Can A Woman Cover Her Face During Hajj?

Abdul-Qaadir Abdul-Khaaliq
Verily all praise and thanks are due to Allah, we thank Him and praise ask for forgiveness and seek refuge in Him from the evils of ourselves and the wickedness of our deeds. Whoever Allah guides, there is no one who can lead him astray, and whosoever Allah leads astray there is no one who can guide him. I testify that there is nothing deserving of worship in truth except Allah who is Alone and without any partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is the slave servant and final Prophet and Messenger of Allah. Verily the most truthful and correct speech is the Book of Allah and best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). The worst of matters in religion are those newly invented matters and each invented matter is a forbidden innovation and every forbidden innovation is a straying and every straying is in the Fire.

The purpose of this brief article is to clarify what has become an issue of contention for some and one of misunderstanding for others. I have had the opportunity by Allah's Grace to perform the Hajj several times alhamdu lillah. Both before and during the Hajj, the issue of wearing the face veil naturally arose since my wife indeed normally covers her face and of course wanted to be sure of the correctness or incorrectness of doing so during the Hajj. We researched the issue and asked questions of those we knew to be knowledgeable about this issue until we were satisfied with their soundness. I hope to relate what we found and bring forth the proofs for the benefit of others who may also have the same questions. This issue is of course related to the overall question of the legitimacy of the face veil, however that is not the scope of my discussion here. I refer you to the book The Islamic Ruling Regarding Womens Dress According To The Quraan and Sunnah by Abu Bilal Mustafa Al-Kanadi (rahimahullah) for a thorough discussion of this issue or the article The Requirements Of Womens Hijab. Nevertheless, it will be readily seen that covering the face of the woman is indeed established in the practice of the earliest and best of Muslim women during the time of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Introductory Points Before beginning in detail, I would like to state several points: One: There is no doubt that many of the inquiries into the issue of covering the face or wearing a face veil in its various manifestations such as the niqaab, or burqa, or lithaam are sincere inquiries by women or men who seek to practice their religion as correctly as possible without falling into error. It is also doubtless that many of the inquiries are however fueled by a desire to disprove the Islamic veracity of not only covering the face during the Hajj, but in general. Two: The motivation for trying to disprove the veracity of the practice can only be of questionable nature because indeed the seeker of knowledge and truth does not set out to merely disprove what has been established, but rather seeks out the origin and evidence for what may or may not be a correct practice in the Shariah. If such honest research and sound methodology leads a person to conclude that the practice is unsound, having no basis in the Quraan or the Sunnah, they are obligated to teach what is correct and obey it themselves. Three: What we have found many times in the case of a woman covering her face is that even after being presented with evidence establishing its legitimacy, those who do not favor it or who are not inclined toward it turn from these proofs or repeatedly ask the same questions about it over and over seemingly in hopes of somehow finding a way to bolster their position of not covering the face. This may be harmful in several ways: A. One could possibly reject what is a sound proof in the Shariah which could potentially be an act of disbelief. B. They may harm the honor of another Muslim, which is a major sin

C. They may discourage others from what may be a meritorious practice, which is an evil act! Four: Seeking contradictory evidence to support one's position and refute another's is blameworthy, especially if it is he individually merely finds something personally objectionable in that practice! For example, "I don't like it." or "I don't see why sister so-and-so advocates it." etc. This sensitivity is so pervasive in some people that they feel compelled to confront anyone who practices that which they do not.- The practitioner is perceived as "pushing it" on others when they haven't even said a word! Islamic practice should be based upon sound evidence from the Quraan, the -Sunnah, or the consensus of the pious generations and the scholars but not merely because of one's feelings. Five: We find it especially regrettable that many sisters who argue against the practice of covering the face put the cart before the horse by often ignoring more fundamental agreed upon practices of proper covering such as: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Wearing clothing that does not display the body's form or skin beneath it and not exposing the ears, neck, ankles, and bare feet That the dress be loosely fitting That it does not resemble the clothing of men That it is not of bold design or attractive to men That it is not similar to the clothes of the disbelieving women That it is not ostentatious Not wearing make-up or perfume Not flashing jewelry and ornaments before strangers [Again refer to Al-Kanadis treatise]

The Islamic decorum that the general demeanor of the woman should be one of modesty, avoiding loose talk and over aggressiveness and free mixing is unfortunately often ignored by many Muslims. The Evidence On This Topic Dr. V. Abdur Rahim states in his book Hajj, Umrah and Ziyarah: They [womenl should not cover their faces with veils. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Laa tantaqib al mar'ah wa laa talbis al-qafaazain ["A woman (pilgrim) does not cover her face with veil [Lit. niqaab) nor should she wear gloves."] But when she happens to be in the presence of ajnabi men (strangers) she should cover her face. 'Aisha (radiallahu anha) said: Kaana ar-rukbaan yamurroona binaa wa nahnu ma' rasoolillah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam fa haadhoonaa sadalat ihdaanaa jilbaabahaa min r'asihaa 'alaa wajhihaa fa idba jaawazoonaa kashafnaahu. ["Pilgrims were passing by us while we were with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). When they came close to us we would draw our garments from the head to cover the face."] (Reported by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah. Ad-Daruqutni reports a similar hadeeth on the authority of Umm Salama)

After citing the Quraan Chapter 24 Verse 31, Dr. Abdur-Rahman also states: It is noticed that some women wear on their foreheads things made of cardboard or any other material to keep the veils away from their faces. This is a bid'ah (forbidden innovation) as this has not been taught by the Prophet

(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). The proper thing for women to do when in the presence of ajnabi (non-mahrem) men has been explained in Aisha's hadeeth. [pgs. 13 14] Mustafa Al-Kanadi states the following in his book The Islamic Ruling Regarding Women's Dress According To The Quran and Sunnah: The scholars agree that the woman pilgrim can wear a loose, untied piece of cloth that hangs over her face during the Hajj. She is, however, forbidden from affixing a face veil such as those commonly worn at the time, for example, the niqaab and the burqa. [pg. 20] Abdul-Aziz Ibn Baz (rahimahullah) states in the book, A Guide To Hajj and Umrah, and Visiting The Prophet's Mosque: "It is forbidden for a woman to wear gloves on her hands or to cover her face with a face veil (niqaab) or burqa during the state of ihram. However, if male strangers are around her, she should conceal her face with her head covering or something similar." [pg. 35] He also states in the same book, "For a woman, if she is in the presence of other men who are not her immediate relatives like her husband, father, brother, or son then she should cover her face." [pg. 27] And in listing what. is required of the pilgrims he states, "A woman may cover her face with her head covering if she fears that men are looking at her. Many women wear a headband under the veil to keep it away from her face. This action has no basis." [pg. 54] In the chapter, "What Kind Of Clothes A Muhrim Should Wear," Imaam Al-Bukhari reports of Aisha (radiallahu anhaa), "She said that a Muhrimah should not veil her face (up to the eyes) and should not cover it completely; and she should not wear clothes that are scented with wars or saffron..." [pg. 358] I have included this translation in the exact wording given by Dr. Muhsin Khan (hafithahullah) because this may be a source of confusion due to his translation of the hadeeth which reads Wa qaalat laa talatham wa laa tatabarqa. The verbs talatham and tabarqa more exactly refer to wearing a lithaam which is literally a veil covering the lower part of the face below the eyes (basically synonymous with niqaab) which he tries to clarify in parenthesis; and wearing the burqa which he translates "and should not cover completely" which is the most confusing phrase or one used by those who argue against covering the face. A burqa is a long hanging veil from the face leaving the eyes exposed. Dr. Saleh Ibn Al-Fouzan states in his book, Explanation of What a Pilgrim and a Muslim Performing Umrah Should Do: "Women do not have to change into special clothes for ihram, so they enter into ihram on the plane with their regular clothes on. However, they have to take off their yashmaks (another name for the niqaab) and put on veils. Also they have to take off their gloves and cover their hands with their clothes so men do not see them." [pg. 30] In the section, "Things Not Permitted After Entering Into Ihram," he states in point number 7: "For female pilgrims: To wear yashmaks or half-face covers or any stitched material on the face. It is not permitted to wear gloves which are stitched or knitted wool or cotton or any such material." [pg. 30]

In the section, "Errors relating To Practical Hajj Duties" he further states: "In the state of ihram, some women wear turban-like things on their heads or things that raise their face covers so these face covers would not touch their faces. This is wrong. It is a needless exaggeration. There is no tradition to

support it. Aisha (radiallahu anhaa) mentioned that women, while in ihram veiled their faces from men and she does not say that they used turbans or raisers. So there is no harm if a face-cover touches the face." [pg. 85] Sayid Sabiq in Fiqhus-Sunnab states: The scholars, however, say that there is no harm if she covered her face with something other than a veil. She may also use an umbrella as a screen or similar item as a screen between men and herself But if she is afraid of tempting others she must cover her face... 'Ata, Malik, Ath-Thawri. AshShaafi, Ahmad, and Ishaq hold that it is permissible for women to cover their faces in the state ihram. Professor Ahmed Hasan comments on hadeeth #1829 in "The Book Of The Rites Of Hajj" in the collection of Abu Dawud stating, A woman can veil her face when there is a need for it. The scholars suggest that the veil should hang from the head separating itself from the face. But this view does not literally agree with the traditions for the women who veiled their faces could not keep them separate. The veil must have touched the face (Aun al-Mabud, 11/104). [Vol. 2 pg. 484] Under the chapter, "The Tawaf Of Women With Men," found in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Ibn Juraij reports from Ata who was asked, "How did they mix with men (i.e. the women on Hajj)?" Ata said "The women never mixed with the men, and Aisha used to perform Tawaf separately and never mixed with the men. Once it happened that Aisha was performing the Tawaf and a woman said to her, 'O Mother Of Faithful Believers! Let us touch the Black Stone.' Aisha said to her, 'Go yourself.' and refused to do so. The wives of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) used to come out at night in disguise and used to perform Tawaf with the men. But whenever they intended to enter the Kabah they would stay outside until the men had gone out." [Vol. 2 pg. 399, The Book Of Hajj]. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "Shyness (al-hayaa) and eeman (faith) are bound together; if one is raised, so is the other." [Recorded by Al-Hakim.] Ali (radiallahu anhu) said, "It reached me that your women mix freely in the market places with unbelieving men who are strangers to them. Do you have-no sense of dignity? Verily there is no good in any one who has no sense of dignity." [Recorded by Ahmed.] Concluding points What is specifically forbidden during the Hajj in the hadeeth face veils that are tied or flung from the face and not those coverings that hang from the womans khimar (head covering) and fall over her face. 1. 2. The earliest and best of Muslims, led by the Mother Of The Believers Aisha (radiallahu anha), indeed practiced covering their faces during Hajj. It is evident that women wore the face veil and gloves outside the Hajj during the time of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) or there would obviously have been no reason to forbid it in the hadeeth of Aisha (radiallahu anha). The pious women of that time were very careful not to mix with the men even during Hajj. The greatest of the companions of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had a strong sense of modesty and dignity. It is a sign of good eeman in a person to possess the qualities of modesty and shyness. The rationale that because the face veil is forbidden in the Hajj indicates that it should not be worn outside the Hajj is obviously misplaced and incorrect.

3. 4. 5. 6.

Final Comments We should realize that in today's world that is dominated by Western (Un-Islamic) culture and values, people will find such a high degree of modesty and shyness advocated by Islam and adhered to by many Muslims as strange, inhibiting, restrictive, and unnecessary. Merely look at any major news publication here in the so-called developed world and reflect upon the number of wife beatings, rapes, sexual harassment cases, assaults, murders, and other crimes against women in non-Muslim societies. Not to mention the proliferation of a multibillion dollar pornography industry, sexually explicit literature and entertainment, out of control promiscuity, prostitution and child sexual abuse. The commercialization of sex has run rampant in non-Muslim cultures, especially in the United States where you cannot read even a "family paper" without seeing a woman (and recently men) advertising wearing only underwear, a string bikini, or nothing at all, for a myriad of products. With a little reflection we can see that most of this is dependant upon and resultant from the willingness of women to expose themselves after having been successfully trained, conditioned, and convinced to brazenly display the beauty that Allah gave them. Women freely open themselves up to the vilest exploitation in the name of personal freedom, artistic or individual expression and help create a climate where women are largely viewed and judged on the basis of how good they look and how sexy they can be. Women suffer most from poverty, depression, disease and other ailments that are a direct result of their being sexually exploited and not valued as slaves of Allah with minds, hearts and souls. They seek to satisfy the lusts of men or are coerced into doing so, sometimes without even realizing it! How can it be that 10 men can wear the same drab suit and tie and be viewed as absolutely normal and manly while if two women find themselves wearing the same dress one of them feels obligated to run home and change? Why is women's clothing designed to accentuate their figures, expose their legs or breasts, even in the most "professional" setting, in addition to them needing to "make-up" their faces and spend billions of dollars on cosmetics? Conversely, most men are acceptable after just brushing or combing their hair and putting on a suit that exposes practically nothing except their faces and hands and hides their figures?! Are not these common observations enough for you, dear Muslim, to clearly see that Islam is opposite to this nonsense? Is it not clear that the guidance of Allah and His Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), and reliable scholars who are known for their knowledge and piety who have researched the issue, provide a sufficient answer to those women and men who have inquired about the matter of covering the face during Hajj? I ask Allah's forgiveness for me and for you. Ameen. Originally Published Sept. 1994 in Al-Basheer Magazine Revised Safar 1420/May 1999 by the author