𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (203)

My Father Does Not Allow Me To Cover My Face Question: I am a Salafi girl, and my father is someone who strongly dislikes Salafis. I wanted to cover my face, but he refused and was about to hit me. He does not see it as obligatory, and I hide from him that I have become Salafi because he only holds to his own opinion. What should I do about covering my face? Also, I have a smartphone, which I use to learn religious knowledge and study the Salafi beliefs. These beliefs are entirely different from my previous ones, and there are things I used to do that are not permissible. Is it better to stop using the smartphone due to its potential harms, or should I wait until I find an academy where I can study religious knowledge and beliefs? Another matter is that I wear black abayas, but my headscarves are colored. Should I also wear black headscarves? My mother objects to me wearing black, so I appease her with colored headscarves. What is your opinion on this? Furthermore, my mother wants me to work and to train with a teacher because that is my field of study. What is your opinion on this? Sheikh Muhammad Al-'Ansi, ḥafidhahullāh, responds: This is a test, my sister, may Allah bless you. It is indeed strange and astonishing that a daughter desires righteousness and goodness, yet her father prevents her. There is no diety worthy of worship except Allah! What a trial, and what times we live in, and what people we have encountered?! It is fundamentally the father's duty to care for his daughter, to raise his children—both sons and daughters—upon chastity, modesty, honor, and guarding their reputation. This is the norm. A father should be protective and not want anyone to see his female relatives. Putting aside the debate on whether covering the face is obligatory or recommended, it is unimaginable for a woman to deliberately expose her face, thereby causing fitnah for others and exposing herself to it...Therefore, you must not obey your father even if he commands you to uncover your face, even if he beats you. May Allah guide him... Ask him, O my dear father, what benefit is there in me uncovering my face?! Will it increase my faith, fear of Allah, modesty, and chastity?! What benefit is there in men seeing me?! Pray for your father's guidance, especially during the night. Wake up during the night and supplicate to Allah to guide your parents so they may become supportive of your pursuit of goodness, guidance, and righteousness. I advise you to be patient in seeking knowledge, and it is acceptable to use the phone as long as you use it for good purposes and avoid evil, maintaining the fear and awareness of Allah. Learn the Qur'an, follow Salafi lessons, and adhere to the correct creed. Avoid going out and mingling with men, and refrain from studying with male teachers as this is a great source of fitnah. Pray to Allah for relief and a way out. When a person is tested by their parents, where can they turn? Allah is the Helper. Just as some common folk would say, if the masjid's roof leaks, where will people find shelter from the rain?! In the same way, how can a helpless woman bear being driven to sin and fitnah by her own parents?! You need to be patient and steadfast, even if they strike you or speak harshly to you. You will be victorious, with Allah's permission. Do not treat them disrespectfully. Speak kindly and gently to them. Say, "Father, may Allah bless you, I cannot do this, it's not possible," and persist. If your mother becomes upset because you wear the black veil, she has no right to prevent you. If you are forced to compromise, wear something less noticeable, like a dark gray or dull green garment, rather than something bright and attention-grabbing, but do not uncover your face. May Allah bless you, my sister. Be patient for the sake of Allah, and strive to be a good role model. Allah is the Helper.