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:

As salamu alaikum,

I have read in the recent news that the jamaat-e-ulamae-hind is pressuring Sania Mirza (tennis star) to follow a certain dress code or else they would`nt let her play. My question is can they do it even though India is not an Islamic country and shariah is not applied? Jazakallahu khairan 

(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:

Sania Mirza Tennis

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.

Dear and beloved brother, although sister Sania Mirza is a muslim by faith but because she resides in a non-muslim country where Shariah Law is not applied in the land, the responsibility of the well-being of the sister rests solely upon herself and her legal guardians. We must assume that sister Sania and her guardians are wise enough to understand whether or not the dress she wears in public is appropriate and acceptable in the Sight of Allah and Islamic Law, and they alone will be responsible in the Presence of their Lord for the decision they chose to make.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.116 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar

The Prophet (saws) said, "Everyone of you is a guardian and everyone of you is responsible (for those in his wards). A ruler is a guardian and is responsible (for his subjects); a man is a guardian of his family and responsible (for them); a wife is a guardian of her husband's house and she is responsible (for it), a slave is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible (for that). Beware! All of you are guardians and are responsible (for those in your wards)."

The scholars of the Jamaat-e-ulama-e-Hind obviously do not have the authority in the land to enforce the Shariah, nor to pressurize anyone to do what they believe to be right; nor are they the appointed custodians of every muslim sister in India, nor will they be asked by Allah Subhanah regarding the deeds and actions of anyone but themselves and those under their responsibility.

In our humble opinion, it is highly unlikely that scholars of Islam would pressurize anyone in India to their bidding. More than likely what seems to have happened would be that someone goes upto a scholar and asks their opinion about a muslim sister (who happens to be a tennis star and obviously in the public eye), who does not dress according to the guidance of the religion she professes to believe in. The scholars would obviously give their opinion that such attire as worn by the sister in public is not in accordance with the guidance of Islam….and their this opinion is then aired on national television and newspapers as putting pressure on the sister to dress appropriately!

There are so many public figures in India (in politics, in sport, in cinema, in business, etc.) and other nations who profess to believe in Islam but engage in activities which are absolutely abhorred in Islam! The scholars, when asked about them and their activities, would obviously give their opinion in light of the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah…and therein their responsibility would end. The ultimate and final responsibility of the actions and deeds of each individual rests with the individual and their guardians alone in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, and each will have his Day in the Just and Majestic Court of the Lord All-Mighty.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan