An Imaam whose wife does not Practise Hijaab

Q: Salaah-388: An Aalim who is a Haafidh and a Qaari has been appointed as Imaam of our Jaami Masjid for some time now. He is a man of good character and complies with the injunctions of the Shari'ah. An anonymous person has written to the Imaam in the name of the Masjid committee stating that according to Fataawaa Rasheediyyah and Hadhrat Mufti Abdur Raheem Laajpuri, it would be Makrooh to perform salaah behind the Imaam because his wife walks about without purdah. He requests the Imaam not to destroy people's salaah and to either get his wife to don the purdah or to leave his post as Imaam.

Allaah know best what the intention of the writer of the letter was, but this act has caused a great problem in the Masjid, The writer knows well that the Imaam's wife is from a noble family and herself particular about the injunctions of the Shari'ah. Because of her preoccupation with her children. She is always at home and leaves the house only when necessary. Then too, she covers herself from head to toe and only does not wear the Burqa because it is not in vogue here. Please inform us whether or not it would be Makrooh to perform salaah behind our Imaam.

Answer: If the Imaam's wife leaves the house without covering her face, she is acting against the purdah prescribed by the Shari'ah. If the Imaam does not enjoin on her to don the purdah, his salaah will be Makrooh because when a woman exposes her face when leaving the house, the gazes of strange men fall on her and in the terms of the Hadith, she becomes a poisonous arrow of the Shaytaan that does nothing but cause destruction Rasulullaah SAW. also said, "Allaah curses the one who looks (at a strange woman) and the one who is looked at.

Another Hadith says that a woman arrives in the form of Shaytaan and leaves in the form of Shaytaan.l This Hadith means that just as Shaytaan whispers evil thoughts into the heart, looking at a strange woman also leads to such thoughts in the heart. Her leaving the house is a cause of trouble because Rasulullaah SAW. said, "When a woman leaves her home, Shaytaan waits in ambush (waiting for the opportunity to make her a cause of vice)."

A Hadith states, "Looking (at non-Mahram men and women) is the fornication of the eyes, hearing (them speaking) is the fornication of the ears, speaking (to them) is the fornication of the tongue and touching (them) is the fornication of the hands, walking (towards them) is the fornication of the feel, desiring (them) is the fornication of the heart and the private part either culminates the act (of fornication) or shuns it.

When a woman goes out without purdah, she becomes a cause of evil and she also becomes a sinner with every step she takes. Instructing the wives and daughters of Rasulullaah SAW. Allaah says' "Remain in your homes However when it is absolutely necessary to leave the home, Allaah's instruction is that "they should draw down their "ialaabeeb" over themselves." If this is the instruction to the pure wives and daughters of Rasulullaah SAW. what about other Muslim women?

When Hadhrat Faatima RADI. was asked what the best thing for a woman is, she replied, "That she does not see men and they do not see her,Rasulullaah SAW. liked her reply very much and made du'aa for her.

Hakeemul Ummah Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi RAH. writes that a woman should not expose her face or stand in a place where she can be seen by non-Mahram men.

The following appears in Fataawas Dasrul Uloom Deoband (Vol.1 Pg.135):

Q: Salaam-389: When a man?s wife walks about without purdah and he Neither advice to do so nor divorces her, will it be permissible to perform salaah behind him?

Answer: While salaah behind is permissible, it will be Makrooh. Therefore, it would be best if another better and more righteous Imaam can be found. (written by Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Shafee RAH.
And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Q: Salaah-390: An Imaam is a Haafidh and a Molvi, but his wife walks about without purdah. How is it to perform salaah behind him? Should a person perform salaah behind such an Imaam or individually?

Answer: It is Makrooh to perform salaah behind such an Imaam. However, performing salaah behind such an Imaam will be better than performing salaah individually. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2