Women’s Corner
Mufti Muḥammad Hashim Khan ‘Attāri Madani
1. The hair of a woman is also a part of her reserved area (ʿawrah)
Q: What do the honourable scholars of Islam say about the following matter: a woman wears a niqab and burqa, covering her entire body, but she allows the hair hanging from her head to go outside of her burqa, which means they can be seen from behind. Are the hair of a woman which hang considered a part of her ‘awrah or not? Will she be sinful for placing her hanging hair outside of her burqa or not? Please provide guidance in this matter.
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
A: The hair of a woman is part of her ʿawrah. So the woman is obliged to conceal all of her hair. Exposing her hair to non-mahram men is haram. In fact, women are obliged to even hide the hair that breaks away when combing or washing so that a non-mahram man does not see them. Therefore, if a woman who wears a burqa allows her hanging hair to be visible outside of her burqa, such that a non-mahram man sees them, she will be sinful, and it is necessary for her to conceal her hair.
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
2. Wearing new clothes during the sitting period (ʿidda)
Q: What do the honourable scholars of Islam say about the following matter: Hinda is currently in her sitting period after separation (khula)[1] from her husband, but she wore new clothing as a form of adornment. The question is: Is Hinda sinful for wearing new clothes during her ‘iddah?
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
A: Since khula results in irrevocable divorce (talaq bāʾin), and it is impermissible for a woman to adorn herself with perfume, new clothes, or something else during the sitting period of irrevocable divorce, Hinda was sinful, because she wore new clothing during the sitting period. New clothing is considered a form of adornment according to Islamic law and societal norms. She should repent.
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
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