Yes we do live in the US, and no it is an honor for us to meet you! And encouragement is always good considering all the hate mail we receive from pseudo-sufis and pseudo-salafis!

Allah Ma’akum
was-salam,
Abu Layth

May Allah preserve you both and grant you the neighborhood of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) in Jannah al-Firdaws for your devoted da’wah and protection of the Deen. Amin.

If only you lived in US, I’d have arranged a visit to you with my family, but to see blessed people such as you is such an honor, that perhaps I may not deserve.

I am pretty sure Da’i, such as you, don’t need the supportive words “Please keep up the good work!” because your motivation comes directly from your heart and Iman.

Again, may Allah (SWT) always protect and bless you and your family.

Islam

I’ve read through these posts. I’m not actually disturbed by the vigorous debate. Abul Layth posted a very compelling argument and depended extensively on reliable interpretations. He also asserted that the position is between mustahab and fardh. I don’t find Murabits position alot different from Abul Layth either. But Murabit is concerned that excessively promoting theses elements of the fiqh, undermines other elements of the deen (though I know this is not what is being intended). I can relate to what he says even though I’m no associated with the murabitoon. But Murabit did seem weigh his argument too muchwith issues about ribah and Islamic finance, but I suppose he was only trying to make a point.

What does disturb me are the extent of the personal attacks, and the complete disavowment of the sources and people of tradition (though I know this is not what is being intended). I hope that there may be some way of recognising that each person is grounded in their approach, and that neither has to undermine the others person. Pragmatically speaking, neither of you can alter each others path through debate. But you must perform salaah together at some point. You must perform your hajj together. You occupy the same public space where business and politics run their course. For that very sake, there must be some way you guys can respect your personal tradition and continue with the sincere worship of Allah AW.

From my perspective, I’ve heard of an incident in the US where a sister with Niqaab refused to remove her veil when giving testimony in court. Sisters won’t have their drivers licence pictures taken, so they just drive without licenses. I also realise that the argument is for Jilbaab and not niqaab. Truthfully speaking, I’ve only seen Iranian people adopting this method of peeping through. The niqaab seems to be the majority Sunni application. I’ve also seen Quraanic ayats where the word face and veil are included in the translation in brackets so as to force the meaning in the tafseer.

I’m also inclined to believe that women are oppressed in Muslim societies and non-Muslim socieities. The niqaab or the jilbab have truly come to mean a purity and defense of some element of a womens honour I possibly don’t understand. Because I believe a persons honour is in their dignified behaviour AND their dignified treatment. I’ve heard lectures where an Arab scholar described women who drive or wear lipstick as similar to prostitutes. No moderation in his view at all.

Evidently, I’m not a scholar. The books of fiqh are written for people of doctrine. They are hard to get hold of, harder still to grade as important by an ordinary person, and honestly the world still ticks on for me in its current condition. It doesn’t befit me to live with my heart in kitaabs when my current environment is evident and my ihsaan can only be earned on a few strong fundamentals. But I sit here as a Muslim man, who married a dentist. She works with ajnabi men everyday. Her job brings relief and cure to people. She is never assaulted through some or other fitnah. Some Ulema even send their wives and daughters to her, because she’s lax with her fee and really good at what she does.

For someone like my wife, who is truly a good person and a benefit to mankind for her skill and her profession, I am not inclined to force her to obey Allah AW command. I respect her freedom of conscience as I do for any other person. For people like us, the path is one that’s walked everyday.

Thank you guys for the information, for the clarity of purpose and your commitment to the knowledge of deen.

So I laugh when stupid comments like, “the Quran never commands women to cover their faces,” and as Sara said, “At the end of the day ayah 33:59 DOES NOT mention anything about faces” are presented. If everything has to be stated in the Quran, then do not pray as you do. Because the Quran does not instruct the way a Muslim must pray. Just make up whatever way you want to pray and hope that Allah will accept it. Indeed, just pray like a Christian does in church.

However, if you accept the fact that the Sunnah clarifies the Quran, then any seeker of truth will come to realize that the verses in which the Quran commands women to cover themselves does not explicitly specify what part of the body the women must cover. So we turn to the Sunnah. And that is what Abul Layth does in his beautifully written articles. He shows that the all the female Companions of the Prophet would cover their faces (their is one hadith in which one woman would not, so Aishah took it upon herself to cover that woman’s face). And the ahadith that make it seem as if the face is not awarah are weak.

However, there is some scholarly disagreement over whether it is mustahabb or wajib to cover the face. However, there is absolutely NO position that says that it is an innovation. And it is indeed innovation itself to postulate something like that. However, if one wants to accept either position, it is alright to do so, although I find the position of the majority, that covering the face is wajib, far more convincing. This even though I am a strict Hanafi.

it’s simply men who have put that interpretation there.

It is “men” that Allah commands us to consult in these matters of law.

فاسألوا أهل الذكر إن كنتم لا تعلمون

It is astonishing to me that a Muslim could have such disdain for the forefathers of the Ummah they subscribe to. These are the same individuals of whom Allah says,

“And the first to lead the way, of the Muhajirin and the Ansar, and those who followed them in goodness – Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him, and He hath made ready for them Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever. That is the supreme triumph.”

This is a people of whom our beloved Master Prophet Muhammad said, “The best of mankind!”

Sad times when a people hold contempt for the one’s whom Allah loves, while glorifying His enemies.

When deciding WHAT a word’s MEANING is one has to return to the language and its masters, it is that simple. Your denial of “face” is in fact a denial of the language utilized in the Qur’an. What you are doing, in fact, would be like denying Shakespeare’s authority in English.

What is no surprise is that such is beyond your understanding.