Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
If a person denies Hijab for women being obligatory are they a kafir or if not what is their status.
Assalamu alaikum,
This is very serious, because it has been traditionally agreed upon as being beyond question, given the clear texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah [see Sh. Gibril’s answer, below]. There is clear and decisive scholarly consensus (ijma`) on this. There are few obligations that are more decisively proven, and it is not a ruling subject to change.
However, given the troubled times we live in, the scholars do not declare people who denies this obligation disbelievers. Rather, our duty is to call people to sound understanding of Islam and the Shariah. If people understand the big picture, and the wisdom and mercy the Shariah is based on, they will understand and accept its rulings.
Allah Most High said in the Qur’an,
“Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way. Lo! Your Lord is Best Aware of those who stray from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who go aright.” [Qur’an, 16.125]
The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said, "Call people with good tidings, and do not turn people away." [Muslim]
This follows the fiqh of commanding the good and forbidding the wrong, which is posted below, again, because of its great importance.
A detailed answer on the obligation of wearing hijab will be posted shortly, written by Shaykh Essam Eido, a brilliant young scholar specialized in the science of fiqh methodology (usul al-fiqh) and hadith, of Aleppo (Syria).
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
MMVIII © Faraz Rabbani and Qibla.
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