Regarding tawaf, it is obligatory for a woman to uncover her face; and yet Aisha says: "When the riders passed by us, we would lower our veils."
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The questioner : Regarding tawaf, it is obligatory for a woman to uncover her face; and yet Aisha says: "When the riders passed by us, we would lower our veils."
The Shaykh : Yes, and yet what?
The questioner : Aisha says: "When the riders passed by, we would lower our veils."
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : Does this indicate that uncovering the face is obligatory? Uncovering the face?
The Shaykh : Lowering the veil?
The questioner : Covering.
The Shaykh : She says covering, not lowering the veil or covering, which one does she say?
The questioner : Covering the face.
The Shaykh : No, the most correct is to say lowering the veil; because covering is broader, and it is not permissible for a woman in ihram to cover her face in every kind of covering, but rather lowering the veil. This lowering of the veil is an individual obligation for the wives of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and a recommended practice for the general Muslim women. Is the answer clear to you?
The questioner : How, from where did we distinguish?
The Shaykh : There is no how, I am telling you: Is the answer clear to you?
The questioner : The answer is clear, but how is the distinction between the wives of the Messenger?
The Shaykh : The evidence that we mentioned and are still discussing regarding the hijab of the Muslim woman; because no evidence has been established that obligates the Muslim woman to cover her face, and that her face is part of her 'awrah, no evidence has been established for this at all. Whereas for the woman in ihram, it is forbidden for her to wear the niqab, and it is permissible for her to lower her veil. Among the evidence we mentioned there is the hadith of al-Khath'amiah, and many people in this country have discussed the hadith of al-Khath'amiah. The hadith of al-Khath'amiah is either that 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 the Lady Aisha did; so this is evidence that it is not obligatory for a woman to cover her face, even by lowering the veil. As for the niqab, it is not permissible for her, and 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: All right.
The Shaykh : Yes, and yet what?
The questioner : Aisha says: "When the riders passed by, we would lower our veils."
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : Does this indicate that uncovering the face is obligatory? Uncovering the face?
The Shaykh : Lowering the veil?
The questioner : Covering.
The Shaykh : She says covering, not lowering the veil or covering, which one does she say?
The questioner : Covering the face.
The Shaykh : No, the most correct is to say lowering the veil; because covering is broader, and it is not permissible for a woman in ihram to cover her face in every kind of covering, but rather lowering the veil. This lowering of the veil is an individual obligation for the wives of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and a recommended practice for the general Muslim women. Is the answer clear to you?
The questioner : How, from where did we distinguish?
The Shaykh : There is no how, I am telling you: Is the answer clear to you?
The questioner : The answer is clear, but how is the distinction between the wives of the Messenger?
The Shaykh : The evidence that we mentioned and are still discussing regarding the hijab of the Muslim woman; because no evidence has been established that obligates the Muslim woman to cover her face, and that her face is part of her 'awrah, no evidence has been established for this at all. Whereas for the woman in ihram, it is forbidden for her to wear the niqab, and it is permissible for her to lower her veil. Among the evidence we mentioned there is the hadith of al-Khath'amiah, and many people in this country have discussed the hadith of al-Khath'amiah. The hadith of al-Khath'amiah is either that 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 the Lady Aisha did; so this is evidence that it is not obligatory for a woman to cover her face, even by lowering the veil. As for the niqab, it is not permissible for her, and 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: All right.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.