Question
Assalamo alaikum. Please could you let me know if a wife needs to wear a niqab in front of her brother in law or is it enough to keep segregated?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
According to Shariah, one has to observe strict hijab in front of a Ghair Mahram. By strict, it is meant one cannot freely intermingle and talk with a Ghair Mahram without a need that is justifiable and acceptable in Shariah. In fact, Shariah has ordered one to be even stricter in hijab with one’s brother in law, consider the following hadith:
عن عقبة بن عامر: أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «إياكم والدخول على النساء» فقال رجل من الأنصار: يا رسول الله، أفرأيت الحمو؟ قال: الحمو الموت
صحيح البخاري 7/ 37)
Translation: ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir narrates that Nabi ﷺ said, “Avoid (entering a place) which has women.” A person from the Ansaar said, “Oh Rasulullah, tell me about the brother in law.” Nabi ﷺ replied, ” The brother in law is death” (Sahih Bukhari 7/37)
Therefore, cover yourself adequately from head to toe, including the face.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Nabeel Valli.
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia