What Do We Do With Our Non-Sunnah Sisters?

Western dressed sisters

The word 'Sunnah' is an Arabic word meaning "tradition" or "way." For Muslims, Sunnah means the way of the Prophet (SAW). The Sunnah is made up of the words and actions of Muhammad (SAW). 

A Sunnah brother or sister will ergo be a Muslim who holds on firmly to the Islam with strong reverence for the instructions of Muhammad (SAW). 

Those affected by the scourge of feminism might ask, ‘What about the non-Sunnah brothers?’ We will discuss that on another day. Non-Sunnah sisters are basically girls who want to identify as Muslims and at the same time, enjoy the ‘freedom’ of atheism. Some describe them as people sitting on the fence between Islam and atheism. They bear Muslim names and usually have on themselves something that physically differentiates them from disbelievers like a headscarf or at least; a head covering. Behaviorally, they are very alike with disbelievers; they shake hands with males, hug males, engage in the same vain and vulgar conversations, have boyfriends, and go to parties, might fornicate, e.t.c. The question now is, as a Muslim community not having Islamic laws, what do we do about it?

There are two options on the table and each option has two sides to it.

Option X: Boycott Them

Side A

Side A of Option X basically means alienating them from Muslim circles. It involves not greeting them with Salam and doing the damnedest to avoid proximity with them. It also means brothers never consider them for marriage. This is in attempt to make them realize their flaws. 

This opinion can be backed by the verse of the Qur'an that says, "The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that has been made unlawful to the believers." Suratul Nur (24:3)

Side B

If ‘Side A’ is implemented, the Ummah could be pushed into a survival of the fittest scenario where those who were not fortunate to have Islamic backgrounds but still want to be Muslim are kicked out. There is no scriptural or historic evidence to show that Muhammad (SAW) would have been a vanguard of this option. Moreover, we are talking about the female gender that has been described as being both physically and mentally weak. 

Looking at a bigger picture, boycotting non-Sunnah sisters will give non-Sunnah brothers a free hand to do as they please. If non-Sunnah sisters marry non-Sunnah brothers we will only have a growing population of non-Sunnah individuals and this cannot be good for Islam.

Option Y: Integrate them

Side A

A Hadith that can back up Option Y is the one narrated by Abu Huraira. Muhammad (SAW) said, “A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don't say: If I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: Allah did that what He had ordained to do and your" if" opens the (gate) for the Satan.” [Sahih Muslim]

This Hadith reiterates the fact that all Muslims (strong or weak) are of benefit to the Ummah, we just have to come up with the wisdom to accommodate all.

This option involves sympathizing with them and making the sacrifice of trying to pull them towards the light. As Muhammad (SAW) said, “None of you will have faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

In another narration, the Prophet said, “Until he loves for his neighbor what he loves for himself.”

If we were the ones in the dark, we would be glad to have others caring enough to guide us, right? To go by this option means identifying with them privately and publicly to provide them with an alternative company.  

To go by this option also means brothers will be willing to marry them with the aim of showing them that Islam-inclined men are more loving and compassionate than they ever imagined hence, their phobia for Islamic principles is misplaced. 

Since the man heads the house and is aware of the state of his wife’s faith, with time, the non-Sunnah sister will embrace the Sunnah in sha Allah. 

Caution should however be taken in places where polygyny is legal. Brothers should do well to see that the non-Sunnah sister is not the first wife. She should be going into a house where Islam is already rooted; the ‘Sunnanization’ process would hence be much easier as it would be a combined effort of the husband and the first wife.

Side B

Going by Option Y could in a way legitimize the nonchalance of this group such that even teenagers could lose their guard against bad habits. We could have a society where there would be no stigma for immorality. It could turn out to be like pouring milk in water; the milk becomes diluted but the water sizes to be water. 

On brothers marrying non-Sunnah sisters, a great evil is likely to be born out of it. The practice could discourage devout sisters from the Sunnah and make the non-Sunnah sisters feel comfortable with their habits. 

It could make devout sisters reason, ‘Brothers are attracted to non-Sunnah sisters, why then should we care to practice the Sunnah?’ 

Others could opine, ‘Non-Sunnah sisters mess around and yet have smooth family lives, why don’t we ‘enjoy ourselves’ too?’ 

To these, some people might allege that the devout sisters are not sincere in their practice of the Sunnah but, the truth is that the physical could often have an enormous influence on the spiritual. 

Muslims are not supposed to do things that could have a dampening effect on the faith of other Muslims.

Each option has its pros and cons, the implementation of any could vary with individuals, regions and circumstances.

May Allah strengthen His servants, Ameen.