Ignoring the Principal’s Enforcement of Hijab: A Source of Fitnah?
Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah (Tawzeeḥ al-Ahkam)
Question:
In our area, there is a Maulana who was recently appointed as the principal of a madrasa where both girls and female teachers are present. This principal not only asks the female teachers but also the female students to sit openly in his presence, especially when addressing male students collectively. He insists that boys, girls, male teachers, and female teachers all gather in the same hall so that he can address everyone together.
The principal also claims that, because he is the head of the madrasa, he has the right to enter girls’ classes and speak directly with female teachers. The teachers are strictly unwilling, as no previous principal has done this, nor is there such a practice in other madrasas of the city.
Regrettably, this principal has the support of the madrasa’s chairman, even though the chairman himself belongs to the Tablighi Jamaat, and this support is completely contrary to Tablighi principles. The reason given is that the new principal is the chairman’s son-in-law.
The principal claims to have Hadith-based evidence supporting this practice. However, the female teachers, students, and their parents are all deeply dissatisfied with these actions. The principal has already entered the women’s hall twice and spoken directly to the women present, despite being a young man himself. He tries to reduce the importance of the Islamic ruling of hijab by calling it “Indian, Pakistani, or Asian culture.”
This raises the following questions:
◈ Is such conduct permissible according to Shariah?
◈ Is there any allowance for such intermixing?
◈ Can Islam permit such an environment?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah.
The Shariah Ruling on Hijab:
In Islam, hijab is a clear and explicit Shariah command, established through the Quran and strong Hadith evidence. Minimizing its importance by calling it “Asian culture” is a grave sin and a disrespectful disregard of a divine ruling. A principal holding such views is misguided and straying from the path of guidance.
It is the Islamic and moral responsibility of the local community, teachers, students, and their parents to:
✿ Prevent such a person from continuing this practice.
✿ If he persists, refrain from sending girls to this madrasa.
✿ Understand that such behavior could lead to great fitnah (temptation and corruption).
Clear Quranic Evidence on Hijab:
Surah Al-Ahzab, Ayah 59:
﴿يـٰأَيُّهَا النَّبِىُّ قُل لِأَزوٰجِكَ وَبَناتِكَ وَنِساءِ المُؤمِنينَ يُدنينَ عَلَيهِنَّ مِن جَلـٰبيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذٰلِكَ أَدنىٰ أَن يُعرَفنَ فَلا يُؤذَينَ ۗ وَكانَ اللَّـهُ غَفورًا رَحيمًا﴿٥٩
Translation:
O Prophet! Tell your wives, daughters, and the believing women to draw their cloaks over themselves. This is closer to them being recognized as chaste women and not harmed. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Surah An-Nur, Ayah 31:
﴿وَقُل لِلمُؤمِنـٰتِ يَغضُضنَ مِن أَبصـٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحفَظنَ فُروجَهُنَّ وَلا يُبدينَ زينَتَهُنَّ إِلّا ما ظَهَرَ مِنها ۖ وَليَضرِبنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلىٰ جُيوبِهِنَّ ۖ …﴿٣١
Translation:
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, protect their private parts, and not display their adornment except what naturally appears. And let them draw their veils over their bosoms. They may not reveal their adornment except to their husbands, fathers, husbands’ fathers, sons, husbands’ sons, brothers, brothers’ sons, sisters’ sons, women, their captives, non-desiring men who follow them, or children who have no awareness of women’s private matters. And do not strike your feet to reveal hidden adornment. And all believers should turn to Allah in repentance so that they may prosper.
Conclusion:
✿ Hijab is a clear Shariah obligation, and giving it a cultural interpretation is misguidance and deviation from Islam.
✿ No person, whether a principal or an official, has the right to violate Islamic limits.
✿ The environment of madrasas must align with Islamic teachings, not personal desires.
✿ Parents, teachers, and the local community must prevent such fitnah.
✿ If correction is not possible, changing the madrasa is not only permissible but necessary to safeguard children’s religious and moral upbringing.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
