Is it permissible for me to uncover my face in front of my husband's brothers, knowing that it is forbidden, but my circumstances are very difficult and prevent me from doing so?
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The questioner : He says: Is it permissible, or the questioner says: Is it permissible for me to uncover, or to uncover my face in front of my husband's brothers, knowing that it is forbidden, but my circumstances are very difficult and prevent me from doing so? I cover myself except that my face is uncovered. For your information, I do not sit with them except for eating. Please advise me, may Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for a woman to uncover her face in front of her husband's brothers or her husband's uncles, because they are not among her mahram (relatives one may not marry). She must be patient, even if they harm her, she should be patient. And the fact that she does not cover her face but covers the rest of her body is a mistake on her part, because the face is more deserving of being covered from non-mahram than the rest of the body. Since the face is the place of desire, and through it occurs fitnah (temptation). Ask the men when they propose to a woman, what do they ask about? About what?
The questioner : About the face.
The Shaykh : No. Do they ask about her face? Or do they ask about her leg? Yes? About her face. You will not find anyone saying when proposing to a woman, "Oh my brother" or "Oh my sister," if he delegates, in any case, the brother does not delegate to anyone except one of her mahram, like her brother who is a friend of his. He says, "Oh my brother, tell me about your sister's foot." Or about your sister's face? The second one, without a doubt. And glory be to Allah! Meaning, if no one among the imams had said this, meaning if the great scholars had not said this, the contract would require that if it is forbidden for a woman to expose her little toe or her pinky toe, then forbidding the exposure of the face is even more so. There is no doubt in this. Meaning, if the issue were returned to reason, mere reason, a person would say it is not possible for a woman to uncover her face and cover her feet. Even though the Shari'ah requires the obligation of a woman covering her face from those who are not among her mahram. So I say to this woman, may Allah reward her with good: Let her be patient, and let her seek reward, even if she is harmed. And let her remember the saying of Allah, Mighty and Majestic:[Al-'Ankabut 29:10]. She should be patient and await the promise of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Be patient, for the outcome is for whom? For the pious. Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for a woman to uncover her face in front of her husband's brothers or her husband's uncles, because they are not among her mahram (relatives one may not marry). She must be patient, even if they harm her, she should be patient. And the fact that she does not cover her face but covers the rest of her body is a mistake on her part, because the face is more deserving of being covered from non-mahram than the rest of the body. Since the face is the place of desire, and through it occurs fitnah (temptation). Ask the men when they propose to a woman, what do they ask about? About what?
The questioner : About the face.
The Shaykh : No. Do they ask about her face? Or do they ask about her leg? Yes? About her face. You will not find anyone saying when proposing to a woman, "Oh my brother" or "Oh my sister," if he delegates, in any case, the brother does not delegate to anyone except one of her mahram, like her brother who is a friend of his. He says, "Oh my brother, tell me about your sister's foot." Or about your sister's face? The second one, without a doubt. And glory be to Allah! Meaning, if no one among the imams had said this, meaning if the great scholars had not said this, the contract would require that if it is forbidden for a woman to expose her little toe or her pinky toe, then forbidding the exposure of the face is even more so. There is no doubt in this. Meaning, if the issue were returned to reason, mere reason, a person would say it is not possible for a woman to uncover her face and cover her feet. Even though the Shari'ah requires the obligation of a woman covering her face from those who are not among her mahram. So I say to this woman, may Allah reward her with good: Let her be patient, and let her seek reward, even if she is harmed. And let her remember the saying of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: