Q 4: All praise be to Allah Alone, I am a Muslim woman. I try to do all that pleases Allah and adhere to the Islamic Hijab (veil). However, my mother, may Allah forgive her, does not want me to wear the Hijab and orders me to go to cinemas and to watch television and videos, etc. She tells me, "If you do not amuse yourself, you will grow old and your hair will turn grey."
A: It is your duty to be gentle with your mother, do good to her and speak to her in a respectful manner, for a mother has a great right on her children. However, one must not obey one's mother or anyone else in evil matters. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
Obedience is only in Ma'ruf (that which is judged as good, beneficial, or fitting by Islamic law and Muslims of sound intellect). There should be no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience to the Creator.
This applies to a father, husband, and others; no one is to be obeyed in an act that involves disobedience to Allah in compliance to the previously mentioned Hadith. However, a wife, son and the like should show kindness and use good ways to solve problems through illustrating the evidence of Shari'ah (Islamic Law) and the obligation of obeying Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and the seriousness of disobeying them. Moreover, one should be characterized by perseverance to the truth and disobedience of those who urge contradicting the Ordinances of Allah; be it a husband, a father, a mother or anyone else. It should be mentioned that there is no harm in watching programs that do not involve disapproved things such as scientific seminars, useful lessons. One must ensure that what is viewed on television and videos are devoid of any scenes condemned by Shari'ah. Going to the cinema is impermissible owing to what it is showed in it from the prohibited things.