Fatwa #2890412 April 2014South Africa
Is it compulsory for women to observe the hijab when they go outside?
Question
i have heard you say it is wajib for a women to cover face when outside. if it is not fard, then does that mean she is not obligated to cover her face or is it still an obligation?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Fardh and Wajib both imply obligation. The difference between the two is on a technical issue in the definition in which the degree of obligation in Fardh is more absolute than in Wajib.[1]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Muhammad Haris Siddiqui
Student Darul Iftaa
Melbourne, Australia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[1] "الفرع الأول – في بيان الفرض...و حكمه: لزوم اعتقاده و العمل به، و استحقاق فاعله الثواب و تاركه العقاب." (المذهب الحنفي ص.289 – مكتبة الرشد)
"الفرع الثاني – في بيان الواجب...و حكمه: اللزوم عملا لا اعتقادا، و استحقاق فاعله الثواب و تاركه العقاب دون عقاب الفرض" (المذهب الحنفي ص.292 – مكتبة الرشد).