The difference between a woman being on the bus or when she goes down to the market with her face uncovered, and her sitting with her mahrams while she is also uncovering her face.

The questioner: I am actually asking about the issue of the hijab, the face covering, and mixing. -- Just a moment, close the door -- = Regarding the face covering, according to what I was reading in the books you write, it is permissible to uncover the face, right? As for mixing, for example, sitting with relatives and such; I mean regarding women and such; I don't know if it is permissible or how it is, even though she would be uncovering her face?

The Shaykh : If you mean distant relatives and not mahrams, then this is not permissible.

The questioner: Okay, for example, she would be on the bus with her face uncovered, and she would be in the market with the seller, for example.

The Shaykh : Yes, yes, the face is not an awrah.

The questioner : Yes?

The Shaykh : The face is not an awrah in the sense that it is forbidden to uncover it; no, it is not forbidden, but it is better for her to cover her face and her hands. However, if she uncovers it and is not adorned with what is known today as makeup, there is no harm. But the best is to cover it. As for if she is adorned with lipstick and powder, then covering is obligatory.

The questioner: Okay; I am speaking, for example, about mixing, her sitting on the bus or, for example, going down to the market; I mean I see it as the same thing; I mean like her sitting, for example, with her uncle or her sister's husband, like her sitting on the bus, like going down to the market.

The Shaykh : Yes, may Allah guide you, you are saying that you see it, what is the value of your seeing it, no offense?

The questioner: I mean on the basis that the face, as long as it is.

The Shaykh : You did not answer me, I am telling you: what is the value of your seeing it? Are you one of the scholars?

The questioner : No.

The Shaykh : So what is the value of your saying that I see this is like that? The one who wants to see must have insight, he must be a scholar of the Book and the Sunnah, and I am now going to prove to you that your seeing has a squint, no offense.

The questioner: I.

The Shaykh : Listen, listen, may Allah guide you.

The questioner: I did not express myself well.

The Shaykh : No, no, you expressed what is in your heart perfectly, but I want to show you your mistake, and if it is absolutely necessary, we allow you to change your expression, but no other expression will come out of you except that you will fall into a trap, you will fall into another trap. And if you want to try your luck, go ahead and change your expression, here I am waiting for you, what is your expression?

The questioner: I mean, for example, I might be a bit nervous; because this is the first time, honestly, I am speaking with a Shaykh, my style, I mean, I am looking for the words.

The Shaykh : It is okay, may Allah guide you, here we have made room for you, and here I have put down the pen and put my hand on my hand waiting for your second expression, and I do not see you and you do not see me, so bring it, let us see, change your expression.

The questioner: According to what I read in your books, you permit, for example, it is permissible, the face is not an awrah.

The Shaykh : Here we are done with that, change your expression where you said that you see that a woman going down to the market and riding the bus is like her mixing with distant relatives in gatherings, how is this like that? You said that your expression was wrong, give us the correct expression.

The questioner: I mean, for example, that there are people on the bus, among them are the righteous and the wicked, for example, and they see the face.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner: For example, I mean, he does not know either, in the hearts of the relatives that the woman is sitting with; I mean their sitting with the distant relatives who are not mahrams; I mean her sitting with non-mahrams is like her sitting with the non-mahrams who are on the bus.

The Shaykh : Yes, and the market?

The questioner: I mean I am speaking.

The Shaykh : And the market and the market?

The questioner: I see it, for example.

The Shaykh : And the market and the market? Where did you go with the word market?

The questioner: I mean, for example, according to what I was reading and according to my information.

The Shaykh : Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, how many times?

The questioner: That in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the women would go down to the market and shop in the market and buy, so from there that the permissibility of the woman is that she goes down to the market.

The Shaykh : Did you see how you mixed it up and did not bring a second expression?

The questioner: What I want to know, for example, now, is her sitting, for example, with non-mahrams like her sitting on the bus?

The Shaykh : I answered you, may Allah guide you; your sitting with non-mahrams is not like your sitting on the bus and going down to the market, how do you sit with distant relatives and sit for half an hour, an hour, maybe, and maybe more, and there is conversation of all kinds and colors, and smiling and laughing and the like, whereas on the bus you are huddled and gathered to yourself, and you do not have the freedom of your will, and you do not know when you will arrive at the place where you want to get off; do you say this is like that?! Therefore I told you: your saying: this is like that has no value; because you have no knowledge; and therefore I advise you, even if you did not know me and I did not know you; because religion is advice, do not say a second time: I see that this is like that, because your seeing has a squint, did you understand me or not?

The questioner: Yes, yes.

The Shaykh : Therefore I keep saying: uncovering the face is not forbidden, but the best is to cover it, mixing is not permissible, as for riding the bus, if there is no means other than riding the bus, then it is minutes or more and the problem ends, likewise the woman going down to the market, also the problem ends; provided that we advise the woman not to go down to markets where there is mixing of men and women, and let her brother, her husband, her uncle, her maternal uncle, and so on, go down, unless it is not possible and the purpose is not achieved except by the woman going down; then in that case, here it is not said: her going down to the market is like her sitting in the house of her father, her brother, her uncle, I don't know what? Her brother-in-law, where is this compared to that? It differs completely.

The questioner: Okay; I mean, for example, her non-mahrams see her face like the men on the bus who do not see her face.

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you, I gave you the answer, what do we need to live the night on the issue of the woman's face? We are telling you: the woman's face is not an awrah, and the best is that she covers it, as for mixing, it is not permissible, as for, by Allah, they see her as they see her, yes; they see her as they see her, but the issue is not just about seeing the face, they hear her speech, they see her smile, they may hear her laughter! Where are you, straying from reality?

The questioner: Okay; I, for example, if I sit with my uncle and I do not do all that you.

The Shaykh : You cannot.

The questioner : Yes?

The Shaykh : You cannot, you cannot.

The questioner: If you please, for example.

The Shaykh: May Allah guide you.

The questioner: If you please, be patient with me ... you have occupied me in a way.

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you, May Allah guide you.

The questioner: I mean, for example, he looks at my face.

The Shaykh: May Allah guide you.

The questioner: Is it permissible for my uncle, for example, to see my face, for example?

The Shaykh: May Allah guide you.

The questioner: Without talking, without me speaking with him, for example, without me laughing, without what is it called?

The Shaykh: May Allah guide you.

The questioner: Amen.

The Shaykh : All the prayers are like that and you do not say a single one: Amen?

The questioner: Amen.

The Shaykh : Know that you are in clear misguidance.

The questioner: As I told you, maybe I am not, I mean, a bit nervous ... I say many things.

The Shaykh : Leave it, so that your soul may return to you and you will speak later; because the time has now ended, and it is 11 o'clock exactly.

The questioner: Okay; when, for example, are the times that suit you?

The Shaykh : Every day after the 'Isha' prayer until 11.

The questioner: Every day after the 'Isha' prayer until 11.

The Shaykh : Yes, yes, until this hour exactly.

The questioner: May Allah reward you, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh: Peace be upon you.

The questioner : e : And peace be upon you.