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Misusing Hijab which Allaah has ordained does not allow abandoning it

Question

What is the Sharee'ah ruling on wearing a Niqaab? Is it obligatory? What is the proper reaction to the widespread phenomenon of crimes where the perpetrators misuse the Niqaab to conceal their identity? Is there something wrong with women wearing only the Hijaab (covering the hair only)? Many women wear the Hijaab only and are keen on covering their ‘Awrah.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Misuse of the Niqaab, or of whatever has been ordained by Allaah Almighty as a means of concealment, by evil people and criminals does not justify abandoning or dropping it. The correct attitude, however, is for Muslims to commit themselves to these ordainments and resist the corrupted people and criminals.

Using the same logic, neglecting the Niqaab and the consequent exposure of women's faces and breaking the barrier of bashfulness resulted in evil, ripe crimes and the spread of adultery. This is clear to all wise people. Do not these evil consequences justify our opinion that it is obligatory to wear the Sharee'ah-approved Niqaab? This is more likely to lead to the straight path, protect the Muslim community and eliminate the corrupted people and criminals. Following the commands of Sharee'ah has never been a reason behind Muslims' adversities. Rather, abandoning these commands has been the reason behind all these evildoings. Most people, however, know not, so they try to treat the consequences of deviation by opening the door before more dangerous and more harmful forms of deviation.

Allaah Knows best.

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