Engagement with an unveiled woman

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In the name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

Question: Is it permissible for me to engage with a woman who performs the prayers but

she is unveiled. I plan to make her wear the veil (Jilbaab) after the marriage? What would

you advise me? May Allaah bless you.

Shaykh Aboo `Abd-al-Mu`iz `Alee Ferkous al-Qoobee: All praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of

the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allaah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon

his Family, his Companions and his Brothers until the Day of Resurrection:

Performing prayer must be a reason leading the person to be straightforward and honest.

The Prophet صلى هللا عليه وسلم said: “The first thing the human will be asked about in the Day of

Resurrection is his prayer; if it was well performed then all his work is well but if it was

performed in a bad way then all his work is bad”1.

Anyone whose prayer does not prevent him from obscenity and evil; his deeds are

incomplete. Being unveiled is one of obscenity’s facets, and Allaah سبحانه وتعالى ordered people

not to display their ‘Awra2 when He عز وجل said:

بني ءادم خذوا زينتكم عند كل مسجد ] [ي

The meaning of the verse:

[Ô Children of Aadam! Take your adornment while praying]3

He سبحانه وتعاىلalso said:

تكم وريشا ولباس ري سوء بني ءادم قد أنزلنا عليكم لباسا يو ت لتقوى ٱي لك من ءاي لك خير ذ ٱذ لعلهم لل

بني ءادم ل يفتننكم ٦٢يذكرون ن ٱي ن ويكمرج أب كما أخ لشيط ينزع عنهما لباسهما ليريهما لجنة ٱم

إنه تهما كم هو وقبيله ۥسوء طين ٱمن حيث ل ترونهم إنا جعلنا ۥيرى وإذا ٦٢أولياء للذين ل يؤمنون لشي

حشة قالوا وجدنا عليها ءاباءنا و فعلوا ٱف ٱأمرنا بها قل إن لل ٱأتقولون على لفحشاء ٱل يأمر ب لل ما ل لل

٨٢ تعلمون

1 Reported in such a wording by At-Tabaraanee in “Al-Mu‘jam Al-Awsat” (1859) and by Al-Maqdisee in “Al-

Ahaadeeth Al-Mukhtaara” (2579) from the hadeeth of Anas رضي هللا عنه. This hadeeth is judged authentic by Al-Albaanee in “Saheeh Al-Jaami‘ ” (2573) and in “As-Silsilah As-Saheehah” (1358). 2 For woman, all her body is ‘Awra except her face and her hands, and she is not allowed to uncover her

‘Awra before strangers (men that are not Mahram). Translator’s note. 3 [Soorah Al-A'raaf: 31].

Engagement with an unveiled woman

Shaykh Aboo `Abd-al-Mu`iz `Alee Ferkous al-Qoobee

Article taken and slightly adapted from: ferkous.com

بسم ميحرلا نمحرلا هللا

S p r e a d i n g t h e M e s s a g e o f I s l a m

Engagement with an unveiled woman

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The meaning of the verse:

[Ô Children of Aadam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves

(screen your private parts) and as an adornment; and the raiment of righteousness,

that is better. Such are among the proofs of Allaah, that they may remember. Ô

Children of Adam! Let not Satan deceive you, as he got your parents -Adam and

Eve- out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiment, to show them their private

parts. Verily, he and his soldiers see you from where you cannot see them. Verily,

we made the devils protectors and helpers for those who believe not. And when

they commit an evil deed, they say: “We found our fathers doing it, and Allaah has

commanded it on us”. Say: “Nay, Allaah never commands evil deed. Do you say of

Allaah what you know not]4

During the Ignorance Era, people used to go round the Ka‘bah in naked state. Hence,

displaying one’s private parts is generally regarded as obscenity. Allaah ordered women to

cover their bodies. He عز وجل said:

[ ج جن تبر هلية ٱوقرن في بيوتكن ول تبر ى لول ٱ لج ]

The meaning of the verse:

[And stay in your houses, and not display yourselves like that of times of

ignorance]5

He سبحانه وتعاىلsaid also:

[ أيها جك وبناتك ونساء لنبي ٱي زو بيبهن لمؤمنين ٱقل ل يدنين عليهن من جل ]

The meaning of the verse:

[Ô Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to

draw their Jalaabeeb (veils) all over their bodies]6

With this in mind, if a woman does not act in accordance with religious texts that command

to wear the veil and cover her body and whose prayer is not positively reflected on her

behaviour as regards quitting obscenity and evil deeds, we do not advise to betroth such a

woman. On the other hand, we are quite certain that after marrying her, he will not be able

to change her as he wants her to be. Therefore, the scholars have -basically- agreed on the

principle that: “Pushing [the evil] has precedence over remedying it”. Moreover, it is better

4 [Soorah Al-A‘raaf: 26-27-28].

5 [Soorah Al-Ahzaab: 33].

6 [Soorah Al-Ahzaab: 59].

Engagement with an unveiled woman

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to leave her rather than marrying her then divorcing or separating from her afterwards for

she does not obey her husband’s order. What is feared is worse than all this; he may be

influenced by this woman and he will, as a result, comply with her in her passion.

Consequently, he will fall into her trap and get influenced by her temptations. The outcome

is that he will approve of the evil deed after it became a good deed to him. And Allaah is The

Most Besought for help.

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allaah عز وجل; and our last prayer is all the praises and thanks are

to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds, and prayers of Allaah are to Muhammad and his Family,

Companions and Brothers until the Day of Resurrection.

Algiers on: Rajab the 20th, 1427 H. Corresponding to August the 14th, 2006 G.