A woman taking off her Hijab in front of a blind man

18-3-2007 | IslamWeb

Question:

Salaam Alaikum .. Dear Shaikh, I found the following reply in one site, concerning the Niqaab: Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (RA) was asked: What is the ruling on observing hijab in front of a blind teacher? He replied: There is no hijab in front of a blind teacher because the Prophet (SAW) said to Faatimah bint Qays: “Observe your ‘iddah in the house of Ibn Umm Maktoom, for he is a blind man and you can take off your garment.” Narrated by Muslim (1480) Please advice if it's AUTHENTIC and if it's right to uncover in front of a blind man, knowing that THE WOMAN CAN STILL SEE HIM (A NON-MAHRAM)? Jazaak Allaahu Khairan
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

It is permissible for a woman to take off her Hijab in front of a blind man provided she is sure that no one else may see her; the evidence is the narration which you mentioned in the question and which was reported by Imaams Muslim and Ahmad may Allaah have mercy upon them.

As regards the narration in which the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) ordered Umm Salamah and Maymoonah may Allaah be pleased with them to observe Hijab in front of Ibn Umm Maktoom may Allaah be pleased with him then a group of scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them classified this narration as weak.

However, some scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them provided this narration as evidence proving that a woman is prohibited from looking at a non-Mahram man, as the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said to them: "Are both of your blind?" Therefore, the order to wear Hijab in this narration is for this purpose (i.e. forbidding women from looking at non-Mahram men).

As regards the issue of staying in seclusion with a man, then it is not permissible for a woman to stay in seclusion with a non-Mahram man even if he is blind because it is not safe for the woman to be sexually attracted by him and vice-versa, and because there are authentic Prophetic narrations which absolutely forbid a man from staying in seclusion with a non-Mahram woman.

Allaah Knows best.

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