The Ruling on a Woman Praying While Wearing a Niqab and Gloves

Taken from: Fatawa Arkan al-Islam

Question:​

Can a woman perform Salah while wearing a niqab (face veil) and gloves?

Answer:​

Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!

When Praying in the Presence of Only Mahram Men or in Private​

• If a woman is at home or in a place where only her mahram men are present and there are no non-mahram men, she should keep her face and hands uncovered during Salah.
• This is so that she can place her forehead, nose, and hands directly on the ground during sujūd.

When Non-Mahram Men are Present​

• If a woman is in a place where non-mahram men can see her, then covering the face becomes obligatory during Salah, because exposing the face in front of them is not permissible.
• The obligation to cover the face in front of non-mahrams is proven from the Qur’an, Sunnah, and sound reasoning, and cannot be disregarded by any believer or person of sound intellect.

Wearing Gloves in Salah​

❀ It is permissible for a woman to wear gloves during Salah.
❀ Evidence suggests that the female Companions (رضي الله عنهن) used to wear gloves.


Proof: The Prophet ﷺ said:


«لَا تَنْتَقِبِ الْمُحْرِمَةُ وَلَا تَلْبَسِ الْقُفَّازَيْنِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Jazāʾ aṣ-Ṣayd, ḥadīth: 1838)


Meaning:
"A woman in ihram should not wear a niqab or gloves."

• This indicates that in normal circumstances women used to wear gloves, hence the prohibition in ihram.
• Therefore, if a woman prays wearing gloves, there is no harm—especially when praying in a place where non-mahram men are present.

How to Cover the Face During Salah​

❀ When standing or sitting in Salah, she should cover her face if non-mahrams are present.
❀ When going into sujūd, she should uncover her face so that her forehead touches the ground.


ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب