Taking off the Hijab in Hostile America?

September 4, 2010

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Question

I have a question concerning hijab when leaving the home in hostile places. I reside in the US, and where I live is a place ( US State) where there are a lot of fundamentalist Christians that hate Islam and Muslims. Most of the time, I have to go out alone because of the type of work my husband does, and I don’t have any Muslim relatives. I have been wrapping my scarf or wearing a hat and dressing modestly. I cover everything except my ears, face, and hands. I dress in a way that doesn’t traditionally point out the fact that I am Muslim. I don’t know if this is ok under my circumstances. I need some insight on this matter.

Also, I cover this way with my husband. There are radical groups here that are capable of hurting whole families. We are unable to relocate, even if we move a couple states away we have the same problem. This section of the US, where we live, is known as very racist and the major states in which fundamentalist Christians reside. Moving further North or out West is economically impossible for us.

Answered by: Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

Assalamu alaykum

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful.

Hijab is an obligation for all Muslim women and a very important part of faith. Thus, it has to be observed to the best of ones ability.

The more a person learns of the greatness of Allah and the beauty of their faith it become more easy to follow the faith from the heart and make sacrifices for it.

Since hijab is such an important part of Islam it has to be observed and cannot be given up just on the basis that there are hostile people in the area. Yes, if the case was such that women going out with hijab were sure to be attacked then they should restrict their venturing out, and if they have to leave the house due to some necessity, then they could take other measures to protect themselves.

You could move to a larger city where there is a significant Muslim community or at least closer to one. Such communities exist in nearly all larger cities around the US. This way you can gain support through other sisters who observe the correct dress code and strengthen your faith too.

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).

1 Comment

Subhanna Allah, Brother Tariq you might want to check yourself. Fards are not optional, if you cannot practice the compulsory actions of Islam where you live, you cannot live there. That’s the bottom line.
Also learn some manners when addressing someone whose knowledge overshadows your own like a mountain overshadows a pebble.
Wa Alaikum Salam.

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Sandman says:

June 17, 2014 at 10:53 am

Subhanna Allah, Brother Tariq you might want to check yourself. Fards are not optional, if you cannot practice the compulsory actions of Islam where you live, you cannot live there. That’s the bottom line.
Also learn some manners when addressing someone whose knowledge overshadows your own like a mountain overshadows a pebble.
Wa Alaikum Salam.