Is it better to uncover the face or cover it in the context of free mixing?
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The questioner : I actually want to ask about the issue of hijab, the face covering, and free mixing. Regarding the face covering, according to what I have been reading in the books you write, it is permissible to uncover the face. Now, regarding free mixing, for example, sitting with relatives and such, as for women, I do not know if it is permissible or not, even though I am uncovering my face.
The Shaykh : If you mean distant relatives and not mahram (close relatives one may not marry), then this is not permissible.
The questioner : Well, for example, she is alone and uncovers her face, and she is in the market with the seller, meaning...
The Shaykh : The face is not an awrah (part of the body that must be covered) in the sense that it is forbidden to uncover it; it is not forbidden. However, it is better that she cover her face and her hands. But if she uncovers them and is not adorned with what is known today as makeup, there is nothing wrong with it. However, covering is better. But if she is adorned with rouge and kohl, then covering is obligatory.
The questioner : Well, regarding free mixing, her sitting in the bus, or for example, going down to the market, I see it as the same thing as sitting, for example, with her brother-in-law or her sister’s husband, just like sitting in the bus, just like going down to the market.
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. You say, "What is the value of your seeing me?" And no offense.
The questioner : I mean, on the basis that the face, since it is...
The Shaykh : You did not answer me. I will tell you, what is the value of your seeing me? Are you one of the scholars?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : So, what is the value of your saying, "I see that this is like that, he needs to see, and he needs to have insight, and he needs to be knowledgeable of the Book and the Sunnah"? And now I will prove to you that your seeing has a circle around it, and no offense.
The questioner : I may have made a mistake in my expression. I did not express myself well.
The Shaykh : No, you expressed what is in your heart perfectly. But I would like to point out your mistake. And if it is absolutely necessary, we allow you to change your expression. No other expression will come out of you except that you will fall into a trap, a second trap. And if you want to try your luck, please, change your expression. I am waiting for your expression. What is your expression?
The questioner : I mean, for example, I may be a bit nervous because, honestly, this is the first time I am speaking with a shaykh. So my style, I mean, I am looking for the words.
The Shaykh : Never mind. May Allah guide you. We have given you the space, and here I am leaving the talking and putting my hand on my hand, waiting for your second expression. And I am not seeing you, and you are not seeing me. So bring it, either we see your other expression.
The questioner: According to what I read in your books, you permit, for example, the face is not an awrah.
The Shaykh : We are done with that. Change the expression you said, that you see a woman going down to the market and riding the bus is like her free mixing with distant relatives in gatherings. What kind of thing is this like that? You said my expression was wrong. Give us the correct expression.
The questioner : I mean, for example, there are people in the bus, some of them are good and some are bad, for example, and they see the face. And for example, a person does not know, the souls of the relatives that the woman sits with, meaning their sitting with distant relatives, non-mahram, meaning her sitting with non-mahram is like her sitting with non-mahram in the bus.
The Shaykh : 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, that in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), women would go down to the market and shop in the market and buy. So from here, the permissibility of a woman going down to the market.
The Shaykh : Did you see what kind of mixing you did, and you did not bring a second expression?
The questioner : What I want to know, for example, is whether her sitting, for example, with non-mahram is like her sitting in the bus.
The Shaykh : I answered you. May Allah guide you. Your sitting with non-mahram is not like your sitting in the bus and going down to the market. How do you sit with distant relatives and sit for half an hour, an hour, maybe more, and there is conversation of all kinds and colors, and smiling and laughing and the like? But in the bus, you are huddled up and close to yourself, and you have not taken your freedom, and you do not know when you will reach the place you want to get off. You say this is like that. Therefore, I told you, your saying this is like that has no value because you are not knowledgeable. So 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 circle around it. Did you understand me or not?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Therefore, I continue to say that uncovering the face is not forbidden, but covering it is better. Free mixing is not permissible. As for riding the bus, if there is no means other than riding the bus, then it is a few minutes or more, and the problem ends. Likewise, a woman going down to the market, the problem ends. Provided that we advise the woman not to go down to markets where there is free mixing of men and women, and that her brother, her husband, her uncle, her maternal uncle, or the like go down. Except if it is not possible and the purpose is not achieved except by the woman going down. Then at that time, it is not said that her going down to the market is like her sitting in the house of her father, her brother, her brother-in-law, her sister’s husband. Where is this compared to that? It differs completely.
The questioner : Well, for example, her non-mahram see her face, like the men in the bus when they see her face.
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. I gave you the answer. What do we need to focus on tonight regarding the issue of the woman’s face? I tell you, the woman’s face is not an awrah, and it is better that she cover it. As for free mixing, it is not permissible. And yes, they will see her as they see her. Yes, they will see her as they see her. But the issue is not just about seeing the face. They hear her speech, they see her smiling, they may hear her laughter. Where are you? You are straying from reality.
The questioner : Well, for example, if I sit with my brother-in-law and I do not do all these things you mentioned.
The Shaykh : You will not be unfair.
The questioner : Please, be patient with me.
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Is it permissible for my brother-in-law, for example, to see my face, for example, without talking, without me laughing, without...
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Ameen
The Shaykh : All these calls, and you do not say a single "Ameen." Know that you are in clear misguidance.
The questioner : As I told you, excuse me, I mean, I am a bit nervous.
The Shaykh : Leave it until your spirit returns to you, and you will speak later, because the time has now ended, and it is exactly eleven o’clock.
The questioner : Well, what are the times that suit you?
The Shaykh : Every day after the 'Isha' prayer until ten o’clock.
The Shaykh : If you mean distant relatives and not mahram (close relatives one may not marry), then this is not permissible.
The questioner : Well, for example, she is alone and uncovers her face, and she is in the market with the seller, meaning...
The Shaykh : The face is not an awrah (part of the body that must be covered) in the sense that it is forbidden to uncover it; it is not forbidden. However, it is better that she cover her face and her hands. But if she uncovers them and is not adorned with what is known today as makeup, there is nothing wrong with it. However, covering is better. But if she is adorned with rouge and kohl, then covering is obligatory.
The questioner : Well, regarding free mixing, her sitting in the bus, or for example, going down to the market, I see it as the same thing as sitting, for example, with her brother-in-law or her sister’s husband, just like sitting in the bus, just like going down to the market.
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. You say, "What is the value of your seeing me?" And no offense.
The questioner : I mean, on the basis that the face, since it is...
The Shaykh : You did not answer me. I will tell you, what is the value of your seeing me? Are you one of the scholars?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : So, what is the value of your saying, "I see that this is like that, he needs to see, and he needs to have insight, and he needs to be knowledgeable of the Book and the Sunnah"? And now I will prove to you that your seeing has a circle around it, and no offense.
The questioner : I may have made a mistake in my expression. I did not express myself well.
The Shaykh : No, you expressed what is in your heart perfectly. But I would like to point out your mistake. And if it is absolutely necessary, we allow you to change your expression. No other expression will come out of you except that you will fall into a trap, a second trap. And if you want to try your luck, please, change your expression. I am waiting for your expression. What is your expression?
The questioner : I mean, for example, I may be a bit nervous because, honestly, this is the first time I am speaking with a shaykh. So my style, I mean, I am looking for the words.
The Shaykh : Never mind. May Allah guide you. We have given you the space, and here I am leaving the talking and putting my hand on my hand, waiting for your second expression. And I am not seeing you, and you are not seeing me. So bring it, either we see your other expression.
The questioner: According to what I read in your books, you permit, for example, the face is not an awrah.
The Shaykh : We are done with that. Change the expression you said, that you see a woman going down to the market and riding the bus is like her free mixing with distant relatives in gatherings. What kind of thing is this like that? You said my expression was wrong. Give us the correct expression.
The questioner : I mean, for example, there are people in the bus, some of them are good and some are bad, for example, and they see the face. And for example, a person does not know, the souls of the relatives that the woman sits with, meaning their sitting with distant relatives, non-mahram, meaning her sitting with non-mahram is like her sitting with non-mahram in the bus.
The Shaykh : 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, that in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), women would go down to the market and shop in the market and buy. So from here, the permissibility of a woman going down to the market.
The Shaykh : Did you see what kind of mixing you did, and you did not bring a second expression?
The questioner : What I want to know, for example, is whether her sitting, for example, with non-mahram is like her sitting in the bus.
The Shaykh : I answered you. May Allah guide you. Your sitting with non-mahram is not like your sitting in the bus and going down to the market. How do you sit with distant relatives and sit for half an hour, an hour, maybe more, and there is conversation of all kinds and colors, and smiling and laughing and the like? But in the bus, you are huddled up and close to yourself, and you have not taken your freedom, and you do not know when you will reach the place you want to get off. You say this is like that. Therefore, I told you, your saying this is like that has no value because you are not knowledgeable. So 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 circle around it. Did you understand me or not?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Therefore, I continue to say that uncovering the face is not forbidden, but covering it is better. Free mixing is not permissible. As for riding the bus, if there is no means other than riding the bus, then it is a few minutes or more, and the problem ends. Likewise, a woman going down to the market, the problem ends. Provided that we advise the woman not to go down to markets where there is free mixing of men and women, and that her brother, her husband, her uncle, her maternal uncle, or the like go down. Except if it is not possible and the purpose is not achieved except by the woman going down. Then at that time, it is not said that her going down to the market is like her sitting in the house of her father, her brother, her brother-in-law, her sister’s husband. Where is this compared to that? It differs completely.
The questioner : Well, for example, her non-mahram see her face, like the men in the bus when they see her face.
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. I gave you the answer. What do we need to focus on tonight regarding the issue of the woman’s face? I tell you, the woman’s face is not an awrah, and it is better that she cover it. As for free mixing, it is not permissible. And yes, they will see her as they see her. Yes, they will see her as they see her. But the issue is not just about seeing the face. They hear her speech, they see her smiling, they may hear her laughter. Where are you? You are straying from reality.
The questioner : Well, for example, if I sit with my brother-in-law and I do not do all these things you mentioned.
The Shaykh : You will not be unfair.
The questioner : Please, be patient with me.
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Is it permissible for my brother-in-law, for example, to see my face, for example, without talking, without me laughing, without...
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Ameen
The Shaykh : All these calls, and you do not say a single "Ameen." Know that you are in clear misguidance.
The questioner : As I told you, excuse me, I mean, I am a bit nervous.
The Shaykh : Leave it until your spirit returns to you, and you will speak later, because the time has now ended, and it is exactly eleven o’clock.
The questioner : Well, what are the times that suit you?
The Shaykh : Every day after the 'Isha' prayer until ten o’clock.