Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

asalamoalaikum ,

Ihave a question to ask ,kindly give me an answer in the light of Quran and Sunnah. Though I`m a woman who observes a complete hijjab but today I went to the photographer for the passport pictures for canadian immigration ,as my husband is there and I`m also planning to go there as soon as possible. There the photographer asked me to uncover my face as well as my head otherwise my photos shall be rejected by the embassy therefore I did so .Now I am feeling bad that I may did wrong ,Please guide me I shall be very thankful to you.JAZAKALLAH KHER.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Take off photo for Hijab?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

To the best of my knowledge and experience, a photo which shows the face of the person wearing a head-cover is absolutely acceptable to any government. Maybe the photographer who gave the advice to uncover the head-cover was being over-cautious or maybe he had ulterior motives; Allah Alone knows best.

Your not feeling comfortable with the situation you were put in, and your feeling bad at removing your head-cover in front of a non-mehram man are indeed a sign and a confirmation of your faith and your obedience to the laws and commands of Allah Subhanah. This your condition is in itself an act of sincere ‘Taubah’, and it is expected that the Merciful Lord will accept your repentance and not hold you accountable for your this misdemeanor done in ignorance.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 135:

Allah likes such good people very much, who, if ever they commit a base deed or wrong their own soul by the commission of a sin, remember Allah instantly, and ask for forgiveness from Him for their shortcomings. For who, but Allah, can forgive sins?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 54:

When those come to you who believe in Our Signs, say: "Peace be on you! Your Lord had inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy. Verily if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented and amended (your conduct), Lo! He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan