What is the ruling on a woman covering her face and hands during a time of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation)? And is it obligatory for her to obey her father if he prevents her from covering them?

The questioner : What is the ruling on wearing the khimar (the covering of the face and hands) in the current time? And if a girl feels fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and chooses to wear it, but the family refuses, especially the mother, what should she do?

The Shaykh : If the refusal is limited to the face and hands, it is obligatory to obey the parents in that matter. However, if the refusal includes more than that, there is no obedience to a created being in disobedience to the Creator. That is, it is obligatory for the woman to cover her entire body except for the face and hands. Covering them is not obligatory, but it is recommended (mustahabb). Therefore, if the father is not pleased with his daughter covering her face and hands, there is no harm in her obeying them, and there is no disobedience in that. This is unlike the case where they desire her to uncover parts other than the face and hands; in that case, she has no obligation to obey them, because that would be disobedience.