Should women their faces when leaving the house?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

As-salaamu `alaykum wa-rahmatullahi wa-barakatuh.

It is compulsory for women to cover their faces in front of ghair mahram males. This is understood from the following

Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur`an;

Translation: “Messenger! Tell your wives, your daughters and the wives of the believers that they should draw their “Jilbaab” over themselves. This is best for their recognition Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful”.(Sura Ahzaab, Verse 59)

In the above referred verse the commentators of the Qur`an explain;

Translation: “They should cover their heads and faces except one eye”.

(At-tafseer al-baseet. Vol 18, Pg 292).

Translation: “Allah has commanded the wives of the believers to cover their faces from the top of their heads with a cloak (Jilbaab) when they leave their homes due to some need”.

(Tafseer Tabari. Vol 19, Pg 181)

You may refer to Fatwa #28588 for more detail.

And Allah Ta`ala Knows Best.

Hussein Muhammad.

Student Darul Iftaa

Arusha, Tanzania

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.