743. The Issue Of Wearing Niqaab In Ihraam

 By Asma bint Shameem 

This is one of the most commonly misunderstood issues regarding women and their ihraam. 

 Yes it’s true that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam said:

“Women should not wear niqaab or gloves.” (al-Bukhaari)

 BUT, this hadeeth does NOT mean that women who usually cover their faces with niqaab, should UNCOVER the face. 

 It only means that the women should not wear 'niqaab' itself, the ‘piece of cloth’ that’s STITCHED specifically to be worn over the face. 

That's all. 

 In fact, the niqaabi sisters should definitely try and cover their faces with something else other than the niqaab, when they fear that there will be men around. 

And when the men are gone, they can uncover their faces.

This is how our Mother Aaishah Radhi Allaahu anhaa covered herself when she was in ihraam.  

 She said: 

“The riders used to pass by us when we were with the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) in ihraam. When they came alongside us we would lower our jilbaabs from our heads over our faces, and when they had passed by we would uncover them.”  

(Abu Dawood--saheeh by al-Albaani)  

 Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:  

"It is not narrated that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) 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) 

 Another *MISCONCEPTION* among women is that NOTHING can TOUCH their FACE. 

 And because of this, some niqaabi sisters put a cap on their head and then drape a piece of cloth over the cap in such a way that the cloth stays away from their face and does not touch it. 

 There is NO PROOF of this in the Sharee’ah. 

 There’s *nothing wrong* with anything touching the face of the woman in ihraam. 

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said: 

"Many women wear a headband under the veil to keep it away from the face. *This action has NO BASIS*." (Fataawa bin Baaz)

 *So What to Do*

 Simply take off your ‘niqaab’ and instead, DRAPE a large scarf over your head and let it hang below in front of your face. 

 When the non mahram men are around, cover your face with it. 

 And when they are not around, simply pick it up and let your face show in front of your mahrams and women. 

 This way you follow the instructions of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam AND follow the way our Mothers practiced it. 

Alhamdulillaah 

 And Allaah knows best