Common Questions about Hijab and Related Issues

By: Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi

Common Questions about Hijab and Related Issues

1. What "casting down the glances" mean?

It means that a person should not look at the member of the opposite sex except for those parts that may be uncovered.

So, for instance, a man is allowed to look at the face and hands of a non-mahram lady who is not related to him provided it is not done in with a lustful intention. ("Mahram" means person in whose presence hijab is not required. See the list at end of this section.)

2. Is it permissible to shake hands with a person of opposite sex?

If the person is mahram, then it is permissible. But if the person is non-mahram, then it is forbidden.

3. Is a woman allowed to line eyes with kohl, to put mascara on her eyelashes, and to wear rings in both hands?

A woman is allowed to put kohl or similar cosmetics on her eyelashes and also to wear rings provided it is not done with the intention of drawing lustful attention of men towards herself.

4. A vast majority of Muslim women who observe hijab are used to keeping their chins and a small part of the under chin exposed while they cover the neck. Is this permissible? And how big an area of the face can women expose; are the ears included in that?

The ears are not part of the face, therefore it is obligatory to cover them. As for the part of the chin and the under chin that is seen when putting on the common head scarf, it is to be considered as part of the face and, therefore, can be exposed.

5. Is it permissible for a woman who observes hijab to get rid of her facial hair, to straighten her eyebrows, and to wear natural and light make up?

Getting rid of facial hair, straightening of eyebrows, and wearing of light make up do not prevent her from keeping her face uncovered provided it is not done with the intention of drawing attention.

6. Can a woman put on a wig as replacement of the head-covering (hijab)?

Since the wig is an item of beauty (zinat), it must be covered in presence of non-mahram men.

7. A Muslim woman wears high heeled shoes that hit the ground in such a way that they draw attention. Is she allowed to wear them?

If it is intended to draw the attention of non-mahram men to herself, or if it generally causes temptation for committing sin, then it is not permissible.

8. If a woman puts on a scarf and wears a tight-fitting shirt and tight-fitting jeans or trousers or a tight-fitting qamees and shalwar - is that considered an acceptable hijab in the presence of non-mahram men?

Any dress that reveals the contours of her body or that would normally arouse temptation is not permissible and does not fulfill the requirements of hijab. It is a pointless hijab!

9. Is it permissible for a Muslim man to go to unisex swimming pools and other similar places where people go about half-naked?

It is not permissible for a Muslim man to go to unisex swimming pools and other similar places if it entails a haram act. Based on obligatory precaution, according to Ayatullah Sistani, he must refrain from going to such places even if it does not entail aharam act.

10.Is the brother-in-law or a cousin included among the list of the people in whose presence a lady does not have to observe hijab? Is she allowed to shake their hands or hug them?

The brother-in-law or a male cousin is not included in that list and, therefore, it is obligatory upon a Muslim lady to observe hijab in their presence, and also it is not permissible for her to shake their hands or hug them. The reverse will apply to a Muslim man in relation to his sister-in-law or a female cousin.

Notes:

[14] Greer, Sex & Destiny: The Politics of Human Fertility (London: Picador, 1985) p. 14.

[15] See Aid to Bible Understanding, p. 468.

For the Biblical Christian perspective, see what St. Paul says: "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head...Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?" (1 Corinthians 11:3-5, 13) In simple English, it means that if a man keeps his head covered in prayer, then he is disrespecting Christ; and if a woman keeps her head uncovered in prayer, then she is disrespecting her man. For Biblical Jewish concept, see Genesis 24:65.

[16] S. Saeed Akhtar Rizvi, "On Modesty," in Sunday News (Dar-es-salaam) 27November 1966.

[17] Mustafa, "My Body Is My Own Business," Globe & Mail, 29th June 1993.