I just found this answer pretty intriguing for me, especially knowing the weakness of the hadith of being allowed to show face and hands... Anyways, this is the answer to a question of what islamic hijab is on the website www.islamswomen.com. I am reposting the answer only. To read the full article go to http://www.islamswomen.com/qa/question.php?qid=1173
The Islamic hijab is for the women to cover everything that is forbidden for her to expose. That is, she covers everything that she must cover. The first of those bodily parts that she must cover is her face. It is the source of temptation and the source of people desiring her. Therefore, the woman must cover her face in front of those men that are not mahram. As for those of who claim that the Islamic hijab is to cover the head, shoulders, back, feet, shin and forearms while allowing her to uncover her face and hands, this is a very amazing claim. This is because it is well-known that the source of temptation and looking is the face. How can one say that the Shariah does not allow the exposure of the foot of the woman while it allows her to uncover her face? It is not possible that there could be in the Esteemed, Wise and Noble Shariah a contradiction. Yet everyone knows that the temptation from uncovering the face is much greater than the temptation that results from the uncovering of the feet. Everyone also knows that the most sought after aspect of the woman for men is the face. If you told a prospective groom that a woman's face is ugly but her feet are beautiful, he would not propose to such a woman. However, if you told him that her face was beautiful but her hands, palms, or shins were less than beautiful, he would still propose to her. From this one can conclude that the face is the first thing that must be covered. There are also evidences from the Book of Allah and the sunnah of our Prophet (peace be upon him). There are also statements from the Companions, the leading Imams and the great scholars of Islam that indicate that it is obligatory for the woman to cover all of her body in the presence of non-mahram men. This obviously indicates that it is obligatory upon the woman to cover her face in front of such men. However, this is not the place to quote all those authorities. And Allah knows best.
Shaikh ibn Uthaimin
Hrmm. Interesting. Well, there's an alternative (yet strong) position in the Shafi'i school that says face and hands, so we should all be aware that this isn't the only option, although many more conservative shuyukh try to present it as such.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'd like to know (At the writer of the answer/article) to present the strong evidences from the Qur'an because even the scholars say it is atleast mustahaab. (I mean the Quran says 'except that which is apparent' -the face is pretty apparent and so are the hands) I don't wear niqab, and personally never will, but I do think that any muslimah who wants to should and masha'Allah for her.
ReplyDeleteFreedom of choice from that which is permissible and I feel that hijab and jilbab is still just as good.