Going to Beaches in Summer

Going to Beaches in Summer

Question
Dear scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. Is it permissible for a Muslim to enjoy summer at the beach ? And what are the conditions for enjoying the beach in summer ? Jazakum Allah khayran. ( Question By : Shadi - United States )

Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother in Islam, thanks a lot for your question, which reflects your care to have a clear view of the teachings of Islam. Allah commands Muslims to refer to people of knowledge to become well acquainted with the teachings of Islam as well as all aspects of life.

Going to beaches for recreation is permissible for any Muslim. Practicing Muslims are not to be denied this right. Practicing Muslims, like anyone else, are free to enjoy the fresh air of the sea.

Almighty Allah permits Muslims to enjoy the lawful things He gave to them. Among these lawful things is sightseeing and enjoying the beauty of the universe. Almighty Allah says: (Say: Who hath forbidden the adornment of Allah which He hath brought forth for His bondmen, and the good things of His providing?) (Al-A`raf 5:32). But this should be within the prescribed limits, not to fall into that which is haram.

In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

In Islam, we are warned against sins of nudity, promiscuity, and permissiveness that corrupt the soul as well as the mind. They all lead to temptations, which lead to sins, and sins eventually lead to Hellfire and eternal perdition.

It is therefore imperative that, while enjoying summer at the beach, we specifically avoid areas associated with the above and find locations or times where we will be staying clear of the above completely.

While enjoying summer at the beach as a group, we are not allowed to practice indiscriminate mingling of sexes, nor are we allowed to expose our `awrah to others. Remember `awrah includes all parts of the body that we must keep covered from others (except our lawful spouses).

Finally, while enjoying summer activities we must never forget our Prayers or other essential Islamic duties of worship.

You can assign different areas of the beach for males and females for activities such as swimming, or divide the time by making schedules for them.

Use your creative mind to think of halal (lawful) alternatives, for Allah assures us that for everything He has declared as haram (unlawful) for us, there is always a halal alternative in Islam. Therefore, our challenge is to find the halal alternative.

For as long as the above mentioned factors are taken into consideration, there are no restrictions on enjoying summer at the beach.

Do I Need My Husband's Permission to Cut My Hair ?

Do I Need My Husband's Permission to Cut My Hair ?

Question
Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. If a woman wants to cut her hair, should she seek the permission of her husband ? Jazakum Allah khayran. ( Question By : Salwa )

Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, we commend your pursuit of knowledge and your keenness to seek what is lawful and avoid what is not. We earnestly implore Allah to bless your efforts in this honorable way.

It is to be stressed that the relations between the spouses should be based on tranquility, love and mercy. It is the duty of the husband and wife to see that they are a source of comfort and tranquility for each other. They should do everything physically, emotionally and spiritually to make each other happy and comfortable and avoid anything that violates this happiness and comfort.

In response to the question you raised, the European Council for Fatwa and Research issued the following Fatwa:

There is hair trimming that a woman does from time to time and that a husband may not even notice due to the very slight alteration being made. Women usually do this so that their hair does not become so long as to be difficult to manage. This form of hair shortening does not usually require the permission of the husband.

However, there are forms of hair shortening and alteration that completely change the appearance of the woman, which may surprise the husband if he wasn't consulted. This form of alteration requires the agreement of the husband and wife so that their relationship is not affected by this radical change in the woman's appearance. Due to the fact that a Muslim woman does not show her hair in public nor in front of non-mahram men, it is true that the husband has the foremost right to enjoy his wife's hair.

A wise woman would be sure to pursue all means of maintaining love and affection between herself and her husband, ultimately leading to good Muslim households becoming the real basis of good Muslim societies.

JEANS for girls

JEANS for girls

Question

1. I am a new convert and I am having issues on dressing moderately. At the moment, I do not have the means to be able to get new clothing, and I'm very confused if what I do have is appropriate because I do have to leave the house a lot.Mostly, I have just T-shirts and jeans, not even any long-sleeved shirts. For the time being, is this alright? This has really been confusing me as every Muslim I talk to says something different. Thank you so much. ( Question By : Fatima- England )

2. Actualy I wear jeans and peaple says me that u should wear suit but jeans is long and i wear long and lose top which covers my back also and I sometimes use muffler also. It covers everything like suit then also some people says that jeans and all are male dress, but acording to islam suit is not islamic dress bcoz its punjabi. In saudia nobody wears suit. I want some sugestions from u that cant i wear jeans and if the answer is no or yes then why ? ( Question By : Sara- N-Delhi, India)

Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Sisters, we are very happy to receive your questions and see how far our Muslim sisters are concerned about the ethics of their religion.

First of all, it should be clear that Islamic dress code for women is primarily intended to safeguard their modesty, dignity, and honor. Though Islam doesn't force women to wear a specific style or type of clothes, it declares some conditions that the Muslim woman dress should meet. While abiding by these Islamic ethics, a woman can still choose good-looking and comfortable clothes.

New Muslims should try their best to adopt Islamic ethics and morals. They will be greatly rewarded by Allah for their patience and forbearance.

Responding to your question, Wael `Abdel-Mut`aal Shihab is the Deputy of the Managing Editor of the IOL Shari`ah Department (Eng.). He graduated from Al-Azhar University, and got his M. A. from Al-Azhar in Islamic Studies, major on Islamic Jurisprudence and Its Principles. Now, he is working on his Ph. D. on the Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence at Al-Azhar university, states,

Sisters, thank you for your question. We welcome you to Islam among your Muslim brothers and sisters.Regarding your question, as a Muslim, you should wear proper clothes that meet the Shari`ah conditions. In case you are not able to buy new clothes that meet the requirements of hijab, try to pick and choose from among your clothes what is suitable and acceptable. You will be greatly rewarded by Allah for abiding by these ethics. Following are the requirements that your clothes should meet:

1. They should cover all your body with the exception of the hands and face.
2. They should not be transparent or revealing.
3. They should not be tight in a way that shows your body features; the clothes should be loose-fitting.
4. They should not be clothes that are peculiar to men in your community; women should not wear clothes that are known to be worn only by men and vice versa.

Having stated the above, it should be clear that Islam does not ask women to wear a specific style or type of clothes. Hence, any clothes that you wear which meet the above requirements—whether it is one, two, or three pieces, or it is made of jeans, cotton, or polyester—are acceptable.

Sister, if you don’t have the means to buy new clothes that meet the above conditions, then you can easily choose from your clothes what could meet these conditions. I am sure that you can successfully do that in a convenient way.

Moreover, avoid clothes that don't meet the above conditions; they are not proper for you.

Sister, though it might be difficult, especially at the beginning, to make that shift in your dress style, bear in mind that you will be greatly rewarded and blessed by Allah for abiding by the Islamic ethics.

Removing Hair between the Eyebrows

Removing Hair between the Eyebrows

Question
As-Salamu `alaykum! Is it permissible for a man to remove hair from the chest, back, and between the eyebrows?

Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Brother, first of all, we’d like to say that we are impressed by your question, which emanates from a thoughtful heart. May Allah Almighty help us all adhere to the principles of this true religion, Islam, and enable us to be among the dwellers of Paradise in the Hereafter, Ameen.

As for your question, Dr. Rif`at Fawzi, professor of Shari`ah at Cairo Univ., states:

"There is no evidence from the Qur'an or the Sunnah that forbids cutting short the hair from the chest and back; but the removal of hair from these parts may be considered a form of imitating women, something forbidden according to the hadith: 'May Allah's curse be inflicted on women imitating men and vice versa.' As for women, it is permissible for them to remove hair from these parts because it causes them harm.

As for removing the hair from between the eyebrows, it is lawful, because it is not part of the eyebrows. But as for plucking the eyebrows, it is forbidden and not permissible in Islam, according to the Hadith: 'May Allah's curse be inflicted upon women who pluck their eyebrows, and women hired to do this.'

What is prohibited is an-Nams, which denotes removing the hair of the eyebrows by plucking in order to make it thin. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have cursed both women who do the plucking and those who seek to have it done. (Reported by Abu Dawud)"

Islamic Fashion Shows Displaying Hijab

Islamic Fashion Shows Displaying Hijab

Question
As-salamu alaykum.Is it OK for hijab to look pretty (colorful, artistic)? And is it OK to hold Islamic fashion shows that display beautiful hijab clothing on models or to promote those clothes online?Thanks in advance!

Answer
Wa `alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear sister in Islam, thank you for the confidence you place in us, and we implore Almighty Allah to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

As far as Islamic Shari`ah is concerned, there is nothing wrong for hijab to be colorful and artistic as long as it is not unusually attractive. One of the objectives of hijab is modesty and bashfulness. A Muslim woman is obliged to wear hijab, which is part of the beauty and ornament that cannot be concealed.

In his response to your question, Sheikh Mohamed El-Moctar El-Shinqiti, director of the Islamic Center of South Plains, Lubbock, Texas, states,

Almighty Allah says, [They (women) should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof] (An-Nur 24:31). Hijab is part of the beauty and ornament that cannot be concealed, and should not be concealed. There is nothing wrong for hijab to be colorful or artistic unless it is unusually attractive and flashy.As for Islamic fashions and using models, they go against the objective of hijab, which is modesty and bashfulness. Therefore, I do not think it is permissible. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Allah is Good, and He only accepts that which is good." And for every good thing, the means toward achieving it must be good as well.

Must a Muslim Woman Be Dressed in Black ?

Must a Muslim Woman Be Dressed in Black ?

Question
Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. My only question is this: Is it necessary for a Muslim woman to wear black ?

Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner! Thank you for this question, which reflects a true desire to learn more about Islam and its guidance and to live accordingly.

In the first place, it should be noted that there are certain requirements for a Muslim woman's dress. These are:
1. It must cover the whole body.
2. It must not be tight or transparent.
3. It must not delineate the parts of the body, especially those parts that are sexually attractive.
4. It must not be a dress that is usually worn by men.

Jurists, including Imam Ash-Shafi`i, have unanimously agreed that hijab is obligatory upon every woman; however, they differ on covering the face. Some jurists hold that the face must be covered whereas others maintain that it is merely a recommended act.

There is no specific significance for the color black to say that the dress should be black. In some cultures, certain colors are reserved for men; in such a case, a woman should not wear those colors while in that cultural setting.

Elaborating on this issue, Sheikh Muhmmad Saleh Al-Munajjid, a prominent Muslim scholar and Saudi lecturer, issues the following fatwa:

“It is not one of the conditions pertaining to the Muslim woman's dress that it should be black. A woman may wear whatever she wants, so long as she does not wear a color that is only for men [according to the custom of the country], and she does not wear a garment that is an adornment in itself, that is, decorated and adorned in such a way that it attracts the gaze of men, because of the general meaning of the verse:‘and not to show off their adornment…’ (An-Nur: 31)

“This general meaning includes the outer garment, if it is decorated. Abu Dawud narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Do not prevent the female slaves of Allah from attending the mosques of Allah, but let them go out unadorned.”

In the Fatwas of the Standing Committee for Fatwa and Research in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia we read:

"It is not permissible for a woman to go out in a decorated garment that attracts people’s gaze, because this is something that tempts men.

“The dress of the Muslim woman need not only be black. It is permissible for her to wear any color of clothing so long as it covers her `awrah (the parts of the body that have to be covered), does not resemble men’s clothing, and is not so tight as to show the shape of her limbs or so thin as to show what is beneath it, and does not provoke temptation.

“It is not a must for women to wear black. They may wear other colors that are worn only by women, do not attract attention, and do not provoke desire.

“Many women choose to wear black, not because it is obligatory, but because it is farthest removed from being an adornment. There are reports that indicate that the women of the Companions used to wear black. Abu Dawud narrated that Umm Salamah said: ‘When the words ‘and to draw their veils all over juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms [one interpretation of the meaning])’ (An-Nur: 31) were revealed, the women of the Ansar (Helpers) went out looking as if there were crows on their heads because of their garments.''

“This is to be understood as meaning that those clothes were black in color.”

Requirements of Hijab

Requirements of Hijab

Question
Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. Is it enough for a female to wear loose skirts or trousers and knee-length, long-sleeved shirts with a hijab that comes down over the shoulders and chest? Or must an `abaya or jilbab be worn over it? I am a student who is currently on holiday and I wore `abayas all through this Ramadan, as I don't know what the correct dress is. But I will soon be going back to college and I think it will be difficult for me to go around in `abayas all the time. Please clarify this issue for me as soon as possible.

Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear sister in Islam, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.Islam does not prohibit women from going out to fulfill their needs, but it lays down a proper code of behavior, which is primarily intended to safeguard the modesty, dignity and honor of men and women.In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

It is important to remember that the purpose of hijab in Islam is not to cut women out from participating in the activities of the society or to keep men and women utterly segregated or to make it hard for women to function normally in life. Rather the purpose of hijab is to help women maintain their dignity and honor as free persons and to help them fulfill their obligations smoothly and comfortably.So the requirements of hijab are never oppressive or restrictive in any way; here are the requisites of hijab or proper Islamic attire for women:
1. It should cover her whole body except face and hands.
2. It should be loose-fitting.
3. It should not be transparent or revealing.
4. It should not be an attire specifically worn by men only.

So long as your attire fulfills the above conditions, you don’t have to worry. Remember Allah has not revealed religion to make life difficult; rather it is intended to make it easy and comfortable for us. Allah says: (He has not laid upon you in religion any hardship) (Al-Hajj 22: 78). (Allah wishes to lighten the burden for you; for certainly man has been created weak!) (An-Nisaa’ 4: 28).

Dress Code for Muslim Women: Why?

Dress Code for Muslim Women: Why?

Question
Hello, I am a non-Muslim Canadian employer, and have Muslims and non-Muslims working for me. Amongst the Muslim women that work for me, there are a few who insist on adhering to a particular type of religious dress, but the majority does not. I find it strange that only a minority insists on covering themselves from top to bottom, and want to know why should I cater to them?

Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear Jack, thanks a lot for your good question which is a sign of your kind heart and gentle manners.The dress code for Muslims and non-Muslims living in a certain country is meant to maintain purity and chastity of the country. All members of the community should respect the religious freedom of all of the citizens. Freedom and justice should be guaranteed for all as guaranteed by the constitutional rights that are meant to preserve the fabric of the community.

In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada , states:

I appreciate your query; let me elucidate the issue as best as I can in this limited forum:

The Islamic dress code for women as well as men entails wearing modest attire that is intended to preserve their human dignity, while concealing parts of the body that may invite undue attention from members of the opposite sex. Proper Islamic attire is meant to manifest purity and chastity, the same philosophy underlying the dress code for Christian sisters, monks or those who are in a convent.

This obligation and requirement is imposed in Islam on both genders. According to the teachings of the Qur’an, further explained by the Prophetic precedents, which together constitute the twin fundamental sources of Islam, both men and women are to do everything possible to guard their looks, actions and thoughts while coming in contact with members of the opposite sex. They are advised to avoid clothes that are tight, transparent, or that which reveals the contours of their body and invite attention from members of the opposite sex. For obvious physiological reasons, the requirements differ between the genders. With respect to the requirements for women, it is that any clothes worn must be loose (in terms of fitting) and modest while covering the entire body except the face, hands or feet up-to ankles when required for daily work.

The above dress code is based on the consensus among jurists and scholars belonging to all of the schools of jurisprudence that Muslims follow all over the world. The only difference of opinion among them pertains with respect to the permissibility of revealing face and hands, which, according to the majority, is perfectly justified for daily business and human interactions. This position is elaborated in all the works of the Qur’anic exegeses as well as expounded in the leading works of Islamic jurisprudence. Examples of the first category are the works of Tabari, Qurtubi, Ibn `Atiyyah, Ibn Kathir, while the works of the latter include those of Ibn Al-Humam, Ibn `Abideen, An-Nawawi, Shirazi, Suhnoon, Dusuqi, Ibn Qudamah, etc., the modern works of jurisprudence include those of Jad Al-haq, Makhluf, both ex-rectors of Al-Azhar, the preeminent Islamic University in the world, and Al-Qaradawi, Zaydan, etc., of the contemporary jurists.

It must however be pointed out that the above dress code for women is only applicable when women venture out to public space where they come in direct contact with members of the opposite sex, while they are free to wear what they choose in the confines of their homes with their spouses.

It is true that some Muslim men and women may or may not observe all of the above rules, but it must be stressed that those who are conscious of their religion would insist on them as an absolute requirement (as they are within their right to), and they would consider failure to be able to do so as a definite breach of faith. The fact that others may not live up to the ideals should not be used against those who wish to do so.

I urge you to respect the religious freedom of all of the citizens that make up this wonderful country so that the constitutional rights of all are fully safeguarded, for in taking away another’s freedom, we are inadvertently taking away our own freedom, and undermining the very foundations of our civil society which guarantees freedom and justice for all.

Woman’s Feet: Are They `Awrah?

Woman’s Feet: Are They `Awrah?

Question
As-Salamu `Alaykum. I hope you can help clarify things for me regarding the covering of the woman’s feet. Is it mandatory for women to cover their feet or not? I know there are differences of opinion regarding the issue. I hope you can guide me towards the right opinion, Insha’ Allah. May Allah Almighty reward you for your good deeds. Jazakum Allah Khayran!

Answer
Wa`alaykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, thank you very much for having confidence in us, and we hope our efforts, which are purely for Allah’s Sake, meet your expectations.

First of all, we would like to direct our dear questioner’s attention to the fact that a committed Muslim woman is required to cover her `Awrah, and to keep her Muslim identity in public.

Referring to the aforementioned fact, Allah Almighty says: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigor, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.” (An-Nur: 31-32)

Focusing more on the question in point, Dr. `Abdul-Kareem Zidan, professor of Shari`ah at Al-Azhar University, states the following:

“The majority of Muslim jurists state that the woman’s feet is `Awrah. However, the Hanafis maintain that the woman’s feet are not `Awrah. I myself prefer the opinion of the Hanafis.

However, the Shafi`is, the Zahiris, Imam Al-Awza`ie, and Imam Malik, maintain that whole of the woman’s body is `Awrah except her face and hands.

However, some of the Hanbalis maintain that whole of the woman’s body is `Awrah because Imam At-Tirmidhi reported in his Hadith that the woman’s body is `Awrah (i.e. with the exception of her face and hands as daily dealing warrants uncovering them). Thus, the proponents of this opinion permitted the woman to uncover her face and hands because it is difficult for her to behave with them being covered in her daily life activities.”

Moreover, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, adds:

“With respect to non-Mahrem men and non-Muslim women, a woman's `Awrah is her entire body with the exception of her face and hands, according to the interpretation we have preferred.

We agree with Imam Al-Razi’s argument that Islam has permitted the woman to expose those parts of the body, the face and hands, which need to be exposed in order to carry out daily business and for giving and taking; it has commanded her to cover what it is not necessary to expose, and has forgiven her accidental, inadvertent exposures or such exposures as are required by necessity. All this is in accordance with the flexibility of Islam.

Imam Al-Razi, states: "Since the showing of the face and hands is necessary, the jurists had no choice but to agree that they are not `Awrah, and since the showing of the feet is not necessary, they have differed concerning whether or not they are `Awrah.'' (Tafsir of Fakhr al-Deen al-Razi, vol. 20, pp. 205-206)"