The woman's tawaf and the obligation to uncover her face.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Regarding the tawaf of a woman, it is obligatory for her to uncover her face. And yet, Aisha says: "When the riders passed by us, we would lower [our veils]."
The Shaykh : ... what?
The questioner : Aisha says: "When the riders passed by, we would lower [our veils]." Does this indicate that uncovering the face is obligatory?
The Shaykh : Lowering? What do you mean by lowering? Are you saying lowering, or are you saying covering?
The questioner : Covering the face.
The Shaykh : No, the most correct term is "lowering," because "covering" is broader. Not every type of covering is permissible for a woman in ihram to cover her face with; rather, she "lowers" it. So, this lowering was obligatory for the wives of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is recommended for the general Muslim women. Is the answer clear to you?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : There is no "how." I am telling you: Is the answer clear to you?
The questioner : The answer is clear, but how do we specify...?
The Shaykh : We specify it by the evidence we mentioned, and we are still discussing it in "The Hijab of the Muslim Woman." This is because no evidence has been established that obligates the Muslim woman to cover her face, or that her face is part of her 'awrah. No evidence has been established for this at all. Rather, it is forbidden for a woman in ihram to wear a niqab, and she is permitted to lower her veil. Among the evidence we mentioned there is the hadith of al-Khath'amiah. Many discussions have taken place in this country regarding the hadith of al-Khath'amiah. In the hadith of al-Khath'amiah, either she was in ihram, so al-Fadl looked at her, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order her to lower her veil over her face as Lady Aisha did. This is evidence that it is not obligatory for a woman to cover her face, even by lowering her veil. As for the niqab, it is not permissible for her to wear it. Rather, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was content with turning al-Fadl's face to the other side. Is this clear to you?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay. Do you have anything else?
The Shaykh : ... what?
The questioner : Aisha says: "When the riders passed by, we would lower [our veils]." Does this indicate that uncovering the face is obligatory?
The Shaykh : Lowering? What do you mean by lowering? Are you saying lowering, or are you saying covering?
The questioner : Covering the face.
The Shaykh : No, the most correct term is "lowering," because "covering" is broader. Not every type of covering is permissible for a woman in ihram to cover her face with; rather, she "lowers" it. So, this lowering was obligatory for the wives of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is recommended for the general Muslim women. Is the answer clear to you?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : There is no "how." I am telling you: Is the answer clear to you?
The questioner : The answer is clear, but how do we specify...?
The Shaykh : We specify it by the evidence we mentioned, and we are still discussing it in "The Hijab of the Muslim Woman." This is because no evidence has been established that obligates the Muslim woman to cover her face, or that her face is part of her 'awrah. No evidence has been established for this at all. Rather, it is forbidden for a woman in ihram to wear a niqab, and she is permitted to lower her veil. Among the evidence we mentioned there is the hadith of al-Khath'amiah. Many discussions have taken place in this country regarding the hadith of al-Khath'amiah. In the hadith of al-Khath'amiah, either she was in ihram, so al-Fadl looked at her, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order her to lower her veil over her face as Lady Aisha did. This is evidence that it is not obligatory for a woman to cover her face, even by lowering her veil. As for the niqab, it is not permissible for her to wear it. Rather, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was content with turning al-Fadl's face to the other side. Is this clear to you?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay. Do you have anything else?
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.