Is it correct to say: "Piety is in the heart, for perhaps a fasting immodestly dressed woman is better than a corrupt modestly dressed woman," and to say: "Think good of others, for how many immodestly dressed women have we found fasting, praying, and charitable," and to say: "Do not make this hijab a measure of chastity, for how many have adopted it as a cover for their misfortunes," and for some to say to disbelievers: "Muslims without Islam"?
Righteousness is not limited to the heart; rather, it encompasses the heart, tongue, and limbs. Thus, a fasting woman who is unveiled is obedient through her fasting and spending, but disobedient through her unveiling. Likewise, a modest woman who is corrupt is obedient through her modesty, but disobedient through her moral corruption. Both are susceptible to punishment. Allah rewards obedience and punishes disobedience or forgives it.
Prioritizing the fasting, unveiled woman over the modest, corrupt woman often comes from secularists and liberals. The hijab is a symbol of chastity, and a chaste woman abstains from forbidden acts and from things that compromise integrity. This applies to the veiled woman. As for the unveiled woman, she is not chaste because she openly commits forbidden acts and things that compromise integrity.
It is not correct to describe disbelievers as "Muslims without Islam," because the term "Muslim" is a legal term applied only to one who believes in Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever prays our prayer, faces our Qiblah, and eats our slaughtered meat, then that is the Muslim." Calling disbelievers "Muslims" aims to foster closeness with them and diminish the gravity of their disbelief. This comes from those with deviant ideas who seek to polish their image and improve Muslims' perception of them.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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