The Muslim women of that land must not obey its rulers

Question: A law was passed by the rulers of a Muslim land forcing the young women and all women to remove their hijaabs, in particular their face coverings. Is it permissible for me to execute that order? You should also realize that the one who refuses to obey that command will be punished by, for example, removal from work or school or imprisonment.

Response: This trial that has be fallen your land is from those events by which the servants are tested and tried. Allaah has said in the Qur.aan, {Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, 'We believe,' and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah will certainly make [it] known [the truth of] those who are true, and will certainly make [it] known [the falsehood of] those who are liars}, [al-Ankabut 2-3]. In my opinion, it is obligatory upon the Muslim sisters of that land to refuse to obey the rulers in that evil order. This is because there is no obedience to evil, rejected orders. Allaah says, {O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those of you who are in authority}, [an-Nisaa. 59]. If one ponders over this verse, one notes that Allaah has stated, {Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those of you who are in authority}, [an-Nisaa. 59]. That is, the word "obey" is not repeated directly before "those of ,you who are in authority". This indicates that obedience to those in authority is conditional upon obedience to Allaah and obedience His Messenger. If their orders are in contradiction to obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, then they are not listened to or obeyed in that matter that they have ordered. ((There is no obedience to the created if it involves disobedience to the Creator.))1 The hurt that these women face in this matter is part of what one must be patient with. They must seek Allaah's help in being patient. We ask Allaah to guide their leaders to the truth. I do not think that such a compulsion can exist unless the woman leaves her house. In her house, it is not possible that they could force such a thing upon her. Hence, the sisters should try to stay in their houses until the matter is rectified. If her studies involve a disobedience to Allaah, then her studies are not permissible. Instead, she should study what she needs for her religion and worldly needs and, usually, this can be done in her household. In sum, it is never allowed to obey the rulers in a command that is an evil and wrong in itself.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa al-Mar.ah