A Woman Uncovering Her Face
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Question: Some people say that uncovering the face is not forbidden, and therefore it is not obligatory to cover it at all times, particularly during Hajj. I hope you will inform me of the ruling. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: The correct view, indicated by the evidence, is that a woman’s face is part of her awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), which must be covered. In fact, it is the most alluring part of her body, because gazes are most often directed at the face, as it is the center of beauty and the subject of poets’ praise regarding its finest features. Thus, the face is the greatest awrah of a woman, alongside the presence of Shari'ah evidence
regarding the obligation to cover the face.Among this is the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Surat al-Nur: 31]. Drawing the khimar (head covering) over the bosoms necessitates covering the face. When Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and her) was asked about the description of this, he covered his face and revealed only one eye. This indicates that the verse intends the covering of the face. This is the interpretation of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and her) of this verse, as narrated from him by Ubaydah al-Salmani when he asked him about it. From the Sunnah, there are many hadiths, including the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the woman in ihram (the consecrated state of pilgrimage) from wearing the niqab (face veil) or the burqu' (full face veil). This indicates that before entering ihram, she was covering her face. This does not mean that if she removes the burqu' and niqab during ihram, she will leave her face uncovered; rather, she covers it with something other than the niqab or burqu', as evidenced by
Therefore, it is obligatory for the woman in ihram and the woman not in ihram to cover her face from non-mahram (a relative one may not marry) men, because the face is the center of beauty and the object of men’s gaze. There is no valid argument with those who hold that the face is not awrah; rather, the valid argument is with those who hold that it is awrah. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
Answer: The correct view, indicated by the evidence, is that a woman’s face is part of her awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), which must be covered. In fact, it is the most alluring part of her body, because gazes are most often directed at the face, as it is the center of beauty and the subject of poets’ praise regarding its finest features. Thus, the face is the greatest awrah of a woman, alongside the presence of Shari'ah evidence
regarding the obligation to cover the face.Among this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests
وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّThe hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: We were with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a state of ihram. So when men passed by us, one of us would draw her khimar (head covering) from her head over her face, and when they had passed, we would uncover it.
حديث عائشة رضي الله عنها، قالت: كنا مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم محرمات فكان إذا مر بنا الرجال سدلت إحدانا خمارها من على رأسها على وجهها، فإذا جاوزونا كشفناه.Therefore, it is obligatory for the woman in ihram and the woman not in ihram to cover her face from non-mahram (a relative one may not marry) men, because the face is the center of beauty and the object of men’s gaze. There is no valid argument with those who hold that the face is not awrah; rather, the valid argument is with those who hold that it is awrah. And Allah the Exalted knows best.