Is a woman's abandonment of the hijab due to the influence of society or authority considered polytheism (shirk)?
The hijab is an obligation upon the Muslim woman, according to the texts and scholarly consensus. Abandoning the hijab is a great sin and a major transgression. A Muslim woman abandoning the hijab out of fear of society or to conform to it contradicts the perfection of Tawhid (monotheism), due to the Almighty's saying: "So fear not the people and fear Me," and "So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [truly] believers." And if a Muslim woman believes that what society has made obligatory is the true obligation, and what it has forbidden is truly forbidden, and what it has permitted is truly permissible, then she falls into the shirk of obedience. Obedience to other than Allah in disobedience to Allah is shirk in obedience. Abandoning the hijab under the influence of society is a great sin that contradicts the perfection of Tawhid and the perfection of obedience, for a believer has no choice once Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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