𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (492)

Misconception About Uncovering the Face While in the State of Ihram Question: May Allah be good to you. He asks: Should a woman cover her face during Hajj, or should she uncover it? And how can she cover her face in front of men when they are so numerous? Sheikh Sulayman Ar-Ruhaili hafidahullah: The scholars—as stated by the Imām, Al-Faqīh, Al-Hafidh Ibn ʿAbdil Barr—are unanimously agreed that a woman in the state of iḥrām is PERMITTED to cover her face with something that conceals it from men. All scholars, without exception, hold that a woman may cover her face with something that conceals it from non-mahram men; however, some said it is obligatory, while others said it is merely permissible. The point is: no one said that it is prohibited for a woman in iḥrām to cover her face, as Ibn ʿAbdil Barr noted. They all say that if she covers her face, she incurs no sin; the difference is only between those who say it is allowed and those who say it is mandatory. Therefore, the statement made by some [hajj] guides to Muslim women—that they must uncover their faces during Hajj because “the woman’s iḥrām is in her face”—is a MISUNDERSTANDING of the jurists’ words. She is NOT REQUIRED TO UNCOVER HER FACE; she may cover it. I have mentioned repeatedly an elderly woman who came to me saying whilst crying: “Shaykh, I am from a land filled with trials; the niqab is rare there, and ever since I reached puberty I have been wearing the niqab—no strange man has ever seen my face. Now I am in the Sacred Land wanting to perform Hajj, and the guide tells me I must uncover my face. In my own country, men have never seen my face—should they see it here? How can this be?” I told her: My sister, the guide is mistaken. You are not required to uncover your face by scholarly consensus, and I personally hold that you must cover your face. SubḥānAllāh—even Shāfiʿī scholars, who are among the strictest regarding covering the face during iḥrām, say that a woman may cover her face, though it is disliked. They say it is preferable for her to uncover her face, but it is permissible for her to cover it. And if she uncovers her face, what should she do? They say she applies henna to her face—she dyes her face with henna so that people do not see her skin but only the henna, as though she has covered her face. They consider it among the recommended acts of Hajj for a woman to apply henna to her face as a form of covering. Yet today, some people who lack proper understanding claim that a woman in Hajj should wear makeup, apply kohl, uncover her face, and walk around the Kaʿbah in a state of beautification—thinking this is an act of worship. Thus, dear brothers, the woman is—by agreement of the scholars—permitted to cover her face in Hajj. And the stronger opinion among the scholars is that she must cover her face during Hajj unless she is among her maḥrams and there are no non-mahram men present, such as in a car or in a tent; in that case, she may uncover her face. https://t.me/womensbenefits/1216