Questions and Answers

Ruling for women covering their faces

Question: Taken from Darul Uloom website:

"Covering of the face in the Quran.

Q. Was the covering of the face revealed in the Quran? If yes, please give evidence.

A. Yes, the law regarding covering the face was revealed in the Quran.

In Surah Ahzab verse 59, it states, 'O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments (Jalabib) over them'.

While, explaning this verse, the great commentator of the Holy Quran from among the companions of the prophet (S.A.S.) Abdullah bin Abbas said, 'Allah commanded women of the believers that, when they go out of their homes to take care of some need, they should cover their faces with a long sheet from over their heads (Tafseer Ibn Katheer).

Although some scholars have cited an allowance which has been given in Sura Nur for a woman to expose her face and hands to the wrists, all agree that the above mentioned verse indicated to the fact that women are asked to cover themselves fully. (Except the eyes which are not to be covered).

With respect to the above article, I am a little confused, is it compulsory/fard/wajib for a woman to cover her face?

Answer: The above answer was given in response to the question which was asked. The question was about whether the covering of the face was revealed in the Quran or not. In response to this, the answer was in the affirmative because of the fact that it is mentioned in the Quran. With respect to the ruling, the general body of scholars have stated that covering the face is not compulsory. This ruling is based on the following verse of the Holy Quran which states:

'And they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof.' (24:31).

This command establishes that a woman is not allowed to display her beauty and ornaments and also any part of her body except those parts which normally remain exposed. While explaining what these parts are, the great commentators of the Holy Quran from among the Sahabahs and the Tabi'een have stated that 'except that which ordinarily appears thereof ' refers to the face and hands up to the wrist. This is the statement of Abdullah bin Abbas (r.a), Abdullah bin Umar (r.a), Ata (a.r), Ikramah (a.r), Saeed bin Jubair (a.r), Abu Sha'tha (a.r), Dhahak (a.r), Ibraheem An Nakhi (a.r) and many others. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer Vol. 3 pg. 283; Al Ahkaamul Quran By Al Jassas Vol. 3 pg. 315)

In fact, Hafiz Ibn Katheer has stated that this is also the statement of the general body of scholars. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer Vol. 3 pg. 283).

Based on this explanation of the verse, it is clear that a woman is allowed to leave her face and hands up to the wrists uncovered (while covering all the other parts of her body). This understanding is further clarified in the traditions of the Prophet (s.a.s) which point to this allowance. In one tradition, the Prophet (s.a.s) is reported to have said, 'It is not lawful for any woman who believes in Allah and the last day that she should uncover her hands more than this, and then he placed his hand on his wrist joint' (Mishkat). In another tradition, the Prophet (s.a.s) said, 'When a woman reaches the age of puberty, no part of her body should remain uncovered except her face and the hand up to the wrist joint'. (Mishkat).

Abu Dawood has also narrated the tradition from Aisha (r.a) in which she states that Asma bint Abi Bakr (her sister) came to the Prophet (s.a.s) while she was wearing a thin dress. Upon seeing her, the Prophet (s.a.s) turned away from her and said, 'O Asma! When a woman reaches puberty, it is not lawful that any part of her body be seen except this and this, and he pointed to his face and the palms of his hands'. (Abu Dawood).

The scholars have also explained that if the hands and the face of a woman were to be covered, then the Prophet (s.a.s) would not have prohibited her from wearing the niqaab and gloves for the performance of the Hajj. Instead, we see a direct prohibition from wearing these. Imam Al Bukhari has narrated the tradition of Abdullah bin Umar (r.a.) who said that the Prophet (s.a.s) said, 'A woman in Ihram must not cover her face and she must not wear gloves'. (Saheeh Al Bukhari). If the face was essential to be covered, the Prophet (s.a.s) would not have prohibited its covering when a woman is in Ihram.

It is therefore clear from these explanations that covering the face is not a compulsory law upon a woman, instead, she has been given the allowance to reveal her face and hands up to the wrist. This allowance is also one upon which the four Imams of Islamic Jurisprudence have ruled. They have clearly stated that it is essential for a woman who has reached the age of puberty to cover her entire body except the face and hands up to the wrist. This is in accordance to the mazhab of Imams Abu Hanifa, Malik, Shafi and Ahmad (a.r). (Al Fiqhul Islami Wa Adilatihi Vol. 1 pg. 744-753; Ash Sharhu Sagheer; Bidayatul Mujtahid; Al Mughni; Al Muhazzab; Al Majmoo'; Nailul Awtaar).

And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan