The Ruling on Hijab in the Home and the Obligation of the Niqab

The questioner:
In her third question, she says: Honorable Shaykh, Allah has commanded the woman to wear the hijab. Is it obligatory for her to wear it only when she leaves her home, or is it obligatory for her to wear it in the home as well? And is the hijab alone for the face sufficient, or is it obligatory for her to wear the niqab and gloves with it? Are these two necessary with the hijab, or not?

The Shaykh:
It is obligatory for the woman to cover her body from men who are not among her mahram (relatives one may not marry), whether she is in the house or outside the house. She covers her body, including the face, the palms, and the feet, from men who are not among their mahram, whether she is in the house or outside the house. However, if she is in the house and there are no men present who are not mahram, or if there are women present, she may uncover her face and whatever is customary to uncover, such as the palms, the head, the face, and the feet—whatever is customary to uncover among women or among mahram. There is no harm in that. The covering of the face does not have to be specifically with the niqab, the burq'ah, or the shaylah. The important thing is that she covers her face with any covering. She covers her face with any covering. She does not put on two coverings, such as a niqab and a khimar, or a niqab and a burq'ah. She does not put on two coverings because that is difficult for her. Yes.

The questioner:
You said, Shaykh, that she uncovers based on mere custom. What is the custom of uncovering among women? Whose custom?

The Shaykh:
The custom of Muslims, the custom of committed Muslims.