Woman performing salaah with her niqaab in the presence of non-mahram men

· 17 Rabiʻ I 1443 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

Is a woman allowed to perform salaah with her niqaab covering her face in the presence of non-mahram men?

Answer

Women should perform their salaah with their faces uncovered in a place where they will be protected from the gazes of non-mahram men. However, if for some valid reason, they are in an environment where non-mahram men are present and they have to perform their salaah (e.g. they are performing their salaah in the airport while travelling), then due to the circumstance, they should cover their faces while performing salaah.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

(و) الرابع (ستر عورته) ووجوبه عام ولو في الخلوة على الصحيح إلا لغرض صحيح ... (وللحرة) ولو خنثى (جميع بدنها) حتى شعرها النازل في الأصح (خلا الوجه والكفين) فظهر الكف عورة على المذهب (والقدمين) على المعتمد وصوتها على الراجح وذراعيها على المرجوح (وتمنع) المرأة الشابة (من كشف الوجه بين رجال) لا لأنه عورة بل (لخوف الفتنة)

قال العلامة ابن عابدين رحمه الله: (قوله وتمنع المرأة إلخ) أي تنهى عنه وإن لم يكن عورة (قوله بل لخوف الفتنة) أي الفجور بها قاموس أو الشهوة والمعنى تمنع من الكشف لخوف أن يرى الرجال وجهها فتقع الفتنة لأنه مع الكشف قد يقع النظر إليها بشهوة (رد المحتار 1/406)

كتاب النوازل 5/529

Answered by
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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