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No harm if face-cover touches skin during Ihraam

Question

I wear the Niqaab, and all praise is due to Allaah for this. I want to perform ‘Umrah. I know that there is a difference in opinion among scholars regarding women covering their face in the state of Ihraam. Indeed, you know that there are overcrowding and non-Mahram men. I want that Allaah Covers me and Reveals nothing of my body. What is the sound opinion regarding the face-cover in the state of Ihraam? Am I required to give the compensation if my face-cover touched my face? May Allaah Reward you!

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.

Women are forbidden to cover the face with the Niqaab in the state of Ihraam. But if a woman needed to cover her face before non-Mahram men, she can draw a garment from above her head to cover her face.

According to the preponderant view, there is no harm if that garment touched the woman's face, because it is hard to avoid this. Ibn Qudaamah  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: "The drawn garment mostly touches the complexion and it is hard to avoid this. Had not touching been conditioned, it would have been clarified.

Ibn Taymiyyah  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: "Scholars unanimously agree that it is permissible for a woman to cover her face with something that does not touch the face. If that thing touches the face, the sound view is that this is permissible as well. A woman should not be placed under the hardship of keeping away the cover from the face."

Allaah Knows best.

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