What are your guidelines regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted: "And when you ask them for anything, ask them from behind a veil. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts," as evidence for those who say that covering the face is obligatory?
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The questioner : Okay, what is your opinion of the verse? What are your guidelines regarding the verse, the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ahzab 33:53]?
The Shaykh : Yes, that is the complete verse. Yes, this matter is easy. It is answered to you by the words of the one who is with you in the first issue or the first verse, but not with you in the other verse. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "This verse pertains to the veil of the houses, whereas the first verse pertains to the outer garment for going out". So the outer garment is one thing and the veil is another. What does "ask them for anything" mean?
It means the man comes and knocks on the door, and the veiled woman comes out and speaks without opening the door, without lifting the veil. This is the second etiquette by which Allah taught the women of the believers while they are in their homes, because in their homes they are in a state of ease, taking their freedom in seclusion, because there is no one there to see their head, neck, and the like. So He said: meaning: from behind a wall, meaning: from behind a curtain, meaning: from behind a door. This is a strange mixing of the two verses entirely, and each of the two verses has its own place.
The place of the first verse is the veil when she goes out.
The place of the second verse has no relation to the outer garment; it has a relation to the veil, which is a wall or a curtain or the like. This is explicit in the words of Ibn Taymiyyah, let alone the other scholars of knowledge.
The questioner : And the third verse, O Shaykh, which is:?
The Shaykh : It is an argument against you.
The questioner : How, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : What is the meaning of the verse of the "qawa'id"?
The questioner : The "qawa'id."
The Shaykh : Yes, what does it mean? What does it mean, I say?
The questioner : Those who do not menstruate.
Another questioner:[An-Nur 24:60]
The Shaykh : What is meant by "their garments"?
The questioner : "Their garments" means the face covering.
The Shaykh : You do not believe in the face covering.
The questioner : Huh?
The Shaykh : You do not believe in the face covering.
The questioner : Yes, the garments and the garment.
The Shaykh : You do not believe in the face covering yet, my brother.
And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.
وإذا سألتموهن متاعاً فاسألوهن من وراء حجاب ذلكم أَطهرُ لقلوبكم وقلوبهنThe Shaykh : Yes, that is the complete verse. Yes, this matter is easy. It is answered to you by the words of the one who is with you in the first issue or the first verse, but not with you in the other verse. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "This verse pertains to the veil of the houses, whereas the first verse pertains to the outer garment for going out". So the outer garment is one thing and the veil is another.
Ask them for anything.
فاسألوهن متاعاًIt means the man comes and knocks on the door, and the veiled woman comes out and speaks without opening the door, without lifting the veil. This is the second etiquette by which Allah taught the women of the believers while they are in their homes, because in their homes they are in a state of ease, taking their freedom in seclusion, because there is no one there to see their head, neck, and the like. So He said:
Ask them from behind a veil.
فاسألوهن من وراء حجابThe place of the first verse is the veil when she goes out.
The place of the second verse has no relation to the outer garment; it has a relation to the veil, which is a wall or a curtain or the like. This is explicit in the words of Ibn Taymiyyah, let alone the other scholars of knowledge.
The questioner : And the third verse, O Shaykh, which is:
The "qawa'id."
والقواعدThe Shaykh : It is an argument against you.
The questioner : How, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : What is the meaning of the verse of the "qawa'id"?
The questioner : The "qawa'id."
The Shaykh : Yes, what does it mean? What does it mean, I say?
The questioner : Those who do not menstruate.
Another questioner:
there is no blame upon them for putting aside their outer garments [but] not displaying adornment
ليس عليهن جناح أن يضعن ثيابهن غير متبرجاتThe Shaykh : What is meant by "their garments"?
The questioner : "Their garments" means the face covering.
The Shaykh : You do not believe in the face covering.
The questioner : Huh?
The Shaykh : You do not believe in the face covering.
The questioner : Yes, the garments and the garment.
The Shaykh : You do not believe in the face covering yet, my brother.