Questions and Answers about Islamic Veil

In Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, adr-ul-Afāil, Sayyidunā Maulānā Muhammad Na’īmuddīn Murādābādī عَـلَيْهِ رَحۡمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ الۡـهَادِی explains the words ‘اَوۡ نِسَآئِہِنَّ’ (or the women of their religion): In a written message, Amīr-ul-Mu`minīn Sayyidunā ‘Umar Fārūq-e-A’am رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ instructed Sayyidunā Abū ‘Ubaydaĥ Bin Jarā رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ to prohibit non-Muslim women from bathing in public baths at the same time as Muslim women did. This proves that it is not permissible for a Muslim woman to expose her body in front of a non-Muslim woman.

A’lā Ḥaḍrat’s Fatwā

My master A’lā arat, Imām-e-Aĥl-e-Sunnat, scholar of Sharī’aĥ, guide of arīqaĥ, Ash-Shāĥ Imām Amad Razā Khān عَـلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ الـرَّحْمٰن says: The Islamic ruling is that it is as Wājib for women to observe veil with non-Muslim women as with non-Maram men. This means that it is not permissible for a Muslim woman to reveal any part of her hair, arms, wrists, or any part from her neck to below her ankles to a non-Muslim woman. (Fatāwā Razawiyyaĥ, vol. 23, pp. 692)

Veil with a female sinner

Question: Must an Islamic sister observe veil with a female sinner (Fājiraĥ)?

Answer: No. A Fāsiqaĥ is any woman who commits a major sin or repeatedly commits any minor sin, e.g. any woman who does not offer alāĥ, hurts her parents, backbites, or tells tales. Any woman who commits fornication, or any other indecent act is a Fājiraĥ as well as a Fāsiqaĥ. Observing veil with a Fāsiqaĥ is not necessary   but it is cautiously ordered to observe veil with a Fājiraĥ, avoiding her company is extremely important as it could have detrimental consequences.

 

Index