Editor’s Note: This article is intended solely for educational purpose and healthy information sharing as opposed to running down any faith.
FOR starters, perhaps not many non-Muslims – both men and women alike – are aware that it is inappropriate for Muslims women to even open their head scarves a.k.a. tudung in the presence of other non-Muslim women.
What non-Muslims are aware nevertheless is that it is ‘obscene’ or haram for a Muslim woman to expose her aurat (entire body with the exception of the face and hands) to other man who is not her spouse.
This apparently was the basis to the grouses expressed by one non-Muslim parent who shared the dilemma of a Muslim mother with a daughter who has just registered for her matriculation programme having to share her hostel room with another non-Muslim course mate.
“Non-Muslims always seem like a problem in Malaysia. Halal restaurant with JAKIM (accreditation) but owned by non-Muslim also kena boycott,” lamented the non-Muslim mother in the popular Malaysia Education Info (And Homeschooling too) Facebook page.
“Staying in one room also kena complained. 🙄 And some commented (that) their kids rather sleep in surau. When I was studying in a Convent school, I even helped my Malay friend wear her tudung.”
The Muslim mother – while stressing that she has no intention whatsoever to be racist – has expressed concern that “it’s obligatory for Muslims to care for their aurat 24 hours (daily)”.
“It’s a pity Muslims girls can’t simply open their tudung to dry their hair, etc,” she lamented in an attached screenshot.
“The (college) staff whom I enquired earlier told me such is the directive from the higher-ups … eerm should I be tagging the Education Minister? I just want to get some opinion from those who have ideas to share …”
Finding middle path
A Muslim commenter brushed aside such viralled sharing as a rage-bait attempt “to incite more hatred and mistrust among the rakyat”.
“Islam is a religion of peace and doesn’t make things difficult. So many years no issue of Muslim and non-Muslim girls sharing hostel rooms,” she observed. “Such are so frequent now … I don’t know who’s doing it and what they stand to gain.”
This was when another commenter shared a Q&A by the Federal Territory Mufti Department on the issue of Muslim women’s aurat with non-Muslim women in situations where it is difficult to cover their aurat at all times, notably among roommates.
The gist of the FT Mufti’s explanation is that while there are few school of thoughts on the matter, the general consensus is that an exposure “is warranted under emergency situations merely to prevent Muslim women from falling into sin in line with the Sharia principles which emphasise benefit and avoiding difficulty”.
“This is also subject to the fact that the non-Muslim woman is trustworthy, the situation is safe and secure from slander and doesn’t degrade the dignity of Muslim women.”
Elsewhere, one non-Muslim woman expressed shock with the latest development while recounting that she used to share a room with two Malay girls in university hostel 30 years back.
“They didn’t hesitate to buka tudung in the room. Our room was small and my study desk was right in front of kiblat,” she vividly recalled.
“When it was time to pray, I will move away from my desk as a respect. Sometimes during exam period. they even asked me to just continue using the desk even during their praying time. That’s how we accept each other.”
Others too share their personal experiences from yesteryears – that of “old good times”.
Well, the said post did honestly illicit plenty of reaction some of which border 3R (race, religion, royalty) breaches to be published here.
One Muslim man summed up best to preserve cordiality of Muslims and non-Muslims:
The situation is like this … The issue of aurat is a sensitive one. Some Muslims really don’t really care about aurat, have free hair, just wear a tudung adik (simple tudung).
But to those who properly follow Islam, it becomes a real issue when you have to take care of your dignity.
There are indeed limitations for Muslims if they really follow their religion. And some people are simply too strict with regard to what’s permissible and what’s not.
So before anyone want to condemn (the Muslim mother as) racist, do understand her concern first.
She clearly stated her desire to take care of aurat in the confines of non-Muslims (this is the type of Muslim who is strict). It’s not that her daughter can’t befriend non-Muslims 😅”– June 11, 2026
Main image credit: Weekly-Echo
