The ruling on a woman in ihram covering her face

Question:
The questioner asks: Does a woman in ihram cover her face? And what is the ruling if she covered her face with more than one layer?

Answer:
A woman covers her face from men in ihram and in other states; she does not uncover her face from men. However, a woman in ihram does not cover it with the burqu' or the niqab, specifically the sewn face veil. As for covering it with something other than the burqu' or the niqab, she is required to do so, and it is not permissible for her to uncover her face from men. She covers it with the shaylah, the khimar, or the thawb, with anything that conceals it. It is permissible if it is in layers, or if it is a single layer that conceals it. The important thing is that she conceals her face from men with something other than the burqu' and the niqab, which the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade. The one in ihram was forbidden from the niqab, and the burqu' is like it, but she was not forbidden from covering her face with something other than the niqab. 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 lower her khimar from her head over her face, and when they had passed, we would uncover it. This indicates that the female Companions covered their faces while in ihram, but with something other than the niqab.