The Ruling of Islam on the Niqab
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 5438 )
Q1: What is the ruling of Islam regarding: the niqab?
Vol. 1: As for the niqab, Abu 'Ubayd said in his description of the niqab among the Arabs: it is that from which the eye socket is visible, and its name among them was al-wuswasah and al-burq'. As for its ruling, it is permissible, and the basis for this is what came in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Muwatta Malik 20:17 It was narrated by Ahmad , al-Bukhari , al-Nasa'i , and al-Tirmidhi , and he graded it as authentic. In another narration, he said: This hadith was narrated by Ahmad and Abu Dawud . And the prohibition by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) of the woman in ihram from wearing the niqab indicates its permissibility in other than the state of ihram. Then, it is not understood from this hadith that the woman in ihram is permitted to uncover her face if
strange men see her, but it is obligatory for her to lower the khimar or niqab until they have passed by. The basis for this is what was narrated by Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah from 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said:Mishkat al-Masabih 2690 And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: What is the ruling of Islam regarding: the niqab?
Vol. 1: As for the niqab, Abu 'Ubayd said in his description of the niqab among the Arabs: it is that from which the eye socket is visible, and its name among them was al-wuswasah and al-burq'. As for its ruling, it is permissible, and the basis for this is what came in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
a woman in ihram should wear neither a veil nor gloves
لا تنتقب المرأة المحرمة، ولا تلبس القفازينI heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbidding women in ihram from wearing gloves and the niqab
سمعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ينهى النساء في الإحرام عن القفازين والنقابstrange men see her, but it is obligatory for her to lower the khimar or niqab until they have passed by. The basis for this is what was narrated by Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah from 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said:
Riders would pass us when we were performing the rites of pilgrimage along with God’s messenger, and when they came by us one of us would let down her outer garment from her head over her face, and when they had passed on we would uncover our faces
كان الركبان يمرون بنا ونحن مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم محرمات، فإذا حاذونا سدلت إحدانا جلبابها من رأسها على وجهها، فإذا جاوزونا كشفناه
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.