Salam alaikum, a year ago I lost my job because I wanted to wear my hijab also at work (I am a revert) and cannot find a job because of my hijab. Now I have to file in bankrupcy, which means people from the court will come and take everything from my home that is valuable. I have a beautiful Persian necklace and 2 persian carpets which I got from my mum, one is even about 35 years old. My mum hates Muslims and it is hard for me to keep up contact with her and my sister, it is only possible via email and text messages on the phone because they refuse to meet me. She is very materialistic and all her riches on the bank are not enough for her. She also suffers from depression. If the court now takes away the carpets too she will get even more upset from me and Islam for she hates nothing more than Hijab and Muslims and will get even more depressed. I assume it is haram for me to hide those things from the Kuffar so that they cannot get them? It would be illegal by their law... But if it is haram, is it then allowed for me to give her the Persian carpets and the necklace back as a gift? Or should I rather be concerned of paying off my loan which I took 13 years before I reverted to Islam and which I try hard to pay off due to haram (Riba etc.) and not be concerned too much of the feelings of my mum? Please advise me. May Allah reward you! Salam alaikum

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, we thank and praise Allaah The Almighty Who guided you to Islam and we ask Him to make you firm and steadfast upon His Religion until the Day you meet Him.

We advise you to seek beneficial knowledge, perform good deeds and befriend righteous and pious women, as these are the best means that help a Muslim remain steadfast on his/her religion.

Besides, we ask Allaah The Almighty to enable you to do good and make a way out of your difficulties and hardship, and make you successful both in this life and in the Hereafter.

You should know that this worldly life is a place of trial and a Muslim is tested with good and evil; Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.} [Quran 21:35]

The outcome of patience in this world and in the Hereafter is always good; for more benefit on the merits of patience, please refer to Fataawa 85445 and 83577.

We advise you to ask Allaah The Almighty earnestly to facilitate for you a lawful job and enable you to repay your debts. We remind you here of the Hadeeth (narration) that was reported by Abu Daawood that Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet entered the mosque one day and found a man from the Ansaar called Abu Umaamah . So, the Prophet said to him: “Abu Umaamah, what’s the matter with you? I see you sitting in the mosque at a time other than the time of the prayer.” Abu Umaamah replied, “It is worries and debts that make me sit here.” The Prophet then said to him: "Shall I not teach you some words which, if you say them, Allaah will take away your worries and help you repay your debts?" Abu Umaamah said, “Please do, O Prophet of Allaah.” The Prophet then said: "Every morning and every late afternoon, say: 'O Allaah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men." Abu Umaamah said, 'I did so (said the supplication) and Allaah took the anxiety away from me and helped me repay my debts.” [Abu Daawood]

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 142905.

Furthermore, you should not despair of looking for a lawful job by which you can preserve your religion and Hijab (Islamic dress for women). There is no doubt that it is not permissible to take up a job that necessitates taking off your Hijab, but if you are compelled to do so in this case, then it would become permissible to work for them under condition of a necessity. However, once you fulfill your necessity, the ruling of prohibition applies again.

As regards selling your necklaces, if you are obliged to do so in order to repay your debts, then you have no option but to sell them and it is not permissible to hide them. If your mother gets angry because of this, then this is not cutting ties with her, but if you can hide this from her in a way that she does not get to know that you sold these things, then this is better.

In addition, it is not permissible for you to give the necklaces and the carpets back to your mother as a gift as a trick to prevent the creditors from taking back their right. Indeed, one must give back the right to its owner even if he is a non-Muslim. The fact that he is a non-Muslim is not a sound reason to be unjust to him. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allaah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allaah; indeed, Allaah is Acquainted with what you do.} [Quran 5:8] This is indeed from the mercy of this religion and this is evidence that it is the true religion.

On the other hand, you should know that it is only an obligation to repay the original debts and not the Riba (interest and usury) that are added to the loan [debt]. Therefore, it is permissible to circumvent to avoid paying the interest, but this should not cause you any embarrassment or harm.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 143165, 92525 and 129786.

Finally, we advise you to be keen on calling your mother and your sister in a soft and gentle manner to embrace Islam as this is one of the best acts of righteousness and keeping ties with kin. You should also supplicate Allaah The Almighty as much as possible to guide them, treat them in a kind manner and show them the good principles of Islam by dealing with them in a nice manner.

For more benefit on matters that will help you in calling to Islam, please refer to Fataawa 53349, 90449, 88906, 85234, 81979.

Finally, you should look for a means of living that will not necessitate taking off your Hijab, or look for a means to get married to a pious Muslim who will bear your expenses and suffice you from the necessity of earning your living. It should also be noted that it is permissible for a woman to propose herself in marriage to men, provided she abides by the etiquettes of the Sharee’ah (Islamic law) while doing so as we clarified in Fatwa 82471.

Allaah Knows best.