Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu Alikum Wa Rahmatullah

I was informed by some of my friends that Muslim women must observe Hijab in front of her own brother if he is a non Muslim. Please could you clarify this in the light of Quran and Hadith.

 

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Answer:

 

Women to observe hijab in brothers presence

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

The relationship between a biological brother and sister is ‘sacred’ or ‘haraam’ in Shariah Law, regardless of whether one amongst them chooses to believe or disbelieve.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24 Surah Noor verse 31:

31      And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except that which is displayed of itself; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves, whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments.  And O ye Believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss.

 

In light of the above quoted Guidance of the Glorious Quran, a believing woman is not obliged or required to observe the restrictions of ‘hijaab’ in the presence of her own biological brother, regardless of whether her brother has chosen to believe or disbelieve.

 

Your ‘friends’ who told you that it is obligatory for a believing woman to observe the restrictions of ‘hijaab’ in the presence of her own (disbelieving) brother, should be asked to provide evidence for their statement from the Quran or the Sunnah.  If they are unable to provide evidence for their declaration from the Quran or the Sunnah; and we assure you there is none, rest assured that their declaration is a figment of their imagination and has absolutely nothing to do with the Truth or Guidance. 

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan