10 Clear Proofs Why the Muslim Face Veil Is Not Compulsory
C.J Ahmed-14.03.2023
Wearing the Niqab or the Burqa is not a must for a Muslim woman. There are many beliefs among Muslims on Islam which are wrongly understood and practiced today. These beliefs have steeped so much that many Muslim brothers and sisters have made it hard upon themselves on practicing Islam which in fact has been given as an ease and mercy by Allah (swt).
The wearing of the face veil or in other words the Niqab thinking that it is wajib is one such erroneous belief. This erroneous view has brought a lot of hardships to women if the circumstance involves being forced to wear them. There are a lot of Muslims who think that it is haram to uncover the face in front of non mahram men. Some heretics try to bring in wrong fatwa’s given by the Ulama-us-Sunnah namely sheikh bin Baz, Uthaymin and such. Let me refute these erroneous beliefs by giving 17 strong points so as it would be helpful for the one who is seeking the true knowledge.
Proof-1-Explaining the Hadith Forbidding Women from Covering Their Faces in Ihram
Some even try to quote the below hadith to prove that covering the face is wajib.
The prophet (sal) said; "the Muhrima (a woman in the state of Ihram) should not cover her face, or wear gloves.” (Sahih Bukhari)
This hadith has nothing to do with the face covering being wajib. The prophet (sal) forbade the face covering because some women did cover their faces. Covering the face is Mustahab (allowed) and that is why the prophet (sal) specifically forbade women from covering their faces and hands when in ihram.
Proof-2-Aisha (rali)’s Actions Are Not a Sunnah
`Āishah (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated, “While I was sitting, I fell asleep. Ṣafwān bin al-Mu`aṭṭal al-Salami al-Dhakwānī, who had lagged the army, came to where I was. He saw the body of a person who was asleep. He recognized me when he saw me as he had seen me before [the mandating of hijab. I awoke when he recited, ‘Innā lillahi wa innā ilayhi rāji`ūn’ after recognizing me. I then covered my face with my Jilbaab.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Proof-3-Asma (rali) was told only to cover the Head
There are several hadiths which prove that the face veil for women is not wajib (obligatory).
Narrated by al-Waleed from Sa’eed Ibn Basheer from Qataadah from Khalid Ibn Durayk from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), that Asma’ bint Abi Bakr entered upon the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wearing a thin dress. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) turned away from her and said, “O Asma’, when a woman reaches the age of puberty, nothing should be seen of her except this and this” – and he pointed to his face and hands. (Abu Dawud-authenticated by Albani using collaborating reports)
This authentic hadith is clear evidence that the face veil is not wajib.
Some scholars try to give the impression of the hadith that it was narrated before the revealing of the Quran verse 33:53. This argument has no basis because there is no evidence to prove this. Surah 33: verse 53 has nothing to do as explained above with the covering of the face being wajib. There is no evidence whatsoever to prove that this hadith itself was narrated before the revelation of verse no: 53 of Surah 33.
Proof-4-Hadith of a Woman Who Had a Dark Spot
Once while the Prophet (pbuh) was admonishing and preaching to a group of women after having admonished the men on the Id day, “...a woman having a dark spot on her cheek stood up...” seeking clarification on the subject the Prophet was discussing. (Sahih Muslim)
From the above hadith it is evident that the woman was not covering her face and if it was an obligation, the prophet (sal) would have told her to cover her face.
Proof-5-Hadith of the Prophet (sal) Looking at a Woman Who Proposed
In a long hadith Narrated by Sahl b. Sa`d as-Saa`idee (rali): A women came to the Prophet (Sallallaahu `alayhi Wasallam) and said:
“O Allaah’s Messenger, I have come to offer myself in marriage to you.” So Allaah’s Messenger (Sallallaahu `alayhi Wasallam) looked her up and down carefully. After that he lowered his head. When the woman saw that he had not decided anything regarding her, she sat down. Then a man from his Companions stood and said: “O Messenger of Allaah, if you have no need for her marry her to me.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
This hadith clearly proves that a lady had come to the gathering un-covering her face. If it was wajib, the prophet (sal) would have commanded her to cover her face.
Proof-6-The Hadith of the Beautiful Woman Who Came To Pray In the Mosque
Ibn Abbas (rali) narrated:
"A beautiful woman, from among the most beautiful of women, used to pray behind the Prophet. Some of the people used to go to pray in the first row to ensure they would not be able to see her. Others would pray in the last row of the men, and they would look from underneath their armpits [in rukoo’ and sujood] to see her. Because of this act, in regard to her, Allah revealed,
“Verily we know the eager among you to be first, and verily we know the eager among you to be behind.” (Qur’an 15: 24)"
(Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Tayalisi, Baihaqi, Ahmad, Tirmidhi, and Nasai and it are judged sahih by Albani. He includes it as no-2472 in his Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Sahih)
In this hadith it is very clear that women used to come uncovered in the mosques and the men used to look at this beautiful lady. Even in such a scenario the prophet (sal) never told her that she should cover her face unlike foolish Muslims nowadays who give the wrong reason that women should cover their faces if the it is causing fitna. Some try to use logic t disapprove the uncovering of the face by saying that the women’s face is the most beautiful thing in her. This argument is wrong in two angles.
Nowhere does the Quran or the authentic hadiths state that the women’s face is the most beautiful thing in her. Beauty is relative. For one person beauty could mean the face and for another it could mean sin colour and for another person it could mean something different. Based on this simple fact it is clear that trying to force fit one opinion on beauty by stating that the face is the most beautiful thing is nothing but a fabricated argument to legitimize the extreme view that the face is the most beautiful thing n a woman.
Proof-7-The Hadith of Fadl Ibn Abbas (rali) Looking at a Beautiful Woman
During the day of Nahr (10th Dhul-Hijjah), when Al-Fadl bin ‘Abbas was riding behind the Prophet on his she -camel, “...a beautiful woman from the tribe of Khath’am came, asking the verdict of Allah’s Messenger. Al-Fadl started looking at her as her beauty attracted him. The Prophet looked behind while Al-Fadl was looking at her; so the Prophet held out his hand backwards and caught the chin of Al-Fadl and turned his face (to the other side) in order that he should not gaze at her...” (Sahih Bukhari)
The above hadith clearly shows that when Fadl bin Abbas (rali) started looking at a beautiful girl who came to ask for a verdict from the prophet (sal), the prophet (sal) did not tell the girl to cover her face. Instead, he turned away fadl's face. If it was an obligation for women to cover their faces, the prophet (sal) would have ordered this young woman to cover her face.
Proof-8-Explanation of verse 31 of Surah 24
Allah (swt) says:
And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof... (24:31)
When Ibn Abbas (RA), the leading commentator of the Qur’an was asked about the verse mentioned above as to what it meant, he replied, “It refers to the face and hands”.
(Collected by Ibn Abee Shay bah in al-Musannaf, Vol. 3, p. 540 & 541, hadith no. 16997 & 17012 and al-Baihaqi in Sunan al- Kubraa. Al-Albani ruled in Jilbaab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah, pp 59-60, that the isnad of this statement is sahih.)
Proof 9-Wrongly Misquoted Evidence from the Quran
Some try to prove the point of the face veil being obligatory by quoting the below verse.
Allah says:
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known so as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”
(Al-Ahzab 33:59)
The above verse is wrongly interpreted as "Al idna" to mean covering the face. This meaning is totally wrong because the real meaning is not covering the face. It is "to come close"
Ar-Raaghib al-Asbahaanee mentions in his authoritative dictionary ‘Al-Mufradaat’.Some people claim that Jilbaab is “a garment which covers the face”. This too is a misinterpretation as it is contrary to the interpretation of the leading scholars of past and present as well, who define Jilbaab as a garment which women drape over their head scarves (khimaar). The Khimaar is not the face veil as wrongly interpreted by some. According to all the available authentic narrations and the authentic Arabic dictionary"Lisan-Al-Arab" it is clear that the "Khimaar" is only the head scarf. The next point will clarify this even further.
Proof-10-The Actions of Sahaba Cannot Be Taken As Evidence
The verse in surah Ahzab is also interpreted wrongly using the below hadith to prove that the face veil is wajib. The hadith is as follows;
"It was narrated from Safiyyah bint Shaybah that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) used to say: When these words were revealed “and to draw their veils all over faces” they took their Izars (a kind of garment) and tore them from the edges and covered their faces with them".
(Narrated by Bukhari and Abu Dawud).
Firstly, the above verse as to be understood according to how the prophet (sal) understood it. There is no authentic evidence from the prophet (sal) making it an obligation for the women to cover their face. On the contrary, there is ample evidence to prove that covering the face is not an obligation. Sheikh Nasir ud deen Al Albani in his masterpiece"Raad-ul-Mufhim" clearly refutes this wrong notion by quoting an authentic hadith from Ibn `Abbas that he said in explanation of it: “She draws the Jilbaab towards her face, but she does not pull it upon it.”
This was reported by Abu Dawud in his Masaa.il and whatever contradicts it is either ‘Shadh’ (contrary to the authentic reports), or unauthentic (daif).
So, from the understanding of the Quran scholar among the sahaba Ibn Abbas (rali), it is evident that covering the face from the understanding of the sahabah was not wajib.
The above narration of women covering their faces when the verse was revealed. “And to draw their veils all over faces”they took their Izars (a kind of garment) and tore them from the edges and Covered their faces with them" is only a hadith talking about some women covering their faces and was not based on the prophet (sal)'s explanation. The actions of the sahaba cannot be used as evidence to prove that wearing the Niqab is wajib. The above hadith cannot be taken as evidence to prove that covering the face is obligatory because we must only take the evidence from the Quran and the sahih hadith and there is no authentic evidence to prove that we must follow the sahabah. We must only stick to the Understanding of the sahabah and not follow them. It is evident from the understanding of Ibn Abbas (rali), who is a scholar among the companions that it is not an obligation to cover the face.
Conclusion
There is no authentic evidence to prove that covering the face is a must and the face veil is not mandatory in Islam.
Wearing the Niqab or the Burqa is not a must for a Muslim woman. There are many beliefs among Muslims on Islam which are wrongly understood and practiced today. These beliefs have steeped so much that many Muslim brothers and sisters have made it hard upon themselves on practicing Islam which in fact has been given as an ease and mercy by Allah (swt).
The wearing of the face veil or in other words the Niqab thinking that it is wajib is one such erroneous belief. This erroneous view has brought a lot of hardships to women if the circumstance involves being forced to wear them. There are a lot of Muslims who think that it is haram to uncover the face in front of non mahram men. Some heretics try to bring in wrong fatwa’s given by the Ulama-us-Sunnah namely sheikh bin Baz, Uthaymin and such. Let me refute these erroneous beliefs by giving 17 strong points so as it would be helpful for the one who is seeking the true knowledge.
Proof-1-Explaining the Hadith Forbidding Women from Covering Their Faces in Ihram
Some even try to quote the below hadith to prove that covering the face is wajib.
The prophet (sal) said; "the Muhrima (a woman in the state of Ihram) should not cover her face, or wear gloves.” (Sahih Bukhari)
This hadith has nothing to do with the face covering being wajib. The prophet (sal) forbade the face covering because some women did cover their faces. Covering the face is Mustahab (allowed) and that is why the prophet (sal) specifically forbade women from covering their faces and hands when in ihram.
Proof-2-Aisha (rali)’s Actions Are Not a Sunnah
`Āishah (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated, “While I was sitting, I fell asleep. Ṣafwān bin al-Mu`aṭṭal al-Salami al-Dhakwānī, who had lagged the army, came to where I was. He saw the body of a person who was asleep. He recognized me when he saw me as he had seen me before [the mandating of hijab. I awoke when he recited, ‘Innā lillahi wa innā ilayhi rāji`ūn’ after recognizing me. I then covered my face with my Jilbaab.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Proof-3-Asma (rali) was told only to cover the Head
There are several hadiths which prove that the face veil for women is not wajib (obligatory).
Narrated by al-Waleed from Sa’eed Ibn Basheer from Qataadah from Khalid Ibn Durayk from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), that Asma’ bint Abi Bakr entered upon the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wearing a thin dress. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) turned away from her and said, “O Asma’, when a woman reaches the age of puberty, nothing should be seen of her except this and this” – and he pointed to his face and hands. (Abu Dawud-authenticated by Albani using collaborating reports)
This authentic hadith is clear evidence that the face veil is not wajib.
Some scholars try to give the impression of the hadith that it was narrated before the revealing of the Quran verse 33:53. This argument has no basis because there is no evidence to prove this. Surah 33: verse 53 has nothing to do as explained above with the covering of the face being wajib. There is no evidence whatsoever to prove that this hadith itself was narrated before the revelation of verse no: 53 of Surah 33.
Proof-4-Hadith of a Woman Who Had a Dark Spot
Once while the Prophet (pbuh) was admonishing and preaching to a group of women after having admonished the men on the Id day, “...a woman having a dark spot on her cheek stood up...” seeking clarification on the subject the Prophet was discussing. (Sahih Muslim)
From the above hadith it is evident that the woman was not covering her face and if it was an obligation, the prophet (sal) would have told her to cover her face.
Proof-5-Hadith of the Prophet (sal) Looking at a Woman Who Proposed
In a long hadith Narrated by Sahl b. Sa`d as-Saa`idee (rali): A women came to the Prophet (Sallallaahu `alayhi Wasallam) and said:
“O Allaah’s Messenger, I have come to offer myself in marriage to you.” So Allaah’s Messenger (Sallallaahu `alayhi Wasallam) looked her up and down carefully. After that he lowered his head. When the woman saw that he had not decided anything regarding her, she sat down. Then a man from his Companions stood and said: “O Messenger of Allaah, if you have no need for her marry her to me.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
This hadith clearly proves that a lady had come to the gathering un-covering her face. If it was wajib, the prophet (sal) would have commanded her to cover her face.
Proof-6-The Hadith of the Beautiful Woman Who Came To Pray In the Mosque
Ibn Abbas (rali) narrated:
"A beautiful woman, from among the most beautiful of women, used to pray behind the Prophet. Some of the people used to go to pray in the first row to ensure they would not be able to see her. Others would pray in the last row of the men, and they would look from underneath their armpits [in rukoo’ and sujood] to see her. Because of this act, in regard to her, Allah revealed,
“Verily we know the eager among you to be first, and verily we know the eager among you to be behind.” (Qur’an 15: 24)"
(Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Tayalisi, Baihaqi, Ahmad, Tirmidhi, and Nasai and it are judged sahih by Albani. He includes it as no-2472 in his Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Sahih)
In this hadith it is very clear that women used to come uncovered in the mosques and the men used to look at this beautiful lady. Even in such a scenario the prophet (sal) never told her that she should cover her face unlike foolish Muslims nowadays who give the wrong reason that women should cover their faces if the it is causing fitna. Some try to use logic t disapprove the uncovering of the face by saying that the women’s face is the most beautiful thing in her. This argument is wrong in two angles.
Nowhere does the Quran or the authentic hadiths state that the women’s face is the most beautiful thing in her. Beauty is relative. For one person beauty could mean the face and for another it could mean sin colour and for another person it could mean something different. Based on this simple fact it is clear that trying to force fit one opinion on beauty by stating that the face is the most beautiful thing is nothing but a fabricated argument to legitimize the extreme view that the face is the most beautiful thing n a woman.
Proof-7-The Hadith of Fadl Ibn Abbas (rali) Looking at a Beautiful Woman
During the day of Nahr (10th Dhul-Hijjah), when Al-Fadl bin ‘Abbas was riding behind the Prophet on his she -camel, “...a beautiful woman from the tribe of Khath’am came, asking the verdict of Allah’s Messenger. Al-Fadl started looking at her as her beauty attracted him. The Prophet looked behind while Al-Fadl was looking at her; so the Prophet held out his hand backwards and caught the chin of Al-Fadl and turned his face (to the other side) in order that he should not gaze at her...” (Sahih Bukhari)
The above hadith clearly shows that when Fadl bin Abbas (rali) started looking at a beautiful girl who came to ask for a verdict from the prophet (sal), the prophet (sal) did not tell the girl to cover her face. Instead, he turned away fadl's face. If it was an obligation for women to cover their faces, the prophet (sal) would have ordered this young woman to cover her face.
Proof-8-Explanation of verse 31 of Surah 24
Allah (swt) says:
And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof... (24:31)
When Ibn Abbas (RA), the leading commentator of the Qur’an was asked about the verse mentioned above as to what it meant, he replied, “It refers to the face and hands”.
(Collected by Ibn Abee Shay bah in al-Musannaf, Vol. 3, p. 540 & 541, hadith no. 16997 & 17012 and al-Baihaqi in Sunan al- Kubraa. Al-Albani ruled in Jilbaab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah, pp 59-60, that the isnad of this statement is sahih.)
Proof 9-Wrongly Misquoted Evidence from the Quran
Some try to prove the point of the face veil being obligatory by quoting the below verse.
Allah says:
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known so as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”
(Al-Ahzab 33:59)
The above verse is wrongly interpreted as "Al idna" to mean covering the face. This meaning is totally wrong because the real meaning is not covering the face. It is "to come close"
Ar-Raaghib al-Asbahaanee mentions in his authoritative dictionary ‘Al-Mufradaat’.Some people claim that Jilbaab is “a garment which covers the face”. This too is a misinterpretation as it is contrary to the interpretation of the leading scholars of past and present as well, who define Jilbaab as a garment which women drape over their head scarves (khimaar). The Khimaar is not the face veil as wrongly interpreted by some. According to all the available authentic narrations and the authentic Arabic dictionary"Lisan-Al-Arab" it is clear that the "Khimaar" is only the head scarf. The next point will clarify this even further.
Proof-10-The Actions of Sahaba Cannot Be Taken As Evidence
The verse in surah Ahzab is also interpreted wrongly using the below hadith to prove that the face veil is wajib. The hadith is as follows;
"It was narrated from Safiyyah bint Shaybah that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) used to say: When these words were revealed “and to draw their veils all over faces” they took their Izars (a kind of garment) and tore them from the edges and covered their faces with them".
(Narrated by Bukhari and Abu Dawud).
Firstly, the above verse as to be understood according to how the prophet (sal) understood it. There is no authentic evidence from the prophet (sal) making it an obligation for the women to cover their face. On the contrary, there is ample evidence to prove that covering the face is not an obligation. Sheikh Nasir ud deen Al Albani in his masterpiece"Raad-ul-Mufhim" clearly refutes this wrong notion by quoting an authentic hadith from Ibn `Abbas that he said in explanation of it: “She draws the Jilbaab towards her face, but she does not pull it upon it.”
This was reported by Abu Dawud in his Masaa.il and whatever contradicts it is either ‘Shadh’ (contrary to the authentic reports), or unauthentic (daif).
So, from the understanding of the Quran scholar among the sahaba Ibn Abbas (rali), it is evident that covering the face from the understanding of the sahabah was not wajib.
The above narration of women covering their faces when the verse was revealed. “And to draw their veils all over faces”they took their Izars (a kind of garment) and tore them from the edges and Covered their faces with them" is only a hadith talking about some women covering their faces and was not based on the prophet (sal)'s explanation. The actions of the sahaba cannot be used as evidence to prove that wearing the Niqab is wajib. The above hadith cannot be taken as evidence to prove that covering the face is obligatory because we must only take the evidence from the Quran and the sahih hadith and there is no authentic evidence to prove that we must follow the sahabah. We must only stick to the Understanding of the sahabah and not follow them. It is evident from the understanding of Ibn Abbas (rali), who is a scholar among the companions that it is not an obligation to cover the face.
Conclusion
There is no authentic evidence to prove that covering the face is a must and the face veil is not mandatory in Islam.