Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

QUESTION:

Asalaamu Alaikum Mufti,
Alhamdulillah, Muslims all over the world are trying to spread Islam and may Allah bless them for their efforts .
there is one effort in particular called world hijab day which tries to educate non muslims about the hijab … groups of muslims in schools and universities are trying to educate our people here in trinidad and tobago and my wife wanted to get involved in it however she has some concerns
1) pictures of successful muslim women are being used to promote this on the internet and flyers …
2) women are the main drivers here where they interview members of the public both men and women

i read your article on pictures being haraam but is there any cases where these may be permissable for eg promotion of an islamic scholar coming to our shores and having a flyer with thier face on it and also are women allowed to speak to men for the purpose of spreading islam …

Jazaak Allah

ANSWER:

Wa Alaikum As Salaam,

The concept of ‘World Hijab day’ is not in keeping with the teachings and spirit of Islam. Every day one must make an effort to get others to wear the Hijab. The awareness of this should be made everyday in one’s life because it is a law of the Quran. A continuous effort should be made for one to ensure that all female folks of his /her family and other Muslim women are wearing the Hijab and is dressing properly according to the teachings of Islam.

This is not one which should be attended to on one given day. In reality, there isn’t and there cannot be a world hijab day. Who declares such a day? And what is the significance of naming a day with this name?

In my opinion, this is nothing but following the way of the non Muslims, who, because of their lack of attention and interest shown to certain things, have invented days such as ‘Mothers’ day’, ‘Fathers’ day’, ‘Children’s day’, Women’s day’, ‘World leprosy day’, ‘Street children day’, ‘World cancer day’ and the list goes on.

Muslim sisters should certainly be reminded about this command which Allah Has given to them to wear the Hijab, and it must be understood by Muslim sisters that hijab is not only about placing a scarf or a cloth over the head which is commonly referred by some as ‘hijab’. In truth, hijab is much more than that. It is about the entire attire/dress of a woman, her conduct, speech and manners.

Hijab requires a woman not to mix freely with the opposite sex, not to move about on the streets, parks and other places without a need to do so, and to strictly follow the guidelines given by Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w).

So when Muslim sisters get involved in such campaigns, they must first consider whether it is in accordance to the blessed teachings of Islam or not.

And Allah Knows Best.

Mufti Waseem Khan.

23/1/2014