My Father Does Not Want Me Wearing Islamic Clothing

September 4, 2010

Question

If my father says I’m not to go to the centre that prayers are taken place can i still go? If he’s forbade me to wear my juba too am I allowed to fullfill this sunnah I learnt of?

Answered by: Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

Assalamu alaykum

In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful

Obedience to parents has been emphasized by Allah in many instances in the Qur’an. It is an extremely important obligation. However, obedience to any creation of Allah can not stand in the way of obedience to Allah Himself.

As such, since the scholars have ruled that attending congregations for prayer is necessary for able adult males, or at least a very highly emphasized sunna (sunna mu’akkada) according to another opinion (Radd al-Muhtar 1:371), a person can leave the house to join congregations in the masjid, even if his parent’s prohibit him from doing so.

Islamic Garments

It would also be permissible to don garments which are distinctively Islamic in such a case, since we have learnt from our teachers that it is from the sunna to wear garments that are considered the dress of the pious and learned. The jubba (or thowb) is such a garment, so unless there is some imminent hazard or danger from wearing such clothing it would be permissible to wear a jubba when going to the masjid.

Acting Superior to One’s Parents

Having said this, it is not permissible to act superior to one’s parents in any way and look down upon them, just because one considers himself to be enlightened. It is unlawful and an enormity to rebuke them and treat them without kindness.

The best course of action one can take is to somehow show and convince them of the truth of traditional Islam away from cultural Islam, and highlight to them the peace and tranquility it brings. If the parent’s discover that their child has become a better human being, and not just a preacher or a sermonizer, insha’Allah, it will convince them of the beauty of Islam.

And Allah shows mercy to those who show mercy to others.

Wassalam,
Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

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Dr. Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf

Dr. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera is a British Muslim scholar educated in both the Islamic and Western traditions. He memorised the Qur’an by heart and graduated from the Darul Uloom seminary Bury, UK, and later earned a specialised licence to issue fatwa (legal responses) at Mazahir ‘Ulum Saharanpur, India. He earned his BA from the University of Johannesburg and completed his MA and PhD in Islamic Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He holds an honorary fellowship at The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Amman, Jordan. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman has the unique experience of serving as an imam in Muslim communities on both sides of the Atlantic, eight years in Southern California and over five in the great city of London—and his continued work as an international speaker and lecturer enables him to address and offer pertinent advice on current challenges that face Muslims in the West. He is the founder of Whitethread Institute, a post-graduate insititute for Islamic scholars. He is an avid traveller and continues to teach hadith and work on scholarly publications through White Thread Press (www.whitethreadpress.com). Many of his lectures are available on www.zamzamacademy.com and his courses through Rayyan Institute (www.rayyaninstitute.com).