skills/sistani-guidance/references/books/west/pages-229-240.md

# A Code of Practice for Muslims in the West

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## PDF PAGE 229

```text
..……………………………………………… ٩٢٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Introduction
There are specific laws for women in Islam that the books of
jurisprudence have discussed in detail. However, as a result of
being in the midsts of non-Muslim societies, new situations
have come up that have given rise to new questions and
inquiries.
```

## PDF PAGE 230

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..……………………………………………… ٠٣٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
General Rules
A woman is allowed to keep her face and hands uncovered in
the presence of a non-mahram man, provided that she does not
fear of getting into a haram act, that the exposure of her face
and hand does not cause men to gaze at her in a forbidden way,
and that it does not give rise to immorality in general.
Otherwise, it is obligatory on her to conceal [her face and
hands], even from those who are mahram to her.
It is not permissible for a woman to expose the top part of her
feet to a non-mahram onlooker. However, she is allowed to
keep her feet —top as well as sole— exposed during salat, if
she is in a place where she is immune from the looks of a non-
mahram person.
A woman is allowed to use antimony (kohl) on her eyelashes
and wear rings in both hands, provided that it is not intended
for drawing lustful attention of men towards herself and that
she is confident of not getting into a haram act. Otherwise, it is
obligatory on her to cover [the eyes that have kohl and the
hands with rings] even from those who are mahram to her.
It is permissible for a woman to go out, wearing perfume even
if non-mahram men can smell her perfume; in so doing, she
should not aim to arouse or attract such men.
```

## PDF PAGE 231

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..……………………………………………… ١٣٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
It is permissible for a woman to ride in a car by herself with a
non-mahram driver as long as she is confident of not getting
into a haram act.
It is not permissible for a woman to masturbate until she
reaches climax and has discharge. If she did so, it is obligatory
on her to perform major ablution (ghusl); and this ghusl will
make up for wudhu, [if she intends to pray after that].
A woman who is barren is permitted to expose her private parts
[to the doctor] for the sake of treatment, if she desperately
needs to become pregnant and that failure to do so would place
her in a difficulty of the kind that would normally exempt her
from other obligations.
“The baby should be breast fed by its mother because it has
been mentioned in ahadith that, ‘There is no milk that a baby
drinks more blessed than the milk of its mother.’ It is better to
breast feed the child for twenty-one months; it should not be
less than that. Similarly, the child should not be breast fed for
more than two years; it is better, if the parents agree on
weaning the child earlier.”   )١(١
It is recommended for the wife to do the household chores and
to provide the needs of the husband unrelated to conjugal
matters like cooking, sewing, cleaning, laundry, etc. These
things are not an obligation on her.
 ١Sayyid as-Sistani, Minhaju 's-Saliheen, vol.  ,٣p.  .٠٢١
```

## PDF PAGE 232

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..……………………………………………… ٢٣٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
“It is permissible to listen to the voice of a non-mahram
woman without any sexual overtures. “Similarly, it is
permissible for her to make herself be heard by non-mahram
men except when there is fear of getting sucked into a haram
act. However, she is not allowed to soften or make her voice
palatable to an extent that would normally arouse the listener,
even if that person was mahram to her.”   )٢(١
“If a woman is in need of medical examination to treat her
disease and the non-mahram doctor is better equipped to treat
her, that doctor is allowed to look at her body and touch it if
need be. If it is possible to treat her by either of the two
methods (looking or touching), he [should restrict himself to
one and] would not be allowed to use the other [method].”  )٣( ٢
Some scholars say, “In order to confine all kinds of sexual
activity to wedlock and for the benefit of the husband, the wife
and the entire family, Islam has imposed hijab on the woman
when she meets the men who are not mahram to her.”   )٤(٣
Alfred Hitchcock, the famous movie producer said, “The
eastern woman was very attractive by herself and this attraction
gave her tremendous power. But by taking great steps in
bringing herself on a par with her western sister, the eastern
woman has gradually abandoned the hijab; and this has
 ١Ibid, p.  .٥١
 ٢Ibid, p.  .٣١
 ٣See Shaykh Murtaza Mutahhari, Masalatu 'l-Hijab as quoted
in the first issue of al-Kawthar, p.  .٢٩
```

## PDF PAGE 233

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..……………………………………………… ٣٣٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
gradually decreased her attractiveness [and hence her power].”
  )٥(١
Will Durant, while discussing the sexual behaviour of women,
said, “The woman knows that indecency leads to lower self-
esteem and degradation, therefore she taught that to her
daughter.”  )٦(٢In other words, by nature she is inclined towards
decency and chastity; and that covering her body increases her
honour and position in the eyes of men.
 ١See al-Kawthar; [Translator's Note: The quotation has been
translated from Arabic. Original source not traceable.]
 ٢Translator's Note: Translated from Arabic. Orignal source not
traceable.
```

## PDF PAGE 234

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..……………………………………………… ٤٣٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Question and Answers
Question: What is the ruling in the matter of a woman
embracing another woman passionately, kissing, and flirting
with her with sexual desire? What if they go even further and
enter the domain of deviant sexual behaviour?
Answer: All of this is haram with varying degrees of
prohibition.
Question: Very often women ask specific questions [related to
women’s issues] from seminations. Is it permissible for them to
ask explicitly, even though some questions might be of a
private nature? Is it permissible for the studentss to answer
them in the same explicit manner?
Answer: It is permissible for both parties for the sake of
learning and teaching religious laws, but they both must have
sincerity of intention, observe decency and decorum [in their
speech], and refrain from explicitness in matters that are not
appropriate to be expressed explicitly.
Question: During foreplay, a sticky substance is discharged in
the woman’s vagina; and when the foreplay continues, she
sometimes has orgasm. Is it obligatory on her to perform major
ablution (ghusl) when she reaches the first stage of discharge
or only when she reaches the climax? And will this ghusl make
up for wudhu?
```

## PDF PAGE 235

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..……………………………………………… ٥٣٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Answer: Ghusl does not become wajib for the woman until she
reaches the level of sexual excitement. Once she reaches that
level and the liquid is discharged, it becomes obligatory on her
to perform ghusl of janabat which should compensate for
wudhu.
Question: During the pilgrimage season, women use some
pills to delay the on set of their monthly period; when the
period sets in, it comes with frequent intervals. Would the laws
of menses apply on that discharge?
Answer: If it comes with interruption and does not continue —
even inside the private part after the first initial discharge— for
three days, the laws of menstruation should not apply.
Question: A vast majority of Muslim women who observe
hijab are used to keeping their chins and a small part of the
under chin exposed but they cover the neck. Is this permissible
for them? And how big an area of the face women can expose?
And are the ears included in that?
Answer: The ears are not part of the face, therefore it is
obligatory to cover them. As for the part of the chin and the
under chin that are seen when putting on the common head
scarf, it is to be considered as part of the face.
Question: Is it permissible to shake hands with a non-mahram
women who is advanced in age (qawa‘id) and do not have high
hopes of getting married? What is the approximate age for
qawa‘id?
```

## PDF PAGE 236

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..……………………………………………… ٦٣٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Answer: It is not permissible to touch the body of a non-
mahram woman at all, except when necessary. There is no
specific age for the qawa‘id because it varies from one woman
to another; the criterion [of defining the qawa‘id] is what has
been mentioned in the [Qur’anic] verse: she should be
advanced in age and do not aspire for marriage ( .)٠٦/٤٢
Question: If putting on the face veil (an-niqab) in a country
[like England or America] sometimes arouses astonishment
and inquiries, is it obligatory to take off such veil since it
would become part of the libasu ’sh-shuhra?
Answer: It is not obligatory [to do so]. However, if wearing it
arouses disapproval by and dislike of the general public in a
particular country, it would be classified as “libasu ’sh-
shuhra” in that country and it would not be permissible to wear
it over there.
Question: Is it permissible for a woman in hijab to learn
driving, if her instructor is a non-mahram and is alone with her
during the driving lessons, provided that nothing haram takes
place in the process?
Answer: It is permissible, provided that one is immune from
falling prey to immorality.
Question: Some beautician outlets employ female staff. Is it
permissible for a woman among the believers to engage in
applying make up of women —Muslim or non-Muslim— who
```

## PDF PAGE 237

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..……………………………………………… ٧٣٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
do not observe hijab and who wear make up in the presence of
non-mahram men?
Answer: If that work is considered as a contributing factor to
the haram act and promoting it, she is not allowed to do it;
however, such a consideration is truly far-fetched.
Question: Is it permissible for a woman who does not observe
hijab to get rid of her facial hair, to straighten her eyebrows,
and to wear natural and light make up?
Answer: Getting rid of facial hair and straightening the
eyebrows do not prevent her from keeping her face open [while
putting on the hijab], provided she is confident of not getting
sucked into something haram and that exposing her face is not
done with the intention of inviting haram looks.
Question: Is it permissible [for a woman] to dye her hair, fully
or partially, in gatherings exclusively for women with the
intention of attracting attention for the purpose of marriage?
Answer: If dyeing is for a cosmetic reason and not with the
purpose of deceiving (like concealing a defect or old age),
there is no problem in it.
Question: If a woman puts on a wig that covers her real hair
for the purpose of beauty as well as hijab, is she allowed to
expose her face now that it looks different?
```

## PDF PAGE 238

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..……………………………………………… ٨٣٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Answer: She is permitted to use the wig, yet it is a beauty item
that must be concealed from non-mahram men.
Question: There are some stockings whose colour matches
that used to embellish the legs. Is it permissible for a young
woman to wear it?
Answer: She is allowed to wear it, but if it is considered a
beauty item, it is necessary to conceal it from non-mahram
men.
Question: Is it permissible to wear stockings that conceal what
is underneath it?
Answer: In principle, there is no problem in it.
Question: A Muslim woman nurse visits patients; part of her
work involves touching the body of men, Muslims as well as
non-Muslims. Is this permissible for her, knowing that leaving
her job would make it hard for her to find work? And is there a
difference between touching the body of a Muslim and that of a
non-Muslim?
Answer: It is not permissible for a woman to touch the body of
non-mahram man, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, except when
it is necessary, in which case the prohibition is overridden.
Question: A Muslim woman wears high heel shoes that hit the
ground in such a way that it draws attention. Is she allowed to
wear it?
```

## PDF PAGE 239

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..……………………………………………… ٩٣٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
Answer: It is not permissible, if it is intended to draw the
attention of non-mahram men to herself, or if it generally
causes temptation [for committing sin].
Question: Is it permissible for a woman to wear rings, bangles,
or necklace for the sake of beautification?
Answer: It is permissible and it should be concealed from non-
mahram men except for the rings and bangles, provided that
there is no danger of committing that which is haram, or that
exposing them should not be with the intention of drawing
forbidden attention.
Question: In the West it is possible to wear coloured contact
lenses. Is it permissible for a Muslim woman to wear them for
the sake of beautification and then appear in front of non-
mahram men?
Answer: If that is considered as an item of cosmetics, it is not
allowed.
Question: Is it permissible to sell ova of a woman? Is it
permissible to buy them?
Answer: It is permissible.
Question: In some cases, women start losing their hair. Is it
permissible for them to expose their hair to a doctor for the
sake of treatment, irrespective of whether loss of hair entails
```

## PDF PAGE 240

```text
..……………………………………………… ٠٤٢A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
difficulty for them, in that it is just for the sake of
embellishment?
Answer: It is permissible in the case of difficulty that is
normally unbearable; and not without it.
Question: Is it permissible for a Muslim woman to join a co-
education college in the West in spite of the moral breakdown,
and the laisser-faire attitude of some male and female students?
Answer: If she is confident that she can preserve her faith,
fulfill her religious duties, including the hijab, refrain from
haram looking and touching, and be immune to immoral and
adverse atmosphere, there is no problem in it; otherwise, it is
not allowed.
Question: In some Western countries, artists sit on the kerb of
public footpaths and paint pictures of those who wish to get
their portraits drawn for a fee. They do so by asking their
customers to pose for them, and then carefully observe their
faces in order to paint their portraits. Is it permissible for a
woman with hijab to ask the artist to draw her picture?
Answer: She should not do so.
Question: Is wrestling in its various forms permissible for
women? And are women allowed to look at the semi-naked
bodies of the wrestlers live or on television without lustful
thoughts?
```