Why should women cover their faces with a Niqaab?
Question
what is the ruling over niqab being wajib and why?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.
As-salaamu `alaykum wa-ramatullahi 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)
And Allah Ta`ala Knows Best.
Hussein Muhammad.
Student Darul Iftaa
Arusha, Tanzania
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
{ يَاأَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا} [الأحزاب: 59]
يغطين رءوسهن ووجوههن إلا عينًا واحدة،
التفسير البسيط (18/ 292)
يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ} [الأحزاب: 59] «أَمَرَ اللَّهُ نِسَاءَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا خَرَجْنَ مِنْ بُيُوتِهِنَّ فِي حَاجَةٍ أَنْ يُغَطِّينَ وُجُوهَهُنَّ مِنْ فَوْقِ رُءُوسِهِنَّ بِالْجَلَابِيبِ،
تفسير الطبري = جامع البيان ط هجر (19/ 181)
- Answered by
- Hussein Muhammad
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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