What is the ruling on a woman showing her face and hands in the Haram and elsewhere?
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Question:
Is there a sin on a woman if she shows her face and hands in front of men? And does the sin increase in the Haram?
Answer:
Yes, it is not permissible for a woman to show her face and hands to men who are not her mahram (relatives one may not marry), because the face is the greatest source of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Therefore, she should not show her face to men who are not among her mahram. Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nur 24:31]. Drawing the khimar (head covering) over the chest necessitates covering the face, because the face is between the head and the chest. Thus, drawing the khimar over the chest necessitates covering the face a fortiori. If the chest must be covered, the face is even more required to be covered, because its fitnah is stronger. If it is not permissible for a woman to show her foot to non-mahram men—and this is by consensus, that it is not permissible for her to show her foot or feet to men—which is more of a source of fitnah, the foot or the face? The face is more of a source of fitnah. People generally do not look at the foot; rather, they look at the faces of women, because it is the center of beauty and the center of fitnah. Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Ahzab 33:53] behind a hijab. Hijab means a covering, whether from a wall, a door, or a garment. It is a covering for the woman. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ahzab 33:59].
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "We were with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and when men passed by us, one of us would draw her khimar over her face. When they had passed, we would uncover it." These are proofs from the Book and the Sunnah regarding the obligation of covering the woman's face and hands from men. Yes.
Is there a sin on a woman if she shows her face and hands in front of men? And does the sin increase in the Haram?
Answer:
Yes, it is not permissible for a woman to show her face and hands to men who are not her mahram (relatives one may not marry), because the face is the greatest source of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Therefore, she should not show her face to men who are not among her mahram. Allah the Exalted said:
to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests
وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّAnd when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them
وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّO Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَAisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "We were with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and when men passed by us, one of us would draw her khimar over her face. When they had passed, we would uncover it." These are proofs from the Book and the Sunnah regarding the obligation of covering the woman's face and hands from men. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم إظهار المرأة وجهها وكفيها في الحرم وغيره؟ للشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.