Written by: Qari Usama bin Abd al-Salam
Is the obligation of Hijab limited only to the face covering (niqab), or does it include complete covering for a woman?
This is an important question. Below is a neutral and research-based answer grounded solely in:
The Qur’an
Authentic Hadiths
The consensus and practice of the Companions
﴿وَقُلْ لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا﴾
(Surah al-Nūr 24:31)
Translation:
"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, guard their modesty, and not display their adornment except what (necessarily) appears thereof."
◈ Imam Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما (Tarjumān al-Qur’an) said:
"إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا" refers to:
"الْوَجْهُ وَالْكَفَّانِ"
"The face and the hands."
(Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī: 18/118)
◈ Imam al-Ṭabarī رحمه الله explained:
The exception refers to that which is generally visible: face and hands.
However, this verse does not explicitly clarify whether covering the face is obligatory or not. For that, Hadith and scholarly consensus provide further clarity.
﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّ﴾
(Surah al-Aḥzāb: 59)
Translation:
"O Prophet! Tell your wives, daughters, and the believing women to draw their cloaks (jalābīb) over themselves."
"تُغَطِّي شَعْرَهَا وَوَجْهَهَا وَصَدْرَهَا"
“She should cover her hair, face, and chest.”
(Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 22/33, al-Durr al-Manthūr)
✔ This directly indicates that the face is among the parts to be covered under the command of jalābīb.
The Prophet ﷺ said to Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr رضي الله عنها:
"يا أسماء، إن المرأة إذا بلغت المحيض، لم يصلح أن يُرى منها إلا هذا وهذا"
And he pointed to his face and hands.
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 4104 – Ḥasan li-ghayrihi)
This indicates that exposing the face and hands was permitted, but it doesn't negate the obligation of niqab in cases of fitnah or general exposure.
"لَا تَنْتَقِبُ الْمَرْأَةُ الْمُحْرِمَةُ وَلَا تَلْبَسُ الْقُفَّازَيْنِ"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1838)
Translation:
A woman in iḥrām must not wear the niqāb or gloves.
✔ This prohibition only exists during iḥrām, which implies that wearing the niqāb was normal practice outside of it.
Unanimous Practice of the Female Companions:
➊ It is consistently reported that the wives and female Companions used to cover their faces in the presence of non-maḥram men.
✔ Scholars like Ibn Ḥajar, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Ibn al-Qayyim confirm this as a form of Ijmaʿ (consensus) in cases of fitnah.
Example: ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها’s Incident (Hadith of Ifk)
She said:
"فَخَمَّرْتُ وَجْهِي بِجِلْبَابِي"
“I immediately covered my face with my cloak.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4750)
✔ This reflects the natural reaction and understood obligation of face covering.
✔ Qur’an: Commands general modesty and includes indications of face covering.
✔ Hadith: Grants conditional permission to uncover the face, but confirms niqab was the norm, and only restricted during iḥrām.
✔ Practice of the Companions: Clear precedent and unanimous practice of covering the face—especially in public or when men are present.
✔ Ijmaʿ of Scholars: The majority of jurists, exegetes, and Hadith scholars agree that niqab becomes obligatory:
◈ When non-maḥram men are present
◈ When there is risk of temptation (fitnah)
◈ When going outside in public places
Final Ruling:
In today’s era of widespread fitnah and public exposure, it is obligatory for a woman to cover her face (wear niqāb) in the presence of non-maḥram men.
This is the position of the four Imams, and the majority of classical scholars.
والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question
Is the obligation of Hijab limited only to the face covering (niqab), or does it include complete covering for a woman?
This is an important question. Below is a neutral and research-based answer grounded solely in:
The Qur’an Authentic Hadiths The consensus and practice of the Companions
1. Evidence from the Qur’an
Surah al-Nūr – Verse 31
﴿وَقُلْ لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا﴾
(Surah al-Nūr 24:31)
Translation:
"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, guard their modesty, and not display their adornment except what (necessarily) appears thereof."
Tafsir of the Verse by Scholars
◈ Imam Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما (Tarjumān al-Qur’an) said:
"إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا" refers to:
"الْوَجْهُ وَالْكَفَّانِ"
"The face and the hands."
(Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī: 18/118)
◈ Imam al-Ṭabarī رحمه الله explained:
The exception refers to that which is generally visible: face and hands.
However, this verse does not explicitly clarify whether covering the face is obligatory or not. For that, Hadith and scholarly consensus provide further clarity. 2. Surah al-Aḥzāb – Verse 59
﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّ﴾
(Surah al-Aḥzāb: 59)
Translation:
"O Prophet! Tell your wives, daughters, and the believing women to draw their cloaks (jalābīb) over themselves."
Tafsir of Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:
"تُغَطِّي شَعْرَهَا وَوَجْهَهَا وَصَدْرَهَا"
“She should cover her hair, face, and chest.”
(Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 22/33, al-Durr al-Manthūr)
✔ This directly indicates that the face is among the parts to be covered under the command of jalābīb.
3. Evidence from Authentic Hadiths
Hadith 1 – ʿĀʾishah bint Abī Bakr and the Age of Puberty
The Prophet ﷺ said to Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr رضي الله عنها:
"يا أسماء، إن المرأة إذا بلغت المحيض، لم يصلح أن يُرى منها إلا هذا وهذا"
And he pointed to his face and hands.
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 4104 – Ḥasan li-ghayrihi)
This indicates that exposing the face and hands was permitted, but it doesn't negate the obligation of niqab in cases of fitnah or general exposure. Hadith 2 – Prohibition of Niqab in Iḥrām
"لَا تَنْتَقِبُ الْمَرْأَةُ الْمُحْرِمَةُ وَلَا تَلْبَسُ الْقُفَّازَيْنِ"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1838)
Translation:
A woman in iḥrām must not wear the niqāb or gloves.
✔ This prohibition only exists during iḥrām, which implies that wearing the niqāb was normal practice outside of it.
4. Ijmāʿ (Consensus) and Practice of the Ṣaḥābah
Unanimous Practice of the Female Companions:➊ It is consistently reported that the wives and female Companions used to cover their faces in the presence of non-maḥram men.
✔ Scholars like Ibn Ḥajar, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Ibn al-Qayyim confirm this as a form of Ijmaʿ (consensus) in cases of fitnah.
Example: ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها’s Incident (Hadith of Ifk)She said:
"فَخَمَّرْتُ وَجْهِي بِجِلْبَابِي"
“I immediately covered my face with my cloak.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4750)
✔ This reflects the natural reaction and understood obligation of face covering.
Summary & Conclusion
✔ Qur’an: Commands general modesty and includes indications of face covering.
✔ Hadith: Grants conditional permission to uncover the face, but confirms niqab was the norm, and only restricted during iḥrām.
✔ Practice of the Companions: Clear precedent and unanimous practice of covering the face—especially in public or when men are present.
✔ Ijmaʿ of Scholars: The majority of jurists, exegetes, and Hadith scholars agree that niqab becomes obligatory:
◈ When non-maḥram men are present
◈ When there is risk of temptation (fitnah)
◈ When going outside in public places
Final Ruling:In today’s era of widespread fitnah and public exposure, it is obligatory for a woman to cover her face (wear niqāb) in the presence of non-maḥram men.
This is the position of the four Imams, and the majority of classical scholars.
والله أعلم بالصواب