Question: A questioner from France says: My parents reject my adherence to the methodology of the salaf. As a result, my mom has taken away all of my books and overgarments. She said if you don’t like it then you can leave the house. Consequently, I am forced to wear non-Muslim apparel. So, what is upon me in this situation?
Response: First of all, it is upon everyone to follow the correct path and that is the path of the salaf.
However, there are some people who ascribe themselves to salafiyyah but have no understanding of what it means and may also attribute to the salaf things they are free from.
Sadly, salafiyyah nowadays has become something that people are hesitant about because some of those who call themselves salafis are harsh and ignorant. They attribute to salafiyyah that which is not from it then say, “This is salafiyyah!” As for the correct and authentic salafiyyah then it is the correct methodology for every place [and time].
With regards to your parents forcing you to change your apparel, then you are considered to be compelled (mukrahah)[1]. We advise you to try to get married to a pious husband. If this is not possible, and you have no other place to live besides your parent’s home, then there is no blame on you if you change your clothing to meet your parents’ request, because you are being coerced. It is upon you to cover the awrah[2] as much as possible even if the clothing is not loose-fitting, as you are excused in this case until a specified time, until Allah removes this calamity from you.
To complete the answer that has preceded, a lot of that which is not from salafiyyah is attributed to it nowadays, but indeed salafiyyah is free from it. One of those things is making takfir and tabdee’ of people without guidelines, which this group of people claims is the way of the salaf. They consider everyone that opposes their thoughts to be a kafir or an innovator and they attribute this to the salaf, even though they are free of this.
Footnotes
[1] The Shaykh is implying that she is not sinful if she’s forced to do something that is impermissible. This is the general ruling in Islam due to Allah’s statement: {Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief, except for one who is forced while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allah, and for them is a great punishment.} (16:106)
[2] Awrah: the private area of an individual that must be covered. As it relates to a woman outside of her home, some scholars say that all of her body is awrah, consequently all of it has to be covered. Others make the hands and face an exception.
