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Fatwa CenterFear of being labeled an extremist is not a valid excuse to take off the Hijab
Question
Allaah has blessed a Muslim woman who lives in a Western non-Muslim country to wear the Niqaab, but she is confused and worried about going back to her Arab country. She heard that a war is being waged against the Niqaab in her country and that women who wear it are accused of being members of extremist groups. Is she allowed to uncover her face during the transit period in her country's airport so as to ward off any potential harm given that her country has waged war against the practice of covering the face?
Answer
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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
There is no doubt harassment against those who hold fast to their religion, but we have been promised of the following; Allaah says (what means): {And when the believers saw the companies, they said, "This is what Allaah and His Messenger had promised us, and Allaah and His Messenger spoke the truth." And it increased them only in faith and acceptance.} [Quran 33:22]
Allaah has commanded us to persevere in observing the obligations of the religion. Allaah, the Exalted, says (what means): {O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allaah that you may be successful.} [Quran 3:200] The path to Paradise is not easy; if it were, most people would not have turned away from it. A Muslim woman's Hijab is one of the religious obligations that Allaah, the Exalted, has enjoined her to observe, and He has commanded her to endure while observing it.
This Muslim woman should observe the Islamic Hijab and not reveal any part of her body. If she is asked to unveil her face in her country's airport for the official to verify her identity, then she should ask for a female employee to see her face in a closed room, if this is possible. However, if this is unattainable and she is in a difficult situation, then she is allowed to unveil her face and then veil it whenever she is able.
As for her fear of being labeled as a member of extremist groups because of adhering to the Islamic Hijab, this is not a legitimate excuse for neglecting the obligation of wearing the Hijab provided that this alleged attribution does not entail any harm. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was accused of being a magician, a madman, and a lair—far be it from him! However, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was patient and did not abandon his beliefs on account of mere accusations. Allaah, the Exalted, says (what means): {So be patient [O Muhammad] over what they say.} [Quran 50:39]
Allaah Knows best.
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