Rulings on Interaction With Marriageable Men - I

22/09/2011| IslamWeb

·         A woman talking with non-Mahram (marriageable) men 

Is the woman's voice prohibited to be heard to the extent that she should not talk with sellers in the markets in order to buy something without softening or sweetening her speech? Does the same ruling apply when she decently goes to the dressmaker to have her clothes tailored?

The woman's voice is not prohibited to be heard; but the prohibition occurs when she softens or sweetens her speech and talks in a manner that causes temptation. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.}[Quran 33:32] Allah The Almighty did not Say, "Do not talk to men," but He Says: {Do not be soft in speech}. Softness of speech is more specific than general talking.

Therefore, it is permissible for a woman to speak to men if it does not lead to temptation. Women would go to the Prophet, , and talk to him, and people around him would hear their speech and the Prophet's reply. This is not evil at all. However, there should be no meeting in private except in the presence of a Mahram (non-marriageable male) and lack of temptation. However, a man is not allowed to take pleasure in listening to [the voice of] a woman, psychologically or sexually unless the woman is his wife.

 

·         Is display of women's hands prohibited? 

The predominant opinion in the Hanbali school of jurisprudence is that the woman's hands, like her face, are not permissible to be shown to non-Mahram (marriageable) men. Covering the hands appears to be the common practice of women at the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The evidence on this is that the Prophet, , said about the woman in the state of Ihraam (sacral state): "She should not wear Niqaab (face cover) or gloves" [Al-Bukhari] The Prophet's prohibition for the woman in the state of Ihraam from wearing gloves implies that wearing gloves was the practice of women. In other words, if the women did not use to wear gloves at the time of the Prophet, , he would not have forbidden them from wearing them in the state of Ihraam.

The Muslim woman has to fear Allah The Almighty and should not appear in a way which causes temptation. Allah The Almighty addressed the Prophet's wives, the purest women, Saying (what means):

 

·         {And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.} [Quran 33:33]

·         {And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.} [Quran 33:53]

 

If a person claims that this ruling is exclusive to the wives of the Prophet, , we would say: purity of the heart is required for both wives of the Prophet, , and other women. The fact that Hijab helps in realizing purity of the hearts of men and women indicates that there is no difference between the wives of the Prophet, , and other women.

I know that Hijab – for some people – means covering the whole body of the woman except the face, but the truth which is supported by evidence and necessitated by sound reasoning and reports, is that the woman has to cover her face. The face is the source of temptation and desire, and nobody doubts that the first thing men seek in women is beauty of the face, before any other part. So, a Muslim woman should fear Allah The Almighty, observe modesty, keep away from temptation and cover her face in order to block evil and corruption.

 

·         Wearing gloves in front of non-Mahram (marriageable) men 

What is the ruling on a woman wearing gloves so that her hands would not appear when speaking to non-Mahram men in the markets?

It is good of a woman to cover her hands before non-Mahram men, and every woman should wear gloves so that her hands are not exposed. The Prophet, , said: "A woman in the state of Ihraam (sacral state) should not wear Niqaab (face cover) or gloves."This Hadeeth probably indicates that it was customary for women to wear gloves. Gloves on the hands perfect a woman’s covering and enhances protection from temptation. Gloves, however, should not be eye-catching.

 

·         The face is the source of temptation 

Muslim jurists differ about many issues in Islamic jurisprudence, such as the issue of what the Hijab (Islamic covering) entails. Such divergence arose according to the reported narrations on the issue. What is the Hijab approved by the Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) for women?

The Sharee‘ah-approved Hijab is the woman's covering of what she is forbidden to show or covering what she is obliged to cover. The face is most entitled to be covered because it is the source of temptation and the part of the body that men desire. Thus, it is obligatory for a woman to cover her face from non-Mahram men. It is a very strange view that someone claims that the Sharee‘ah-approved Hijab is covering the head, the neck, the bosom, the feet, the legs, and the arms, and permits the woman to uncover her face and hands. The face is the area that men desire and it is a source of temptationFurthermore, how can we say that Islamic Sharee‘ah forbids the woman to display her feet but permits her to display the face? This cannot exist in the sublime and wise Sharee‘ah which is above contradictions, and everyone knows that the temptation in displaying the face is greater than the temptation in displaying the feet. It is also known that the part that men desire in women is the face. For that reason, if you tell a suitor that his prospective fiancée has beautiful feet, but her face is ugly, he would not propose to her. On the contrary, if you tell him that she has a beautiful face, but her hands, palms or legs are less beautiful, he would propose to her. Therefore, the face is the part of the body which is more entitled to be covered.

There is a great deal of evidence from the Quran, the Sunnah (tradition), and the sayings of the Companions, Imaams and scholars of Islam supporting that a woman must cover all her body from non-Mahram (marriageable) men. They also prove that she is obliged to cover her face from non-Mahram men. The context does not befit listing the evidence here, but we wrote a brief yet useful article on this issue.

 

·         What is your advice for a Muslim who prevents his wife from wearing Hijab? 

 

We advise him to fear Allah The Almighty regarding his wife and praise Him that He granted him a wife like her who wants to carry out the commands of Allah The Almighty by wearing the Sharee‘ah-approved dress which guarantees her safety from temptation.

Allah The Almighty ordered His faithful slaves to save themselves and their families from Hell. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.} [Quran 66:6]

The Prophet, , also laid the responsibility for the family on the man, saying: "A man is a caretaker of his family and he is responsible for his wards." [Al-Bukhari] Thus, how is it possible that a man tries to force his wife to discard her Islamic dress and wear prohibited clothing which could be a cause of temptation?.

In addition, a wife is not allowed to obey him by disobeying Allah The Almighty, since it is a rule of the Sharee’ah that no creature is to be obeyed in disobedience of the Creator.

Rulings on Interaction with Marriageable Men - II
Rulings on Interaction with Marriageable Men - III