Waleed Basyouni – Should The Niqaab Be Mandatory In The US
AI: Summary ©
The host of a show called "Soon as You Can," discusses the issue of covering one's face in certain circumstances, and suggests that it is safer to cover one's face in certain circumstances. The host also suggests that it is unlikely to be a problem for women to cover their face, and encourages viewers to be friendly and not judge others.
AI: Summary ©
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As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah, sheikh.
Wa alaykum as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.
There is this question about niqab, if it
is wajib, obligatory, especially in the U.S.
The niqab is basically covering most of the
face except the eyes, or some scholars said
covering the face.
That's what usually the fuqaha talk about it,
the whole entire face.
Is it something, is the face awrah, must
be covered or not?
This is an issue of debate between the
Muslim scholars.
One opinion among the Hanbala that it is
awrah and it must be covered, and also
one opinion among the Shafi'iyya said the
face is awrah and need to be covered.
While there is other opinions in these two
madhab, and the Maliki and the Hanafi said
no, it's not awrah.
And you'll find also opinion in the Hanafi
and the Maliki said to cover.
So, you'll find the fuqaha, rahimallah, debate over
this.
Some of them cover because awrah, some said
cover because fitna, you know, it's much safer
for the woman and so forth.
For me, it seems to be that covering
the face can be only obligatory in certain
circumstances.
If she feels like somebody looking at her
with desire, in this case she just cover
her face.
You know, or she feel there is not
comfortable with that look and that close interacting,
she cover her face until she move away
from that situation.
Other than that, no.
And as for America versus not America, Alhamdulillah
we live in a country that allowed you,
it's permissible for you to cover your face
if you wish, if you want to do
that.
And if you don't want to do that,
it's like there is not new rules to
force this in it.
If you're looking at it from the perspective
of, is it much safer to cover your
awrah in America or not safer to?
I think, you know, the face, sorry, the
face is more safer or not.
I think it is more acceptable to the
society when you don't cover your face.
I think it is much, much safer, I
would argue maybe, I don't know.
If you're going to look at it from
that perspective, because it's not something common among
Muslims to cover the face.
So, with this being said, I think it's
what you feel comfortable with, Alhamdulillah.
What I really would like to say about
this as well, some people think that, oh,
this is highest level of Iman and stuff
like that to cover their face.
I don't think you should approach it this
way and you think you're so better than
anybody else just because you cover the face,
because the majority of the Fuqaha said you
don't have to.
So, and it is permissible.
So, you're not doing something like, okay, this
is like higher level of Iman.
Some people take it as a challenge for
themselves, which is, in my opinion, just a
wrong approach to the whole issue.
I mean, added to that is the attitude
sometimes of the people who are not covering
their faces towards the sisters who are covering
their faces.
Sometimes it would be, let's say, feeling like
they're judgmental a little bit, or maybe they're
not comfortable with seeing a sister covering her
face.
Beautiful.
So, what do you say to that?
Jazakallah khair.
That's a very good point.
We see sometimes some Muslims have Islamophobia kind
of towards the sister who wears niqab.
And they said, oh, these are too strict.
This is like backwards.
No, it's not.
Those sisters following a very strong opinion among
the Fuqaha and a very common opinion among
the Fuqaha.
You know, the Fuqaha said it is wajib
or recommended.
You know, it's permissible.
So, she's not coming with something like, you
know, out of the ordinary.
No, it was the most common practice about
100 years ago.
Most of the Muslim country, most of women
cover their face.
Only after the colonization of Muslim world from
the Western world, that covering the face became
not the norm.
But before that time, actually, it was very
common.
If you look at pictures in Syria and
Egypt and Eastern Europe like Albania and this
area, you will find majority of women cover
their face.
And even in Europe, it used to be
also a common thing for women to cover
their face.
So, I think we should not look down
upon, let's not judge them, should not claim
that they are strict or anything of that
nature.
At the same time, you know, be friendly.
Alhamdulillah.
Good point.
Thank you.
Jazakallah khair.
Mubarak Allah for you.
Jazakallah khair.
Thank you very much for your questions.
We'll see you next episode.