What is the ruling on a woman covering her face in Islam, and how does one propose to a woman who covers her face? I ask for clarification on the lawful means of proposing.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : What is the ruling on a woman covering her face in Islam? And how does one propose to a woman who conceals her face? I ask for clarification on the lawful means of proposing.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a woman to cover her face from non-mahram men who are not among her mahram. The Book, the Sunnah, and correct reasoning indicate this. In the Book of Allah, Allah Blessed and Exalted is He says:[Al-Ahzab 33:59] And when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the women to go out to the Eid prayer ground, they said: There is no doubt that the Sunnah also indicates this. In the hadith of Fatimah bint Qays, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to her: Sunan Abi Dawud 2284Sahih (Al-Albani) It is known that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not intend for her to remove her clothes until she was naked, but rather to wear the clothes it is customary for her to wear in the presence of non-mahram, because he is a blind man. There is no doubt that reasoning also necessitates the obligation of covering the face from non-mahram men, because the face is the focus of temptation and the object of desire for men. For this reason, a man does not look at a woman except at her face, and beauty is not considered except in her face.
And the suitor, if he proposes to a woman and cares about beauty, asks only about the face, because the face is everything. If this is the focus of temptation and the object of desire, then it must be covered, a fortiori to covering the foot. If those who say that it is permissible to uncover the face consider uncovering the foot to be forbidden, then uncovering the face is a fortiori, because the temptation resulting from uncovering the face is far greater than the temptation resulting from uncovering the foot.
And glory to Allah, that the Islamic Shari'ah came with the prohibition of a man's finger being exposed, but did not come with the prohibition of the eyes, lips, cheeks, forehead, and facial features being exposed, which are the focus of temptation and the arousal of desire. This is something that this wise Shari'ah could not possibly have done. Therefore, the established opinion upon reflection is the obligation of covering the face from non-mahram men.
As for the suitor, he is allowed to look at what of the woman incites him to marry her, from her face, head, hands, and feet, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that. He ordered the suitor, when he proposes to a woman, to look at what of her incites him to marry her. As for how a person proposes to a woman? The best is that he speaks to her awliya (guardians) and then asks to look at her. The looking must be in the presence of her wali (guardian) or one of her mahram. It is not permissible for him to look at her in a place of seclusion, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 5233 And it is not permissible for him to converse with her on the telephone, because she is a non-mahram to him until he marries her. Conversing with her on the telephone leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and to the arousal of desire, and this is a matter prohibited by the Shari'ah. But if he marries her, there is no harm in speaking with her on the telephone or otherwise. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. Investigating the suitor, O honorable Shaykh, what is your opinion on it?
The Shaykh : They must ask about the suitor before they answer him.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Especially in this time when deception has increased, it is obligatory to investigate thoroughly, such that they ask about the man's religion first of all, about his prayers and his conduct, then about his morals and his nature and habits, then about the other matters they wish to ask about, which are considered branches of these two matters. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1085Da'if (Darussalam) And it is necessary to investigate to the utmost degree, because many women complain that they married men they believed to be righteous, and it turns out that they have no righteousness. Some women complain that the husband they married does not pray, some complain that he does not pray at its time, some complain that he does not pray in congregation, some complain that he is obsessed with chatting with women, some complain that he is obsessed with songs and the like. So it is obligatory to investigate before answering. And if it is decreed that they answer him on a certain day, let them delay for two or three or ten days until they are completely certain that this man is a suitable match. And if it becomes clear that he is a suitable match, let they rely on Allah and marry him to her.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This is a listener to the program who has this question remaining. He says.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a woman to cover her face from non-mahram men who are not among her mahram. The Book, the Sunnah, and correct reasoning indicate this. In the Book of Allah, Allah Blessed and Exalted is He says:
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلا يُؤْذَيْنَO Messenger of Allah! One of us does not have a jilbab (outer garment)? He said: Let her sister wear it from her jilbab (outer garment).
يا رسول الله! إحداهن ليس لها جلباب؟ قال: لتلبسها أختها من جلبابهاSpend the waiting period in the house of Ibn Umm Maktum for he is blind and you can undress
اعتدي في بيت ابن أم مكتوم فإنه رجل أعمى تضعين ثيابك عندهAnd the suitor, if he proposes to a woman and cares about beauty, asks only about the face, because the face is everything. If this is the focus of temptation and the object of desire, then it must be covered, a fortiori to covering the foot. If those who say that it is permissible to uncover the face consider uncovering the foot to be forbidden, then uncovering the face is a fortiori, because the temptation resulting from uncovering the face is far greater than the temptation resulting from uncovering the foot.
And glory to Allah, that the Islamic Shari'ah came with the prohibition of a man's finger being exposed, but did not come with the prohibition of the eyes, lips, cheeks, forehead, and facial features being exposed, which are the focus of temptation and the arousal of desire. This is something that this wise Shari'ah could not possibly have done. Therefore, the established opinion upon reflection is the obligation of covering the face from non-mahram men.
As for the suitor, he is allowed to look at what of the woman incites him to marry her, from her face, head, hands, and feet, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that. He ordered the suitor, when he proposes to a woman, to look at what of her incites him to marry her. As for how a person proposes to a woman? The best is that he speaks to her awliya (guardians) and then asks to look at her. The looking must be in the presence of her wali (guardian) or one of her mahram. It is not permissible for him to look at her in a place of seclusion, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
No man should stay with a lady in seclusion except in the presence of a Dhu- Muhram.
لا يخلون رجل بامرأة إلا مع ذي محرمThe questioner : May Allah bless you. Investigating the suitor, O honorable Shaykh, what is your opinion on it?
The Shaykh : They must ask about the suitor before they answer him.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Especially in this time when deception has increased, it is obligatory to investigate thoroughly, such that they ask about the man's religion first of all, about his prayers and his conduct, then about his morals and his nature and habits, then about the other matters they wish to ask about, which are considered branches of these two matters. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When someone whose religion and character you are pleased with comes to you then marry (her to) him
إذا أتاكم من ترضون دينه وخلقه فأنكحوهThe questioner : May Allah bless you. This is a listener to the program who has this question remaining. He says.