Wearing the Niqāb

Question: What is the ruling on wearing the niqāb? Is it considered obligatory or sunnah? I’ve heard from some people that it is wajib. If that is the case, are the women who do not wear it sinful, even though many women around the world don’t wear the niqāb?

Summary:

• Yes, the niqāb is obligatory according to the stronger opinion of the scholars, especially in this time. • Women who do not wear it due to ignorance or imitation are not judged as sinful unless the Islamic proof has been established upon them. • And the actions of the majority should not be a reason to leave Islamic rulings, for Allah said: “˹O Prophet!˺ If you were to obey most of those on earth, they would lead you away from Allah’s Way. They follow nothing but assumptions and do nothing but lie.” (Al-Anʿām: 116)

Answer:

In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Your question is very important, and it falls under the topic of women’s covering and its relation to Islamic rulings. What I will mention here is a summary of the scholars’ opinions regarding the ruling on wearing the niqāb (covering the face), along with the evidence and the well-known scholarly difference on the matter.

Scholars differed on the ruling of the niqāb (covering the face and hands) with two well-known views:

1. First opinion: That it is obligatory

    This view was held by a group of scholars, and it was the choice of many well-versed scholars from the early and later generations especially when there is temptation or in times of fitnah and desire (as is the case today).

    Their evidences:

    From the Qur'an:

    • Al-Aḥzāb: 59
      O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way it is more likely that they will be recognized ˹as virtuous˺ and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

      Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both) said regarding this ayah: “She covers her hair, face, and chest.”

    From the Sunnah:

    • Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 4104Narrated Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
      Asma, daughter of AbuBakr, entered upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wearing thin clothes. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to his face and hands.

      Narrated by Abū Dāwūd. The ḥadīth is differed upon in authenticity, but it is used as evidence that the default is covering, and what is permitted to show is an exception.

    From the Sunnah:

    •  Jāmi‘ at‑Tirmidhī: 1173Abdullah narrated that The Prophet said:
      “The woman is Awrah, so when she goes out, the Shaitan seeks to tempt her.”

      The meaning is that she is a source of temptation, and the command to cover applies.

    To prevent temptation: The face is the most beautiful part of a woman and the first place people look. If it is covered, a door to fitnah is closed.

    Second opinion: That covering the face is a recommended Sunnah, not obligatory This is the view of the majority of later scholars from the Mālikī, Shāfiʿī, and Ḥanafī schools, so long as there is no fear of fitnah. If there is fitnah, they said the face must be covered. Their evidences: 1. The ḥadīth of Asmāʾ mentioned earlier, used as proof that showing the face and hands is allowed. 2.That women during the Prophet’s time used to uncover their faces while buying, selling, and performing ḥajj, and the Prophet ﷺ did not command them to cover. 3.The woman in ihrām is not to cover her face, as in the ḥadīth:

    From the Sunnah:

    • Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1838 ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (may Allāh be pleased with him):
      "...and the Muhrima (a woman in the state of Ihram) should not cover her face, or wear gloves."

      They used this to argue that the default is not to cover the face. However, this is answered by saying that the woman in ihrām is in a specific case. Even so, if men passed by her, she would lower her jilbāb over her face, as in the ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her).

    The stronger opinion: The view that covering the face and hands is obligatory in our time is stronger and more correct, due to: • The abundance of temptations, and the ease of looking, photographing, and exposing. • The change in people’s behavior, the loss of modesty, and the spread of immodesty. Accordingly: A Muslim woman is commanded to cover her face, especially when going to the market, in places where men are present, if she is young and attractive, or in a time/place where fitnah is widespread. This does not mean that a woman who doesn’t wear it is a disbeliever or a sinner. However: If the evidence has been established upon her, and she knows the ruling of obligation but does not comply, then she is sinful. The niqāb is not the entirety of ḥijāb, but part of a full system of modesty and chastity. Complete Islamic ḥijāb includes: • Covering the entire body with loose, non-transparent clothing. • Avoiding adornment or perfume when going out. • Avoiding flirtatious speech or laughing in public. • Lowering the gaze and voice.

    And Allah knows best.

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