Is the face of a woman Awrah in Islam?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له ومن يضلل فلا هادي له. أشهد أن لا .إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ

Today I want to analyse evidences from the Quran and Sunnah with the insight of the Salaf proving the obligation of the Niqaab, as it seems a lot of modernists and so called reformists have been pushing the idea that the face, hands and feet of a woman are not ʿAwrah. A detailed refutation to them will be provided today إن شاء الله تعالى.

Opinion of the Four Madhaahib.

• The Madhab of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal رحمه الله – States the following:
  • The face, hands and feet are Awrah. Down to the single nail. – (٢٢/١١٠) مجموع الفتاوى لابن تيمية
• The Madhab of Imam Ash-Shafi’i رحمه الله – States the following:
  • The face is Awrah, and so are the palms. – إجماع الشافعي
• The Madhab of Imam Malik رحمه الله – States the following:
  • The face, hands and feet are Awrah. Down to the single nail. – (٢٢/١١٠) مجموع الفتاوى لابن تيمية
• The Madhab of Abu Hanifah رحمه الله – States the following:
  • The face and hands are Awrah in times of Fitnah (this applies to todays time) – إجماع الشافعي

From the opinions of the four renowned Imams (may Allah have mercy on them), we observe a clear consensus regarding the face being ʿAwrah. Is this not sufficient evidence for this sound opinion?

However, the people of desire will continue to argue over plain truth, deeming the Niqab unsuitable for this ‘modern’ society. They forsake the Sunnah of the Sahabah to imitate some prostitutes? Subhan’Allah. Evidence from the Quran and Sunnah will be presented to refute them, إن شاء الله تعالى.”

Words of the Scholars رحمهم الله

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

“… It seems that the view of Ahmad is that every part of her is ‘awrah, even her nails, and this is also the view of Maalik.”

– مجموع الفتاوى، المجلد ٢٢، الصفحات ١١٠

To look at a woman, just as it is prohibited for her to look at him, is prohibited, and the former is stronger. However, if he is a spouse, there is absolutely no ‘awrah. This is based on the Almighty’s statement: “Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed.” [Quran 23:6].

As for the ‘awrah of a woman in relation to a man, according to the correct opinion, her entire body is ‘awrah. This is the school of thought of the Shafi’is and the Hanbalis. Imam Ahmad explicitly stated this, saying: “Everything about a woman is ‘awrah, even her fingernails.”

– إجماع الإمام أحمد والشافعي

As for the ‘awrah concerning looking at a woman, Ibn Hibban holds the view that the prevalent opinion from Ahmad’s statements is that a woman’s entire body is ‘awrah, even her fingernails. Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Muflih mentioned in Al-Mubdi’ (1/362): “A free, adult woman’s entire body is ‘awrah, even her fingernails.” Ibn Hibban mentioned that this was the well-known opinion. Al-Qadi, basing his argument on Ahmad’s explicit statement and the hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that “a woman is ‘awrah,” concurs. End of the statement.

– إجماع الإمام أحمد

Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:

“Allaah commands women to let the jilbaab come down (over their faces) so that they will be known (as respectable women) and not be annoyed or disturbed. This evidence supports the first opinion. ‘Ubaydah al-Salmaani and others stated that the women used to wear the jilbaab coming down from the top of their heads in such a manner that nothing could be seen except their eyes, so that they could see where they were going. It was proven in al-Saheeh that the woman in ihraam is forbidden to wear the niqaab and gloves. This is what proves that the niqaab and gloves were known among women who were not in ihraam. This implies that they covered their faces and hands.”

– مجموع الفتاوى، المجلد ١٥، الصفحات ٣٧١-٣٧٢

Evidence from the Quran and Sunnah

There is plenty of evidence from the Quran and Sunnah which supports the view of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama’ah, here are some stated إن شاء الله تعالى.

ALLAH تعالى says:

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”Suratul Ahzaab 33:59

ALLAH تعالى says:

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)…”Surah An-Noor 24:31

Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:

“With regard to the phrase ‘and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent’, ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: the adornment which is apparent is the garment, because the word zeenah (adornment) was originally a name for the clothes and jewellery, as we see in the verses in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

‘Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes)’

[al-A’raaf 7:31]

‘Say (O Muhammad): Who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allaah, which He has produced for His slaves’

[al-A’raaf 7:32]

‘And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment’

[al-Noor 24:31]

Ahmad said: the adornment which is apparent is the clothing. And he said: every part of a woman is ‘awrah, even her nails. It was narrated in the hadeeth, ‘The woman is ‘awrah,’ This includes all of the woman. It is not makrooh to cover the hands during prayer, so they are part of the ‘awrah, just like the feet. Analogy implies that the face would be ‘awrah were it not for the fact that necessity dictates that it should be uncovered during prayer, unlike the hands.”Sharh al-‘Umdah, 4/267-268.

It was narrated that ‘Aa’isha said:

“The riders used to pass by us when we were with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in ihraam. When they came near, each of us would lower her jilbaab from her head over her face, and when they passed by we would uncover (our faces).”

• It is well known that a woman should not put anything over her face when she is in ihraam, but ‘Aa’ishah and the Sahaabiyaat (women of the Sahaabah) who were with her used to lower part of their garments over their faces because the obligation to cover the face when non-mahrams pass by is stronger than the obligation to uncover the face when in ihraam.

Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1833; Ahmad, 24067 – Shaykh al-Albaani said in Jilbaab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah (107): its isnaad is hasan because of the existence of corroborating reports.

It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said:

“May Allaah have mercy on the women of the Muhaajireen. When Allah revealed the words (interpretation of the meaning)

‘and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)…”

[al-Noor 24:31], they tore their aprons and covered their faces with them.”Narrated by Al-Bukhaari, 4480

After all this evidence that has been presented to you, I now expect you to accept this rock solid proof. If you do otherwise, then you are an innovator بإذن الله تعالى. I ask Allah to open your heart, and mine.

If you found this beneficial, then I sincerely ask you to keep me in your Dua’a. Any good I said is from Allah, and any wrong I said is from me and Islam is free from it.

ALLAH سبحانه و تعالى says in [Al-Baqarah, Ayah 147]: “The truth is from your Lord, so never be among the doubters”.

.السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ