Recently, in a programme telecast over the Sahih Al Islam YouTube Channel, a number of issues of appropriate conduct and behaviour between unrelated men and women in social settings were put before Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius for guidance and clarification from the perspective of the Law of Shari’ah.
Reproduced Below is the text of the Question and Answer session with Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) anchored by Tayyeba N.A. Saheba in July 2023.
On Pardah within the Context of Islam
Assalamoualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuhu.
We are here today along with the Khalifatullah for a
new session of Questions and Answers. Our session today is all about educating
the people, especially Muslims and the members of our Jamaat more specifically
on the way men and women should behave with each other within Islam, and the
Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam.
Ya Khalifatullah, Assalamoualaikum Warahmatullah
Wabarakaatuhu. [The Khalifatullah replied: Wa Alaikum Salaam Wa
Rahmatullah Wa Barakaatuhu]
Some of our members have asked some questions which
require your explanations and guidance.
The first question is: How should a boy or man
behave towards a girl or woman within the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, especially
in the context of Social Media?
Islam has ordained Pardah for men and women or
teenage boys and girls who have reached puberty and who are not Mahram to
each other. Respect should also be shown to the Mahram men within her
family circle, like the woman’s father and brother and in-laws, and this
applies also for the man towards his mother and sister and in-laws. Segregation
in Islam is important as it protects the privacy of the women and men, and keeps
Satan away from illicit acts which can bring about the wrath of Allah.
Men and women – and the same applies for all those
among the boys and girls who have reached the age of puberty – are commanded to
preserve Pardah so as to guard themselves from such acts which can be
deemed as not correct or even heinous in the sight of Allah.
In our modern times, with the advancement of
technology, the social media has become a trap for our youths and even those
adults who are much more advanced in age. There is what is called “emojis”
which are used to express one’s feelings and state of mind. While some emojis
are harmless, but there are other emojis which should not be used between
a man and a woman who are strangers to each other, like the Heart symbol or the
Kissing Symbols.
Bear in mind that the Heart Symbol should not be
personally sent to a man (if it is a woman) or a woman (if it is a man), to
declare or insinuate love feelings, unless proper marriage proposals have been
given and done within the framework of Islam, and the couple gets engaged or
perform the Nikah (marriage contract) directly.
Heart symbol can be sent only to express only that one
loves or appreciates the contents posted by either a Muslim man or Muslim woman
(belonging to Islam, and most specifically to our Jamaat). For example, if a
man has posted a good article or picture for the advancement of Islam, or a
divine teaching like a verse of the Holy Quran, and a woman responds by loving
the message, then the Heart Symbol is not towards the man (and vice-versa) but
towards the message he or she posted.
Thus, respectable women and men (and this applies to
the youths as well) should take care not to fall prey in the trap of Social
Media and forget the Adab (etiquette)) of Islam and Islamic Behaviour. Married
men and married women, and even those who are not yet married should take care
to preserve their privacy while online. Chatting is a way by which men and
women can form a bond, and Satan can become a link between the two leading to
inappropriate behaviour.
My disciples should take care to be ever respectful,
and not use profile pictures or statuses or emojis to uncover their
private or familial situations without the least regard for Pardah. The
women should be well dressed – well-covered, and the men as well. I remember
that at the beginning of the Divine Manifestation, I received a Divine
Instruction for all my disciples, instructing not only the ladies and young
girls to cover themselves properly, but the men also should ever be in Pardah
as well by wearing what is
called a “Sharam-Gah” (clothing covering well the private parts) and the
best form of “Sharam-Gah” is the Sarwar-Kameez or the Ajuba
(long dress till ankle). This dress code is all the more important while
praying Salat (Namaz). This is what our Rab, Allah and our beloved
prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) have taught us.
When both a man and a woman are in Pardah, and
having good intentions, they can interact to advance the cause of Islam, Sahih
al Islam. If the husbands of the women allow it, their wives can talk to
another Muslim man, but provided the husband is with her or she has the
approval of her husband for the meeting.
Married women should have the approval of their
husbands first, but if their husbands don’t allow them to do so, then they should
refrain from disobeying to their husbands, for their husbands are their
co-partners in life, the protectors of their honour and their guardians (Qawwamum).
The respect of the man lies in his spouse and vice-versa.
That is why the Quran has been clear on this matter by
saying that a man and his wife are garments for one another. This verse is
found in Surah Al-Baqara, Chapter 2, Verse 188.
Thank you, Ya Khalifullah. But, can a man shake hands
with a woman and vice-versa?
It is strictly forbidden for non-Mahram men and women
to shake hands with one another. It is now common practice for Muslim folks to
disregard this aspect of Pardah, especially when greeting officials in
universities or places of work. But, the fact remains that it is not allowed
for them to do so.
Besides it is not allowed also for men and women to
share flying kisses or make
signs of heart with their hands to attract the opposite sex who are non-Mahram.
What about singing Nazms where men and women
use their voices and can attract each other’s attention?
Singing Devotional Songs in the remembrance of Allah
or Islam or our Jamaat, etc. (Nazms or Qaseedas) should be done in a
pure manner, with good intentions, and not with the idea that the men or the
women will appreciate the singing voices. Moreover, the ladies and men cannot
appear on TV, or radio unless they observe the physical, moral and spiritual
aspects of Pardah. When someone is in Pardah and he or she has in
mind to propagate the message of Islam, Sahih al Islam and not for any other
reason, then he or she can interact with others – within the context of Pardah
– towards the Cause of Allah, for the progress of Islam, Sahih al Islam. When
men and women observe the Pardah, then they can become great teachers
for the next generations, teaching in our Universities, be it online or offline
in the real world (and not just in the virtual world).
Then, if I have well understood Huzur, in the
preservation of Pardah between sexes, then a woman or girl should not ride
alone with a man who is a stranger and a non-Mahram as well?
It is against the principles of Islam for girls and
women to travel alone, unless they are in the company of other women, or with
members of their family. But if for an urgent matter or for educational
purposes, a girl or a woman should travel alone (there is no choice), then she
must take very great precautions concerning her security, especially when
travelling in her car, or buses, taxis, trains, airplanes, etc.
Motorbike rides are not advisable for our youths – girls and boys as there is no
space for Pardah. There is no distance maintenance when riding on a
bicycle or motorbike.
But car rides when a Muslim woman (and lady of our
Jamaat) needs one to return back home after a programme, then it is not a sin
for a male member of our Jamaat to ride her back home provided there is someone
who accompany them along the
way. But if there is no choice and it is getting late or dark, then they
should have Taqwa (fear of Allah) and ride with this feeling in their
hearts until the woman or girl is dropped at her place in security and without
the least harm and vain talks.
Now another question
by the Siraj Makin in India, Huzur. They were asking what the behaviour of a
married or unmarried woman be towards a boy who has grown up before her and she had helped in taking care
of him. What are the codes of conduct for this situation where the boy has
reached adulthood?
In this situation, if the boy is within her family
circle and is a Mahram, she can preserve the good relations of care and
concern for the boy turned man, like for foster parents and children. If the
boy is a stranger to her in terms that she shares no family ties with him and
is non-Mahram, then she must observe Pardah more strictly than if
the boy were her family member. In both cases respect in terms of clothing and
behaviour is advisable, especially for the latter case.
All in all, be it the man or the woman, or the boy or
girl who has reached puberty, it is the duty of parents and family members to
teach the moral etiquettes to our youths so that they may one day grow up moral
children with moral values, and living by the Islamic principles and morals.
This is to protect the honour and dignity of their own persons, their families
and Islam.
For example, I personally know one girl while I was
working as a Missionary of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya in Reunion Island who, despite
being far away from her parents who were in Mauritius, but that girl was God-fearing and
very pious, and despite living alone in Reunion Island for her studies and
being surrounded by male strangers in the University, but it is a matter of
pride that she kept her faith and her Islamic etiquettes to the top level by
maintaining Pardah and covering herself very well and studying hard, and
not losing time in vain things which can drift her away from her Deen.
All in all, each one, be it the man or woman has the
responsibility to inculcate in
himself or herself the right intentions because all deeds are based on
intentions, with what purpose one is doing something, whether it be for a good
purpose or for an evil one, and verily Allah is aware of what all hearts
conceal.
Jazak-Allah Hazrat Khalifatullah for guiding us all in
this matter. May Allah help us all to act as per His guidance for our own good
in this world and in the next. Ameen.
Assalamoualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuhu [Hazrat Khalifatullah replied: Wa Alaikum Salaam
Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuhu]
© Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, July 2023.