Muhammad Fayeh
There was a hashtag that was recently trending about a man and his wife. Some of the comments about the hashtag surprised me. The man took his wife out for dinner. In the restaurant, he sat in the family section inside a small cubicle that had frosted glass. He took off his “shemagh” (Saudi headscarf) and put it over the frosted glass to prevent people from seeing his wife. The picture sparked a debate in social media and some supported the man’s action while others opposed it.
I strongly support what the man did and found it to be in line with the ruling of Shariah in relation to hijab, although many people try to belittle the importance of this ruling.
Almighty Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves (part) of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (33:59)
Allah clearly orders women to cover and this order was made thousands of years ago when sedition was less prevalent than today. Wearing the hijab is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in the following way, “That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.” (33:53)
Unfortunately, we see many Saudi women uncovering their faces and wearing short dresses. I do not criticize them and I am not responsible for the action of what other people do; everyone is responsible for his or her own actions. Let us go back to the hashtag. What is really strange is that some people criticized the man for what he did. If some men do not have a problem letting their wives uncover their faces and wear makeup, then there is no harm in that. But they cannot prevent other men from looking at their wives’ faces and they should not be angry if other men do so.
A friend told me a story about a man from Upper Egypt who happened to sit in front of a young woman who did not cover her face and hair on board a train. The man kept gazing and staring at the woman’s face although her husband was sitting next to her. Finally, the husband got angry and told the man to turn his face away and not look at his wife. The man said, “If you are okay letting your wife wear makeup in public and not cover her face, you should not be angry if other men stare at her.”
Men are jealous by nature. Saad Bin Obada (may Allah be pleased with him), one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), once said, “If I saw a man walking with my wife, I would strike him with my sword.” When a companion told the Prophet (pbuh) about it, the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Do you wonder at Saad’s jealousy, I am more jealous than him and Allah is more jealous.”
