The Ruling Of Niqaab (The Veil)

Introduction to the Veil

Evil has always been in existence. In religions of the past, evil deeds were always prohibited. However, whatever was associated to it (i.e. those things which are the means of reaching evil) was not prohibited. In the pure religion of Islam, being the religion that will remain until the last day, evil deeds are prohibited as well as those acts that are the means of reaching that evil.

Islam demands purity of mankind in every form, whether pertaining to beliefs, actions or thoughts. The practical expression of this is found in the principle explained above, demanding that man distances himself from evil as much as possible. For example, Islam prohibited the drinking of liquor. Therefore, it is also prohibited to manufacture, purchase, sell, transport and deliver liquor due to the fact that these actions may lead one to the evil of consuming liquor. Likewise, Islam has prohibited interest. Therefore, it has also prohibited any transaction involving interest. Furthermore, Islam has prohibited idol worship and has defined it as a major evil of the highest degree which is not even worthy of forgiveness if one dies as an idolator. Thus, prayer at sunrise, sunset and midday have been prohibited to avoid emulation with the fire worshippers. Similarly, statues and photography of animate objects are also prohibited due to it being a means of leading to idol worship. Yes, the degree of prohibition is in accordance to the danger level of the means.

In a similar fashion, Islam has prohibited adultery. Thus, all such actions that lead an individual to adultery have also been prohibited as has been proclaimed in the Quran-Majeed:

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَا إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا.

“And come not close to unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily it is a shameful act and an evil way.”
[17:32]

Hence, all such acts that take an individual close to adultery have been classified as adultery:
Rasulullah (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) has said:

قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ عَلَى ابْنِ آدَمَ حَظَّهُ مِنْ الزِّنَا أَدْرَكَ ذَلِكَ لَا مَحَالَةَ فَزِنَا الْعَيْنِ النَّظَرُ وَزِنَا النِّسَانِ الْمَنْطِقُ وَالنَّفْسُ تَمَنَّى وَتَشْتَهِي وَالْفَرْجُ يُصَدِّقُ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ وَيُكَذِّبُهُ

“The adultery of the eyes is to see, the adultery of the tongue is to speak, the adultery of the ears is to listen, the adultery of the hands is to hold, the adultery of the legs is to walk towards evil, and the soul wishes and desires and the private parts either confirm it or deny it.”
[Bukhari & Muslim]

Now, coming to your actual question: The Hijaab/veil is legitimately defined as the dress/apparel that covers the entire whole body of a woman including her head, face, etc. It should be long, loose and plain not defining her shape. The veil has been prescribed for women to block the road to sins such as adultery. Allah Ta’ala states,

وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ

“And they should draw their veils over their bosoms.”
[17:32]

Legal Status of the Veil

As for the legal status of Niqaab, the ruling of covering the face for all Muslim women is mentioned
in Surah Al-Ahzab:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

O Nabee (SallAllahu Alayhi Wassallam)! “Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. cover 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 Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
[Quran 33: 59]

Where there is an Ayah that clearly states the ruling of covering the face, there is no need to present any Ahadith. However, to further clarify that this Ayah in indeed talking about covering the face, we present the Tafseer of Sahabah and Mufassireen who have clearly stated that the above Ayah
commands covering of the face:

عن ابن عباس: أمر الله نساء المؤمنين إذا خرجن من بيوتهن في حاجة أن يغطين وجوههن من فوق رؤوسهن بالجلابيب، ويبدين عينا واحدة .
(تفسير ابن كثير، ٤٨٣/٣ ، المفيد)

Ibn Abbas (RadhiAllahu Anhu) narrates: Allah Ta’ala ordered the wives of the believers that, if they leave their homes for a necessary reason they should cover their faces from over their heads with their cloaks leaving one eye open (to enable them to see their way).

قال محمد بن سيرين سألت عبيدة السلماني عن قول الله تعالى : { يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ } ، فغطى وجهه ورأسه وأبرز عينه اليسرى.
(تفسير ابن كثير، ٤٨٣/٣ ، المفيد)

Mohammed ibn Sireen (RahmatuAllah Alayh) says: “I asked Ubaidata as-Salmani (RahmatuAllah Alayh) about “to draw their cloaks over their bodies”. So he covered his face and head leaving only his left eye uncovered.”

قال السدي : تغطي إحدى عينيها وجبهتها والشق الآخر إلا العين .
(البحر المحيط، ٥٠٤/٨، دار الفكر)

Imam Suddi (RahmatuAllah Alayh) says: “She should cover one of her eyes, her forehead, and the other half of the face leaving one eye uncovered.”

قال ابن عباس ، وقتادة : وذلك أن تلويه فوق الجبين وتشده ، ثم تعطفه على الأنف ، وإن ظهرت عيناها ، لكنه يستر الصدر ومعظم الوجه .
(البحر المحيط، ٥٠٤/٨ ، دار الفكر)

Ibn Abbas and Qtadah (RadiAllahu Anhuma) say: “It is to wrap it (their cloaks) above the forehead and tie it, and then wrap it over the nose so that her eyes are visible. However, it should conceal the chest and majority of the face.”

قال أبو حيان : وقوله تعالى : { يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ } ، شامل لجميع أجسادهن ، أو المراد بقوله : (عليهن) أي على وجوههن ، لأن الذي كان يبدو منهن في الجاهلية هو الوجه
(البحر المحيط، ٥٠٤/٨، دار الفكر)

Ibn Abbas and Qtadah (RadiAllahu Anhuma) say: “It is to wrap it (their cloaks) above the forehead and tie it, and then wrap it over the nose so that her eyes are visible. However, it should conceal the chest and majority of the face.”

قال أبو حيان : وقوله تعالى : { يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ } ، شامل لجميع أجسادهن ، أو المراد بقوله : (عليهن) أي على وجوههن ، لأن الذي كان يبدو منهن في الجاهلية هو الوجه
(البحر المحيط، ٥٠٤/٨ ، دار الفكر)

Abu Hayyan (RahmatuAllah Alayh) says: The verse, ”To draw their cloaks over their bodies”, means their entire bodies; or the meaning of, “over them”, means over their faces. Since the part of their bodies that was uncovered at the time of ignorance was in fact the face.

قال أبو السعود : معنى الآية : أي يغطين بها وجوههن وأبدانهن إذا برزن لداعية من الدواعي
(روائع البيان، ٣٥٨، العصرية)

Abu as-Saud (RahmatuAllah Alayh) says: “The meaning of the Ayah is, to cover with them (the cloaks) their faces and bodies when they went out (of their homes) for a need.

قال أبو بكر الرازي : في هذه الآية دلالة على ان المرأة الشابة مأمورة بستر وجهها عن الأجنبيين وإظهار الستر والعفاف عند الخروج.
(أحكام القرآن للجصاص، ٤٨٦/٣ ، العلمية)

Abu as-Saud (RahmatuAllah Alayh) says: “The meaning of the Ayah is, to cover with them (the cloaks) their faces and bodies when they went out (of their homes) for a need.

The above mentioned Tafseer clearly show that Allah Ta’ala has ordered the believing women to cover their faces in front of strange men (non-Mahram).

According to Imam Abu Hanifa (Rahmatullah Alaih), the face and palms are excluded from Hijab but the condition is there should be no fear of Fitnah. The Hanafi jurists have said due to the immorality of times and weakness of resistance, it is compulsory for a female to cover her face which is the focus of her beauty. According to Imam Shafie, Imam Malik and Imam Ahmed (Rahmatullah Alaihim), it is not permissible for a lady to expose her face and palms whether there is danger of Fitnah or not.

In summary, the ruling of concealing the face is an issue quite often brushed away as something of no importance. Whereas in reality, it is an issue which deserves and was given great importance at the time of Rasulullah (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam). The female companions (Radhiyallahu Anhunna) of Rasulullah (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) took such great care of concealing their entire bodies, so much so that after a battle, a Sahabiyyah (Radhiyallahu Anha) came to Rasulullah (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) looking for her son who had gone missing. Seeing her fully covered and concealed at such a stressful time, the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu Anhum) were truly amazed and expressed their amazement to her. Upon which she exclaimed, “I have lost my son, not my modesty.” Such was the modesty of the Sahabiyyaat (Radhiyallahu Anhunna).

The Purpose of Veiling

The purpose of veiling is to safeguard woman from the biased looks of men and provide her a pure atmosphere at home so that she can perform her household duties properly and contribute to improving the whole society as Allah states,

وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَى

“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the former times of ignorance.”
[33:33]

History shows that the children who were brought up by their mothers in observance of the social values and religious obligations, later became the leaders of the nation. They admitted that the credit of their booming career goes to their mothers who bestowed on them the qualities of sincerity, faithfulness, honesty, self-reliance and social service; and encouraged them to continue their education.

Veiling gives an esteemed position to women and protects them from sexual harassment by people. On the other hand, a woman, who displays her beauty and wears tight, short and transparent clothes, attracts men towards her. Consequently, they try to exploit her sexually using all possible techniques. Sometimes, a woman also becomes weak and surrenders herself to the lust of men.

Veiling provides security to women and promotes a pure atmosphere in the society. But those who consider themselves as modern people consider it a disgrace and construe it as shackles for the woman.

The Rationale of Veiling

Woman is Allah’s beautiful creation. On one hand, she satisfies man’s sexual desires and on the other hand, she plays a significant role in the growth of the human generations. No doubt, a woman has a great attraction for a man. Due to this attraction, it is feared he will indulge in sins. Therefore, Allah has forbidden man strictly from fornication and adultery. He has also forbidden a woman from exhibiting her charm. Regarding make-up and perfume, it is permissible for women to wear them in front of her husband and closely related members of the family as Allah states,

وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ

‘They will not reveal their adornment except to their husband or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women.’
[24:31]

The first verse regarding veil was revealed in Madina. Allah Ta’ala states,

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا .

‘O Nabee (SallAllahu Alayhi Wassallam)! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (except eyes to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed.’ [33:59]

Generally, the veiling covers the whole body including the head, face, bosom, etc. But in the absence of men, it is permissible for a woman to uncover her face as narrated by Aaisha (Radhiyallahu Anha), ‘Some riders passed by us while we were with Allah’s Messenger (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) in the state of ritual consecration. When they came face to face, one of us let down her cloak (veil) from her head on her face and when they preceded us, we uncovered it.’ [Abu Dawud]

The Advantages of Veiling

The veiling system contains a number of advantages particularly in a society where the rape, sexual molestation and disrespect of woman are very common. Some of them are listed below:

1. Reward for practising upon Quran and Sunnah.

2. Veiling is a protection for Muslim women against the behavior of the wicked and evil.

3. It is an identify of the Muslim that distinguishes her.

4. It gives her an honored position in the society.

5. It acts as a barrier between men and women to keep them away from sins.

6. It is a means for observing chastity of woman.

7. It awakens the fear of Allah in the heart of man and woman and saves them from falling in the abyss of evil.

8. It teaches man to respect the veiled woman, provide her protection from the curious persons and ensure the uplift of the high morals and social values in the society.

The Disadvantages of Unveiling

Due to mixing up with the non-Muslims, particularly, in the countries where the Muslims are in minority, the practice of unveiling has become a regular feature. But it is very harmful for the Muslim society. Unveiling has a number of disadvantages. Some of them are listed below:

1. It is a violation of the Quran and Hadith.

2. It shows woman’s weakness in belief.

3. It is a cause of temptation for men and women.

4. It strips off her modesty that is an integral part of faith as Rasulluah (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, ‘Modesty is part of Imaan.’ [Al-Bukhari]

5. It subjects her to sexual harassment.

6. It hurts her dignity and feelings and it stains her chastity.

7. It prompts woman to take part in commercial advertisements and films as a showpiece and a source of enjoyment for the viewers.

Recommendations

Here are some recommendations that must be adhered to by a veiled woman when going out. They are as follows:

Veiling is the tradition of Muslim women. Since its prescription, the Nabee’s Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam wives, daughters and other believing Muslim women have strictly observed it. Today also, the Muslim ladies must keep it up. The veiled woman must understand the rationale of veiling and fulfill its requirements.

1. She must avoid wearing perfume and showing her finery in any way.

2. She must not be encouraging while dealing with men at the time of need.

3. She must be harsh in voice and avoid speaking softly, because it can be misconstrued as an invitation to strangers.

4. She must not stamp her feet letting her anklets tinkle or any other action that calls attention towards her.

5. She must be careful and reserved in her motions and even in looks while walking outside.

In conclusion, it is a fact that the life of the world is nothing but superficiality while the actual life is the life of the Hereafter where everyone will be rewarded for their deeds. The righteous will enjoy Allah’s pleasure. All blessings will be at their disposal. While the sinners and transgressors will be doomed to punishment that cannot be imagined. The evidence from the Quran and Hadith confirm that Allah’s punishment will be severe.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon them to be chaste and veiling is a must for woman. However, she can uncover her face in the presence of the people who are closely related (Mahram) to her. She can freely move in front of the men in her common dress that has been prescribed in the pleasure and comfort of her home.

It is the face from which the brands of beauty gush forth, passions are stirred up and the lusts are excited. The woman is thus bound to veil her hair, face, etc. according to the teachings of Islam. As a matter of fact, the charm of woman is incorporated in her personality and dress. So, Allah has ordered woman to draw cloaks and hide her beauty from the strangers and distant relatives (non-Mahram).