I am a Tunisian woman. I am preparing a PHD in telecommunications in France. I am wearing the scarf. I am married and my husband and I are going to go back to Tunisia at the end of our studies. The problem is that in Tunisia the scarf is forbidden and it is certain that I can't work wearing it. My husband may have some problems finding a job because I am wearing the scarf. I need your help, What I should do ? Wear the scarf and stay at home? Remove it to avoid problems?

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

We pray to Allah to help you, reward you, and grant you success and steadfastness on the straight path.

If you can migrate to another country instead of your homeland, it becomes obligatory upon you to do so for the sake of your religion. But if you cannot, we state that if wearing Hijaab causes harm to you in yourself, body, honor or mind, then it is permitted to unveil according to need, since 'necessity makes permissible the prohibited things'. Furthermore, you should not go out unless there is need; otherwise, you have to stay at home to avoid not wearing the Hijaab. If wearing the Hijaab causes no harm to you by all means and you can bear discomfort of wearing it, and does not affect your life negatively, then you have to be patient and Allah will reward you for that.

Allah Says (what means): {So their Lord accepted of them (their supplication and answered them), "Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female. You are (members) one of another, so those who emigrated and were driven out from their homes, and suffered harm in My Cause, and who fought, and were killed (in My Cause), verily, I will remit from them their evil deeds and admit them into Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise); a reward from Allah, and with Allah is the best of rewards.”.} [Quran 3:195]

If such a problem (i.e. discomfort due to wearing Hijaab) is due to work, we think that you should give up the work and remain at home as long as there is no need for your work.

For more benefit on the evidence for Hijaab and its conditions, please refer to Fataawa 81554, 83765, 83702, 81494, 354259 and 83033.

Allah knows best.