Confusion over the face veil

Question

IF the face veil is compulsary for women in Islam (something which another user was arguing a few days ago), then why are women prohibited from covering their face during Hajj?

It's all very confusing and I would appreciate it if someone could clarify the issue for me since I've always heard that the face veil is optional.

Answer 1

Face veil is NOT compulsary.

Answer 2

the face veil is actually compulsory...during hajj there is no veil because hajj/ the pilgrimage, is the time of being completely submitted to allah...standing before allah as equals...the veil is there to protect the woman from staring eyes...during hajj there are no staring eyes because everyone is concentrating on the one and only allah...

men are also to cover themselves but dont need veils because a woman is of beauty and adornement a man isnt

Answer 3

first of all sis, do you believe niqaab is part of Islaam?

I will reply you according to your answer inshallah.

______________________________________...

Others have already posted up the proof of the obligation of niqaab http://www.fatwa-online.com/fataawa/wome... and why not to wear in hajj, except at times.  

Those are real authentic proofs.

But also the other view from proofs is,

The Face Veil - Shaykh Muhammad Naasiruddeen Al-Albaanee

http://calltoislam.com/index.php?option=...

eventhough this opinion doesn't make niqaab obligatory, nevertheless, it considers niqaab part of Islaam, and from modesty.

Now this doesn't mean we make our own opinion from the knowledgeable ones and criticise any of the views of those scholars.  Yes you may take one view and not follow the other view, but we are cirtainly not in a position to know better than the scholars.  

So I hope you don't look at the face veil as cultural etc. as some people claims.  And also I hope you don't take from those who gives their opinion, and not rulings from Qur'aan, sunnah and scholars.

May Allah guide us and keep us on the straight path, ameen.

Answer 4

The niqaab is wajib, simply every hadeeth speaks when it allowed to uncover, under the statement, when you aren't in the situation, you are covered up ... The ayaat (not just in surat alnoer) are clear, for those who can understand.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[al-Ahzaab 33:59]

And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)”

[al-Noor 24:31]

The command in these two verses is general and applies to all believing women.

Al- Bukhaari narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: “May Allaah have mercy on the first Muhaajir women. When Allaah revealed the words ‘and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)’ they tore their aprons and covered their faces with them.” See also question no. 6991.

Abu Dawood (4101) narrated that Umm Salamah said: “When the words ‘to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies’ [al-Ahzaab 33:59] were revealed, the women of the Ansaar went out looking as if there were crows on their heads because of the covering.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

The Muhaajir and Ansaari women obeyed this command and covered their faces.

It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: “We used to go out with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when we were in ihraam. If we met the riders we would lower our garments over our faces.

(Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1833; Ibn Maajah, 2935)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

It is not narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade the woman in ihraam to cover her face; rather he forbade the niqaab only because it is worn on the face. He differentiated between the niqaab and covering the face. Based on this, if a woman in ihraam covers her face, we say there is nothing wrong with that, but it is better for her to uncover it so long as there are no non-mahram men around her, in which case she should cover her face from them. Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 7/153

A true devoted sister (moemiema), doesn't look at the concept of sunnah or wajib, but looks at it as a worship a good way to please Allaah.

Answer 5

As-Salamu Alaykum

The veil is not compulsary in Islam. The verse which you have cited speaks of a cloak, or more specifically in Arabic it speaks of "al-idnaa" which people misinterpret as "covering the face" when in actual fact it means "to come close"

People claim that jilbaab is "a garment which covers the face". This too is a misinterpretation as it is contrary to the interpretation of the leading scholars of past and present as well, who define jilbaab as a garment which women drape over their head scarves (khimaar).

Some people claim that the khimaar (headscarf) in Al-Qur'an 24:31 covers the head and the face, whereas linguistically the word only means a head covering. The Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said "Allah does not accept the prayer of a woman who has reached puberty unless she wears a khimaar".

(Sunan Abu Dawood, vol. 1, hadith No. 641)

Peace

Answer 6

If the woman is commanded to draw the veil over her head, and bosom …consequently, when it is compulsory to cover her chest and head/hair, then the compulsion of covering the face will be to a greater extent…….

Because the face is the centre of beauty and temptation… if you think about it, we find that when people search for a beautiful person, they ask only regarding the face, if the face is beautiful, they don’t attach so much important to the rest of the body…

So how can it be that the Islamic law command the covering of the chest and permit the face to be left uncovered?

It was permissible for women to show their faces to strangers. However, this was before the verse of Hijaab was revealed: ‘O Nabi, say to your wives, your daughters and the believe women that they should suspend cloaks over themselves’

Cloaks is a Jilbaab, a Jilbaab is a covering, or a cloth, which covers the ‘entire’ body including the head. Hence when women are commanded to use a Jilbaab so that they may remain concealed, then the covering of the face and hands will definitely be included.

Answer 7

Sister Natasha women who cover from head to toe are likely wahabis. In Islam all you need to do is cover the hair, not dress like a ninja turtle. The people who cover their full face are following culture, not islam

Answer 8

@ it's to late to apologize,you forgot to mention that muhammad married aisha when she was 6 years old ,had s*x with her when she was 9,was he a pedophile,you guys worry about a veil?

Answer 9

To my person there is no confusion on the issue.

I refer you to Sura-e-NOOR/ Light (Chap-24), verse 31 that reads:

...and reveal not their adornment save such as is outward; and let them CAST their VEILS over their BOSOMS...

This is a Commandment for the Believing women.

Since there is no veil cast for faces, therefore, women in Hajj do not do so. One Justificatoin. Second Justification is: Face is our identity. Thirdly, Fiquah-e-Jaffia allows women veilless face.

However still, the verse-59 of Chap-33 it is said:

...so it is likelier they will be known,...

The counter-justifications:

Hence, a Muslim woman when living among people of other faiths & beliefs, it would be better for her to cover herself up, head to toe, however still the face is an exception.

During HAJJ, muslim women are among muslims so all they need to take care off is that of their Bosoms!

I HOPE THIS MAKES SENSE TO YOU NOW!

Answer 10

Tasha why do u nt cover then....? U give Sui advice but why u no cover....? Allah wil be appy if u do! May Allah gdie u dear sis

Answer 11

i honestly think theres no point to covering your entire face

no guy would get turned on from ones face..

Answer 12

Praise be to Allaah.  

1 – Covering the face is something good for women. May Allaah bestow abundant mercy on the women who cover their faces with niqaab. Perhaps your question is based on keenness for your religion – may Allaah increase your keenness – but it is better to heed the commands of the religion, which tells women to remove the niqaab from their faces during prayer and Hajj, but especially during prayer, when it is not permissible to cover the face at all except if there are non-mahram men present. During Hajj it is permissible for women to lower the veil over their faces provided that it does not cling to their faces; this is what is called the burqa’. It is not permissible for the woman in ihraam to wear it, but it is permissible for her to lower over her face a cover which comes down from her head over her face. If the burqa’ is not available, and there are men present who should not see the woman’s face, then it is permissible for her to wear the niqaab.

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “A man stood up and said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, what kind of clothes do you command us to wear during ihraam?’ The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Do not wear a shirt or pants or a turban or a burnous. If one of you does not have any sandals then let him wear the khuffayn (leather slippers) and cut them so that they come below the ankle. Do not wear anything that has been dyed with saffron or turmeric. Women in ihraam should not wear niqaab or gloves.”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1468; Muslim, 1177).

2 – With regard to lowering a cover over the face other than the niqaab, or for fear of being seen by non-mahram men, it has been reported in saheeh reports that some of the Sahaabiyyaat (women of the Sahaabah) did that:

It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: “We used to go out with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when we were in ihraam. If we met the riders we would lower our garments over our faces.

(Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1833; Ibn Maajah, 2935)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

It is not narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade the woman in ihraam to cover her face; rather he forbade the niqaab only because it is worn on the face. He differentiated between the niqaab and covering the face. Based on this, if a woman in ihraam covers her face, we say there is nothing wrong with that, but it is better for her to uncover it so long as there are no non-mahram men around her, in which case she should cover her face from them. Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 7/153

And Allaah knows best.

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@ Eva: LOOOOOOOL are you going to refute with Quran and Sunnah....? By the looks of it I guess yes!

Answer 13

the face veil make them look more like a ghost ,here  in france all muslims do is mostly criminal things. and sometimes also it's not a woman under that veil, it's good that they can't wear it inside my school, i'm afraid of them most of the times

Answer 14

The face veil is not required, or encouraged. It stifles your senses and complicates your life. Ignore the people who tell you it is obligatory. They are being led down Satan's path of oppression.

@ Neil

Thats a good question. Why don't some Muslim men adhear to the conservative dress they are supposed to wear? Though I strongly disagree with the complete covering of women, including the necessity of a head scarf (don't get me wrong, I cover myself in all the areas listed in the Quran, the only skin you'll see on me is my arms, head, and feet) , I do like the conservative dress of the men in Saudi Arabia. If you'll ever notice, they are equally as covered as the women. I dislike that there are color restrictions and such, but I respect that they do  have equal expectations. The Quran teaches equality between the sexes. Of course, there are areas on a woman that are different than that of a man in shape and function. The Quran is very fair when it comes to such topics. Allah does not want to put a burden on any of us, and has our best intentions in mind.

Let me ask you, who is more oppressed, the typical American teenager starving herself so that she might look good in her swimsuit, or the Muslim American teenage girl going to the same swim party, but does not care about how she looks because her swim suit is all covering anyways...who do you think will have more fun?

@ Sui,

Why are you always such a hateful person? Do you have any joy in life whatsoever? No wonder your husband was chatting with other women...haha, good. I like your new answer. Remember to be civil the next time you feel the impulse to insult somebody.

Answer 15

u got a beautiful face...its biggest sin to hide it from people lol

Answer 16

because every1 in the holy land saudi are equal and 1 every1 is like bro n sis it one community there and islam all muslims are brother and sisters

Answer 17

da face veil IS optional....