What is the ruling on a woman covering her face and hands? - And is it appropriate to mention and spread this issue in every gathering?

Al-Halabi : May Allah bless you, O Shaykh. In the book of al-Ghamari himself, which is *Ighram al-Mubtadi' al-Ghabi*, in the same car of the brother...Abu Layla : ...in al-Zarqa.

The Shaykh : May it be good, if Allah wills. Its goodness lies in other things.

The questioner : If Allah wills.

The Shaykh : Welcome.

The questioner : How are you?

The Shaykh : How are you?

Another questioner : The last time I saw you was three years ago.

The questioner : Where?

The questioner : In the Haram.

The Shaykh : In the Haram, what Allah willed.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : I don't remember. Welcome.

The questioner : May Allah keep you alive.

The questioner : We asked you about the ruling on collective takfir (declaring someone a disbeliever).

The Shaykh : No, I don't remember. Welcome, and may we meet again in that pure place.

The questioner : If Allah wills, soon.

The Shaykh : If Allah wills, how are you?

The questioner : May Allah keep you.

The Shaykh : If Allah wills, I am well. Welcome.

The questioner : It is well known that the issue of hijab in Islam is that uncovering the face and hands is not obligatory according to the correct opinion. But is it in the interest of the Muslims to spread this issue, especially among us in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, where women have been accustomed to covering their faces due to custom and the Islamic society? Because many of the girls have started uncovering their faces, saying that the correct opinion regarding hijab, as it has become clear to us, is that the hijab prescribed in Islam is not covering the face and hands.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : So, is it in the interest of the Muslims to raise this issue from time to time, write books about it, and present this issue? Indeed, in Islam, the stronger and correct opinion is that the hands and face are not 'awrah (parts of the body that must be covered). But is it in the interest of the Muslims to raise the issue in every gathering or on every occasion?

The Shaykh : May Allah bless you! The interest of the Muslims is to spread the correct knowledge. And for a certain reason, we claim to be Salafis, meaning that we understand the Book and the Sunnah according to the methodology of the Salaf al-Salih (the earliest generations), and we also try to restore the first Salafi society, each according to his ability. I had pointed to something resembling an answer to such a question in the introduction of my book *Hijab al-Mar'ah al-Muslimah* (The Hijab of the Muslim Woman). When it is said or a questioner asks, "Is it in the interest to spread this issue?" In truth, this question is met with a question exactly like it: "Is it in the interest to conceal the Islamic knowledge?" In my opinion, when the question is posed in this clear form, no one, no matter how high he is in knowledge or how low, can say, "Yes, it is permissible to conceal knowledge." Therefore, we must distinguish completely between spreading obligatory knowledge and obligatory education. When we spread correct knowledge among people, and this correct knowledge is preferred but not obligatory. Yes. I say, O brother, our conversation has just reached the point that no one can say it is permissible to conceal knowledge. Just as it is necessary to spread knowledge in its two correct aspects, it should be said, for example, that preserving the sunnah (recommended practice) is not obligatory, but it is necessary to encourage it, as came in many hadiths. I think nothing of them is hidden from you, such as the hadith that says: . So it is not permissible, if we find people following the way of that Bedouin who said to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), as in the authentic hadith, when he asked the Prophet: "Is there anything else upon me besides them?" He said: . He said (peace and blessings be upon him): . So if we see some people being negligent regarding the sunnah, and this exists, we should not exaggerate in these sunnahs and raise them to the level of obligations. Rather, it is upon us to clarify their ruling that is established by the Shari'ah, and to encourage people to pay attention to this sunnah, because first, it is a sunnah, and because it has other virtues, including what we mentioned just now, that Allah the Exalted completes with it the deficiency that may occur in the obligatory act, whether in quantity or quality. Similarly, I see in this issue and others that we must clarify to people the ruling of Allah the Exalted regarding the face and hands of the woman. Because the Shari'ah, as we students of knowledge and scholars always say, is that Islam is suitable for every time and every place. And it is not hidden from any person that people in every time and every place are not on the same level in faith, in Islam, in taqwa (mindfulness of Allah), and similar qualities. Therefore, we must know people's religion with true knowledge, so that if, for example, we find some people being negligent regarding Islam, when they know that this is obligatory and this is obligatory and this is obligatory, the religion becomes heavy upon them, and perhaps they will cast it behind their backs. But if it is said to them, "It is upon you, for example, five prayers every day, and whoever wishes to volunteer, that is better," then at that time we have combined the benefit with repelling the harm. The same is exactly the case with this issue that you and others are asking about: "Is it in the interest to spread it?" I say, yes, it is obligatory to spread this issue, because we live in a time when women did not stop when Allah made it obligatory upon them. So it is not obligatory for us to stop them or force them to also stop at the recommended matters. Rather, it is upon us to clarify to them with complete clarity that the Muslim woman, when she goes out of her house, must wear her jilbab (outer garment), and that eight conditions must be realized in this jilbab. And when we set these conditions, we were not strict, because the Shari'ah brought them. If covering the face and hands had been among these conditions, we would have included it. But we always consider, in what the Lawgiver has made easy, we make it easy, and in what He has not made easy—and I do not say "in what He has made strict," but I say "in what He has not made easy"—we do not make it easy. Yes. We Muslims, and the scholars among us, as is agreed upon by all Muslims, do not possess the right to legislate from our own selves, including making things easy or not making them easy. Rather, they are, as Allah the Exalted said: . In what Allah has made easy, we make it easy, and in what He has not made easy, we do not make it easy. So if it is established by the Shari'ah that it is better for the woman to cover her face and hands and nothing of her appears, we clarify this to people. And if it is established in the Shari'ah that this covering is not obligatory but rather recommended, we also clarify this to people. Yes. I think what I mentioned just now is sufficient as an answer, if Allah wills. How are you?

The questioner : Praise be to Allah, I am well
Abu Layla: The brother has a problem.

The Shaykh : If Allah wills, please go ahead.