Q: At the time of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), some laws of Islam were revealed in steps, for example regarding the prohibition of alcohol. I saw that a part of a Hadith of Aisha (Radiyallahu Anha) says that "If the first thing to be revealed was: 'Do not drink alcoholic drinks.' people would have said, 'We will never leave alcoholic drinks'". My question is: is there any consideration given also to the situation of converts to Islam in our time, or do all rules of Islam become binding on them directly? For example, a woman that has lived all her life “freely” by travelling here and there, speaking to people of the other gender etc, will niqab and purda become obligatory on her the same moment she converts to Islam or will it be permissible for her to follow some more lenient rulings during a transition period, e.g. by only wearing a scarf covering the hair?
A: The Hadith narrated from Hazrat Aaisha (Radiyallahu Anha) in question pertained to the beginning of Islam. There were many concessions that were granted at the beginning of Islam that were later on cancelled. After the laws of Deen had become established and the former concessions no longer remained, those who embraced Islam during the Mubaarak era of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) were no longer granted those concessions. Hence, in todays times also since the laws of Deen are established, each person is obligated to practise on the entire Deen.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿البقرة: ٢٠٨﴾
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