Fatwa #38872 April 2002United Kingdom
Should a woman pray with face covered if men are around?
Question
When a woman is in the state of ehraam, if she covers her face in such a way that the cloth does not touch her face, (1)does she have to keep the veil down during the tawaaf and sai? (2) If she is praying salaah in an open area, and there are na-mehrams present, should she lift her face veil up? (3)can she pray salaah with her veil down? Will the salaah be valid? JazakAllah kair
Answer
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'The Ihraam of a female is
her face (keep the face uncovered) and the Ihraam of a male is her head
(keep the head uncovered).' However, it is advisable for a female to cover
her face during Ihraam in such a way that the cloth does not touch her face.
That is generally practiced by drawing the veil from the petruding front
part of a sun cap.
A female may perform her Tawaaf and Sa'ee with the veil down as explained
above. When performing Salaat with the veil, it (the veil) will touch her
face during Sajdah. Furthermore, it may be difficult to perform Sajdah with
the sun cap, therefore, it is advisable that a female perform her Salaat in
her room or in the female section of the Haram.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
her face (keep the face uncovered) and the Ihraam of a male is her head
(keep the head uncovered).' However, it is advisable for a female to cover
her face during Ihraam in such a way that the cloth does not touch her face.
That is generally practiced by drawing the veil from the petruding front
part of a sun cap.
A female may perform her Tawaaf and Sa'ee with the veil down as explained
above. When performing Salaat with the veil, it (the veil) will touch her
face during Sajdah. Furthermore, it may be difficult to perform Sajdah with
the sun cap, therefore, it is advisable that a female perform her Salaat in
her room or in the female section of the Haram.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai