Purdah

Q: Is it permissible to look at the face and hands of a non mahram if done without lust?

Q: To what extent do women have to lower their gaze with and towards other women if they do (when there’s no fitnah)? I know that you can’t see from below the navel to the knee and including the knees, back and stomach. 

Now in a normal setting among other women, everyone is fully covered but not always in “modest” clothing since it’s females. So in some areas clothes are tight like when wearing a t-shirt for example or trousers. When they wear clothes like this for example, the shape of their body is shown. Are we sinful if we look at their body? Or if we see the shape of things that are apparent or showing (when there is no fitnah)?

Are we supposed to be lowering our gaze as females to other females too? Because when they move etc. even then things naturally show, so what do we do? Are we sinful if we’ve looked or if we’ve seen anything? 

Q: If a man is wearing shorts and his knee and a portion above his knee is exposed. Can such a person greet? As they are saying the name of Allah while their 'awrah is exposed? 

And what is the ruling regarding saying alhamdulillāh after sneezing when one is dressed in a similar manner? Is it makruh or more serious?

Q: A very concerning matter facing us here in the UK and I believe in many countries. The matter is that some ladies have opened a door of going around place to place to give bayaans. They become speakers and attend as well as put together conferences where they attract audiences based on their skills in language and the ability to deliver an entertaining talk. 

Some of them podcast on social media for everyone to listen to. Men have full access to listen to them live or to the saved video recordings. Some of them do so in niqaab and some without. 

This oratory by these women has become very appealing to young girls who see this as a goal to achieve in their spiritual growth. 

These women openly encourage other ladies to do the same and as a result there are teams of such ladies going around almost like shaikh and mureeds. They attract big followings and people are being misled to believe that the sahabiyaat use to also lecture and advise men in the matters of deen. 

They lure young girls with the snare of online quran classes and then lead them to the same desire to be lecturers and hold their own conferences. This has also become a business in the name of deeni efforts. This looks very attractive to modern muslim families that their wives and daughters are getting some kind of exposure to deeni knowledge and it is also very convenient in keeping them busy and as it is said rather keep them off the streets. 

Women and girls are also attracted through emotional activities of social and welfare work. In most cases the harms are not immediately apparent. 

Should innocent families be warned about this? To what extent should women be allowed to have these kind of lecture conferences? How should people be made aware ? Will appreciate your guidance on this matter

Q: My wife recently had some interaction with female members of her family. Alhamdulillah, as we practice strict purdah and she remains at home, she was giving her female cousins Targheeb along these lines. 

One of her cousins is an Aalimah and then quoted the Ayat of Quran Shareef commanding the Azwaaj-e-Mutaharaat to stay at home, and then explained that this Ayat referred only to them and was not applicable to the women of today. 

My wife explained that the fitnah is far worse today and our piety cannot even be compared to their chastity and purity, but the “Aalimah” persisted saying that this is Quran and you cannot infer restriction on everyone when it is referring only to a select group. 

Please can Mufti saheb provide guidance with some proof, more for our itminaan than anything else.

Q: What do our Ulama say about sending kids or youth or adults to swimming pools or gyms where there are mixed ladies and men with no segregation and improper attire? Is a boy or girl, who are not baligh, allowed to learn swimming lessons in this environment? Please kindly advise? 

Q: If someone (Muslim) calls a niqabi a "ninja" (not in a derogatory way or to mock niqab, nor to make fun of the person for wearing niqab), will it be kufr? 

What if the niqabi didn't think much of it and just passed it over as a joke, because she believes that the person was just joking and not trying to degrade her or something. 

Basically, a ninja can be considered good or bad, but it depends on what the ninja does (apparently).

Q: I am a 17 year old girl and I have a strong inclination to wear the niqaab. However, my father and grandmother said no. If I wear it, a bit of chaos will start in my household and I will be shouted and sworn at. I am okay with that but I don't know if it is better to wear the niqaab or to keep momentary peace in my family.