What is the method for a woman to cover her face during 'Umrah?
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The Shaykh: Here is a question: What is the ruling on a woman covering her face during 'Umrah? Is it true that only the niqab is forbidden for the woman in ihram, or is any covering, whether a niqab or otherwise, forbidden?
The question is clear, and the answer is as follows: Scholars, both past and present, have differed regarding the face and hands of a woman: are they 'awrah (parts of the body that must be covered) that it is forbidden for a woman to expose, or is the ruling permissibility, even though it is better to cover them? There are two well-known positions, and I do not need to enter into the details of this issue now, as my book "The Hijab of the Muslim Woman" has addressed this in a way that makes further discussion unnecessary. However, those who say that a woman's face is 'awrah agreed with the others that it is not permissible for a woman in ihram, whether her ihram is for Hajj or 'Umrah, to cover her face with a niqab or a handkerchief tied to her head. This is not permissible by the consensus of scholars, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Muwatta Malik 20:17.
We observe that whenever we perform Hajj or 'Umrah, we see women in ihram from these lands wearing niqabs while in ihram. We have intervened on some occasions and advised that a woman in ihram should not wear a niqab, based on the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) statement in the aforementioned hadith:Muwatta Malik 20:17; but they did not listen to this advice because they are accustomed to covering their faces with a niqab, a jilbab, or any other covering.
The point is: tying a niqab to the face below the eyes, or tying a handkerchief to the forehead, is not permissible by the consensus of scholars, even those who said that a woman's face is 'awrah. The only permissible thing is what is called saddl. One should be careful to distinguish between saddl and shadd (tying) of the abaya, handkerchief, niqab, or khimar. Saddl means placing the abaya on the top of the head and letting it hang down over the face in front, without it being tied to the cheeks. If the abaya or loose garment is tied to the face, then it is forbidden for the woman in ihram. Many scholars make it obligatory for a woman who ties her jilbab, handkerchief, or niqab to her face to pay a fidyah (ransom payment).
Therefore, every woman performing Hajj or 'Umrah should keep this legal ruling in mind. It is not permissible for her to tie a handkerchief to her face, lifting it when she sees no one and letting it hang down when she sees someone; this is not permissible because it is tied to her head. However, a jilbab placed on the head is permissible for her to let hang down. This is what came in the hadith of A'isha: "She said that when she was performing Hajj with some of her companions and a group of men passed by them, she said: 'Let us cover our faces.'" So saddl is one thing—pay attention—saddl is one thing and it is permissible for the woman in ihram. As for wearing a niqab, or tying a handkerchief—as is the custom of the Syrians and others—or tying the abaya to the face, cheeks, and below the eyes; this is not permissible by the consensus of the scholars of the Muslims.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh: I am not blaming you because you did not know, but we—as it is said in our land—are "children of the hour." From now on, it is not permissible for you to tie a handkerchief to your heads or a niqab below your eyes. This is a sound hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in "al-Bukhari," and it is clear, understood by every Arab man and woman:Muwatta Malik 20:17. I only said what I said because we alerted some women in the Sa'i area, and my wife went in to alert them; but not one of them responded. This is because they are constantly told that a woman's face is 'awrah, so they do not distinguish for them between being in Hajj and 'Umrah and not being in Hajj and 'Umrah. This is a message to the people and a reminder for the believers.
Do you see the support continuing? Yes, good.
The question is clear, and the answer is as follows: Scholars, both past and present, have differed regarding the face and hands of a woman: are they 'awrah (parts of the body that must be covered) that it is forbidden for a woman to expose, or is the ruling permissibility, even though it is better to cover them? There are two well-known positions, and I do not need to enter into the details of this issue now, as my book "The Hijab of the Muslim Woman" has addressed this in a way that makes further discussion unnecessary. However, those who say that a woman's face is 'awrah agreed with the others that it is not permissible for a woman in ihram, whether her ihram is for Hajj or 'Umrah, to cover her face with a niqab or a handkerchief tied to her head. This is not permissible by the consensus of scholars, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
a woman in ihram should wear neither a veil nor gloves
لا تنتقب المرأة المحرمة ، ولا تلبس القفازينWe observe that whenever we perform Hajj or 'Umrah, we see women in ihram from these lands wearing niqabs while in ihram. We have intervened on some occasions and advised that a woman in ihram should not wear a niqab, based on the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) statement in the aforementioned hadith:
a woman in ihram should wear neither a veil nor gloves
لا تنتقب المرأة المحرمة ، ولا تلبس القفازينThe point is: tying a niqab to the face below the eyes, or tying a handkerchief to the forehead, is not permissible by the consensus of scholars, even those who said that a woman's face is 'awrah. The only permissible thing is what is called saddl. One should be careful to distinguish between saddl and shadd (tying) of the abaya, handkerchief, niqab, or khimar. Saddl means placing the abaya on the top of the head and letting it hang down over the face in front, without it being tied to the cheeks. If the abaya or loose garment is tied to the face, then it is forbidden for the woman in ihram. Many scholars make it obligatory for a woman who ties her jilbab, handkerchief, or niqab to her face to pay a fidyah (ransom payment).
Therefore, every woman performing Hajj or 'Umrah should keep this legal ruling in mind. It is not permissible for her to tie a handkerchief to her face, lifting it when she sees no one and letting it hang down when she sees someone; this is not permissible because it is tied to her head. However, a jilbab placed on the head is permissible for her to let hang down. This is what came in the hadith of A'isha: "She said that when she was performing Hajj with some of her companions and a group of men passed by them, she said: 'Let us cover our faces.'" So saddl is one thing—pay attention—saddl is one thing and it is permissible for the woman in ihram. As for wearing a niqab, or tying a handkerchief—as is the custom of the Syrians and others—or tying the abaya to the face, cheeks, and below the eyes; this is not permissible by the consensus of the scholars of the Muslims.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh: I am not blaming you because you did not know, but we—as it is said in our land—are "children of the hour." From now on, it is not permissible for you to tie a handkerchief to your heads or a niqab below your eyes. This is a sound hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in "al-Bukhari," and it is clear, understood by every Arab man and woman:
a woman in ihram should wear neither a veil nor gloves
لا تنتقب المرأة المحرمة ، ولا تلبس القفازينDo you see the support continuing? Yes, good.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.