The imamate of one whose wife does not observe hijab before close relatives

Question

(1) Zayd’s wife does not observe hijab (screening herself from men who are not mahram) before the sons of her maternal uncle and paternal uncle, but appears before them, and Zayd forbids her, but he forbids her only verbally and uses no strictness. Does the sin of his wife not observing hijab fall on Zayd or not? Is praying behind Zayd valid or makruh? And how strict should Zayd be? If there is fear that strictness will lead to discord, should he still be strict or not? (2)

Answer

(1) According to the Shari‘a, it is necessary to observe hijab before the sons of the paternal uncle and the maternal uncle. If Zayd’s wife does not observe hijab before them, she is sinful, and Zayd is obliged to forbid her; if he does not forbid her, he will be sinful. It is permissible in the Shari‘a for Zayd to be strict, and even to strike his wife for not observing hijab.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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