Which is better for a woman: placing the abaya on her head or on her shoulders during prayer?

Question:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good. Is it permissible for a woman to place the abaya on her shoulders when praying, or is it obligatory to place it on her head? Knowing that there are no non-mahram men present with her?

Answer:
The matter is broad in this regard. If she places it on her shoulders or on her head, all of that is permissible, if Allah wills. The important thing is that she covers herself and that nothing of her body or limbs is exposed in prayer, except for the face. As for the face, there is no harm in uncovering it in prayer if there are no non-mahram men present with her. However, if there are non-mahram men present, she must cover her face, because it is an 'awrah (part of the body that must be covered)—an 'awrah in terms of looking at it, not an 'awrah in terms of prayer. Yes.