Observing Hijab During Hajj

Written by: Shaykh Hafiz Abdul Sattar Al-Hammad (حفظ اللہ)

Arabic Text:

لَا تَنْتَقِبْ الْمَرْأَةُ الْمُحْرِمَةُ، وَلَا تَلْبَسْ الْقُفَّازَيْنِ

“A woman in Ihram should not wear a Niqab (face veil) or gloves.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Jazai al-Sayd: 1838]

Key Points:

  1. Prohibition of Niqab for Women in Ihram:
    • The Hadith prohibits a woman in Ihram from wearing a Niqab, which refers to a specific type of cloth tied over the nose or under the eyes.
    • This does not imply that women in Ihram should leave their faces uncovered in the presence of non-Mahram men.
  2. Mandatory Hijab:
    • Women are instructed to maintain their modesty and avoid any leniency regarding Hijab. The Quran emphasizes:
      “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves their outer garments.”
      [Al-Ahzab: 59]
  3. Significance of Covering the Face:
    • The face is considered the most attractive part of a woman’s body to men. If the face remains uncovered, the essence of Hijab is compromised.
  4. Covering the Face During Ihram:
    • Fatimah bint Munthir reported:

      “While in Ihram, we used to cover our faces, and Asma bint Abi Bakr (رضي الله عنها) was with us.”
      [Mustadrak Hakim, 1/454]
    • Aisha (رضي الله عنها) narrated:

      “We would be in Ihram with the Prophet (ﷺ). When men passed near us, we would lower our garments over our faces. When they moved away, we uncovered our faces.”
      [Sunan Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Manasik: 1833]
  5. Guidance for Women in Ihram:
    • Women should not wear a tied Niqab or gloves while in Ihram. However, they must use a loose cloth or a portion of their garment to cover their faces in the presence of non-Mahram men.

Conclusion:

While women in Ihram are instructed not to wear a tied Niqab or gloves, they are still required to observe proper Hijab. This includes covering the face with a loose garment in the presence of non-Mahram men, ensuring modesty and adherence to Islamic guidelines. Observing Hijab remains obligatory, even during the state of Ihram.
 
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