Hijâb and Female Leadership

Hijâb is generally understood to mean the donning of a veil. This is however incorrect. The scholars of Islam have included the following verses in the discussion of hijâb:

1. "And stay in your houses. And adorn not yourselves with the adornment of the time of Ignorance." (Al Ahzâb: 33)

2. "And when you ask of them (wives of Nabi Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam) anything, then ask them from behind a curtain." (Al Ahzâb: 53)

3. ".... therefore be not soft of speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease, aspire (to you) but utter customary speech." (Al Ahzâb: 32)

4. "O Nabi! Tell your wives and daughters and the women of the believers to draw their jilbâbs (a special cloak that covers the entire body) close around them ...." (Al Ahzâb:59)

5. "And they (the women), should not stamp their feet so as to reveal their hidden adornment." (An Nur:31)

From these verses, the following rules of hijâb may be deduced:

1. The lady should at all times remain in her home.

2. If due to any shar'ie necessity (eg. Haj, visiting her parents, visiting the ill etc.) (Ruhul Ma'âni vl.22 pg.6) then she should cover her entire body including the face.

3. She has to communicate with men from behind a curtain.

4. She must not lower her tune when speaking with strange men.

5. She should not walk in such a manner that would attract the attention of men.

6. Intermingling of the sexes is prohibited in Islam.

Besides these, it has also been established from the Hadith that a lady cannot travel further than 77 kilometers without a mahram (any such male relative with whom marriage is prohibited). (Tirmidhi Vl.3 pg.472)

It is clear from the above that the implications of Hijâb are in direct conflict with the duties of leadership. In order to ensure the welfare of his subjects, the leader has to leave his home daily, meet and consult with people (men in particular) and travel to various parts of his country and sometimes to other countries as well. These cannot however be achieved if a lady has to be the ruler and at the same time observe the rules of hijâb. It is on this accord that Shariah has prohibited female leadership.

Published by: Madrasah Arabia Islamiah, Azaadville

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