Fataawaa for Sisters: Prayer, Wine and High-Heeled Shoes

By the Scholar of Hadeeth, Shaykh Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee

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"PIVOTAL QUOTE"
First, she should repent to Allaah for what she did in those days – with the usual and known
repentance, with its necessary conditions.
[Q.1] What is the Islamic ruling upon a husband offering khamr (wine and intoxicants) to his
wife, threatening to divorce her if she refuses it, although he knows that she is regular in her
Prayers?
[A.1] The answer to this question is well-known! “There can be no obedience to the creation, if
it involves disobedience to the creator.” [1] It is not permissible for the wife to obey her husband
in disobedience to Allaah – the Most High, and her divorce from him is better for her. Allaah
says:
“But if their intention is firm for divorce, Allaah sees and knows all things.” [Sooratul-
Baqarah 2:227]
This is especially true when the cause for divorce from the woman is her obedience to Allaah
and disobedience to her husband, who is flouting the commands of Allaah. However, other
issues need to be taken into consideration; and each case is to be judged according to its
individual circumstances. If the woman is divorced from her husband, her and her children’s
lives may be ruined. In such a case, it would be possible for us to say that she should stay with
her husband, by way of choosing the lesser of the two evils. However, we do not give such a
ruling generally, for it is against the essential principle. The matter is as Allaah says:
“But each man is aware of his own self.” [Sooratul-Qiyaamah 75:14]
[Q.2] Is it permissible for women to wear high-heeled shoes?
[A.2] This is not permissible. It involves resembling the disbelieving women, or the wicked
women. It has its origins amongst the Jewish women before Islaam. When one of them wanted
to attend a gathering where her lover was present, she would wear a pair of high shoes for him to
see her, being taller. Then after a time, those became high-heeled shoes. Further, that type of
shoe changes a woman’s way of walking, causing her to tilt from left to right, and therefore, the
wicked and unbelievers choose this type of shoe. Therefore, a Muslim woman following the
Sharee’ah (Islaamic Law) should not wear high-heeled shoes; especially since many times it
causes her to fall!
[Q.3] With regard to a woman who did not pray, though she was Muslim, due to lack of fear of
the Punishment of Allaah, but then she repents to Allaah; does she have to make up the missed
Prayers?
[A.3] First, she should repent to Allaah for what she did in those days – with the usual and
known repentance, with its necessary conditions. [2] She should then be careful after that to pray
the Prayer at its time, and should pray as much nafl (supererogatory) Prayers to make up for the
great good which she missed in those days when she left the Prayer. [3]
Footnotes:
[1] Saheeh: Related by al-Waahidee in al-Asbaabun-Nuzool (p. 195), and by al-Baghawee in his
Tafseer (5/188). It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in al-Mishkaatul-Masaabeeh (no. 3696).
[2] There are four conditions for repentance, 1) To immediately refrain from the sin, 2) Remorse,
3) To make a firm resolve not to return to the sin, and 4) To seek forgiveness. Refer to al-
Istighfaar by Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, with the checking of Fawwaaz Ahmad Zumarlee.
[3] Extracted from a tape by Shaykh al-Albaanee.