Characteristics of the Female Hypocrites
Shaikh Muhammad Musa Nasr
His book Al-Munafiqoon (pg. 79-80) [The book is available in English


1. Exposing Their Beauty

Tabarruj or exposing the feminine, physical beauty that is to be concealed from all the non-mahram [1] male population, and seeking to be a source of enticement and fitnah is a sign of Hypocrisy.


Tragic it is to see many women displaying themselves out in public as if they are pieces of meat selling themselves to the onlookers who want nothing more than to defile them.


The norm today is to find that the female physique has become the cheapest commodity that is displayed in the market place. In fact the female physique is seen as a tool to sell other products and services.


The woman who does not guard her modesty and does not draw the veil over her beauty, is a woman who is seeking to displease Allaah and His Messenger while showing love and obedience to the Devil and his Legions. Her deeds are the deeds of the unbelieving woman and her clothes are the clothes of the deviants even if she was to claim to have Eemaan (faith) and chastity.


Allaah says: “O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts) and as an adornment. And the raiment of righteousness, that is better. Such are among the Ayaat (signs) of Allaah, that they may remember (i.e. leave falsehood and follow truth).” [Surah Al-A‘raaf: 26]


The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) warned the women by saying: “Those who make Tabarruj are the Munafiqaat (female Hypocrites).”


Refer to Imam al-Albanee's blessed book “The Hijaab of the Muslim Woman” for a full commentary on this issue.
2. Al-Mukhtali‘aat: Women Who Ask Their Husbands For Divorce For No Reason


In the Hadeeth narrated by Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, and at-Tirmidhee on the authorities of Abu Hurairah and Thawbaan, Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Al-Mukhtali‘aat are the female Hypocrites.” [2]

Khul‘ is defined by the scholars as being the same as removal of one's garment. This means when the woman seeks to remove (i.e. divorce) her husband from her. This understanding is taken from the words of Allaah:

“It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the nights of fasting. They are a Lîbaas [i.e. body cover or Garment] for you and you are a Libaas for them....” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 187]


The legal understanding of the term (khul') implies that a woman pay a man (her husband) a certain amount of money to end their marital union. If the money (property) is not exchanged then the khul‘ is incomplete and void.


On a whole, the process of khul‘ is sanctioned by Islamic law if done properly and asked for due to the right reasons. Valid reasons for khul‘ vary by circumstance, but in general a few valid reasons for seeking khul‘ are:


1. The husband is of a harsh temperament

2. He harms (abuses) his wife

3. The woman fears that by remaining with him, she will not establish the dictates of Allaah in what He has obligated on her, such as mutual love and companionship.


The khul‘ that is prohibited and earns a woman what we have described from the words of Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is that which is done without a valid religious, moral or proper reason. This type of khul‘ leads a woman to nifaaq (hypocrisy), because she scorns the laws of Allaah regarding mutual love and companionship.


For further clarification on the laws pertaining to this issue, refer to the verified books of Fiqh and ask the scholars when you do not know.