Understanding Gheerah: A Muslim Man’s Duty to His Womenfolk
Oh Muslim men, have gheerah (protective jealousy) over your womenfolk!
It’s become quite common to see brothers allowing their wives and female relatives to post photos and videos of themselves on social media for all, including non-Mahram men, to see.
This is concerning. It’s even more disconcerting to see men permitting their womenfolk to venture outside without observing the necessary modesty, thus committing Tabarruj.
Honestly, this is very strange behavior. Why would a Muslim man be okay with unfamiliar men looking at the women in his life – his wife, mother, daughter, sister – who are part of his honor?
Gheerah is such an important concept in Islam, it is a quality that a Muslim man must have, it is part of his manliness.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There are three at whom Allah will not look on the Day of Resurrection: The one who disobeys his parents, the woman who imitates men in her outward appearance, and the cuckold.”
[Sunan an-Nasa’i, 2562]