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In the name of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful Ath-Thaqwa ‘Review’ on Emergent & Contingent Aspects of Muslims The Abdul Azeez Foundation 27, Admiral Clancy Fernando Mawathe, Katubedde, Ratmalana T 0776138268 E [email protected] [A Non-Profit Non-Governmental Muslim Organization (Trust) – Insha Allah – for Economic, Educational and Spiritual Enrichment of People’s Lives] Review No.34 [1445 A.H 2024 C.E] Shawal/ May 2024 Date of Issue: 04th May 2024 Assalaamu Allaikum wa Rahmathullahi wa Barakaathuhu MUSLIM WOMEN APPEARING IN SOCIAL MEDIA MUST COMPLY WITH ISLAMIC GUIDANCE AS TO DRESS AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE ABSTRACT Islam emphasizes Adab (Islamic etiquette) in all aspects in the lifestyles of Muslims. No Muslim can behave on their individual desires even when they are enthusiastic in trying to help in the cause of Islam. Islam has definitive guidance for Muslim women in dress code, appearance in public and various other aspects of their life. Qur’an commands to avoid Tabbarruj (displaying beauty deemed inappropriate by Islamic standards). Nonadherence to Islamic Guidance may be due to lack of knowledge in Islam, Islamic scholars’ failure to guide Muslims in appropriate Islamic Commands where/when necessary, helping the less privileged Muslims for ‘showoff’ only and not based on Islamic piety for the pleasure of Allah (swt), and most importantly some Muslim women do not come to social media on their own willingness but sponsored by behind-the-stage manipulators for the latter’s personal ambitions and also their financial gains. The psychology behind exposure of bodily beauty by women is a natural trait inherent more in adult women than in adult men – and that is where Islamic Guidance takes primacy to avoid Tabbarruj. The present trend of appearing sans Niqab is gaining momentum due to copycat syndrome under the pretext to boost self-esteem and such behaviour has no Islamic values whatsoever even if done with good intentions. Muslims must inculcate Islamic ways of behaviour in themselves and others too in order to get the Rewards and Blessings of Allah (swt) in this world and in the Hereafter. Muslim women appearing in social media without Niqab are setting examples to the present and future generations to be un-Islamic in their lifestyles – a great sin indeed. Whatever the public standing of a Muslim woman in terms of educational attainments, professional statuses, eloquence in delivering speeches and also perceived public image of them, if any, cannot override, under all situations, the Islamic commands as to how Muslim women’s participation in social media should be. Muslim women could appear with only Hijab (without Niqab) in their personal involvements/ commitments based on public interest (Maslaha), Mubah (permissibility based on necessity), Niqab not as Wajib but as Mustahab (recommended) in these circumstances which will not be in anyway defying Islamic Guidance. Although there are many Muslim women appearing in social media without face-cover (Niqab) all over the world, this write-up has taken into consideration the public activities of only three (03) Muslim women – two from India and one from Sri Lanka. In India one Fathima Sabarimala and the other Sulthana Parveen are involved in helping the Muslims – the former in the distribution of Sadaqa and related activities and the latter giving public speeches based on motivational aspects. These are laudable and commendable but the bone of contention is that these two appear in social media without face-cover (Niqab) which amounts to not avoiding Tabbarruj. In Sri Lanka one Fathima Rinooza (CGC Talk Shop) also appears without face-cover (Niqab) in social media presentations which makes her defy Islamic Guidance by not avoiding Tabbarruj. When opposition to her social media presentations came from Islamic scholars / Muslim activists for various reasons inclusive of her not adhering to Niqab, her response was that she has no other ways of earning a living and therefore decided to earn through social media. Fathima Rinooza must realize and understand that all forms of earnings are not allowed in Islam except the Halal ways. Unfortunately the non-Niqab culture in appearing in social media is spreading without any societal mechanism to curtail it so it becomes the bounden duty of the righteous Muslims to speak out and prevent it happening wherever possible on the basis ‘prevention 1 is better than cure’. The main objective in Islam for the use of Hijab, Niqab, Jilbarb, Abaya or any other outer covering is primarily to prevent exposing the bodily beauty and connected adornments of Muslim women to strangers thus shielding them from identification and any molestations thereof (Qur’an statement) and secondarily to prevent the Muslim women getting attracted to others/strangers by the Muslim women’s own behaviour in exposing themselves. Niqab is Wajib for Muslim women when appearing in social media and for personalized situations, Niqab is Musthahab. We are full of hope – Marsha Allah – our writings would prevent Muslims falling prey to Haram earnings through social media presentations and debar Muslim women from appearing in social media without face-cover (Niqab) – may Allah (swt) help the Muslims to be in the righteous path of Islam – Ameen. ______________________________________________________________________________ Muslim women have Islamic etiquettes (Adab) to follow essentially based on the Qur’an and authentic Hadiths with further additions based on Ijma and Qiyas of later eras, the last two being Fukaha’s (Islamic Jurists) solutions for contingent issues that arose during different periods along the journey of Islam – and these Fathawa (based of Ijma/Qiyas of earlier eras) can either be followed or ignored in the present situations depending on their suitability or otherwise to the present issues. No Muslim, man or woman, can behave based on their individual desires or wishful thinking however much they may be enthusiastic in the cause of Islam. Islam has guidance for appearing in public especially for Muslim women. Even in cases where Muslim women are involved in helping the downtrodden Muslims (even others) and may also be propagating Islam based on Qur’an and Authentic Hadiths, yet these Muslim women when exposing themselves to be seen by all sorts of strangers through video presentations or social media sites, are behaving in ways which Islam considers as great sins – they do not avoid Tabarruj (displaying beauty deemed inappropriate by Islamic standards) which is a command in the Qur’an. A women’s face, its features and the way she projects her facial expressions are the very components of ‘WOMANLY BEAUTY’ in a woman. So however much a Muslim woman covers the rest of her body fully with clothing such as Abaaya or any other form without face-cover (Niqab) in ‘focused’ public appearances then, that will amount to defying Islamic Guidance. Some reasons for defying Islamic command could be attributable to the following: (a) completely ignorant of the commands of the Qur’an regarding appearance of Muslim women in public spaces – they may not have heard/learnt by themselves nor have been guided or corrected by the Islamic leadership based on the latter’s indifference (as it happens presently) to the un-Islamic activities prevailing in the Muslim Ummah or to the inherent fear in the Islamic leadership that any corrective measures could boomerang back on them due to the trend in the present Muslim society to accept all ‘show-offs’ as ‘healthy’ irrespective of Islamic Guidance; (b) they want to inform the public, especially Muslim Public, that they are ‘the’ people speaking on Islamic issues or helping the less privileged as to the latter’s needs as a matter of ‘show-offs’ not realizing that presently many Muslims, as individuals and collectives, are involved in helping the less privileged in silent ways without any ‘show-offs’ whatsoever and that is the Islamic way of helping others; (c) they have the hidden agenda of earning through social media which type of earning the Ath-Thaqwa write-ups have, with justifications, declared as Haram. Further, their ‘correct’ assumption or ‘belief’ that facial and/or body exposures, debarred in Islam, will bring in a larger audience to satisfy the differential upward threshold requirements of social media; (d) these society conscious Muslim women may not be taking to the social media on their own efforts or their free-will but may be backed-up or covertly sponsored by behind the scene/stage manipulators for the latter’s personal ambitions and also their financial gains. The psychology behind the exposure of bodily beauty by women is a natural desire/trait inherent more in adult women than in adult men – and that is where Islamic Guidance are needed or take primacy in the appearance of Muslim women in public spaces or towards strangers. Muslim women of all ages from teenagers to mature adults are now appearing in social media in a myriad of issues within the Muslim community – some on Islamic education, some to correct un-Islamic practices, some helping the less privileged, and some even on irrelevant matters and so on. This write-up does not say essentially that their presentations are unnecessary while also emphasizing the proliferations of presentations by all and sundry Muslim women need attention and correction where necessary. The main concern of this writeup is when Muslim women appear without face-cover (Niqab) in social media. The trend in appearing 2 only in Hijab (without face-cover) is catching up with more and more Muslim women, young and mature, speaking on very trivial issues too which are already known to a large majority of Muslims and this trend may be taken as copycat syndrome – ‘if Muslim women A, B, C, etc. could do, we too could/should do’ is the base of copycat behaviour that are done to boost, (in a pyrrhic way which means at the cost of defying Islamic Guidance), one’s self-esteem or self-worth and thus have no religious (Islamic) values. Another side of some social media speakers, both men as well as women, is waiting for opportunities/events in society in general or Muslim community in particular to get involved to blow-up and sometimes make a mountain out of a mole hill to drag their talks either to promote themselves as, may be, community conscious speakers or to enhance their earning potential from social media (which type of earnings are Haram) – this is indeed the modus operandi of most of the present day social media speakers. The average/unsophisticated/unassuming Muslims who usually form a larger percentage within the Muslim Ummah, and who may lack the capacity to sort out what are right from wrong on general issues (and not on Islamic Principles), may be susceptible to ‘accepting’ all ways/forms of social media presentations by Muslims (both males and females) especially Muslim women based on their overt assumption or belief that such presentations are helpful to Muslims while not knowing the Islamic Guidance as to the Dress Code for Muslim women and their physical appearances in social media – and this is the stumbling block to contain un-Islamic ways of social media involvements. Muslims are obliged to inculcate Islamic ways of behaviour in themselves, their relations, friends, colleagues and their children which if properly executed to be successful in the life styles of others (mentioned in this sentence), then such rendering acts will help gain rewards and blessings of Allah (swt) while living in this world and will stand as Sadaqathul Jariya after one’s death – and this is the foundational aspect for every Muslim male and female to pursue in all their activities done for the sake of Allah (swt). While this obligation remains as the cornerstone in Islam, Muslims are witnessing the blatant trespassing of various Islamic obligations that amount to great sins – the major one being Muslim women appearing in social media without face-cover (Niqab) and some exposing their body in beautified ways thus not avoiding Tabbarruj altogether. What these Muslim women do in exposing themselves contrary to Islamic Guidance is setting examples for the present and future generations to be un-Islamic in their lifestyles – a great sin indeed. When Muslims are required to set examples and become role models in propagating all aspects of Islamic Guidance, the Muslim community is getting exposed to ways of defying Islamic commands especially by Muslim women who make use of social media to do presentations by being without face-cover (Niqab) and bodily exposures with scant respect to Islamic credentials. As this write-up mentioned earlier about this trend spreading gradually, the present status is that trend has gained momentum by means of either copycat behaviour or domino effect whereby more and more Muslim women, young and mature, are falling prey to un-Islamic ways of exposures in the use of social media. Muslim women with Hijab only (without face-cover) in their household involvements, job/career situations and attending to personal/family requirements are acceptable on the bases of public interest (Maslaha), Mubah (permissibility – permissibility on the basis of necessity too) and taking face-covering (Niqab) in certain instances not as Wajib but as Muthahab - meaning recommended and according to Shariah, compliance with the ‘act’ would earn spiritual rewards while neglect of the ‘act’ would not impose punishment – this definition of Mustahab does not apply when Tabbarruj is the ruling criterion in the case of Muslim women’s appearances in social media. It is in the context of Mustahab that attending to one’s duties (household, work situations and any other duties) with only Hijab (without face-cover) are permissible and that is how majority of Muslim women - young, mature and old - are today involved in their day to day activities all over the world. In these situations, the said Muslim women’s dressing styles are based on necessity and not on their willingness to expose their faces to coworkers, general public or even strangers. Social media appearances by Muslim women cannot be equated to or justified by on the basis of what this write-up has stated in the above paragraph as regards Muslim women attending to their household work, involvement in their careers and other personalized duties. Muslim women presenters (without face-cover) do their presentations on their own willingness or desire and not on the basis of necessity. Their facial beauty, physical gestures, voices and speaking styles are accessible to millions of 3 social media users worldwide. These Muslim women do not avoid Tabarruj and expose their facial beauty, gestures, speaking styles etc. to non-Mahram strangers which are Haram in Islam and this aspect must be clearly understood, realized and accepted by Muslims when this write-up casts as Haram the acts of Muslim women appearing in social media without face-cover (Niqab). Muslim women involved in societal, social, political, religious (Islamic), humanitarian work etc. could be put broadly into two categories viz. (a): Muslim women identifying themselves as, and also are, Muslims but do not adhere to the Islamic dress code, do not cover their heads as prescribed in Islam – they may be called as the liberal, modern or Westernized Muslims – none of the three identity is acceptable in Islam and that is a different issue. Some of them are vociferous speakers, proponents and defenders against injustices to Muslims (and also to others too) – they happen to be journalists, social/political activists, politicians, academics, social workers etc. This write-up will not speak for or against them as we believe their overall commitments to Islam are shallow and we stop at it there. The second category (b): in this, Muslim women involved in various community activities make use of social media mostly without face-cover (Niqab) and that is the point of contention or concern that this write-up would be dealing with based on Islamic Guidance. Although there happens to be social media Muslim women presenters throughout the world, this write-up wishes to discuss issues in two countries viz., India and Sri Lanka only by which the crux of the issue of face-covering would be highlighted to embrace all that are happening in other parts of the world too. Social media are being used by Muslim women to speak out on various issues by all sorts of Muslim women ranging from genuine, authentic and knowledgeable persons through people without any knowledge in what they speak, scammers, trouble creators, deviationists and also many others whose only purpose is to appear in social media on the basis of ‘I also ran’ dogma irrespective of the necessity or otherwise of the need for their appearances. This trend has not only created chaos in the social media but also covertly or overtly is motivating even those who are not interested in social media to fall prey to the social media presentation culture, may be, to enhance a fake public image of themselves which from an Islamic point of view are unnecessary / unwanted indulgences which Muslims must avoid at all times. In India, apart from the many social media Muslim women presenters, this write-up would take the involvements of two Muslim women in social media, one a recent revert to Islam (Fathima Sabarimala) and the other (Sulthana Parveen) a longtime presenter in social media and goes as motivational speaker. Fathima Sabarimala at her initial stage in Islam (as she is presently too) was a knowledgeable, righteous and devoted speaker on Islam based on Qur’an and Hadiths thereby was spreading the message of Islam to those Muslims having inadequate knowledge of Islam and also to people of other faiths and this must be appreciated and commended too. She has done Umrah. She appears in social media without Niqab (face-cover) and that is the issue in her social media presentations. To be without Niqab, Sabarimala may be relying on the first part of Qur’an, Ch 24, V 60: ‘And women of Post-menstrual age (past childbearing age) who have no desire for marriage – there is no blame or sin upon them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such way as not to show their adornment. But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower’ – better she pays attention to the latter part of the above Quran Verse too. This write-up asserts that ‘outer clothing’ includes Niqab. And in this non-Niqab appearance, she gradually got involved in helping the poor / less privileged Muslims in Ramadan 2024 by donating, to the less privileged Muslim households, dry provisions, prayer mats, dresses, clothing etc. and also distributed mutton parcels for the less privileged Muslim houses on the day of Eid ul Fitr – may be as an alternative way of Zakaath ul Fitr. All these work must be appreciated. Yet various questions remain to be answered in her intervention programme of helping the downtrodden Muslims. The main question is: ‘Why does Fathima Sabarimala show herself in distributing the ‘Sadaqa’ packages and the recipients too in video presentations through social media?’ Isn’t this exhibitionism? Also isn’t this Haram? May be, without herself realizing that she is in a state of ‘show-off’ which Islam prohibits. Not only ‘show-off’ but also in a way putting the recipients to shame. She must be made to know and realize there are very many Muslims throughout the world inclusive of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia and all other Muslim countries where Muslims individually and also as collectives do charitable donations (Sadaqa) without any fanfare, showy activities or ‘show-offs’ – and that is the Islamic way in disposing Sadaqa. Sabarimala requests for donations for general charity and also have deserving targeted 4 Muslims to be helped and in the latter case puts a money amount as for the donation. All these are good work that must be appreciated if done following Islamic etiquette and guidance. But unfortunately what this write-up and some people see in Sabirimala is attention seeking for her charity work which may not necessarily be her intention but that is what gets reflected – this can be compared to the adage; ‘justice should not only be done, but must also be seen to be done’ – ‘sadaqa should not only be done, but also be done according to Islamic commands’ – must become the guiding principle in helping others. Further, she does important and relevant Bayans (Sermons) through social media and there is no issue on this presentations except appearing without face-cover (Niqab). She could do her sermons by voice (speaking) without appearing in person or should appear in Niqab while doing her presentations in social media. Many other issues do prop up such as doing promotional activities for certain products which may indicate she is being used by others especially businesspersons to promote their products. Also she has initiated a programme called ‘Dawah Rotti’ where Muslim women visit marginalized Muslim households, conduct a short Bayan/Dawah and give the Rotti to the households – hope that this intervention does not eventually embrace Bidah (innovation) elements in the long run. Recently, Sabirimala could be seen speaking from inside a luxury vehicle – and just a question: ‘Is Sabarimala in a drive to earn money making use of Islam?’ Muslims are witnessing lead Islamic scholars / Ulama involved in charity works and embezzling large parts of the received donations for themselves / personal use. The other person from India is Sulthana Parveen, an effective speaker on motivation and had been involved in social media for longer period than others. She in her social media presentations appears without Niqab (only with Hijab) by which she is not avoiding Tabarruj which is a great sin in Islam. Her motivational ‘talks’ are helpful to the listening audience but defying Islamic Guidance in not avoiding Tabarruj is bringing more harm to herself and the Muslim community than benefits to her audience. As we have stated in our previous Write-Up (Ath-Thaqwa No.33) such appearance in social media without face-cover (Niqab) is Haram and a great sin. The contents of her speeches on motivation will be equally effective if given on Power Point projections supplemented by voice explanations without her appearing physically and when this form of alternative is available Muslim women should adopt such measures to comply with Islamic Guidance. In Sri Lanka, there is the CGC Talk Shop of Fathima Rinooza where she has emphatically stated that she does this social media presentations to earn (which earning is Haram) as she has no other ways of earning. All ways of earnings are not permissible in Islam – Muslims should engage in Halal ways of earnings only in all situations. This write-up does not intend to speak about CGC Talk Shop appearances in social media as various Islamic scholars and Muslim activists have already criticized her uploading in social media which has not brought any improvements in her un-Islamic ways of projecting herself just for the sake of increasing her earning potentials – may Allah (swt) give Fathima Rinooza the opportunities to earn her living in Halal ways – Ameen. This write-up has taken the issue of non-compliance with Niqab when Muslim women appear in social media in particular (and not on ad hoc or random appearances) because if no one speaks about this no-Niqab culture that is being seen in Muslim women appearing in social media then, this structural injustice (due only from the cohorts of social media presenters and not from individual Muslims) to the Islamic / Qur’an command of At-Thabarruj will make many other Islamic commands get eventually diluted or eradicated altogether – the Muslim Ummah is then definitely answerable to this kind of un-Islamic behaviour. Most of the Islamic scholars are silent when this social media Fitna are taking place and have never taken any effective measures to undo or speak against this Fitna. This is the worst type of un-Islamic behaviour we witness not only in Islamic scholars but also in influential Muslims too who have the strengths to take corrective measures. Muslims must be on alert to curtail the spread of this ‘non-Niqab culture’ essentially in social media on the basis of ‘prevention is better than cure’ doctrine. The main objective in Islam for the use of Hijab, Niqab, Jilbarb, Abaya or any other outer covering is primarily to prevent exposing the bodily beauty and connected adornments of Muslim women to strangers thus shielding them from identification and any molestations thereof (Qur’an statement) and secondarily to prevent the Muslim women getting attracted to others/strangers by their own exposures. When clear cut statements are in the Qur’an, what makes the Muslim women defy the Qur’an by 5 appearing in social media without Niqab? The answer: Shaitanic (Satanic) endeavours. Remember Satan is the avowed enemy to mankind in the disobedience to Allah (swt). This and the previous write-up have taken the issue of Muslim women appearing, on their own desires/wish/willingness, or even sponsored by others, in social media only and not in other occasions or situations. Muslim women attending to their household obligations, career involvements and other personal activities in Hijab only without face-cover (Niqab) do not defy Islamic Guidance based on Maslaha (Public Interests), Mubah (neither encouraged nor discouraged and permissible based on necessity) and Mandoob/Mustahabb (recommended acts having flexibility, due to necessity, without accruing sins). Niqab is Wajib for Muslim women when appearing in social media and for other occasions / situations posited above, Niqab is Mustahabb. There are also occasions / situations of social events / ceremonies / celebrations such as school prize giving, sport meets, University Convocations, National events and the likes for which attendance of certain category of Muslim women would be essential / required as part of their duties. In such occasions taking of photographs and video recordings would take place and those videos and photos may get posted to social media and thus Muslim women without face-cover (Niqab) could be seen as participants in the photos / videos. These are stand-alone, ad hoc and random occurrences for which no blame could be attributable to the Muslim women participants who neither had any control over the events nor willingly participated in the taking of photos or videos. All the write-ups of ours that have declared receiving payments for presentations to social media and also Muslim women appearing in social media without face-cover (Niqab) as Haram are based on Qur’an, Authentic Hadiths and the inferences of the majority of classical Islamic scholars / Jurists only and therefore the write-ups had been written fully on Islamic perspectives only – Alhamdulillah. This and the previous write-up spoke about a few Muslims (men and women) only (though there are many more) who were (are) defying Islamic Guidance in their social media presentations with the belief that if the contents / analyses of these write-ups could be made reachable / available to the defying Muslim personalities (both men and women), there could emerge a change towards following Islamic Guidance. It is also hoped that these write-ups also would prevent Muslims falling prey to Haram earnings through social media presentations and debar Muslim women from appearing in social media without face-cover (Niqab) – may Allah (swt) help the Muslims to be in righteous path of Islam – Ameen. May Allah (swt) shower His Blessings in this Blessed month of Shawwal on all of us for peace and stability in Sri Lanka and the whole world – Ameen. Jazzak Allah Khairan Yours Brother-in-Islam Mohamad R.M. Farook / Editorial Lead 6