Is it Permissible to Pray with Niqab On?
Posted by fatwa on Mar 28, 2011 in Covering Awrah (Nakedness), Featured, Salah | 10 comments
Question:
Is it permissible for a woman to cover her face during Salah? I accept the position of the school, but can you please provide an evidence for this? It is a question that has surfaced in our community and a clear evidence would really help me keep some problems from developing
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
It is disliked [makruh] for a woman to pray wearing niqab [a face covering], except for when she is praying in the company of others who might look at her face. In this instance, it is impermissible for her to lift her niqab. Khatib Shirbini stated,
ويكره أن يصلي…والمرأة منتقبة إلا أن يكون في مكان وهناك أجانب لا يحترزون عن النظر إليها فلا يجوز لها رفع النقاب
“It is disliked when he prays…and the woman wearing niqab, except for when in a place where there are strange men who do not guard their gazes; then, it is not permissible for her to lift her niqab.” (Iqna’ 2/111)
The disliked nature of a woman wearing niqab in prayer (and in tawaf according to some) is related from various Tabi’in, like Hasan al-Basri, Tawus, and Jabir b. Zayd. (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 2/347-48) Hafiz Busayri related that Aishah did make tawaf wearing niqab. (Ithaf al-Khayrat al-Maharah 3/201) Ibn Abd al-Barr related a consensus [ijma] that a woman does not need to pray with her face veiled. (Tamhid 6/365)
In light of the above, a woman does not need to pray with her face veiled, and it is disliked. If a woman fears that she will be peeped at by strange onlookers, then she should keep her face covered.
And Allah the Exalted knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.
Salamu aleykum
Doesn’t she have to put a part of her forehead on the ground? If, yes then it should be mentioned that she can wear niqab, but that she has to pull it down a little in order for a part of the forehead to be bare during her sujud.
Salaam Abbe,
From my own experience, the Niqab is not worn from the forehead. The one that I don and what is commonly worn in the Arab world is the one worn below the eyes, its a rectangular cloth worn across the face but not from the forehead. I wear this type of Niqab when I pray during religious classes & there’s no barrier that screens us women, so far I have no problem with what you mentioned….Allah knows best
Nora Saad – Malaysia
Imam Taqiyud-Din Al-Hisni Al-Husayni also mentions this in his Kifayatul-Akhyar saying:
“And it is makrūh (hated) that one makes Salāh in a garment with pictures on it, and that a woman wear niqāb, unless she is in the masjid and in it are men who are ajānib, and they are not caring about looking, so if she fears that they are looking at her, it is harām for her to lift the niqāb, and this happens in a lot of places such as the going to Bayt Al Maqdis…” [Kifāyatul Akhyār 1/181]
Perhaps Abbe is talking about the Burqa’ that is found in Afghanistan?
Also, the Nabi Muhammad (saaws) did not have a barrier in his Masjid Sister Nora, and yet the women prayed behind the men.
was-salam
Abul Layth
Salamu aleykum
I was thinking about this kind of niqab that is quite common in Yemen:
http://niqab.de/post/168847104
Salaam,
That is true but unlike the Prophet’s time where the women almost remained concealed and unseen, even when they entered & left the mosque would be in the state of being “unknown” – the situation in Malaysia is different that it loathes any true believer to witness it…that if the Prophet was alive he would have forbade us women from going to mosques; the women do not observe proper Hijaab except for the wives & daughters of religious scholars I know, they adorn themselves by wearing bright multi-coloured clothes with bold designs, not to mention make-up & cosmetics including perfumes, they dress like this both to Masjid & the graves despite the advice given by local scholars, & the men are not careful at looking, so the situations are totally different, our robes & niqaabs (for some) can no longer protect us, can’t we at least have the liberty to have the rest of our dignity protected by this screen/barrier? A lot of things did not happen/took place in the Prophet’s time but that doesn’t mean exigencies that befall the ummah should be disregarded due to unprecedented cases.
may Allah preserve this sister by her hayaa.
you mentioned the bright colourd clothes. does the sharia speak up against bright colours or is a cultural thing.
Brother Abdoeragmaan,
Thank you for your support & prayer. I don’t have the exact references but in the religious classes here, our ustazahs taught us to adorn ourselves with sobriety both in our actions & clothing. We are taught in not to draw attentions to ourselves like raising our voices, talking in melodious tone, clothes that will attract attentions and fall under “tabarruj” such as bright solid colours of red & other bold hues (shocking pink, vivid orange, etc)…I can’t remember the exact books but we were shown excerpts that specifically mentioned this issue….I think its either Ibn Hajar’s Fatawa or Zawajir…and also Imam Zahabi’s book on.. enormities, plus I read abt its prohibition in Ar-Razi’s Tafsir with saying goes back to Ibn Abbas….I have to double check and let you know….
Salamu ‘alaykum,
It is true that A’ishah (radiya Allahu ‘anha), even in her own times, claimed that if the Prophet Muhammad had seen how the women behaved after his passing, He would have forbade women from going to the masjid.
However, this is her opinion. The fact of the matter is our Prophet Muhammad (saaws) knew good and well that women would be dressing the way they were today – as he foretold such to occur before the end of time. Yet, He (saaws) still stated, “Do not forbid the handmaidens of Allah from the Masjids of Allah!” [Bukhari]
Though I do understand such sentiment against the ‘western’ style of dress, and Women’s ill conduct, I believe that our Prophet (saaws) knew good and well such would occur, and that He (saaws) saw that these women would only benefit by coming to the masajid, hopefully reinvigorating their thirst for gnosis and attachment to their Lord.
I remind myself and others that we are a religion of mercy, compassion and kindness. We should not look down on people for their lack in religious implementation. Our Prophet said, “Allah is Ar-Rafeeq (kind, loving), and He loves kindness in all matters” and He (saaws) also said, “Arrogance (kibr) is rejection of the truth and looking down upon the people.” It could very well be that the those seeking their Lord will one day be made the opposite and the one they criticize will be made righteous.
We should remember that in practicing the Divine law, we should not look down with disdain upon those who are irreligious, but treat them as our Prophet instructed – with kindness and mercy.
was-salam
Subhanallah
Assalamualaikum,
The condition of the lack of knowledge is particularly acute in China, and since the only place Islamic knowledge can be taught with government consent is in the Masjids, this is really an insight to the reason why women were given the choice of being able to go to the masjids.
And Allah knows best.
Wasalaam
Nadia