a)Evidence from Glorious Quran.
b)Evidence from Sunnah(Ahadith)about covering Face.
c)Reply to those who say The Niqab is Mustaheb(Recommended).
d)Scholars’ Opinions.
This is a brief response to a Small Misunderstanding among Muslims brothers and Sisters.It should be noted that when there is a difference of opinion, Muslims are obliged to refer to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), as Allaah commanded when He said :
“(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allaah and in the Last Day”
[al-Nisa’ 4:59]
By referring to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), it becomes clear that the Muslim woman is obliged to cover her face in front of non-mahram men.
There follows some of the evidence for that:
==a)Evidence from Glorious Quran.=======
Proof:-1
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) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful”
[al-Noor 24:31]
Proof:-2
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And as for women past childbearing who do not expect wedlock, it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment. But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them. And Allaah is All Hearer, All Knower”
[al-Noor 24:60]
Proof:-3
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]
Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “Allaah commanded the believing women, if they go out of their houses for some need, to cover their faces from the top of their heads with their jilbaabs, and to leave one eye showing.”
The tafseer of the Sahaabah is evidence, indeed some of the scholars said that it comes under the same ruling as marfoo’ reports that go back to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
The comment “and leave one eye showing” is a concession because of the need to see the way; if there is no need for that then the eye should not be uncovered.
The jilbaab is the upper garment that comes above the khimaar; it is like the abaya.
Proof:-4
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“It is no sin on them (the Prophet’s wives, if they appear unveiled) before their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brother’s sons, or the sons of their sisters, or their own (believing) women, or their (female) slaves. And (O ladies), fear (keep your duty to) Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Ever All Witness over everything”
[al-Ahzaab 33:55]
Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: When Allaah commanded the women to observe hijab in front of non-mahram men, he explained that they did not have to observe hijab in front of these relatives, as He explained that they are exempted in Soorat al-Noor where He said (interpretation of the meaning): “and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands…”
==b)Evidence from Sunnah(Ahadith) about covering Face.======
Proof:-5
Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba: ‘Aisha (R.A) used to say: “When (the Verse): “They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms,” was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces.”
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 6 Book #60 Hadith #282)
Proof:-6
Narrated ‘Aisha: The believing women covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with Allah’s Apostle, and after finishing the prayer they would return to their home and nobody could recognize them because of darkness.
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 1, Book #10, Hadith #552)
Proof:-7
Narrated Um ‘Atiya: We were ordered to bring out our menstruating women and veiled women in the religious gatherings and invocation of Muslims on the two ‘Id festivals. These menstruating women were to keep away from their Musalla. A woman asked, “O Allah’s Apostle ‘ What about one who does not have a veil?” He said, “Let her share the veil of her companion.”
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 1, Book #8, Hadith #347)
Proof:-8
Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet stayed with Safiya bint Huyai for three days on the way of Khaibar where he consummated his marriage with her. Safiya was amongst those who were ordered to use a veil.
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 5, Book 59, Hadith 523)
Proof:-9
Narrated Aiyub: Hafsa bint Sirin said, “On Id we used to forbid our girls to go out for ‘Id prayer. A lady came and stayed at the palace of Bani Khalaf and I went to her. She said, ‘The husband of my sister took part in twelve holy battles along with the Prophet and my sister was with her husband in six of them. My sister said that they used to nurse the sick and treat the wounded. Once she asked, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! If a woman has no veil, is there any harm if she does not come out (on ‘Id day)?’ The Prophet said, ‘Her companion should let her share her veil with her, and the women should participate in the good deeds and in the religious gatherings of the believers.
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 1, Book #6, Hadith #321)
Proof:-10
Narrated ‘Aisha: The wives of the Prophet used to go to Al-Manasi,
a vast open place (near Baqia at Medina) to answer the call of nature at night. ‘Umar used to say to the Prophet “Let your wives be veiled,”but Allah’s Apostle did not do so. One night Sauda bint Zam’a the wife of the Prophet went out at ‘Isha’ time and she was a tall lady. ‘Umar addressed her and said, “I have recognized you, O Sauda.”
He said so, as he desired eagerly that the verses of Al-Hijab (the observing of veils by the Muslim women) may be revealed. So Allah revealed the verses of “Al-Hijab” (A complete body cover excluding the eyes).
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 1, Book #4, Hadith #148)
Proof:-11
Narrated Anas: The Prophet stayed for three days between Khaibar and Medina, and there he consummated his marriage to Safiyya bint Huyai. I invited the Muslims to the wedding banquet in which neither meat nor bread was offered. He ordered for leather dining-sheets to be spread, and dates, dried yoghurt and butter were laid on it, and that was the Prophet’s wedding banquet. The Muslims wondered, “Is she (Saffiyya) considered as his wife or his slave girl?” Then they said, “If he orders her to veil herself, she will be one of the mothers of the Believers; but if he does not order her to veil herself, she will be a slave girl. So when the Prophet proceeded from there, he spared her a space behind him (on his she-camel) and put a screening veil between her and the people.
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 7, Book 62, Hadith 22 )
Proof:-12
In the end of this very long hadith it quotes Anas (Radhiallaahu Ánho) rates from Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) “and if one of the women of Paradise looked at the earth, she would fill the whole space between them (the earth and the heaven) with light, and would fill whatever is in between them, with perfume, and the veil of her face is better than the whole world and whatever is in it.” This show that even the women of Junnah have veils and the word veil is what covers the face (niqaab).
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 8, Book 76, Hadith # 572)
Comments:- SubhanAllah even the Women of Paradise(Jannah) having Face veil.
Proof:-13
Narrated ‘Ikrima (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) narrates “Rifa’a divorced his wife
whereupon ‘AbdurRahman bin Az-Zubair Al-Qurazi married her. ‘Aisha said that the lady (came), wearing a green veil.” It is a very long hadith but the point is the women of Sahaba wore the full veil.
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 7, Book 72, Hadith # 715)
Proof:-14
Narrated ‘Aisha (Radhiallaahu Ánha) Utba bin Abi Waqqas said to his brother Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas, “The son of the slave girl of Zam’a is from me, so take him into your custody.” So in the year of Conquest of Mecca, Sa’d took him and said. (This is) my brother’s son whom my brother has asked me to take into my custody.” ‘Abd bin Zam’a got up before him and said, (He is) my brother and the son of the slave girl of my father, and was born on my father’s bed.” So they both submitted their case before Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam). Sa’d said, “O Allah’s Apostle! This boy is the son of my brother and he entrusted him to me.” ‘Abd bin Zam’a said, “This boy is my brother and the son of the slave girl of my father, and was born on the bed of my father.” Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, “The boy is for you, O ‘Abd bin Zam’a!” Then Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) further said, “The child is for the owner of the bed, and the stone is for the adulterer,” Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) then said to Sauda bint Zam’a, “Veil (screen) yourself before him,” when he saw the child’s resemblance to ‘Utba. The boy did not see her again till he met Allah.
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 9, Book 89, Hadith # 293)
Comment: This hadith proves Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) infact order the veil to be observed!!
Proof:-15
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin: riders would pass us when we accompanied the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) while we were in the sacred state (wearing ihram). When they came by us, one of us would let down her outer garment from her head over her face, and when they had passed on, we would uncover our faces.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #10, Hadith #1829)
Comments:-The words “When they came near us we would lower our jilbaabs from our heads over our faces” indicate that it is obligatory to cover the face, because what is prescribed in ihraam is to uncover it. If there was no strong reason to prevent uncovering it, it would be obligatory to leave it uncovered even when the riders were passing by. In other words, women are obliged to uncover their faces during ihraam according to the majority of scholars, and nothing can override something that is obligatory except something else that is also obligatory. If it were not obligatory to observe hijab and cover the face in the presence of non-mahram men, there would be no reason not to uncover it in ihraam. It was proven in al-Saheehayn and elsewhere that a woman in ihraam is forbidden to wear the niqaab (face veil) and gloves.
Proof:-16
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin: Safiyyah, daughter of Shaybah,said that Aisha mentioned the women of Ansar, praised them and said good words about them. She then said: When Surat an-Nur came down, they took the curtains, tore them and made head covers (veils) of them.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #32, Hadith #4089)
Proof:-17
Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu’minin: When the verse “That they should cast their outer garments over their persons” was revealed, the women of Ansar came out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer garments.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #32, Hadith #4090)
Proof:-18
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin: May Allah have mercy on the early immigrant women. When the verse “That they should draw their veils over their bosoms” was revealed, they tore their thick outer garments and made veils from them.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #32, Hadith #4091)
Proof:-19
Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu’minin: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) came to visit her when she was veiled, and said: use one fold and not two.
(ABU DAWOOD Book 32, Hadith 4103)
Proof:-20
Narrated Dihyah ibn Khalifah al-Kalbi: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) was brought some pieces of fine Egyptian linen and he gave me one and said: Divide it into two; cut one of the pieces into a shirt and give the other to your wife for veil. Then when he turned away, he said: And order your wife to wear a garment below it and not show her figure.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #32, Hadith #4104)
Proof:-21
Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu’minin: Safiyyah, daughter of AbuUbayd, said: When the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) mentioned lower garment, Umm Salamah, wife of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), asked him: And a woman, Apostle of Allah? He replied: She may hang down a span. Umm Salamah said: Still it (foot) will be uncovered. He said: Then a forearm’s length, nor exceeding it.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #32, Hadith #4105)
Proof:-22
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) brought Fatimah a slave which he donated to her. Fatimah wore a garment which, when she covered her head, did not reach her feet, and when she covered her feet by it, that garment did not reach her head. When the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) saw her struggle, he said: There is no harm to you: here is only your father and slave.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #32, Hadith #4094)
Proof:-23
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin: A woman made a sign from behind a curtain to indicate that she had a letter for the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) closed his hand, saying: I do not know this is a man’s or a woman’s hand. She said: No, a woman. He said: If you were a woman, you would make a difference to your nails, meaning with henna.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #33, Hadith #4154)
Proof:-24
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Allah does not accept the prayer of a woman who has reached puberty unless she wears a veil.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #2, Hadith #0641)
Proof:-25
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: When one of you asked a woman in marriage, if he is able to look at what will induce him to marry her, he should do so. He (Jabir) said: I asked a girl in marriage, I used to look at her secretly, until I looked at what induced me to marry her. I, therefore, married her.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #11, Hadith #2077)
Proof:-27
Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu’minin: I was with the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) while Maymunah was with him. Then Ibn Umm Maktum came. This happened when we were ordered to observe veil (purdah). The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Observe veil from him. We asked: Apostle of Allah! is he not blind? He can neither see us nor recognise us. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Are both of you blind? Do you not see him? AbuDawud said: This was peculiar to the wives of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). Do you not see that Fatimah daughter of Qays passed her waiting period with Ibn Umm Maktum. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said to Fatimah daughter of Qays: Pass your waiting period with Ibn Umm Maktum, for he is a blind man. You can put off your clothes with him.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #32, Hadith #4100)
Note:-I found one other hadith that shows a woman who was not the Mother of the Believers also wore the Face Veil.
Proof:-28
Narrated Thabit ibn Qays: A woman called Umm Khallad came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) while she was veiled. She was searching for her son who had been killed (in the battle) Some of the Companions of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said to her: You have come here asking for your son while veiling your face? She said: If I am afflicted with the loss of my son, I shall not suffer the loss of my modesty. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: You will get the reward of two martyrs for your son. She asked: Why is that so, Apostle of Allah? He replied: Because the people of the Book have killed him.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #14, Hadith #2482)
Proof:-29
Umm ‘Atiyya reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) commanded us to bring out on’Id-ul-Fitr and ‘Id-ul-Adha young women,menstruating women and ***purdah***-observing ladies, menstruating women kept back from prayer, but participated in goodness and supplication of the Muslims. I said: Messenger of Allah, one of us does not have an outer garment (to cover her face and body). He said: Let her sister cover her with her outer garment.
(SAHIH MUSLIM Book #004, Hadith #1934)
Comment:-This hadeeth indicates that the usual practice among the women of the Sahaabah was that a woman would not go out without a jilbaab, and that if she did not have a jilbaab she would not go out. The command to wear a jilbaab indicates that it is essential to cover. And Allaah knows best.
Proof:30
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was in the company of Allah’s Messenger (way peace be upan him) when there came a man and informed him that he had contracted to marry a woman of the Ansar. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Did you cast a glance at her? He said: No. He said: Go and cast a glance at her, for there is something in the eyes of the Ansar.
(SAHIH MUSLIM Book #008, Hadith #3314)
Comment:-The evidence here is the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said there is no sin on the man who is proposing marriage, subject to the condition that his looking be for the purpose of proposing marriage.
Proof:31
‘A’isha reported that a eunuch used to come to the wives of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and they did not And anything objectionable in his visit considering him to be a male without any sexual desire. Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) one day came as he was sitting with some of his wives and he was busy in describing the bodily characteristics of a lady and saying: As the comes in front tour folds appear on her front side and as she turns her back eight folds appear on the back side. Thereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: I me that he knows these things; do not, therefore. allow him to cater. She (” A’isha) said: Then they began to observe veil from him.
(SAHIH MUSLIM Book #026, Hadith #5416)
Comments:-Even women need to observe Veil before Eunuch.
Proof:-32
Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that Fatima bint al-Mundhir said, “We used to veil our faces when we were in ihram in the company of Asma bint Abi Bakr as-Siddiq.”
(Muwatta Imam Malik Book #20, Hadith #20.5.16)
Proof:-33
Umm Atiyyah narrated:
“Allah’s Messenger would order the virgins, the mature women, the secluded and the menstruating to go out for the two Eid. As for the menstruating women, they were to stay away from the Musalla and participate in the Muslims supplications.” One of them said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! What if she does not have a Jilbab? He said: ‘Then let her sis lend her a Jilbab.’”
(SUNAN TIRMIDHI Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 539)
=c)Reply to those who say The Niqab is Mustaheb(RECOMMENDED)==
Proof:-34
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin: Asma, daughter of AbuBakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) 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 her face and hands.
(ABU DAWOOD Book #32, Hadith #4092)
Proof:-35
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Abbas : Al-Fadl (his brother) was riding behind Allah’s Apostle and a woman from the tribe of Khath’am came and Al-Fadl started looking at her and she started looking at him. The Prophet turned Al-Fadl’s face to the other side. The woman said, “O Allah’s Apostle! The obligation of hajj enjoined by Allah on His devotees has become due on my father and he is old and weak, and he cannot sit firm on the Mount; may I perform hajj on his behalf?” The Prophet replied, “Yes, you may.” That happened during the hajj-al-Wida (of the Prophet ).
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 2, Book #26, Hadith #589)
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas: Al-Fadl was riding behind the Prophet and a woman from the tribe of Khath’am came up. Al-Fadl started looking at her and she looked at him. The Prophet turned Al-Fadl’s face to the other side. She said, “My father has come under Allah’s obligation of performing hajj but he is a very old man and cannot sit properly on his Mount. Shall I perform hajj on his behalf? The Prophet replied in the affirmative. That happened during hajjat-ul-wada’ of the Prophet .
(SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 3, Book #29, Hadith #79)
Reply:–
Abu Dawood said: This is mursal; Khaalid ibn Durayk did not meet ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her).
This hadeeth is da’eef (weak) and is not fit to be used as evidence. The reasons why it is da’eef are as follows:
1 – Its isnaad is interrupted, as was stated by Imam Abu Dawood (may Allaah have mercy on him) when he said, “This is mursal; Khaalid ibn Durayk did not meet ‘Aa’ishah.”
2 – Its isnaad includes Sa’eed ibn Basheer al-Azdi (or it was said al-Basri) Abu ‘Abd al-Rahmaan. Some scholars of hadeeth regarded him as thiqah (trustworthy), but Ahmad, Ibn Ma’een, Ibn al-Madeeni, al-Nasaa’i, al-Haakim and Abu Dawood regarded him as da’eef. (weak).
Muhammad ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Numayr said of him: His hadeeth is to be rejected and he does not amount to anything, and he is not strong in hadeeth. He narrated munkar reports from Qataadah.
Ibn Hibbaan said of him: He has a bad memory and makes grievous mistakes.
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said of him: (he is) da’eef.
3 – Its isnaad includes Qataadah who is mudallis (i.e., gives false impressions concerning the narration of the hadeeth) and did not clearly state that he heard the hadeeth from another. It also includes al-Waleed ibn Muslim of whom al-Haafiz said: (he is) trustworthy but he was also mudallis and did not clearly state that he heard the hadeeth from another.
These are the faults in the hadeeth because of which the hadeeth was judged to be da’eef (weak). See Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, Majallat al-Buhooth, 21/68.
Even if we assume that the hadeeth is saheeh or is strengthened by corroborating reports, the scholars have also noted that this incident occurred before hijab was enjoined.
Ibn Qudaamah said: “With regard to the hadeeth of Asma’, it is to be understood as having occurred before the verse of hijab was revealed.”
Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Even if we assume it is saheeh, it is to be interpreted as referring to the time before hijab was revealed.” See ‘Awdat al-Hijaab, 3/336.
====d)Scholars’ Opinions.=========
Hassan Al Basri (Rahimahullah)
States in his tafseer of the Surah An-Nur, “What a woman is allowed to show in this Ayah implies to those outer garments (not the face or hands) which the woman puts on to cover her internal decoration (her beauty).
(Quoted in the book “Purdah” P#194 )
Ibn Jarir (Rahimahullah) Quotes the opinion of Ibn Ábbaas (Radhiallaahu Ánhu)”Allah has enjoined upon all Muslim Women that when they go out of their homes under necessity, they should cover their faces by drawing a part of their outer garments over their heads.”
(Tafseer Ibn Jarir, VOL 22, pg.29)
Rational examination and analogy which form the basis of this perfect sharee’ah, which aims to help people achieve what is in their best interests and encourages the means that lead to that, and to denounce evil and block the means that lead to it.
If we think about unveiling and women showing their faces to non-mahram men, we will see that it involves many bad consequences. Even if we assume that there are some benefits in it, they are very few in comparison with its negative consequences. Those negative consequences include:
1 – Fitnah (temptation). By unveiling her face, a woman may be tempted to do things to make her face look more beautiful. This is one of the greatest causes of evil and corruption.
2 – Taking away haya’ (modesty, shyness) from women, which is part of faith and of a woman’s nature (fitrah). Women are examples of modesty, as it was said, “more shy than a virgin in her seclusion.” Taking away a woman’s modesty detracts from her faith and the natural inclination with which she was created.
3 – Men may be tempted by her, especially if she is beautiful and she flirts, laughs and jokes, as happens in the case of many of those who are unveiled. The Shaytaan flows through the son of Adam like blood.
4 – Mixing of men and women. If a woman thinks that she is equal with men in uncovering her face and going around unveiled, she will not be modest and will not feel too shy to mix with men. This leads to a great deal of fitnah (temptation) and widespread corruption.
Conclusion:-Women Should Cover their face before moving abroad.
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