The ruling on a woman wearing the abaya over her shoulders

The questioner : Yes. May Allah reward you with good. We have a call with us. Peace be upon you. And upon you be peace. Shaykh Muhammad, in a previous answer of yours, a question from one of the brothers, you rebuked a woman for wearing the abaya over her shoulders when she goes out to the market, and this phrase was repeated in the answer twice. This phrase was repeated in the answer twice. When she goes out to the market, some women understood from this that this is specific to when she goes out for shopping, but if she goes out for a walk or for a visit or to her work, there is no harm. I hope Your Eminence will clarify that?

The Shaykh : For a woman to have it on her shoulders in prayer, there is no harm in that. Because this is the custom of women. And because it is easier for her. As the garment settles on her, and she does not need to do anything, because if she put it on her head while she is praying, she might need to do something that is not necessary. As for placing the abaya on her shoulders when she goes out to the market, we do not see that for her, and we choose for her not to do it, but rather she should place the abaya on her head as women used to do, because this is more concealing and further from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation).

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. I mean, if she goes out in the car and wears the abaya on her shoulders, is there nothing wrong with that? If she is going out in the car to visit relatives or for a walk and wears the abaya on her shoulders.

The Shaykh : I do not see any harm in this, as long as the woman is veiled from the people.

The questioner : Inside the trade. May Allah forgive you.

The Shaykh : Our safety in this.

The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. Fine.