What are the statements of the scholars regarding the ruling on covering a woman's face?

The questioner : In recent days, there has been a lot of talk in the newspapers about the lawful dress of women. The point of disagreement is whether the face covering is valid, or whether it is permissible without a face covering.

The Shaykh : Excuse me, I rarely have the opportunity to look at the newspapers. So, what is the summary that you read in the newspapers?

The questioner : There are two viewpoints: one says that covering the head with the jilbab and uncovering the face and hands is permissible, and this is supported by hadiths; the other side says that she is not obligated to cover her face.

The Shaykh : Ah, this is an old matter. I thought there was something new.
Al-Halabi : One person wrote an article stating that the niqab is a religious innovation. This is what stirred things up and caused the issue.

The questioner:..

The Shaykh : I understand you regarding the two opinions you mentioned. As for this mention of the last opinion, it is among the most invalid things said, and no Muslim says it. The one who says this is either a hypocrite or, at the very least, ignorant. As for the two opinions mentioned, some say that covering the face and hands is lawful for the woman, and even obligatory; and some say that it is not obligatory. Some say that they are 'awrah, and some say they are not 'awrah. There is no doubt that the evidence from the Shari'ah establishes that the face and hands of the woman are not 'awrah. This is certain and there is no ambiguity. We have explained this in detail in my book "The Hijab of the Muslim Woman in the Book and the Sunnah." However, at the same time, when we say that uncovering the face and hands is permissible for the woman, it does not mean that doing so is not the best. Rather, it is the best for every woman to cover her face and hands together. If she does so, she will be rewarded and given reward; and if she does not, there is no sin on her. On the other hand, today, and rarely in the past, some say that covering is obligatory. So the disagreement between the two groups is whether it is obligatory or not. The correct view is that it is not obligatory. But the one who says it is not obligatory does not say it is not prescribed. It is prescribed, and it is the best. As for this new claim that the brothers mentioned, that it is not permissible for a woman to cover her face, this is undoubtedly a man who is either ignorant or one who follows a malicious desire. Because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when he mentioned in an educational occasion regarding the rituals of Hajj, while he was in Madinah before he went out for the Farewell Pilgrimage, stood up to them as a preacher and said, among other things: . The Messenger (peace be upon him) in this hadith refers to a matter that was known among them and negates it religiously. The matter referred to is that the woman used to wear the niqab and used to wear gloves. Fearing that the woman in ihram would wear the niqab and gloves, he (peace be upon him) said in his sermon: "Let not the woman in ihram wear gloves or wear the niqab." The niqab is tying the scarf under her eyes like this. He (peace be upon him) did this in the sermon for educational purposes. Despite that...

The questioner : How did he do it?

The Shaykh : He did not say it; I am saying it and explaining. The niqab: the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) only preached and said: . What is the niqab? It is tying the scarf like this on the nose, under the eyes. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) preached this sermon for educational purposes and so that the woman in ihram would not fall into a religious violation. We have performed Hajj, and praise be to Allah, many times, and 'Umrah even more, and we used to see Arab women from Hijaz and Najd performing Hajj and 'Umrah while wearing the niqab. This is contrary to the hadith. Why? Because the scholars do not fulfill their duty. This is explicit in the hadith. As for the indication, it is clear: "You, women, your custom is to wear the niqab and to wear gloves. Beware of doing that in Hajj or 'Umrah." So the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in this hadith approved the niqab and approved covering the hands, in addition to the many, many hadiths that report on the social life that the Muslim women lived at that time, meaning they used to wear the niqab without a doubt. So the claim that the niqab is not permissible is, in fact, one of the most dangerous things some people dare to say today, which is contrary to the consensus of the Muslims. The Muslims are in agreement that it is better for the woman to cover her face. But they differed on whether this better ruling is obligatory or within the limits of recommended. We see it as recommended, and few people today see it as obligatory. This is the answer to what you asked, and I hope you have understood?