WHO IS YOUR MAHRAM?........FOR WHO IS HIJAAB (PURDAH)?
THE NORMAL AND GENERAL RULE OF HIJAB PERTAINING TO NON-MAHAAREM
MAHAAREEM IS THE PLURAL OF MAHRAM. A mahram in the context of the law of Hijaab is male with whom marriage is initially and permanently prohibited. Marriage between mahaareem is forbidden at all times. Such permanent mahaareem are father, grandfather, son, brother, nephew, paternal uncle, maternal uncle, grandsons, etc. besides these close-relatives all other males whether strangers or secondary relatives, such as brother-in-law, uncle-in-law, cousin, etc, are described as ghair-mahaareem (non-mahaareem). Total Hijaab is compulsory for all ghair-mahaareem. Hijaab is somewhat relaxed for the father-in-law and mother-in-law. Although total Hijaab is not ordinarily decreed for those two secondary relatives, nevertheless, the Shariah exhorts caution and orders Hijaab for them as well if they happen to be young.
The normal and general rule of Hijaab to be observed for non-mahrams is total seclusion or segregation between the sexes. In this category of Hijaab the woman has necessarily to remain within the home environment and expose nothing of herself, not even her garments. In other words, she is not permitted to emerge from the home environment unnecessarily even clad in a Jilbaab with her face concealed. In this highest category of Hijaab commanded by the Qur’an Shareef, she has to speak from behind a screen if need compels her to speak to a ghair-mahram male. In the following verses the Qur’aan-e-Hakeem commands this high degree of Hijaab:
“(O Women)! Remain with your homes and make not a display (of yourselves) like the exhibition ((of immoral women) of former times of ignorance”. – (Surah Ahzaab, aayat 33)
“And, when you (men) ask them (women) something (of need) then ask them from behind a screen. That (form of Hijaab of the separating screen) is purest for your hearts and their hearts”. – (Surah Ahzaab, aayat 53)
The highest category of Hijaab – the total separation between the sexes – is also established by the hadith of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه والسلم. Some of these hadith are:
- “Woman is an object of concealment. Thus, when she emerges (from her abode of concealment) shaitaan surreptitiously pursues her (and lies in wait to create his fitnah of immorality)”. – (Tirmizi)
- “Allah curses the one who looks (at females) and the one to whom the gaze was directed (i.e. the woman who emerged unnecessarily from her home and thus caused men to glance at her.) “ – (baihqi)
- “Beware of mingling with women”. A man from the Ansaar asked: “What do you (O Rasulullah صلى الله عليه والسلم) say about the father-in-law”. Rsulullah صلى الله عليه والسلم replied: “A father-in-law is the death (of his daughter-in-law).” – (Bukhari)
Contrary to common understanding, Hijaab for one’s father-in-law (i.e. husband’s father) is necessary, hence, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه والسلم described him as the “maut” (death) of his daughter-in-law. From this will be understood the greater emphasis on purdah to be observed for brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Hijaab among such relatives who are mahaareem is practically abandoned by even those who subscribed to the law of Hijaab. Even Ulama frown upon Hijaab which the Shariah has ordered for one’s in-laws.
[EXTRACT FROM BOOK: ISLAMIC HIJAAB BY THE MAJLISUL ULAMA]
