[zlZ95pjt]

Aslamo Alikum,

Dear All,

Although, Islam is not very restrictive for old woman to do Hijab but they should do it.

Because this way, young ladies will also be protected because suppose some bad people chase a woman in Hijab and later found out an old lady behind the Hijab, then how much they will feel disappointed and how much Momineen (believers) will feel happy to see their disappointment.

And it is possible, such bad people stop chasing any woman in Hijab altogether.

This way, old ladies who are doing Hijab are really doing great job for young ladies too.

This also means that old people are blessings for all.

[Sandra_18X]

the hukum is for all, be she a young woman or old woman, beautiful or ugly.

[shiciapsisy]

the hukum is for all, be she a young woman or old woman, beautiful or ugly.

its looser for old women who are past sexual-ness, its in the Qur'an brother

[shiciapsisy]

this link is relevant http://www.shariahprogram.ca/islam-q...en-hijab.shtml some non-Deobandi scholars interpret it in a more more liberal way than this too.

[usacomm]

Is the mufti implying if a woman has no desire to marry even though still in child bearing age, she doesnt have to wear hijab?

[shiciapsisy]

Is the mufti implying if a woman has no desire to marry even though still in child bearing age, she doesnt have to wear hijab?

no, just less hijab

only modernists interpret it to mean no hijab I think.

[seosoftseo]

Insha'Allah someone can produce the actual hadith I'm talking about here.

I remember reading a hadith once, which said that the Prophet said something to the effect that what may be detestable to one person may be pleasurable to another. Similarly, what may be detestable to the 2nd person may be pleasurable to the first person.

The "norm" may be that "old women" won't have an 'effect' on anyone so it's OK whether they cover themselves with hijab or not. However, what about the one who derives pleasure out of fantasizing about "old women"? What if someone like that happens to see an uncovered old woman and ends up committing sin(s)? It's not a matter of "well that's very rare", because it is not. There are all types of people out there, who derive pleasure from different ages (young to really old), different body types, different [insert characteristic], etc... discussing the details of which is not appropriate, but you get the idea.

Hence, even if Islam is a bit lenient when it comes to aged women wearing hijab (IF... I don't know, I'm not a scholar), it is still a good idea for them to cover up, as the same reasons which apply to younger females for covering themselves up, apply to older females also.

Allah knows best.

[zlZ95pjt]

Is the mufti implying if a woman has no desire to marry even though still in child bearing age, she doesnt have to wear hijab?

This relaxation is not for those women who are young but cannot bear children i.e young but infertile women.

This relaxation is for old women who does not have menstrual cycles anymore. i.e women of post-menstrual age.

Below are references from Quran.

And women of post-menstrual age who have no desire for marriage - there is no blame upon them for putting aside their outer garments [but] not displaying adornment. But to modestly refrain [from that] is better for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

اور بڑی عمر کی عورتیں جن کو نکاح کی توقع نہیں رہی، اور وہ کپڑے اتار کر سر ننگا کرلیا کریں تو ان پر کچھ گناہ نہیں بشرطیکہ اپنی زینت کی چیزیں نہ ظاہر کریں۔ اور اس سے بھی بچیں تو یہ ان کے حق میں بہتر ہے۔ اور خدا سنتا اور جانتا ہے
Quran 24:60

[egershna]

Is the mufti implying if a woman has no desire to marry even though still in child bearing age, she doesnt have to wear hijab?

Absolutely not. The Mufti is of the opinion that a woman has to wear an outer cloak (abaya) although an older woman (as in the definition he provides) does not have to wear an abaya but still has to observe the rules of hijaab (i.e. covering everything except for the face and hands, clothes that do not reveal the figure due to tightness or transparency, etc). She does not have to wear niqaab either (which is waajib on a woman otherwise). So basically, everyone, no matter if they are old or young has to wear hijaab

[chuecafressds]

Niqaab is wajib?

Isn't Hijab sufficient?

[shiciapsisy]

Surah An Nur, verse 60


وَالْقَوَاعِدُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ اللَّاتِي لَا يَرْجُونَ نِكَاحًا فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ يَضَعْنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيْرَ مُتَبَرِّجَاتٍ بِزِينَةٍ ۖ وَأَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَيْرٌ لَهُنَّ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

Pickthall :

As for women past child-bearing, who have no hope of marriage,

it is no sin for them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show adornment.

But to refrain is better for them.

Allah is Hearer, Knower.

Yusuf Ali :

Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage

there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer) garments

provided they make not a wanton display of their beauty:

but it is best for them to be modest:

and Allah is One Who sees and knows all things.


I guess how the scholars interpret these verses relates to their views on hijab in general

and those who are stricter on hijab in general no doubt interpret these verses differently

to the way that those who are less strict on it in general do, yes?

[boanuatiguali]

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

A`ūdhu billāhi min ash-shaitāni r-rajīm
b-ismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm



Yusuf Al-Qaradawi in In The Lawful and The Prohibited In Islam states:
By "the elderly among women" is meant such post-menopausal women as have no desire for marriage or sex, and to whom men are not attracted. Allah has made this concession for them so that they can put aside their covering garments, such as the chaddor, abaya, burqa, jilbab, and the like. However, the Qur'an makes the condition that this should not be for the purpose of displaying their adornment but only for ease and comfort. Despite this concession, it is preferable and better for them to be more perfect in their dignity and far removed from any suspicion: "but it is better for them to be modest." (24:60) [emphasis added]

Commentary on this verse (Surah An-Noor, verse 60) in Ma'ariful Qur'an is as follows:

... the third exemption is granted on the basis of a woman's personal situation. If a woman has grown so old that no one would have any (sexual) desire towards her, nor is she marriageable, for such a woman concession in hijab is allowed in that even strangers (non-Mahrams) are treated like mahrams for her. She is not required to cover those parts of her body before non-Mahrams which are not required to be covered before mahrams. Hence, it is said [arabic] (And those old women who have no hope for marriage - 60). The explanation of this verse is already given above. Although very old women are allowed to uncover those parts of their body before non-Mahrams which are not required to be covered before mahrams, yet this exemption is allowed with the condition that they do so without applying any makeup or adornment. The other thing said in the last is [arabic] (60) that is, it is better for them if they avoid going before non-Mahrams altogether. [emphasis added]

That said...

I would imagine that a woman who has covered herself her entire life would feel very uncomfortable removing her covering in old age. That said, it could be that she need not become uncomfortable if, for example, she is at home and a non-mahram comes - she doesn't need to scramble to properly secure her hijab, nor does she need to feel incompetent or distraught at not being able to do so properly... To me, this speaks of Allah's (SWT) mercy, the emphasis being ease and comfort in real old and an opportunity for us all to practice mercy towards the elderly. And Allah (SWT) is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

[zlZ95pjt]

Absolutely not. The Mufti is of the opinion that a woman has to wear an outer cloak (abaya) although an older woman (as in the definition he provides) does not have to wear an abaya but still has to observe the rules of hijaab (i.e. covering everything except for the face and hands, clothes that do not reveal the figure due to tightness or transparency, etc). She does not have to wear niqaab either (which is waajib on a woman otherwise). So basically, everyone, no matter if they are old or young has to wear hijaab

Good explanation.

This relaxation is meant for Niqab which is a part of Hijab.

Hijab means to cover everything except hands and feet.
Niqab means to cover face, hair and head too.

The above verse tells that older woman can leave Niqab because of their old age.

But if they have beautified their faces with adornments then they cannot leave Niqab too.

[shiciapsisy]

. the third exemption is granted on the basis of a woman's personal situation.

If a woman has grown so old that no one would have any (sexual) desire towards her, nor is she marriageable,

for such a woman concession in hijab is allowed in that even strangers (non-Mahrams) are treated like mahrams for her.

She is not required to cover those parts of her body before non-Mahrams which are not required to be covered before mahrams.

Hence, it is said [arabic] (And those old women who have no hope for marriage - 60).

The explanation of this verse is already given above.

Although very old women are allowed to uncover those parts of their body before non-Mahrams which are not required to be covered before mahrams,

yet this exemption is allowed with the condition that they do so without applying any makeup or adornment.

The other thing said in the last is [arabic] (60) that is, it is better for them if they avoid going before non-Mahrams altogether.


so this was the opinion of Mufti Shafi Uthmani (ra) then?

[boanuatiguali]

It is from Ma'ariful Qur'an, originally written by Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi in the Urdu language and later translated into the English language.

[boanuatiguali]

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

A`ūdhu billāhi min ash-shaitāni r-rajīm
b-ismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm

Allah's (SWT) MERCY...

All things considered:

• We are told to care for/look after the elderly;
• Imams are advised not to read long surahs if there are elderly people in the congregation lest it will cause them difficulty;
• With age comes diminished abilities and in some cases inability to do certain things;
• Those with disabilities have certain exemptions and modifications in their duties...

The permission to remove hijab is a concession Allah (SWT) has granted elderly women who may need it. To me, this is not an issue that we need to discuss any further.

May Allah (SWT) forgive me if I've erred.

[Optipitle]

Niqaab is wajib?

Isn't Hijab sufficient?

It's a matter of interpretation. I personally believe that Hijab is all that is wajib, and niqaab is mustahabb.