Woman performing salaah with her niqaab in the presence of non-mahram men
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)
Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.
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Source: Mufti Online — Madrasah Ta'leemuddeen — https://muftionline.co.za/node/32738
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/muftionline-32738
People also ask
Who are a woman's mahrams?
“This is not permissible. If the woman is not your mahram, then this is obviously haraam and if the woman is your mahram e.g. your mother or sister then too this is not permissible and is against the Islamic teachings.”
Mufti Online · 463 fatawa from 6 Darul Iftas on this
What the Darul Iftas sayIs the niqaab (face veil) compulsory?
“It is recorded in the Kitaabs of Fiqh that covering the nose and mouth in Salaah is Makrooh, hence covering the face in Salaah will also be considered as Makrooh.”
Ibn Masood · 407 fatawa from 8 Darul Iftas on this
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