A woman performed 'Umrah three years ago, but during tawaf and sa'y she was covering her face out of modesty, knowing that it is not permissible to cover the face.
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The questioner : A woman from Dubai, in her second question, mentions that she performed 'Umrah three years ago, but says that during tawaf and sa'y she was covering her face, and she says this was out of modesty, knowing that it is not permissible to cover the face during 'Umrah. What is your esteemed opinion, and does she owe anything, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : This woman was actually correct; she hit the truth in covering her face during tawaf and sa'y, because there were men around her who were not her mahram (relatives one may not marry). It is obligatory for her to cover her face, so she was right in what she did.
The niqab (face veil) is forbidden for the mahram, but covering the face is obligatory; I mean covering the face if there are men around her who are not her mahram. If there are no men around her who are not her mahram, then uncovering the face is preferable. And the Mother of the Believers, 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), mentioned that when men passed by them closely, one of them would lower her khimar (head covering) over her face. Yes.
The Shaykh : This woman was actually correct; she hit the truth in covering her face during tawaf and sa'y, because there were men around her who were not her mahram (relatives one may not marry). It is obligatory for her to cover her face, so she was right in what she did.
The niqab (face veil) is forbidden for the mahram, but covering the face is obligatory; I mean covering the face if there are men around her who are not her mahram. If there are no men around her who are not her mahram, then uncovering the face is preferable. And the Mother of the Believers, 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), mentioned that when men passed by them closely, one of them would lower her khimar (head covering) over her face. Yes.