Can a Muslim woman uncover in front of her
non-Muslim father, and can she travel with him?
Praise be to Allaah.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“A kaafir is not a mahram for his Muslim female relative. Ahmad said
concerning a Jew or Christian whose daughter becomes Muslim: ‘He cannot travel with
her, he is not a mahram for her.’ Apparently he meant that he is not her mahram for
the purposes of travelling. As far as looking is concerned, she does not have to wear
hijab in front of him, because Abu Sufyaan came to Madeenah at the time when he was still
a mushrik, and visited his daughter Umm Habeebah. She folded up the Prophet’s bed so
that he would not sit on it, but she did not wear hijab in front of him, and the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not command her to do so.” (al-Mughni,
part 7, Ahkaam al-Khutbah).
