What is the response to those who consider it permissible for a woman to uncover her face?
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Question:
Some women, when we tell them that uncovering the face is not permissible, say: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to meet with women, and they used to strive in the path of Allah, and they used to treat the sick. What is your guidance?
Answer:
The women in the early days of Islam and the early period of the migration were permitted to uncover themselves. Then the verse of the hijab was revealed. So their uncovering in gatherings was initially, where she would uncover her face and her hands. Then Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) commanded the hijab to protect the woman and safeguard her from degradation and from the fitnah of men regarding her. So He revealed in this regard His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Ahzab:53], and He revealed in this regard His saying, the Exalted: [An-Nur:31]. And adornment: it is the beauties of hair, face, hand, foot, chest, and the like.
So what is obligatory for women after the revelation of these verses is the hijab. The face is the most beautiful of adornment, and it is the woman's title, the title of her beauty and her ugliness. So it is obligatory to cover it in accordance with these verses. It is established from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that when she heard the voice of Safwan al-Mu'attal in the expedition of the slander, when she had lagged behind the expedition and Safwan al-Mu'attal saw her lagging behind, he said: "Indeed we belong to Allah and indeed to Him we return." When she heard his voice, she covered her face with her head covering. She said:. This is how it came in the two Sahihs from Aisha.
This indicates that the woman before the hijab, her face was seen. As for after the hijab, that was prohibited for the man. And it is not permissible to say: that this is specific to the Mothers of the Believers, for they and others are equal in this. And nothing has come that indicates specification, and the original rule is the absence of specification. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding the believing women: [An-Nur:31]. He generalized, and he did not say: the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So the ruling is general for all believing women, from the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and others.
And whoever says: that it is specific to them, upon him is the evidence. And there is no evidence that specifies them with that. Rather, it is a statement without knowledge, without truth, and without evidence. Then the practice of the Muslims in that from his time (peace and blessings be upon him) after these verses were revealed was upon the hijab, and the non-exposure of the woman; because that is from what causes fitnah regarding her, and the occurrence of lewd acts, and the man's seeking of the woman because of what he sees of her beauty and goodness. And what is obligatory for men and women is to act upon the causes of safety, and to be cautious of the causes of fitnah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Some women, when we tell them that uncovering the face is not permissible, say: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to meet with women, and they used to strive in the path of Allah, and they used to treat the sick. What is your guidance?
Answer:
The women in the early days of Islam and the early period of the migration were permitted to uncover themselves. Then the verse of the hijab was revealed. So their uncovering in gatherings was initially, where she would uncover her face and her hands. Then Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) commanded the hijab to protect the woman and safeguard her from degradation and from the fitnah of men regarding her. So He revealed in this regard His saying, the Exalted:
And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.
وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّexcept to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers
وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ ..So what is obligatory for women after the revelation of these verses is the hijab. The face is the most beautiful of adornment, and it is the woman's title, the title of her beauty and her ugliness. So it is obligatory to cover it in accordance with these verses. It is established from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that when she heard the voice of Safwan al-Mu'attal in the expedition of the slander, when she had lagged behind the expedition and Safwan al-Mu'attal saw her lagging behind, he said: "Indeed we belong to Allah and indeed to Him we return." When she heard his voice, she covered her face with her head covering. She said:
And he had seen me before the hijab.
وكان قد رآني قبل الحجابThis indicates that the woman before the hijab, her face was seen. As for after the hijab, that was prohibited for the man. And it is not permissible to say: that this is specific to the Mothers of the Believers, for they and others are equal in this. And nothing has come that indicates specification, and the original rule is the absence of specification. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding the believing women:
not expose their adornment
لا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّAnd whoever says: that it is specific to them, upon him is the evidence. And there is no evidence that specifies them with that. Rather, it is a statement without knowledge, without truth, and without evidence. Then the practice of the Muslims in that from his time (peace and blessings be upon him) after these verses were revealed was upon the hijab, and the non-exposure of the woman; because that is from what causes fitnah regarding her, and the occurrence of lewd acts, and the man's seeking of the woman because of what he sees of her beauty and goodness. And what is obligatory for men and women is to act upon the causes of safety, and to be cautious of the causes of fitnah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.