Covering in front of in-laws
:salam2:
Regarding the permissiblity for a woman to uncover in front in-laws.
First, the brothers and cousins of the husband are not Mahram for his wife simply because they are his brothers or cousins. Therefore, it is not allowed for his wife to uncover in front of them what she cannot uncover in front of non-Mahram men. This is true even if they are very pious and trustworthy. Allah (SWT) has delineated whom a woman may expose her beauty to in verse Al-Nur 24:31 in which He says:
"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils* all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islâm), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful."
Therefore, neither the brothers of the husband, nor the children of the brothers of the husband, nor the husband’s cousins are from that group, even though they are related to him. Allah (SWT) makes no distinction in this matter between pious people and others. This is safer for the honor of people. It also blocks the road to sin and evil. It is confirmed in an authentic Hadith that the Prophet (SAW) was asked about the male-in-laws and he (SAW) said, "The in-laws are death." [Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: Asma, daughter of AbuBakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands. [Sunnan Abu Dawud 32:4092]
Also, when asked about the obligation of covering in front of in-laws, Shaykh Muqbil bin Haadee (ra) responded:
"If they [the in-laws] are present with her then so [she must cover], otherwise if she is in a room by herself then no [there is no need to remain covered], and nor is it permissible for her to be alone with any one of the brothers of her husband, and likewise it is obligatory for her to cover her face and her hands if she is present amongst them and there are others present or if there is no seclusion. Since there is no man left alone with another woman except that the Shaitaan is the third of them, and what is authentic from the statements of the people of knowledge is that it is obligatory for her to cover her face and hands infront of strangers."
Shaykh Muqbil bin Haadee
Ghaaratul ashritah, 'alaa ahlil jahl was-safsatah, volume 2, page 219
Translated by Aboo Haatim Muhammad Farooq
(sources: fatwa-online.com
The Obligatory Conditions For An Islaamic Hijaab
1. Covering ALL Of The Body
It is an agreed position by many respected scholars that the face and hands of the woman must be covered. Some scholars say it is permissible to uncover the face and the hands of the woman as long as there is no fitna (infatuation) caused by this action. Two things must be taken into consideration
a) if she is beautiful and beautifies her face and hands with external substances, or
b) the society around her is corrupt where men do not lower their gaze, then it is prohibited for her to uncover her face and hands.
Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba: 'Aisha (RA) used to say: "When (the Verse): "They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms," was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces." [Sahih Bukhari Book 6 Vol 60 Hadith 282, Sunnan Abu Dawud 32:4091]
2.The hijab must not be a display
The hijab itself must not be a display. Allaah ordained it so as to cover the beauty of women and not for showing off. Allaah (swt) says `And not show of their adornment except only that which is apparent.' (S24:31).
It is in no way logical that the hijab itself be a source of display.
3. The hijab must not be transparent The purpose of wearing hijab must be achieved. In order for the hijab to be a cover, it must not be made of transparent material making the woman covered only by name, while in reality she is naked. The prophet (pbuh) is quoted as saying: "In the latest part of my Ummah (nation of Muslims) there shall be women who would be naked in spite of being dressed, they have their hair high like the humps of the Bukht camel, curse them, for they are cursed. They will not enter Al-Jannah and would not even perceive its odor, although it's fragrance can be perceived from a distance of 500 years travelling by camel" This indicates that a woman could cause herself a grave and destructive sin if she puts on a garment that is thin and transparent and which clearly shapes her body's features.
4.Hijab must be roomy, and not tight.
The hijab is a safeguard against fitna [infatuation/impermissible actions]. If it is tight, it will be descriptive of the woman's body and this violates and defeats the whole purpose of hijab.
5.The hijab must not be perfumed
On the authority of Ad'Diya Al-Maqdisi, the prophet (pbuh) said:
"Any woman who perfumes herself and passes by some people that they smell her scent, then she is a Zaniyah (adulteress)."
6. The hijab shouldn't resemble the dress of a man
Imam Ahmed, an-Nissa'ee reported the prophet (pbuh) to have said: "Women who assume the manners of men are not from us and also those of men who assume the manners of women." Abu Huraira narrated that: "The Prophet (pbuh) CURSED the man who wears the dress of a woman and the woman who wears the dress of a man."
7.The hijab must not resemble the garments of the kuffar (the disbelievers)
Abu Dawoud and Ahmed have related the prophet (pbuh) said: "The one who take the similitude (manner) of a certain people, then he/she becomes one of them."
Abdullah bin Ummar (RA) said: "The Prophet (pbuh) saw me wearing two garments dyed in saffron (orange), whereupon he said: these are the clothes (usually worn) by the kuffar, so do not wear them."
8.The hijab should not be for fame
Abu Dawoud and Ibn Majah have related the prophet to saying: "The one who wears a garment designed for a worldly fame, Allaah will make them wear a garment of humility on the Day Of Resurrection then he will be set ablaze." The garment of fame is any garment a person wears to make themselves look famous. This applies whether the garment is highly precious and shows admiration to the life of this world or if it is chosen of a low quality to show lack of interest to this worldly life. The person may put on clothes with distinct colors so as to draw attention, act proudly and/or arrogantly.
9.Concealed ways of display
Examining the various conditions about the hijab one can clearly recognize that many of the young Muslim women are not fulfilling these conditions. Many just take "half-way" measures, which not only mocks the community in which she lives, but also mocks the commands of Allaah (swt). They consider what they put on now wrongly as "hijab" So, O muslimoon, be mindful to Allaah (swt) and His Messenger (pbuh), and do not deceived by those who "bless" this action of yours and conceal their true intentions. Do not be deceived, and there is no excuse to follow the evil.
If you are sincere in achieving Al-Jannah, then be mindful of these things, insha'Allaah
Remember, the Prophet
has said:
"Al-Hayaa (modesty & bashfulness) is from Imaan (belief) and Imaan is in Al-Jannah (the Paradise)." [At-Tirmidhi - Saheeh]
May Allah increase you in doing actions which please Him, accept your prayers and grant you His Firdaus (the highest place in Paradise). Ameen.
Your Brother in Islam,
Ahmad bin Christopher
