By Mufti Waseem Khan
Question:
Asalaamu’alaykum waRahmatullahi waBarakaatuhu,
I need to know the ruling on Parda. My friend who wears parda and attended the Darul Uloom where her daughters still attend has confirmed this is Fard. I don’t wear parda I wear a hijab. However she’s indicating to me that it is fard to wear parda and that women should not work but get married and her husband should take care of her. Well I have no problem that a husband takes care of you etc. However in the world we are currently living in the Real World there are more women than men and less marriages and sometimes not by choice as in my case. I cannot sit and except food to drop from the sky so I trust that Allah is the provider but I also believe that I need to strive and still send out my applications for a job while making my duas. Her idea is different and this is why I think people’s concept about this deen is that its too difficult and they run from it. Had I not been blessed by Allah with a brain and a little knowledge I would totally agree with this sister and never want to work wear a parda lock myself in my room and never come out as this is her concept of Islam. I beg to differ in this approach hence I am asking you please to tell me IS IT FARD TO WEAR THE PARDA? She has quoted the verse of Surah Ahzab I agree that in the time of the Prophet p.b.u.h. the believing women dressed a certain way and we are to follow the Sunnah however there are things that are Fard and things that are not so can you please explain the ruling on this for me.
Jazakallahu Khyran
Answer:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
First of all, it should be understood that the religion of Islam which we have been given, is complete and perfect. It’s teachings are filled with a great amount of wisdom, whether we can understand it or not.
All the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the beloved Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is filled with guidance which guide us (the Muslims ) to that which is the truth and to that which is required to be done as true believers. None of these teachings is difficult, severe or burdensome. Instead, these are filled with a great amount of ease, with many allowances and considerations given to special situations. In this regard, the Holy Quran states, ‘Allah intends for you ease and He dose not intend difficulty on you’.(Sura Al Baqara (2) verse 185).
However, this ease in our religion must be viewed and understood from the proper perspective. We have to look at it from the correct angle and appreciate the beautiful teachings of Islam for what they are.
One of the biggest problems that are encountered by some Muslims who live in the west is that they adapt so much to the western culture that they find it difficult to practice ‘Islam’. Some of them have become so indoctrinated with the western ideologies and trends, it becomes difficult for them to see the wisdom, beauty and purity in the Quranic laws and injunctions. For such people, the Sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has become old fashioned.
It is on account of this, we find that today, many Muslims have a great misunderstanding of Islam and its teachings and practices. Being ‘cultured’ into an ‘UnIslamic Culture’ they tend to repel, resist and even question the authentic teachings of Islam.
As I said before, the ease that is present in the Islamic teachings must be viewed from the correct perspective. If not, then we will find that Muslim women will see that it is difficult to cover themselves properly and wear the hijab, niqaab or purdah. Beardless men will also think that it is difficult to keep a beard, those who have grown accustomed to mixing and mingling with the opposite sex will find it extremely difficult to refrain from this, performing Salaah five times a day, fasting the entire month of Ramadhan and embarking on the sacred pilgrimage will all be seen as very difficult for some.
However, this difficulty is confined only to the perception of the individual which has no external truth or reality. Hence, it is essential that we view the Islamic teachings from the proper perspective, and do not analyze these based on our personal likes and dislikes. Our personal inclination to a particular practice and aversion to another, must not be the criterion to gauge what is ‘easy’ and what is ‘difficult’ in Islam. At all times, we must remember that it is Allah alone who Has sent the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as a teacher to mankind, hence, our practices must be in accordance to his teachings.
Having said this, I wish to state that with respect to the wearing of the niqaab (purdah), many of our great, authentic and reliable scholars have stated that it is compulsory for a woman to wear the niqaab (purdah). Based upon this, we will find that many women do it as a compulsory requirement. Some other scholars have stated that a woman is given the allowance to expose her hands upto the wrists and face, however, when she is in front of non-blood relatives and she fears that fitna (mischief like lustful thoughts and gazes) can come about, then she must cover her face. Some women also practice upon this allowance.
The garb of a Muslim woman represents respect, dignity and chastity, and so, it is not within her nature to be seen and ‘looked at’ by the piercing lustful gaze of those who seek pleasure in looking at her. In Islam, a woman is a private person, hence, she loves privacy as clearly stated by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The garb protects her, and gives her the privacy that she is required to have.
A Muslim woman must never feel hesitant to wear the purdah in front of others that are not blood related to her. This is the sign of a believing woman who is upright and wants to do the right thing at all times. In an atmosphere where women are dressing in a semi-nude and indecent way, and are propagators of lewdness and iniquity, a Muslim woman should feel proud to dress in a modest and religious way, thus portraying purity, chastity and honour.
Alhamdulillah, today Muslim women all over the world are wearing their niqaab (purdah) wherever they are, without being taunted and criticized.
With respect to a ‘woman working’, this is allowed with certain conditions. Some of these are :-
1) The job that is being done is halal for a Muslim woman to do.
2) While doing the job, she is not required to compromise her Islamic teachings in the manner of her dress and conduct.
3) The environment in which she works does not require her to have open or private mingling with the opposite sex. Sometimes, the working woman is in privacy with her boss, she travels alone with him and she also develops an open and free relation with other males that are around her. All these are totally haram, and a Muslim woman is not allowed to violate the laws of Islam in these and other areas.
The allowance therefore is given with certain conditions which must be met. If these conditions are not met, then the woman must be provided for, by that person who overlooks her affairs. In the first case it is her father, and then upon marriage, the husband takes the responsibility.
The ideal situation in Islam is that when a woman marries, she should not find herself caught up in workng for others. She should commit herself to the service of her husband and the proper upbringing of her children. Allah Has made the husband as the breadwinner and Ameer, and so, his responsibility is to provide for his wife in fulfilling her needs and necessities. If for some valid reason, a woman has not been married or has been divorced and there is no one to provide for her, then she will be allowed to seek a halal livelihood taking into consideration the conditions which have been mentioned before. (In an Islamic state, the Baitul Mal (public exchequer) provides for her and eliminates her from the burden of working for a livelihood).
Alhamdulillah, Allah Has given us a perfect religion with comprehensive guidelines for living in a REAL World. The teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) are not given for one living in an imaginary world. All are connected to, and provide guidance and success for all those who live on the face of the earth. These teachings are for all times and places, and will never become outdated. Allah in His infinite wisdom and knowledge, Has given man a system of life (in which he should live) which brings about goodness and benefits to everyone. This system protects one from harms and disastrous results, and create peaceful living among all members. Included in this, is the function of a family. Each one from the husband and wife has been given duties and responsibilities which each must fulfill. These responsibilities take priority before other things and must not be neglected and overlooked for the acquisition and fulfillment of other objectives. For example, in Islam, a wife has been given certain responsibilities which become difficult to fulfill if she is engaged in work. Regarding this, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is reported to have said,’ Beware! Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible and answerable for his flock. The leader and ruler is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs). A man is a guardian over his family and shall be questioned abut them. A woman is the guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children). A servant is the shepherd of his master’s property and shall be questioned about it. Beware! Everyone of you is a guardian, and everyone of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust’. (Bukhari, Muslim)
The above hadith shows that the wife is a guardian over her husband’s household and children. She has been deputed in Islam to look after the household of her husband and also to look after his children in giving them a good upbringing. This task becomes more needed when the husband is not at home. In fulfilling his responsibilities in Islam, he must work in order to meet the financial requirements of the family. In doing so, he is often absent from his home and children. In order to share the responsibility of the family, Islam has placed the task of looking over the household, property and wealth of the husband on the wife. Similarly, being the mother of the children, she has been made responsible to look after their needs, training and upbringing. If the wife begins to work, then who will attend to the welfare of the children and overlook the house hold?
In today’s world (with the dominance of the western culture), many women (wives) have started to work on a full time basis. The result of this is that children have become neglected and have been deprived of the mother’s love, and proper upbringing and training. A child is naturally closer to the mother, and he spends more time with her. It is in the beginning years of growth, the mother can inculcate good values, morals and manners in the child. The mother should focus her attention on the child from infancy. The parable of a child is like a weak and delicate branch. You can twist it and bend it as you please, but this is not easy when the branch becomes dry. If someone complains the children are unruly, spendthrift, ill mannered etc. then the mother is also to be blamed. She failed to rear them appropriately. This is why they have been reduced to this level.
In the present situation (of working women), the scene is that the father goes to work, the mother goes to work and the children are placed in day-care centres. The persons at these centres have not been hired to give the children good morals, values, and religious instruction. Instead, they are simply paid for attending to the children during the day. At the evening, the father returns home tired from work, the mother returns home tired from work and the children also returns home, but tired of being at the day-care centre. They are anxious to see their parents and spend time with them, but ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ are too tired to spend quality time with the young, growing kids that need parental love, affection and care. In order to get some time for relaxation and rest, the children’s attention is now diverted to movies, television and electronic games so that they may occupy their precious moments. With this type of training, the children grow without proper values, conduct and good training. They do not learn about love, respect and compassion to others. They do not learn about being responsible and obedient to their superiors. Instead, they learn about violence, aggressiveness and insolence from the electronic games and movies which they are encouraged to look at by their parents.
The result of this is children’s violence and delinquencies, which have become a part of our school system today.
Many child psychologists have iterated this point in the past that the spate of violence among children today, is mostly due to children’s negligence at home on account of working mothers. (It is good to see that today’s professionals are recognizing the wisdom in Islamic teachings, something which many Muslims until today fail to acknowledge).
[And Allah Ta’ala knows best.]
Also see here for fiqhi details on this issue.
