Hanging the Niqaab Over the Face

Last updated on May 19th, 2025 at 08:43 pm

1. It is not permissible for a woman in the condition of Ihraam to have her niqaab touching her face.
2. In these days, a netted covering is sold which is tied onto the face and the netting remains in front of the eyes. The niqaab should be placed over it. This is permissible.

(Behshti Zewar)

Comment by Khairun Nisa: Due to the excessive crowds in the Haramain during the Haj period, it is extremely difficult for a woman to don a cap with a bill and hang a niqaab over. The senior and devout Muftis have therefore stated that the niqaab be left on the face as one would normally wear it and the prescribed damm be given for the niqaab touching the face.

The reason for adopting this procedure is to minimize the fitnah prevalent in the appalling conditions in the Haramain during the days of Haj and extricate oneself from the flagrant fitnah of intermingling there.

Whilst a cloth touching the face for a woman in Ihraam is a jinaayat, it is a much lessor commission than the face being exposed and the predatory eyes and lustful gazes of the countless of spiritually corrupt males and even females ogling at one.

In some quarters, there have been scaremongering over the predicted scorching temperatures of the Haram this year during Haj, and the scaremongers have ill-advised women to leave their faces open. This highly irresponsible advice is totally unbecoming of men of learning, and it displays plain lack of insight into what transpires in the mass intermingling on what is supposed to be the holiest occasion of a person’s life. To them we say: “The Fire of Jahannam is infinitely more scorching.”

The sacred sites of Haj have been turned into veritable dens of vice and zina due to such shortsighted and corrupt recommendations.

It is waajib in these times for women in Ihraam to keep their niqaabs on their faces to preserve their haya, and even their marriages from collapsing. We seek Allah Ta’ala’s protection. Wallahu Ta’ala A’lam.