Question
Assalamualaikum. Please advise what do I do in this situation. I am a 28 year old mother of a 3 year old and a 1 year old. I\’ve been married for the past 5 years. I have been wearing the niqaab for the past 2 years, it was not my choice. My husband forced me to wear it, he constantly reminded me to put it on when leaving the house. Recently I decided to stop wearing it as I felt I was wearing it out of fear and for the wrong reason. Ever since I stopped wearing it my husband has been bullying and belittling me, he says I indulge in haram, I am a sinner, I am immodest, I make shaitan happy and I am going backwards in life. He doesn\’t allow me out of the house anymore. I always wear loose abayas and fully cover my hair with hijab. Please advise. JazakAllah
Answer
Generally women are allowed to keep the face open and uncovered, but in today’s age it is advisable to put on niqaab when going out. Also respecting husband’s wishes is rewardable in Islam, so if you are doing something which is permissible and recommended with an intention to please husband, you will get rewarded for that. It is not allowed for non mehram’s or strangers to look at your face, and you by putting on niqaab will be helping them in that, which is a good thing.
As you have been wearing hijaab in the past, it is advisable that you continue doing that. However, husband’s calling this act as haraam is not supported by any evidence. Majority of the scholars are of the opinion that face is not part of the awrah that needs to be hidden, and if someone kept it open it will be permissible.
واللہ تعالیٰ ورسولہ الکریم ﷺ اعلم بالصواب
Written by: Mufti Syed Siraj Ul Arifeen Shah
St. Ives (Cambridgeshire, UK)
03/10/2024 15:38, 29 Rabi ul Awwal, 1446 Hijri
