Umm al-Mu'minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: We were in the state of Ihram with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). When a rider would pass by us, we would let our cloth hang down from our heads, and when the rider had passed, we would lift it up again. 1
Hadith Referenceسنن ابن ماجه / كتاب المناسك / 2935
Hadith Gradingالألبانی:ضعيف | زبیر علی زئی:ضعيف, إسناده ضعيف, سنن أبي داود (1833), انوار الصحيفه، صفحه نمبر 483
Hadith Takhrij«سنن ابی داود/المناسک 34 ( 1833 ) ، ( تحفة الأشراف : 17577 ) ، وقد أخرجہ : مسند احمد ( 6/30 ) ( حسن ) » ( سند میں یزید بن أبی زیاد ضعیف ہیں ، لیکن اسماء رضی اللہ عنہا سے یہ ثابت ہے ، اس لیے اس سے تقویت پاکر یہ حسن ہے ، ملاحظہ ہو : تراجع الألبانی : رقم : 433 )
Brief Explanation
1؎: In the state of ihram, it is prohibited for women to wear a "niqab" on their faces. However, the niqab mentioned in the hadith at that time was such that it was tied directly onto the face. The "niqab" of the current burqas in the Indian subcontinent is like the edge of a shawl, which the noble wives (azwaj mutahharat) used to let hang over their faces when men would pass by (see Hadith number 1833). Therefore, women may let down this type of niqab over their faces when needed.