to the Quran and in many repressive Islamic regimes this sort of violence towards women is quite low. In 1990 the number of reported rapes in Egypt, a relatively westernized Islamic society with a secular government, was only 17 (Israel reported 369 rapes that same year)
My sister (now a Muslim convert in Lahore) told me that as a Muslim woman, she feels a respect and security on the streets of Pakistan that she had never felt in 30 years of living in America. It does seem hard to ignore the fact that many Islamic women enjoy a level of protection and respect that is unheard of in the West. In some countries this is no doubt in part the result of Islamic law that imposes draconian punishment on offenders. But extreme enforcement of religious law is not practised in moderate Islamic countries such as Egypt or Pakistan; and there it seems Muslim tradition alone protects the dignity of women.
Nevertheless, Islam and its tradition of hijab can seem an extreme solution to the sexual objectification of women. Can’t society simply be changed through more education? Or perhaps through encouraging men to practise some self - restraint? In fact this has been a goal of the women’s movement for years. But although there has been some success at increasing career and educational opportunities for women, the oppression of women continues unabated. One only needs to peruse the horror section of the local video store to see that the most common victims of violence portrayed in popular films are women. And not surprisingly statistics in the United States point to more violence directed at women, not less.
The problem in western society; as some Muslim writers see it, is that predominantly Judeo-Christian cultures have no convention of equality between men and women. Instead, these traditions hold Eve to be ultimately responsible for original sin and the downfall of man.
The story in Genesis is a cornerstone in the foundation of our culture. As such, it has institutionalized an essentially inferior status for women. This is not so in the tradition of Islam. Eve is not blamed for tempting Adam. Together they sinned, together they are guilty, and together they both begged for (and received) forgiveness from God. It is true that Islam holds women and men to be different in the most integral qualities. But unlike Judeo-Christian doctrine, the Quran pass women and men on equal footing before God and thus as equally, and innately valuable to society.
Unfortunately, many of us see Islam as a religion of suicidal bombers or of bearded zealots intent on returning us all to a cultural stone - age. But this image is perhaps unfair. All religions have their own fair proportion of crazies. Islam, however, is the largest and the fastest growing of the world’s monotheistic religions, and has (quite properly) more than most. Still the Muslims have something to offer for women. Pierre Craibites (an American judge) writes: “Muhammad, 1300 years ago, assured to the mothers, wives and daughters of Islam a rank and dignity (still) not generally assured to women by the laws of the West.”
The conversion of my sister to Islam was a shock and then a mystery to me for many years. It did not seem possible for an intelligent feminist woman, to without coercion, suddenly chuck her ideas and embrace the religion of the mysogynist Ayatollah. Within my family the subject is beyond the bounds of rational discussion, and it is only from my; sister’s very recent letters that I may have finally acquired an understanding of her unique brand of feminism: You see, in adopting Islam she has rejected a culture that assigns value to a person based on a masculine ideal of success. In exchange she has adopted a culture where she is value as an equal... for no other reason than that she is a woman.
From THE DAILY NEWS
28th January, 2000.
“PURDAH” Stands for protection, says KAMALA SURAYYA
Mumbai, Thursday (PTI)
“In life or death,” I will not abandon my new religion and if I am killed may my blood inspire people,” Dr> Kamala Surayya, 67-years old celebrated authoress who recently embraced Islam, has said.
I have had too much freedom and now would like to throw it down like a used weapon. Give me a second chance so that I can lead a disciplined and clean life,” she told a seminar on On “Indian Muslims: Agenda for the 21st century” on Sunday here.
Referring to her controversial decision to change her religion, she said +purdah+(veil) had afforded her a previously experienced anonymity+purdah+ she said, stood for protection. In it, women could go anywhere in the world and not be touched or teased, the authoress felt.
Kamala Das, now rechristened as Dr.Kamala Surayya, said in an emotional tone “I have come here as a very happy woman, probably at the end of my life. I want you to love me.”
She observed: “You will hear terrible scandals about my life that the media has created, about all those alleged love affairs I am supposed to be having. Allah knows the truth. He is my new master. My old age has been abandoned on roadside. Now I dream of a future where I can be of use to all Muslims.”
In Kerala, she said, men were experiencing feelings of inferiority due to dowry demanded in arranged marriages. Men felt they were beggars for sale while women were becoming like men in all spheres because of the dowry they were bringing in.
She was later presented two +fez+ caps for her sons and a nose cloth to complement her+burqa+ by Khair-e-ummat trust which organised the seminar.
*****
Some points from a question-and-answer session with Shaykh Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaani
produced by:JAM'IAT IHYAA' MINHAAJ AL-SUNNAH24 BISHOPS HILL, IPSWICH, SUFFOLK, IP3 8EN
Topics:
What is the ruling for wearing the 'Niqaab' (face-veil) these days, and gloves? And further, if she feelsthere is a chance of 'fitnah' so she wants to wear this,but the parents refuse to let her, then what should shedo?Ans. If their refusal only refers to her not covering her face and hands, then she has to obey her parents in that,but if their refusal includes more than that, then,"There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator." Since covering the body except for the face and hands is obligatory for the Muslim woman, andcovering her face and hands is not obligatory but'mustahabb' (recommended). So if the parents do not wanther to cover her face and hands, then there is no harm inher obeying them and no sin in it, as opposed to whatwould be the case if they wished her to uncover otherthan that, in which case she owes no obedience to them since that is a sin. What is the ruling regarding a woman's wearing a scarfon her head?Ans. That is not enough - she has to wear a 'khimaar'which covers the head and chest. The scarf is not loosefitting and does not cover enough.Should not the shoulders also be covered by it?Yes, that is the 'khimaar'. It is a wide cover coveringthe head and shoulders. When we say that it covers thechest, then it covers the shoulders since it is wide. Butas regards the head-scarf we often see a woman wearing itrevealing a part of the neck due to it, but the 'khimaar'covers the neck and shoulder, and Allaah ta'aala ordersthat saying:WALYADRIBNA BIKHUMURIHINNA 'ALAA JUYOOBIHINNAThe head-scarf is as they say these days a compromise,and there is no such thing in Islaam!Many people hold that the khimaar' is a covering forthe face.Ans. That is ignorance with regard to the language. The'khimaar' is a covering for the head and the man alsowears the khimaar - putting it upon his head - the sameas for the woman. He ta'aala said:WALYADRIBNA BIKHUMURIHINNA 'ALAA JUYOOBIHINNAIf the khimaar covered the face then He ta'aala would notsay WALYADRIBNA meaning pull/draw together, but he wouldhave said "let fall" [ using the verb 'sadala' ]. This isignorance regarding the language.Is it permissible for women to wear high-heeled shoes?Ans. That is not permissible. It involves resembling theDisbelieving Women or the wicked women. It has its originamong the Jewish women before Islaam. When one of themwanted to attend a gathering where her lover was present,then she would wear a pair of high shoes for him to seeher, being taller. Then after a time that became high-heeled shoes! Further, this type of shoe changes awoman's way of walking, causing her to tilt from left toright and therefore the wicked and the unbelievers choosethis type of shoe. Therefore a Muslim woman following theSharee'ah should not wear high-heeled shoes - speciallysince many times it causes her to fall.
*****
Confusion continues - unabated – on the question of Hijab or Niqab – on Muslim women’s dress.
What is originally required by the Quran is hijab (purdah) and a later modified version is the niqab (face – veil)
Today more and more sisters than ever before are making the decision to don the niqab (FACE VEIL) due to various incidents they encounter in many parts of the world. In doing so, they are indeed brave – but are they adhering to the Islamic injunctions in this connection? There is confusion and it is imperative that we examine this carefully and try to follow according to Shariah.
PURDAH – In this system, there is controversy among the Muslim.
(1) the new enlightened sections of Muslims between the old conservative school of thought (close and complete confinement of women in their homes) and
(2) inclined to Western Culture.
Women in early Islam:
1a) They were not totally confined to their homes.
b). They participated on economic, social and religious activities
c). They did not make themselves objects of attraction.
d). They avoided intermixture of sexes by remaining apart from men.
As regards 1 above – (Holy Quran) says:-
33:33 - And stay quietly in your houses and make not a dazzling display like that of the former Times of ignorance; and establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey Allah and His Apostle. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you ye Members of the Family and to make you pure and spotless. 3714. 3715.
This was life in Arabia in pre-Islamic days of women, and they had to change to Islamic principles
And by this injunction, they were to lead a life of decency and responsibility without displaying their
charms and indulge in amorous talks with strangers by which they suffered. So the Quran wanted Muslim
women to take more interest in the affairs of their homes and not to wander about displaying their beauty to
charm and attract the men . So she should feel that her primary interest lies at home and come out only
during pressing necessities which has the following restrictions:
33:59 - O prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient that they should be known (as such) and not molested: and Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. 3764 3765 3766 3767.
3764 This is for all Muslim women, those of the Prophet’s household, as well as the others. They were asked to cover themselves with outer garments when walking out of doors. (33.59)
3765 Jilbab, plural Jalabib: an outer garment; and long gown covering the whole body, or a cloak covering the neck and bosom. (33.59)
3765 The object was not to restrict the liberty of women, but to protect them from harm and molestation. In the East and in the West a distinctive public dress of some sort or another has always been a badge of honour or distinction, both among men and women. This can be traced back on the earliest civilisation. Assyrian Law in its palmiest days say ( 7th century B.C.), enjoined the veiling of married women and forbade the veiling of slaves and women of ill fame: see Cambridge Ancient History, 111.107. (33.59)
3767 That is, if a Muslim woman sincerely tries to observe this rule, but owing to human weakness fails short of the ideal, then “Allah is Oft – Forgiving. Most Merciful”. (33.59)
24:30-Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will
make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. 2983
2983 The rule of modesty applies to men as well as women. A brazen stare by a man at a woman (or even at a man)is a breach of refined manners. Where sex is concerned, modesty is not only “good form “: it is not only to guard the weaker sex, but also to guard the spiritual good of the stronger sex. (24.30)
24:31- And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands their fathers their husbands’ fathers their sons their husbands’ sons their brother or their brothers’ sons or their sisters’ sons or their women or the slaves whom their right hands posses or male servants free of physical needs or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss. 2964 2985 2986 2987.
2984 The need for modesty is the same in both men and women. But on account of the differentiation of the sexes in nature, temperaments, and social life, a greater amount of privacy is required for women than for men, especially in the matter of dress and the uncovering of the bosom. (24.31)
2985 Zinat means both natural beauty and artificial ornaments. I think both are implied here, but chiefly the former. The woman is asked not to make a display of her figure except to the following classes of people: (1) her husband, (2) her near relatives whom a certain amount of neglige is permissible; (3) her women, 4) slaves, male and female, as they would be in constant attendance; but this item would now be blank, with the abolition of slavery; (5) men who are free from sexual desire and who usually frequent the houses; and (6) infants or small children before they get a sense of sex. Cf.also xxxviii.59 (24.31)
2986 It is one of the tricks of showy or unchaste women to tinkle their ankle ornaments, to draw attention to themselves, (24.31)
2987 While all these details of the purity and good form of domestic life are being brought to our attention, we are clearly reminded that the chief object we should hold in view is our spiritual welfare. All our brief life on this earth is a probation, and we must make our individual, domestic, and social life all contribute to our holiness, so that we can get the real success and bliss which is the aim of our spiritual endeavour. (24.31)
It is therefore clear that it is not intended in the Quran to prohibit totally the movements of women outside their homes. If so, in getting out should they hide their faces by means of a veil or (NIQAB)?
2988 Verse 33:59 speaks of a Jilbab (Outer Garment) over their persons when abroad; and Verse 24:31 –Not to Display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof.
Jilbab means an over - garment,; a long and loose gown which covers the body from neck to the feet. Ordinary dress, even if it covers all parts of the body exposes the beauty and charm of women. So it is very necessary that they put on a long over - garment over their ordinary clothes.
Could they uncover their hands, feet and faces and is Niqab necessary? The interpretation of the words: “Except what (must ordinarily) Appear thereof.” This means the HANDS, FEET AND THE FACE.
Sunan of Abu –Dawood
Hadith 4092 Narrated by
Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin
Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma ‘. when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah
Fiqh 1.113
Woman’s aurah & hijab
There is no such dispute over what constitutes a woman’s aurah. It is stated that her entire body is ‘aurah and must be covered, except her hands and face. Says Allah in the Qur’an, “And to display of their adornment only that which is apparent (do not expose any adornment or beauty save the hands and face)”. It has been authentically related from Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn ‘Umar and ‘Aishah that the Prophet said, “Allaha does not accept the prayer of an adult woman unless she is wearing a headcovering (khimar, hijab).” This is related by “the five,” except for an-Nasa’i, and by ibn Khuzaimah and al-Hakim. At-Tirmidhi grades it as hassan.
It is related from Umm Salamah that she asked the Prophet,”Can a woman pray in a long shirt (like a night shirt) and head covering with a loincloth?” He said, “If the shirt is long and flowing and covers the top of her feet.” This is related by Abu Dawud. The scholars say it is sahih in mauqoof form (as a statement of Umm Salamah and not that of the Prophet).
It is also related that “Aishah was asked, “In how many garments is a woman to pray?” She answered, “Ask ‘Ali ibn Abu Talaib and then return to me and tell me what he said.” ‘Ali’s answer was, “In a headcover and a long flowing shirt.” This was told to ‘Aaishah and she said,”He has told the truth.”
The clothes worn must cover the ‘aurah, even if they are tight enough to highlight those features. If the clothes are so thin that one’s skin color can be seen, they are not suitable for prayer.
According to famous jurists of Islam :-
IMAM MALIK...-The entire body of a woman is included in satr (i.e. parts which should be kept covered) except the hands and face.
IMAM SHAFI’I – Also makes an exception in favour of the face and hands.
IMAM AHMED - Entire body of a woman should be kept fully covered except the face.
IMAM HANBAL – Entire body of a woman should be kept fully covered except the face.
IMAM ABU HANIFAH – says it is not lawful for a stranger to see any part of a woman’s body, but he can
See her face and hands.
IMAM ABU YUSUF...In addition to the face and the hands, the wrists of a woman may also be lawfully
Seen.
According to Ibn Hazm in his book al - Muhalla that the Quranic words ‘they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof, expressly permit the uncovering of the face and the hands.
See Hadith below:
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 8.247 Narrated byAbdullah bin Abbas
Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas rode behind the Prophet as his companion rider on the back portion of his she camel on the Day of Nahr (slaughtering of sacrifice, 10th Dhul-Hijja) and Al-Fadl was a handsome man. The Prophet stopped to give the people verdicts. In the meantime, a beautiful woman from the tribe of Khath'am came, asking the verdict of Allah's Apostle. Al-Fadl started looking at her as her beauty attracted him. The Prophet looked behind while Al-Fadl was looking at her; so the Prophet held out his hand backwards and caught the chin of Al-Fadl and turned his face (to the other side) in order that he should not gaze at her. She said, "O Allah's Apostle! The obligation of Performing Hajj enjoined by Allah on His worshipers, has become due (compulsory) on my father who is an old man and who cannot sit firmly on the riding animal. Will it be sufficient that I perform Hajj on his behalf?" He said, "Yes."
.”Ibn Hazm argues that if it were prohibited for a woman to uncover her face outside her home, how is it possible that the Prophet (Sal) should have tolerated her to appear uncovered in public? Moreover, how could Ibn Abbas know whether she was ugly or pretty? Ibn Hazm therefor declares that the uncovering of the face and hands in public is lawful for a woman.
From these opinions it is clear that a veil which totally covers the face of a woman is not necessary and she is permitted to come out with faces and hands uncovered in case of genuine need. Barring the face, the hands and the feet, all other parts, including the neck, should be completely covered and a long over - garment put on, which leaves no part of the body exposed.
SOME VIEWS:
Whoever intends to marry a woman should look at her.
She is allowed to pray with the face uncovered, but must cover the head. If she prays with her head uncovered, then she must repeat such prayers.
The awrah of the free woman is her whole body except the face and the two hands upto the wrist.
The soles of the feet are not awrah.
Prophet (Sal) forbade the woman in IHRAM to put on the face veil or gloves .She may need to uncover them for such day to day matters as buying, selling, giving, taking, etc.
It is Al-Nur 24:31 – which deals with the rule of covering the Muslim woman’s awrah.
Ibn Jarir explains the phrase” Beyond what may decently be apparent thereof” on Nur 24:31 – means that they should not reveal their adornments except to people who are their mahram (those who are not allowed for them in marriage) the hidden ones – the anklet, the two bracelets, the two ear-rings and the necklace which can be seen only by the husbands.,and the clothes – this can be seen by anyone. (Ibn Mas’ud)
Maliki and Hanafi say that the apparent ornaments are the face and hand.
Hanbali say that every part of the woman is awrah.
Shafi’i do not regard the face and hands as awrah.
24:60 – Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer) garments provided they make not a wanton display of their beauty: but it is best for them to be modest: and Allah is One Who sees and knows all things. 3040 3041
3040 For elderly women in the home the rules of dress and decorum are not so exacting as for younger women, but they are also enjoined to study modesty, both because it is good in itself, and example to the younger people . (24.60)
3041 Another example of a refrain: see n.3039 above. Verses 58 and 59 were closer connected: their refrain was practically identical. This verse, though ancillary, is less closely connected: its refrain comes in like a half - note in a melody. (24.60) .
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
Hadith 269 Narrated by
Ziyad ibn Hudayr
Umar said to me: Do you know what demolishes Islam? I said: No.Whereupon he said: it is the slip of a scholar and the dispute of the hypocrite by the Book, and the commands of the misquided rulers which demolish it..
Transmitted by Darimi.
A Muslim woman who covers her head is making a statement about her identity. Any one who sees her will know that she is a Muslim and has good moral character. Many Muslim women who cover are filled with dignity and self esteem, they are pleased to be identified as a Muslim woman. As a chaste, modest, pure woman, she does not want her sexuality to enter into interactions with men in the smallest degree. A woman who covers herself is concealing her sexuality but allowing her feminity to be brought out.
FOR HIJAB:
1. Avoid thin clothing which exposes the body and reveal its shape,
2. This should be loose enough so as not to reveal the shape of the woman’s body – preferably a cloak over other clothes. If the clothing is loose enough, an outer garment will not be necessary.
3 Wear thick clothes so as not to show the colour of the skin or the shape of the body.
4. The hijab should give an over - all dignified appearance – not attracting men’s attention, not shiny and flashy. (preferably black).
5. Avoid dressing like men and avoid dressing like the unbelievers.
6. Be modest, not excessively fancy and also not excessively ragged to gain admiration or sympathy.
7. One’s behaviour, manners, speech and appearance in public goes hand in hand with hijab.
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
Hadith 3887 Narrated by
Abdullah ibn Abbas
The Prophet’s standard was black and his banner white.
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah
Fiqh 5.65b
Muslim reported that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) entered Makkah wearing a black turban and without an ihram. It is said about Ibn ‘Umar that he returned after travelling part of the way and entered Makkah without ihram.
Sahih Muslim Hadith
Hadith 3148 Narrated by
Amr ibn Hurayth
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) addressed the people (on the day of the Victory of Mecca) with black turban on his head.
76:29 – This is an admonition: whosoever will let him take a (straight) Path to his Lord.
77:15 – Ah woe that Day to the Rejecters of Truth!
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 7.33 Narrated by
Usama bin Zaid
The Prophet said,”After me I have not left any affliction more harmful to men than women.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 7.158 Narrated by
Anas
I will narrate to you a Hadith I heard from Allah’s Apostle and none other than I will tell you of it. I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “From among the portants of the Hour are the following: Religious knowledge will be taken away: general ignorance (in religious matters) will increase; illegal sexual intercourse will prevail; drinking of alcoholic drinks will prevail. Men will decrease in number, and women will increase in number, so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man.”
HIJAB – A SYMBOL OF LIBERATION
By Samuel Cole:
(A freelance writer living in Carob)
“The term Hijab comes from the Arabic world “hijaba”, which means to hide from view. It is the long dress and veil worn by many Muslim women with the function of distinguishing them from non-Muslims, reminding them of their Islamic faith, and concealing them from the public view of males. In many of the more traditional Muslim societies women tend to remain outside the public sphere of men, devoting themselves to child rearing and taking care of the home. In part because of this apparent restriction from the public realm, many Americans see the Muslim hijab as a symbol of female oppression.
Despite this perception, Islam is growing rapidly in America and female converts outnumber males four to one. Hijab is not a symbol of oppression, but is instead a symbol of liberation. Young Muslim women are reclaiming the hijab., to give back to women the ultimate control over their bodies. Yet to most Americans this is a strange assertion. How can a law that restricts a woman’s dress be liberating”? To Muslims the answer is easy . The Islamic tradition of hijab frees women from being perceived primarily as sexual objects. (Non-Muslim) women are taught from early childhood that their worth is proportional to their attractiveness. It is not hard to understand this: leafing through the ads of any woman’s magazine, even a male reader can sense the incredible pressure on women to conform to some ever - changing and abstract image of female beauty. Is it any wonder that American woman spend billions of dollars on hair and beauty products, or that they subject themselves to plastic surgery, drugs, and diets, or that in despair they fall into neurotic cycles of anorexia and bulimia? It is the pursuit of a mirage and mdash, one that degrades and sickens the pursuers.
The hijab liberates a Muslim woman from this insidious oppression. She need not concern herself with her hair or makeup before she goes out. Underneath her hijab she can remain if she so wishes, simply herself unshaved, unpainted, unplucked, or even a little overweight. All this without having to worry about what others think of her. The tradition of hijab, is simply a woman’s assertion that judgement of her physical person is to play no role whatsoever in social interaction. Since a Muslim woman is invisible behind her veil, she can be appreciated only for her intellectual qualities. Thus the importance of her intelligence and personality.
But the sacrifice of health (and self-esteem) in a futile pursuit of physical attractiveness is not the worst effect of sexual objectification. Societies that view women as sexual objects have a horrendous rate of violence toward women. In the United States, one out of every four women will be sexually assaulted at some time in her life. And even in relatively non-violent Canada, one woman is assaulted every six minutes. Women in our society live with the awareness that they must always be cautious of dark alleys and fearful of strangers. This is true oppression, a type that stems directly from the perception of women as sexual objects.
In the few societies that closely adhere to the Quran and in many repressive Islamic regimes this sort of violence towards women is quite low. In 1990 the number of reported rapes in Egypt, a relatively westernized Islamic society with a secular government, was only 17 (Israel reported 369 rapes that same year)
My sister (now a Muslim convert in Lahore) told me that as a Muslim woman, she feels a respect and security on the streets of Pakistan that she had never felt in 30 years of living in America. It does seem hard to ignore the fact that many Islamic women enjoy a level of protection and respect that is unheard of in the West. In some countries this is no doubt in part the result of Islamic law that imposes draconian punishment on offenders. But extreme enforcement of religious law is not practised in moderate Islamic countries such as Egypt or Pakistan; and there it seems Muslim tradition alone protects the dignity of women.
Nevertheless, Islam and its tradition of hijab can seem an extreme solution to the sexual objectification of women. Can’t society simply be changed through more education? Or perhaps through encouraging men to practise some self - restraint? In fact this has been a goal of the women’s movement for years. But although there has been some success at increasing career and educational opportunities for women, the oppression of women continues unabated. One only needs to peruse the horror section of the local video store to see that the most common victims of violence portrayed in popular films are women. And not surprisingly statistics in the United States point to more violence directed at women, not less.
The problem in western society; as some Muslim writers see it, is that predominantly Judeo-Christian cultures have no convention of equality between men and women. Instead, these traditions hold Eve to be ultimately responsible for original sin and the downfall of man.
The story in Genesis is a cornerstone in the foundation of our culture. As such, it has institutionalized an essentially inferior status for women. This is not so in the tradition of Islam. Eve is not blamed for tempting Adam. Together they sinned, together they are guilty, and together they both begged for (and received) forgiveness from God. It is true that Islam holds women and men to be different in the most integral qualities. But unlike Judeo-Christian doctrine, the Quran pass women and men on equal footing before God and thus as equally, and innately valuable to society.
Unfortunately, many of us see Islam as a religion of suicidal bombers or of bearded zealots intent on returning us all to a cultural stone - age. But this image is perhaps unfair. All religions have their own fair proportion of crazies. Islam, however, is the largest and the fastest growing of the world’s monotheistic religions, and has (quite properly) more than most. Still the Muslims have something to offer for women. Pierre Craibites (an American judge) writes: “Muhammad, 1300 years ago, assured to the mothers, wives and daughters of Islam a rank and dignity (still) not generally assured to women by the laws of the West.”
The conversion of my sister to Islam was a shock and then a mystery to me for many years. It did not seem possible for an intelligent feminist woman, to without coercion, suddenly chuck her ideas and embrace the religion of the mysogynist Ayatollah. Within my family the subject is beyond the bounds of rational discussion, and it is only from my; sister’s very recent letters that I may have finally acquired an understanding of her unique brand of feminism: You see, in adopting Islam she has rejected a culture that assigns value to a person based on a masculine ideal of success. In exchange she has adopted a culture where she is value as an equal... for no other reason than that she is a woman.
From THE DAILY NEWS
28th January, 2000.
“PURDAH” Stands for protection, says KAMALA SURAYYA
Mumbai, Thursday (PTI)
“In life or death,” I will not abandon my new religion and if I am killed may my blood inspire people,” Dr> Kamala Surayya, 67-years old celebrated authoress who recently embraced Islam, has said.
I have had too much freedom and now would like to throw it down like a used weapon. Give me a second chance so that I can lead a disciplined and clean life,” she told a seminar on On “Indian Muslims: Agenda for the 21st century” on Sunday here.
Referring to her controversial decision to change her religion, she said +purdah+(veil) had afforded her a previously experienced anonymity+purdah+ she said, stood for protection. In it, women could go anywhere in the world and not be touched or teased, the authoress felt.
Kamala Das, now rechristened as Dr.Kamala Surayya, said in an emotional tone “I have come here as a very happy woman, probably at the end of my life. I want you to love me.”
She observed: “You will hear terrible scandals about my life that the media has created, about all those alleged love affairs I am supposed to be having. Allah knows the truth. He is my new master. My old age has been abandoned on roadside. Now I dream of a future where I can be of use to all Muslims.”
In Kerala, she said, men were experiencing feelings of inferiority due to dowry demanded in arranged marriages. Men felt they were beggars for sale while women were becoming like men in all spheres because of the dowry they were bringing in.
She was later presented two +fez+ caps for her sons and a nose cloth to complement her+burqa+ by Khair-e-ummat trust which organised the seminar.
*****
Some points from a question-and-answer session with Shaykh Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaani
produced by:JAM'IAT IHYAA' MINHAAJ AL-SUNNAH24 BISHOPS HILL, IPSWICH, SUFFOLK, IP3 8EN
Topics:
What is the ruling for wearing the 'Niqaab' (face-veil) these days, and gloves? And further, if she feelsthere is a chance of 'fitnah' so she wants to wear this,but the parents refuse to let her, then what should shedo?Ans. If their refusal only refers to her not covering her face and hands, then she has to obey her parents in that,but if their refusal includes more than that, then,"There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator." Since covering the body except for the face and hands is obligatory for the Muslim woman, andcovering her face and hands is not obligatory but'mustahabb' (recommended). So if the parents do not wanther to cover her face and hands, then there is no harm inher obeying them and no sin in it, as opposed to whatwould be the case if they wished her to uncover otherthan that, in which case she owes no obedience to them since that is a sin. What is the ruling regarding a woman's wearing a scarfon her head?Ans. That is not enough - she has to wear a 'khimaar'which covers the head and chest. The scarf is not loosefitting and does not cover enough.Should not the shoulders also be covered by it?Yes, that is the 'khimaar'. It is a wide cover coveringthe head and shoulders. When we say that it covers thechest, then it covers the shoulders since it is wide. Butas regards the head-scarf we often see a woman wearing itrevealing a part of the neck due to it, but the 'khimaar'covers the neck and shoulder, and Allaah ta'aala ordersthat saying:WALYADRIBNA BIKHUMURIHINNA 'ALAA JUYOOBIHINNAThe head-scarf is as they say these days a compromise,and there is no such thing in Islaam!Many people hold that the khimaar' is a covering forthe face.Ans. That is ignorance with regard to the language. The'khimaar' is a covering for the head and the man alsowears the khimaar - putting it upon his head - the sameas for the woman. He ta'aala said:WALYADRIBNA BIKHUMURIHINNA 'ALAA JUYOOBIHINNAIf the khimaar covered the face then He ta'aala would notsay WALYADRIBNA meaning pull/draw together, but he wouldhave said "let fall" [ using the verb 'sadala' ]. This isignorance regarding the language.Is it permissible for women to wear high-heeled shoes?Ans. That is not permissible. It involves resembling theDisbelieving Women or the wicked women. It has its originamong the Jewish women before Islaam. When one of themwanted to attend a gathering where her lover was present,then she would wear a pair of high shoes for him to seeher, being taller. Then after a time that became high-heeled shoes! Further, this type of shoe changes awoman's way of walking, causing her to tilt from left toright and therefore the wicked and the unbelievers choosethis type of shoe. Therefore a Muslim woman following theSharee'ah should not wear high-heeled shoes - speciallysince many times it causes her to fall.
*****
Confusion continues - unabated – on the question of Hijab or Niqab – on Muslim women’s dress.
What is originally required by the Quran is hijab (purdah) and a later modified version is the niqab (face – veil)
Today more and more sisters than ever before are making the decision to don the niqab (FACE VEIL) due to various incidents they encounter in many parts of the world. In doing so, they are indeed brave – but are they adhering to the Islamic injunctions in this connection? There is confusion and it is imperative that we examine this carefully and try to follow according to Shariah.
PURDAH – In this system, there is controversy among the Muslim.
(1) the new enlightened sections of Muslims between the old conservative school of thought (close and complete confinement of women in their homes) and
(2) inclined to Western Culture.
Women in early Islam:
1a) They were not totally confined to their homes.
b). They participated on economic, social and religious activities
c). They did not make themselves objects of attraction.
d). They avoided intermixture of sexes by remaining apart from men.
As regards 1 above – (Holy Quran) says:-
33:33 - And stay quietly in your houses and make not a dazzling display like that of the former Times of ignorance; and establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey Allah and His Apostle. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you ye Members of the Family and to make you pure and spotless. 3714. 3715.
This was life in Arabia in pre-Islamic days of women, and they had to change to Islamic principles
And by this injunction, they were to lead a life of decency and responsibility without displaying their
charms and indulge in amorous talks with strangers by which they suffered. So the Quran wanted Muslim
women to take more interest in the affairs of their homes and not to wander about displaying their beauty to
charm and attract the men . So she should feel that her primary interest lies at home and come out only
during pressing necessities which has the following restrictions:
33:59 - O prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient that they should be known (as such) and not molested: and Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. 3764 3765 3766 3767.
3764 This is for all Muslim women, those of the Prophet’s household, as well as the others. They were asked to cover themselves with outer garments when walking out of doors. (33.59)
3765 Jilbab, plural Jalabib: an outer garment; and long gown covering the whole body, or a cloak covering the neck and bosom. (33.59)
3765 The object was not to restrict the liberty of women, but to protect them from harm and molestation. In the East and in the West a distinctive public dress of some sort or another has always been a badge of honour or distinction, both among men and women. This can be traced back on the earliest civilisation. Assyrian Law in its palmiest days say ( 7th century B.C.), enjoined the veiling of married women and forbade the veiling of slaves and women of ill fame: see Cambridge Ancient History, 111.107. (33.59)
3767 That is, if a Muslim woman sincerely tries to observe this rule, but owing to human weakness fails short of the ideal, then “Allah is Oft – Forgiving. Most Merciful”. (33.59)
24:30-Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will
make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. 2983
2983 The rule of modesty applies to men as well as women. A brazen stare by a man at a woman (or even at a man)is a breach of refined manners. Where sex is concerned, modesty is not only “good form “: it is not only to guard the weaker sex, but also to guard the spiritual good of the stronger sex. (24.30)
24:31- And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands their fathers their husbands’ fathers their sons their husbands’ sons their brother or their brothers’ sons or their sisters’ sons or their women or the slaves whom their right hands posses or male servants free of physical needs or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss. 2964 2985 2986 2987.
2984 The need for modesty is the same in both men and women. But on account of the differentiation of the sexes in nature, temperaments, and social life, a greater amount of privacy is required for women than for men, especially in the matter of dress and the uncovering of the bosom. (24.31)
2985 Zinat means both natural beauty and artificial ornaments. I think both are implied here, but chiefly the former. The woman is asked not to make a display of her figure except to the following classes of people: (1) her husband, (2) her near relatives whom a certain amount of neglige is permissible; (3) her women, 4) slaves, male and female, as they would be in constant attendance; but this item would now be blank, with the abolition of slavery; (5) men who are free from sexual desire and who usually frequent the houses; and (6) infants or small children before they get a sense of sex. Cf.also xxxviii.59 (24.31)
2986 It is one of the tricks of showy or unchaste women to tinkle their ankle ornaments, to draw attention to themselves, (24.31)
2987 While all these details of the purity and good form of domestic life are being brought to our attention, we are clearly reminded that the chief object we should hold in view is our spiritual welfare. All our brief life on this earth is a probation, and we must make our individual, domestic, and social life all contribute to our holiness, so that we can get the real success and bliss which is the aim of our spiritual endeavour. (24.31)
It is therefore clear that it is not intended in the Quran to prohibit totally the movements of women outside their homes. If so, in getting out should they hide their faces by means of a veil or (NIQAB)?
2988 Verse 33:59 speaks of a Jilbab (Outer Garment) over their persons when abroad; and Verse 24:31 –Not to Display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof.
Jilbab means an over - garment,; a long and loose gown which covers the body from neck to the feet. Ordinary dress, even if it covers all parts of the body exposes the beauty and charm of women. So it is very necessary that they put on a long over - garment over their ordinary clothes.
Could they uncover their hands, feet and faces and is Niqab necessary? The interpretation of the words: “Except what (must ordinarily) Appear thereof.” This means the HANDS, FEET AND THE FACE.
Sunan of Abu –Dawood
Hadith 4092 Narrated by
Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin
Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma ‘. when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah
Fiqh 1.113
Woman’s aurah & hijab
There is no such dispute over what constitutes a woman’s aurah. It is stated that her entire body is ‘aurah and must be covered, except her hands and face. Says Allah in the Qur’an, “And to display of their adornment only that which is apparent (do not expose any adornment or beauty save the hands and face)”. It has been authentically related from Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn ‘Umar and ‘Aishah that the Prophet said, “Allaha does not accept the prayer of an adult woman unless she is wearing a headcovering (khimar, hijab).” This is related by “the five,” except for an-Nasa’i, and by ibn Khuzaimah and al-Hakim. At-Tirmidhi grades it as hassan.
It is related from Umm Salamah that she asked the Prophet,”Can a woman pray in a long shirt (like a night shirt) and head covering with a loincloth?” He said, “If the shirt is long and flowing and covers the top of her feet.” This is related by Abu Dawud. The scholars say it is sahih in mauqoof form (as a statement of Umm Salamah and not that of the Prophet).
It is also related that “Aishah was asked, “In how many garments is a woman to pray?” She answered, “Ask ‘Ali ibn Abu Talaib and then return to me and tell me what he said.” ‘Ali’s answer was, “In a headcover and a long flowing shirt.” This was told to ‘Aaishah and she said,”He has told the truth.”
The clothes worn must cover the ‘aurah, even if they are tight enough to highlight those features. If the clothes are so thin that one’s skin color can be seen, they are not suitable for prayer.
According to famous jurists of Islam :-
IMAM MALIK...-The entire body of a woman is included in satr (i.e. parts which should be kept covered) except the hands and face.
IMAM SHAFI’I – Also makes an exception in favour of the face and hands.
IMAM AHMED - Entire body of a woman should be kept fully covered except the face.
IMAM HANBAL – Entire body of a woman should be kept fully covered except the face.
IMAM ABU HANIFAH – says it is not lawful for a stranger to see any part of a woman’s body, but he can
See her face and hands.
IMAM ABU YUSUF...In addition to the face and the hands, the wrists of a woman may also be lawfully
Seen.
According to Ibn Hazm in his book al - Muhalla that the Quranic words ‘they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof, expressly permit the uncovering of the face and the hands.
See Hadith below:
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 8.247 Narrated byAbdullah bin Abbas
Al-Fadl bin 'Abbas rode behind the Prophet as his companion rider on the back portion of his she camel on the Day of Nahr (slaughtering of sacrifice, 10th Dhul-Hijja) and Al-Fadl was a handsome man. The Prophet stopped to give the people verdicts. In the meantime, a beautiful woman from the tribe of Khath'am came, asking the verdict of Allah's Apostle. Al-Fadl started looking at her as her beauty attracted him. The Prophet looked behind while Al-Fadl was looking at her; so the Prophet held out his hand backwards and caught the chin of Al-Fadl and turned his face (to the other side) in order that he should not gaze at her. She said, "O Allah's Apostle! The obligation of Performing Hajj enjoined by Allah on His worshipers, has become due (compulsory) on my father who is an old man and who cannot sit firmly on the riding animal. Will it be sufficient that I perform Hajj on his behalf?" He said, "Yes."
.”Ibn Hazm argues that if it were prohibited for a woman to uncover her face outside her home, how is it possible that the Prophet (Sal) should have tolerated her to appear uncovered in public? Moreover, how could Ibn Abbas know whether she was ugly or pretty? Ibn Hazm therefor declares that the uncovering of the face and hands in public is lawful for a woman.
From these opinions it is clear that a veil which totally covers the face of a woman is not necessary and she is permitted to come out with faces and hands uncovered in case of genuine need. Barring the face, the hands and the feet, all other parts, including the neck, should be completely covered and a long over - garment put on, which leaves no part of the body exposed.
SOME VIEWS:
Whoever intends to marry a woman should look at her.
She is allowed to pray with the face uncovered, but must cover the head. If she prays with her head uncovered, then she must repeat such prayers.
The awrah of the free woman is her whole body except the face and the two hands upto the wrist.
The soles of the feet are not awrah.
Prophet (Sal) forbade the woman in IHRAM to put on the face veil or gloves .She may need to uncover them for such day to day matters as buying, selling, giving, taking, etc.
It is Al-Nur 24:31 – which deals with the rule of covering the Muslim woman’s awrah.
Ibn Jarir explains the phrase” Beyond what may decently be apparent thereof” on Nur 24:31 – means that they should not reveal their adornments except to people who are their mahram (those who are not allowed for them in marriage) the hidden ones – the anklet, the two bracelets, the two ear-rings and the necklace which can be seen only by the husbands.,and the clothes – this can be seen by anyone. (Ibn Mas’ud)
Maliki and Hanafi say that the apparent ornaments are the face and hand.
Hanbali say that every part of the woman is awrah.
Shafi’i do not regard the face and hands as awrah.
24:60 – Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer) garments provided they make not a wanton display of their beauty: but it is best for them to be modest: and Allah is One Who sees and knows all things. 3040 3041
3040 For elderly women in the home the rules of dress and decorum are not so exacting as for younger women, but they are also enjoined to study modesty, both because it is good in itself, and example to the younger people . (24.60)
3041 Another example of a refrain: see n.3039 above. Verses 58 and 59 were closer connected: their refrain was practically identical. This verse, though ancillary, is less closely connected: its refrain comes in like a half - note in a melody. (24.60) .
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
Hadith 269 Narrated by
Ziyad ibn Hudayr
Umar said to me: Do you know what demolishes Islam? I said: No.Whereupon he said: it is the slip of a scholar and the dispute of the hypocrite by the Book, and the commands of the misquided rulers which demolish it..
Transmitted by Darimi.
A Muslim woman who covers her head is making a statement about her identity. Any one who sees her will know that she is a Muslim and has good moral character. Many Muslim women who cover are filled with dignity and self esteem, they are pleased to be identified as a Muslim woman. As a chaste, modest, pure woman, she does not want her sexuality to enter into interactions with men in the smallest degree. A woman who covers herself is concealing her sexuality but allowing her feminity to be brought out.
FOR HIJAB:
1. Avoid thin clothing which exposes the body and reveal its shape,
2. This should be loose enough so as not to reveal the shape of the woman’s body – preferably a cloak over other clothes. If the clothing is loose enough, an outer garment will not be necessary.
3 Wear thick clothes so as not to show the colour of the skin or the shape of the body.
4. The hijab should give an over - all dignified appearance – not attracting men’s attention, not shiny and flashy. (preferably black).
5. Avoid dressing like men and avoid dressing like the unbelievers.
6. Be modest, not excessively fancy and also not excessively ragged to gain admiration or sympathy.
7. One’s behaviour, manners, speech and appearance in public goes hand in hand with hijab.
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
Hadith 3887 Narrated by
Abdullah ibn Abbas
The Prophet’s standard was black and his banner white.
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah
Fiqh 5.65b
Muslim reported that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) entered Makkah wearing a black turban and without an ihram. It is said about Ibn ‘Umar that he returned after travelling part of the way and entered Makkah without ihram.
Sahih Muslim Hadith
Hadith 3148 Narrated by
Amr ibn Hurayth
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) addressed the people (on the day of the Victory of Mecca) with black turban on his head.
76:29 – This is an admonition: whosoever will let him take a (straight) Path to his Lord.
77:15 – Ah woe that Day to the Rejecters of Truth!
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 7.33 Narrated by
Usama bin Zaid
The Prophet said,”After me I have not left any affliction more harmful to men than women.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 7.158 Narrated by
Anas
I will narrate to you a Hadith I heard from Allah’s Apostle and none other than I will tell you of it. I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “From among the portants of the Hour are the following: Religious knowledge will be taken away: general ignorance (in religious matters) will increase; illegal sexual intercourse will prevail; drinking of alcoholic drinks will prevail. Men will decrease in number, and women will increase in number, so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man.”
HIJAB – A SYMBOL OF LIBERATION
By Samuel Cole:
(A freelance writer living in Carob)
“The term Hijab comes from the Arabic world “hijaba”, which means to hide from view. It is the long dress and veil worn by many Muslim women with the function of distinguishing them from non-Muslims, reminding them of their Islamic faith, and concealing them from the public view of males. In many of the more traditional Muslim societies women tend to remain outside the public sphere of men, devoting themselves to child rearing and taking care of the home. In part because of this apparent restriction from the public realm, many Americans see the Muslim hijab as a symbol of female oppression.
Despite this perception, Islam is growing rapidly in America and female converts outnumber males four to one. Hijab is not a symbol of oppression, but is instead a symbol of liberation. Young Muslim women are reclaiming the hijab., to give back to women the ultimate control over their bodies. Yet to most Americans this is a strange assertion. How can a law that restricts a woman’s dress be liberating”? To Muslims the answer is easy . The Islamic tradition of hijab frees women from being perceived primarily as sexual objects. (Non-Muslim) women are taught from early childhood that their worth is proportional to their attractiveness. It is not hard to understand this: leafing through the ads of any woman’s magazine, even a male reader can sense the incredible pressure on women to conform to some ever - changing and abstract image of female beauty. Is it any wonder that American woman spend billions of dollars on hair and beauty products, or that they subject themselves to plastic surgery, drugs, and diets, or that in despair they fall into neurotic cycles of anorexia and bulimia? It is the pursuit of a mirage and mdash, one that degrades and sickens the pursuers.
The hijab liberates a Muslim woman from this insidious oppression. She need not concern herself with her hair or makeup before she goes out. Underneath her hijab she can remain if she so wishes, simply herself unshaved, unpainted, unplucked, or even a little overweight. All this without having to worry about what others think of her. The tradition of hijab, is simply a woman’s assertion that judgement of her physical person is to play no role whatsoever in social interaction. Since a Muslim woman is invisible behind her veil, she can be appreciated only for her intellectual qualities. Thus the importance of her intelligence and personality.
But the sacrifice of health (and self-esteem) in a futile pursuit of physical attractiveness is not the worst effect of sexual objectification. Societies that view women as sexual objects have a horrendous rate of violence toward women. In the United States, one out of every four women will be sexually assaulted at some time in her life. And even in relatively non-violent Canada, one woman is assaulted every six minutes. Women in our society live with the awareness that they must always be cautious of dark alleys and fearful of strangers. This is true oppression, a type that stems directly from the perception of women as sexual objects.
In the few societies that closely adhere to the Quran and in many repressive Islamic regimes this sort of violence towards women is quite low. In 1990 the number of reported rapes in Egypt, a relatively westernized Islamic society with a secular government, was only 17 (Israel reported 369 rapes that same year)
My sister (now a Muslim convert in Lahore) told me that as a Muslim woman, she feels a respect and security on the streets of Pakistan that she had never felt in 30 years of living in America. It does seem hard to ignore the fact that many Islamic women enjoy a level of protection and respect that is unheard of in the West. In some countries this is no doubt in part the result of Islamic law that imposes draconian punishment on offenders. But extreme enforcement of religious law is not practised in moderate Islamic countries such as Egypt or Pakistan; and there it seems Muslim tradition alone protects the dignity of women.
Nevertheless, Islam and its tradition of hijab can seem an extreme solution to the sexual objectification of women. Can’t society simply be changed through more education? Or perhaps through encouraging men to practise some self - restraint? In fact this has been a goal of the women’s movement for years. But although there has been some success at increasing career and educational opportunities for women, the oppression of women continues unabated. One only needs to peruse the horror section of the local video store to see that the most common victims of violence portrayed in popular films are women. And not surprisingly statistics in the United States point to more violence directed at women, not less.
The problem in western society; as some Muslim writers see it, is that predominantly Judeo-Christian cultures have no convention of equality between men and women. Instead, these traditions hold Eve to be ultimately responsible for original sin and the downfall of man.
The story in Genesis is a cornerstone in the foundation of our culture. As such, it has institutionalized an essentially inferior status for women. This is not so in the tradition of Islam. Eve is not blamed for tempting Adam. Together they sinned, together they are guilty, and together they both begged for (and received) forgiveness from God. It is true that Islam holds women and men to be different in the most integral qualities. But unlike Judeo-Christian doctrine, the Quran pass women and men on equal footing before God and thus as equally, and innately valuable to society.
Unfortunately, many of us see Islam as a religion of suicidal bombers or of bearded zealots intent on returning us all to a cultural stone - age. But this image is perhaps unfair. All religions have their own fair proportion of crazies. Islam, however, is the largest and the fastest growing of the world’s monotheistic religions, and has (quite properly) more than most. Still the Muslims have something to offer for women. Pierre Craibites (an American judge) writes: “Muhammad, 1300 years ago, assured to the mothers, wives and daughters of Islam a rank and dignity (still) not generally assured to women by the laws of the West.”
The conversion of my sister to Islam was a shock and then a mystery to me for many years. It did not seem possible for an intelligent feminist woman, to without coercion, suddenly chuck her ideas and embrace the religion of the mysogynist Ayatollah. Within my family the subject is beyond the bounds of rational discussion, and it is only from my; sister’s very recent letters that I may have finally acquired an understanding of her unique brand of feminism: You see, in adopting Islam she has rejected a culture that assigns value to a person based on a masculine ideal of success. In exchange she has adopted a culture where she is value as an equal... for no other reason than that she is a woman.
From THE DAILY NEWS
28th January, 2000.
“PURDAH” Stands for protection, says KAMALA SURAYYA
Mumbai, Thursday (PTI)
“In life or death,” I will not abandon my new religion and if I am killed may my blood inspire people,” Dr> Kamala Surayya, 67-years old celebrated authoress who recently embraced Islam, has said.
I have had too much freedom and now would like to throw it down like a used weapon. Give me a second chance so that I can lead a disciplined and clean life,” she told a seminar on On “Indian Muslims: Agenda for the 21st century” on Sunday here.
Referring to her controversial decision to change her religion, she said +purdah+(veil) had afforded her a previously experienced anonymity+purdah+ she said, stood for protection. In it, women could go anywhere in the world and not be touched or teased, the authoress felt.
Kamala Das, now rechristened as Dr.Kamala Surayya, said in an emotional tone “I have come here as a very happy woman, probably at the end of my life. I want you to love me.”
She observed: “You will hear terrible scandals about my life that the media has created, about all those alleged love affairs I am supposed to be having. Allah knows the truth. He is my new master. My old age has been abandoned on roadside. Now I dream of a future where I can be of use to all Muslims.”
In Kerala, she said, men were experiencing feelings of inferiority due to dowry demanded in arranged marriages. Men felt they were beggars for sale while women were becoming like men in all spheres because of the dowry they were bringing in.
She was later presented two +fez+ caps for her sons and a nose cloth to complement her+burqa+ by Khair-e-ummat trust which organised the seminar.
*****
Some points from a question-and-answer session with Shaykh Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaani
produced by:JAM'IAT IHYAA' MINHAAJ AL-SUNNAH24 BISHOPS HILL, IPSWICH, SUFFOLK, IP3 8EN
Topics:
What is the ruling for wearing the 'Niqaab' (face-veil) these days, and gloves? And further, if she feelsthere is a chance of 'fitnah' so she wants to wear this,but the parents refuse to let her, then what should shedo?Ans. If their refusal only refers to her not covering her face and hands, then she has to obey her parents in that,but if their refusal includes more than that, then,"There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator." Since covering the body except for the face and hands is obligatory for the Muslim woman, andcovering her face and hands is not obligatory but'mustahabb' (recommended). So if the parents do not wanther to cover her face and hands, then there is no harm inher obeying them and no sin in it, as opposed to whatwould be the case if they wished her to uncover otherthan that, in which case she owes no obedience to them since that is a sin. What is the ruling regarding a woman's wearing a scarfon her head?Ans. That is not enough - she has to wear a 'khimaar'which covers the head and chest. The scarf is not loosefitting and does not cover enough.Should not the shoulders also be covered by it?Yes, that is the 'khimaar'. It is a wide cover coveringthe head and shoulders. When we say that it covers thechest, then it covers the shoulders since it is wide. Butas regards the head-scarf we often see a woman wearing itrevealing a part of the neck due to it, but the 'khimaar'covers the neck and shoulder, and Allaah ta'aala ordersthat saying:WALYADRIBNA BIKHUMURIHINNA 'ALAA JUYOOBIHINNAThe head-scarf is as they say these days a compromise,and there is no such thing in Islaam!Many people hold that the khimaar' is a covering forthe face.Ans. That is ignorance with regard to the language. The'khimaar' is a covering for the head and the man alsowears the khimaar - putting it upon his head - the sameas for the woman. He ta'aala said:WALYADRIBNA BIKHUMURIHINNA 'ALAA JUYOOBIHINNAIf the khimaar covered the face then He ta'aala would notsay WALYADRIBNA meaning pull/draw together, but he wouldhave said "let fall" [ using the verb 'sadala' ]. This isignorance regarding the language.Is it permissible for women to wear high-heeled shoes?Ans. That is not permissible. It involves resembling theDisbelieving Women or the wicked women. It has its originamong the Jewish women before Islaam. When one of themwanted to attend a gathering where her lover was present,then she would wear a pair of high shoes for him to seeher, being taller. Then after a time that became high-heeled shoes! Further, this type of shoe changes awoman's way of walking, causing her to tilt from left toright and therefore the wicked and the unbelievers choosethis type of shoe. Therefore a Muslim woman following theSharee'ah should not wear high-heeled shoes - speciallysince many times it causes her to fall.
*****
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Du"ah Acceptable ?
DU’AA ACCEPTABLE ?
2:186 - When my servants ask thee concerning Me I am indeed close (to them); I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me; let them also with a will listen to My call and believe in Me; that they may walk in the right way.
4:174 – O Mankind! Verily there hath come to you a convincing proof from your Lord: For We have sent unto you a light (that is) manifest.
Note:679 - The Proof and the Light are the Quran and the Personality, Life and Teaching of Muhammad Mustafa.
The Glorious Quran of the Almighty Allah and Hadhis of the Holy Prophet shall be the foremost in guiding the life of a true Muslim. They declared with; one voice that if the Muslims stand firm as rock, faithful to the teachings of their sacred scriptures, they would surely stand on a firm footing of material and spiritual progress which no blasts of disasters and calamities, however furious they might be, and no amount of threats of conquering nations, however autocrat and imperialistic, CAN SWEEP THEM OUT; but if, on the other hand, they stand by the Holy Quran and Sunnah on a bed-rock of sand, THEY WILL BE BUT DIGGING THEIR OWN GRAVES.
Within ten years after the death of the Holy Prophet, the kingdoms of Persia, Rome, Egypt, Syria and Yemen came under the sway the Saracens due to the unflinching devotion of the Muslims to the Holy Book and sacred Sunnah of the Prophet. We are now brooding over our decadence and thinking of the last Renaissance at the hands of the Promised Messiah.
Muslim centres are now hot-beds of religious controversies even in educational institutions, Madrasahs and Schools !
4:146 – Except for those who repent, mend their life, hold fast to Allah, AND PURIFY THEIR RELIGION AS In ALLAH’S SIGHT; if so they will be numbered with the Believers….
474 - If Uhud was a reverse to the Muslims, they had inflicted a reverse twice as great on the Makkans at Badr. This reverse was not without Allah's permission, for He wanted to test and purify the faith of those who followed Islam, and to show them that they must strive and do all in their power to deserve Allah's help.
If they disobeyed orders and neglected discipline, they must attribute the disaster to themselves and not to Allah. (3.165)
40:5-The Prayer of those without Faith is nothing but (futile wandering) in (mazes) of error!.
Our Muslim brothers are now agitating for fair play and justice, in the Mosques they are resorting to lenghty supplications, reciting Qunoot, crying and begging Allah’s help for themselves and for world peace and for those in distress, viz for Afghnistan and other Muslim, states etc.
62:5 –The similitude of those who failed… in those (obligations) is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong.
With what face can a man ask for Mercy or Love from Allah when he is unwilling to believe in Him and His Messenger in full ?
WILL THEIR PRAYERS BE HEARD AND ANSWERED. DO THEY DESERVE TO BE HEARD AND HELPED BY ALLAH ? HAVE WE NOT DISOBEYED ALLAH’S ORDERS AND IGNORED THE PROPHET’S SUNNAH ?
Go to any Mosque on a Jummah day and watch all what they do. You will be amazed to see all the Innovations ( BID’AH) there. They refuse to believe if they are told and call them”Tales of the Ancients or that they are doing what their fathers of old did.”
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“Du’aa’s and ta’awwudhaat [prayers seeking refuge with Allaah] are like a weapon, and a weapon is only as good as the person who is using it; it is not merely the matter of how sharp it is. If the weapon is perfect and free of faults, and the arm of the person using it is strong, and there is nothing stopping him, then he can lay waste the enemy. But if any of these three features is lacking, then the effect will be lacking accordingly.”
(al-Daa’ wa’l-Dawaa’, p. 35).
Beseeching, humbling oneself, hoping for Allaah’s reward and fearing His punishment. This is the spirit, essence and purpose of du’aa’. Other aspects of the etiquette of making du’aa’, although they are not waajib (obligatory), are: to face the Qiblah; to make du’aa’ in a state of tahaarah (purity); to start the du’aa’ with praise of Allaah and blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). It is also prescribed to raise the hands when making du’aa’.
One of the things that helps to bring a response to du’aa’ is to seek the best times and places.
Among the best times is the time just before Fajr (dawn), the last third of the night, the last hour of Jumu’ah (Friday), when rain is falling, and between the Adhaan and iqaamah.
Among the best places are mosques in general, and al-Masjid al-Haraam [in Makkah] in particular.
The reason why one’s du’aa’ is not answered may be because he has done something that Allaah has forbidden, such as having haraam wealth – whether it be food or drink or clothing or accommodation or transportation, or he has taken a haraam job, or the stain of sin is still in his heart, or he is following bid’ah (innovation) in religion, or his heart has been overtaken by negligence, or when the person who is making du’aa’ is weak in himself, because he is faint-hearted in his turning towards Allaah.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood - Hadith 1505 Narrated byAbdullah ibn Abbas:The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to supplicate Allah:
“My Lord, help me and do not give help against me; grant me victory, and do not grant victory over me; plan on my behalf and do not plan against me; guide me, and make my right guidance easy for me; grant me victory over those who act wrongfully towards me;
O Allah, make me grateful to Thee, mindful of Thee, full of fear towards Thee, devoted to Thy obedience, humble before Thee, or penitent. My Lord, accept my repentance, wash away my sin, answer my supplication, clearly establish my evidence, guide my heart, make true my tongue and draw out malice in my breast."
:
2:186 - When my servants ask thee concerning Me I am indeed close (to them); I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me; let them also with a will listen to My call and believe in Me; that they may walk in the right way.
4:174 – O Mankind! Verily there hath come to you a convincing proof from your Lord: For We have sent unto you a light (that is) manifest.
Note:679 - The Proof and the Light are the Quran and the Personality, Life and Teaching of Muhammad Mustafa.
The Glorious Quran of the Almighty Allah and Hadhis of the Holy Prophet shall be the foremost in guiding the life of a true Muslim. They declared with; one voice that if the Muslims stand firm as rock, faithful to the teachings of their sacred scriptures, they would surely stand on a firm footing of material and spiritual progress which no blasts of disasters and calamities, however furious they might be, and no amount of threats of conquering nations, however autocrat and imperialistic, CAN SWEEP THEM OUT; but if, on the other hand, they stand by the Holy Quran and Sunnah on a bed-rock of sand, THEY WILL BE BUT DIGGING THEIR OWN GRAVES.
Within ten years after the death of the Holy Prophet, the kingdoms of Persia, Rome, Egypt, Syria and Yemen came under the sway the Saracens due to the unflinching devotion of the Muslims to the Holy Book and sacred Sunnah of the Prophet. We are now brooding over our decadence and thinking of the last Renaissance at the hands of the Promised Messiah.
Muslim centres are now hot-beds of religious controversies even in educational institutions, Madrasahs and Schools !
4:146 – Except for those who repent, mend their life, hold fast to Allah, AND PURIFY THEIR RELIGION AS In ALLAH’S SIGHT; if so they will be numbered with the Believers….
474 - If Uhud was a reverse to the Muslims, they had inflicted a reverse twice as great on the Makkans at Badr. This reverse was not without Allah's permission, for He wanted to test and purify the faith of those who followed Islam, and to show them that they must strive and do all in their power to deserve Allah's help.
If they disobeyed orders and neglected discipline, they must attribute the disaster to themselves and not to Allah. (3.165)
40:5-The Prayer of those without Faith is nothing but (futile wandering) in (mazes) of error!.
Our Muslim brothers are now agitating for fair play and justice, in the Mosques they are resorting to lenghty supplications, reciting Qunoot, crying and begging Allah’s help for themselves and for world peace and for those in distress, viz for Afghnistan and other Muslim, states etc.
62:5 –The similitude of those who failed… in those (obligations) is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong.
With what face can a man ask for Mercy or Love from Allah when he is unwilling to believe in Him and His Messenger in full ?
WILL THEIR PRAYERS BE HEARD AND ANSWERED. DO THEY DESERVE TO BE HEARD AND HELPED BY ALLAH ? HAVE WE NOT DISOBEYED ALLAH’S ORDERS AND IGNORED THE PROPHET’S SUNNAH ?
Go to any Mosque on a Jummah day and watch all what they do. You will be amazed to see all the Innovations ( BID’AH) there. They refuse to believe if they are told and call them”Tales of the Ancients or that they are doing what their fathers of old did.”
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“Du’aa’s and ta’awwudhaat [prayers seeking refuge with Allaah] are like a weapon, and a weapon is only as good as the person who is using it; it is not merely the matter of how sharp it is. If the weapon is perfect and free of faults, and the arm of the person using it is strong, and there is nothing stopping him, then he can lay waste the enemy. But if any of these three features is lacking, then the effect will be lacking accordingly.”
(al-Daa’ wa’l-Dawaa’, p. 35).
Beseeching, humbling oneself, hoping for Allaah’s reward and fearing His punishment. This is the spirit, essence and purpose of du’aa’. Other aspects of the etiquette of making du’aa’, although they are not waajib (obligatory), are: to face the Qiblah; to make du’aa’ in a state of tahaarah (purity); to start the du’aa’ with praise of Allaah and blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). It is also prescribed to raise the hands when making du’aa’.
One of the things that helps to bring a response to du’aa’ is to seek the best times and places.
Among the best times is the time just before Fajr (dawn), the last third of the night, the last hour of Jumu’ah (Friday), when rain is falling, and between the Adhaan and iqaamah.
Among the best places are mosques in general, and al-Masjid al-Haraam [in Makkah] in particular.
The reason why one’s du’aa’ is not answered may be because he has done something that Allaah has forbidden, such as having haraam wealth – whether it be food or drink or clothing or accommodation or transportation, or he has taken a haraam job, or the stain of sin is still in his heart, or he is following bid’ah (innovation) in religion, or his heart has been overtaken by negligence, or when the person who is making du’aa’ is weak in himself, because he is faint-hearted in his turning towards Allaah.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood - Hadith 1505 Narrated byAbdullah ibn Abbas:The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to supplicate Allah:
“My Lord, help me and do not give help against me; grant me victory, and do not grant victory over me; plan on my behalf and do not plan against me; guide me, and make my right guidance easy for me; grant me victory over those who act wrongfully towards me;
O Allah, make me grateful to Thee, mindful of Thee, full of fear towards Thee, devoted to Thy obedience, humble before Thee, or penitent. My Lord, accept my repentance, wash away my sin, answer my supplication, clearly establish my evidence, guide my heart, make true my tongue and draw out malice in my breast."
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Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Surah At-Tagabun
64:11-No kind of calamity can occur except by the leave of Allah: and if anyone believes in Allah (Allah) guides his heart (aright): for Allah knows all things. 5492
5492 - What we consider calamities may be blessings in disguise. Pain in the body is often a signal of something wrong, which we can cure by remedial measures. So in the moral and spiritual world, we should in all circumstances hold firmly to the faith that nothing happens without Allah's knowledge and leave; and therefore there must be some justice and wisdom according to His great universal Plan.
Our duty is to find out our own shortcomings and remedy them.
If we try to do so in all sincerity of heart, Allah will give us guidance. (64.11)
There is no calamity in the Western world but RAMPANT in the Muslim world !
(Our duty is to find out our own shortcomings and remedy them.) Now it is crystal clear of the shortcomings – that is Muslims in Islam – have brought about distortions and deceptions - authored by the 73 sects (except 1) .
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
Hadith 171 Narrated by
Abdullah ibn Amr
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: There will befall my Ummah exactly (all those) evils which befell the people of Isra'il, so much so that if there was one amongst them who openly committed fornication with his mother there will be among my Ummah one who will do that, and if the people of Isra'il were fragmented into seventy-two sects my Ummah will be fragmented into seventy-three sects. All of them will be in Hell Fire except one sect. They (the Companions) said: Allah's Messenger, which is that? Whereupon he said: It is one to which I and my companions belong.
Transmitted by Tirmidhi.
64:12- So obey Allah and obey His Apostle; but if ye turn back the duty of Our Apostle is but to proclaim (the Message) clearly and openly. 5493
The Message is loud and clear – but who cares!
The Leaders of Muslims will be chosen from ignorant people, and they will rule according to their whims and fancies.
SO HOW TO REMEDY THIS?
TO REMEDY:? (Tackling just one topic)
Majority of Muslims have got used to a way of life. They find it difficult to extricate themselves from these shackles. They are merely following what their fathers of old and the ancients did. They refuse to believe when Truth is revealed. They have become chronic and obstinate. They are stubborn and turn violent. They are practicing SHIRK. Most of the Masjids have graves, and in a way they resort to grave worshipping - worst of all sins which Allah will not forgive. In this way, all the magnificent rewards and blessings which Allah had promised and guaranteed are shut out and they remain a helpless people.
Jumu’ah Prayers – tried to clear the mess, at least on one matter, but all attempts turned futile.
What are they doing: They go late , fail to pray tahiyyathul masjid prayers of two rakats, they sit in corners -leaning against walls- jumping over the shoulders-fail to sit in front ranks. Soon after the first Azan, they start praying two rakats of prior sunnah of Jumu’ah when in fact there is no such prayer. Some pray 4 and some 6 rakats! Mahshar is announced (this too in an innovation) by the Muazzin and another Azan given –both inside the masjid. Imam gives a long Khutba –( when it has to be short) - people tend to doze off or some cannot understand the language. Most of them supplicate with raised hands-and then wipe the palms all over the body and also blow into their shirts. After completing the obligatory prayer, they stand up and pray the sunnah prayers some two, some four and so on at the same place without moving even a bit away. ( Whereas Prophet (Sal) went home soon after and prayed two rakats of sunnah prayers If prayed in the mosque, it should be four rakats.For some, asking Du’a is their main purpose in Jumu’ah.
If this prayer is done correctly, Allah has vouchsafed wonderful blessings and benefits through this magnificent act , but lo! they will loose all this, wont they?
Prophet (Sal) said: “ There are three types of people who attend the Friday Prayer. One is a man who is present but speaks during the Khutbah and that is his portion of the prayer. Second is a man who is present and makes supplications. In his case, Allah may give him what he asks, if He wishes, or He may not give him what he asks. Third is a person who is present and observes silence and does not step over the necks of the Muslims nor does he harm anyone. For him, there is an expiation from that Friday until the previous Friday plus an additional three days.
One should do his best to fulfill a number of acts and then, upon doing so, the Friday Prayer will be an expiation for him for ten days of deeds.
It is the same with all other matters too. . Are we carrying out the more difficult part?-the spirit of unity, brotherhood, mutual consultation, and collective understanding and action? NO !
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 4.803 Narrated by
Hudhaifa bin Al Yaman
"There will be some people who will lead (people) according to principles other than my tradition. You will see their actions and disapprove of them." I said, "Will there be any evil after that good?" He said, "Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation to it will be thrown in it (by them)." I said, "O Allah's Apostle! Describe those people to us." He said, "They will belong to us and speak our language." I asked, "What do you order me to do if such a thing should take place in my life?" He said, "Adhere to the group of Muslims and their Chief." I asked, "If there is neither a group (of Muslims) nor a chief (what shall I do)?" He said, "Keep away from all those different sects, even if you had to bite (i.e. eat) the root of a tree, till you meet Allah while you are still in that state."
C:96 – THE HARDEST STRIVING AND FIGHTING ARE NEEDED
TO COMBAT EVIL AND HYPOCRISY, FOR SIN
CAN REACH A STAGE WHEN THE DOORS OF FORGIVENESS
ARE CLOSED. THE GOOD MUST SHUN ALL EVIL
AS UNCLEAN, AND GLADLY WELCOME ALL CHANCE
OF SERVICE AND SACRIFICE, AS BRINGING THEM CLOSER
TO THE PRESENCE AND MERCY OF ALLAH.
PROPHET MOHAMED’S LAST SERMON
"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I don't know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.
Beware of Satan, for your safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadhan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action.
O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.
We must trust in Allah, and do whatever is possible for us in the interests of the young life for which we are responsible. We must not be frightened by difficulties. Allah will give us relief and provide a solution if we act with honest integrity. Cf. xciv. 5-6. (65.7)
May Allah, Praised and Exalted be He, guide us to His Way, and may He, Praised and Exalted be He, make us eligible for His pleasure, and may He, Praised and Exalted be He, make us worthy of carrying the message of His religion, and worthy of being the followers of His Prophet Mohammed, Peace and Blessing be upon him.
*****
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