Is there Ijma (scholarly consensus) on covering the face (Niqab).

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

It is not correct to say that there is Ijma (scholarly consensus) on the obligation of Niqab (the face veil). Rather the opposite has been narrated. Namely, some scholars have said that there is Ijma that women are not required to cover their faces.

Explanation

عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، أَنَّ امْرَأَةً جَاءَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ جِئْتُ لِأَهَبَ لَكَ نَفْسِي، فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَصَعَّدَ النَّظَرَ إِلَيْهَا وَصَوَّبَهُ، ثُمَّ طَأْطَأَ رَأْسَهُ، فَلَمَّا رَأَتِ المَرْأَةُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَقْضِ فِيهَا شَيْئًا جَلَسَتْ، فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ، فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَكَ بِهَا حَاجَةٌ فَزَوِّجْنِيهَا،

Sahl bin Sa`d narrated that a lady came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: Messenger of Allah ﷺ I have come to you to offer myself to you. He ﷺ raised his gaze and looked at her and then lowered his head. When the lady saw that he ﷺ did not make a pronouncement regarding her she sat down. Then a man from his ﷺ companions stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, if you are not in need of this woman, then marry her to me. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5030).

There is an abundance of evidence from Quran and Sunnah to prove that women did not used to cover their faces in the era of the Prophet ﷺ. This does not mean that all women uncovered their faces, but it seems many did. This makes the claim of Ijma on Niqab being obligatory improbable. Ijma (scholarly consensus) tends to occur when something is unequivocal in Quran and Sunnah.

Rather Ijma to the contrary has been claimed.  Namely, the permissibility of women not covering their faces. It is important for one to be cautious when it comes to claims of Ijma. Such claims are often found to be erroneous when scrutinised. Imam al-Ayni commented on the Hadith above, and clearly understands that the lady had not covered her face.

فِيهِ: دَلِيل على جَوَاز النّظر للمتزوج وتكراره، والتأمل فِي محاسنها، فهم ذَلِك من قَوْله: فَصَعدَ النّظر إِلَيْهَا وَصَوَّبَهُ. وَأما النظرة الأولى فمباحة للْجَمِيع. (عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري)

In it is evidence for the permissibility of looking at a potential spouse repeatedly and contemplating her beauty. This is understood from his saying: He ﷺ raised his gaze and looked at her and then lowered his head. As for the first glance, it is permissible for everyone. (Imam Badr al-Deen al-Ayni 855H, Umdatu al-Qari)

Ijma against

As mentioned above, claims of Ijma need to be scrutinised. And they are usually found to be unsubstantiated upon scrutiny. In our case, some people have claimed that there is Ijma on Niqab being obligatory. Not only does this claim fail upon scrutiny, but we have major Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah claiming the opposite.

حُكِيَ مِنَ الْإِجْمَاعِ عَلَى أَنَّ لِلنِّسَاءِ أَنْ يَخْرُجْنَ سَافِرَاتِ الْوُجُوهِ وَعَلَى الرِّجَالِ الْغَضُّ، أَمَّا أَوَّلًا فَذَاكَ لِحَاجَةِ الْمَشَقَّةِ فِي سَتْرِ الْوَجْهِ فِي الطُّرُقَاتِ، وَأَمَا ثَانِيًا فَهَذَا يُتَسَامَحُ فِيهِ مَا لَا يُتَسَامَحُ بِهِ فِي ذَلِكَ ; لِأَنَّ وَجْهَ الْمَرْأَةِ لَيْسَ بِعَوْرَةٍ، وَلِذَا أَبَاحَ النَّظَرَ لَهُ مَعَ أَمْنِ الْفِتْنَةِ كَثِيرُونَ بِخِلَافِ الْعَوْرَةِ الْكُبْرَى. (مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح)

It has been narrated that there is consensus (Ijma) that women can go out with uncovered faces. And it is upon men to lower their gazes. Firstly, this is due to the difficulty in covering the face in the roads. Secondly, this is overlooked. Whereas that is not overlooked. Since the face of a woman is not Awrah. Which is why many permitted looking at it in the absence of Fitnah (temptation), as opposed to major Awrah. (Imam Ali al-Qari 1014H, Mirqaat al-Mafateeh).

النَّوَوِيَّ نَقَلَ أَنَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ قَالُوا لَا يَجِبُ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ سَتْرُ وَجْهِهَا فِي طَرِيقِهَا، بَلْ يَجِبُ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ الْغَضُّ. قَالَ: وَظَاهِرُهُ نَقْلُ الْإِجْمَاعِ. وَاعْتَرَضَهُ فِي النَّهْرِ بِأَنَّ الْمُرَادَ عُلَمَاءُ مَذْهَبِهِ. قُلْت: يُؤَيِّدُهُ مَا سَمِعْته مِنْ تَصْرِيحِ عُلَمَائِنَا بِالْوُجُوبِ وَالنَّهْيِ. (رد المحتار)

(Imam) al-Nawawi narrated that the scholars said it is not obligatory (Wajib) upon a woman to cover her face on the road. Rather it is obligatory for men to lower their gazes. He said: It appears to be a narration of Ijma (consensus). He objected to this in al-Nahr, saying that he meant the scholars of his Madhab. I say: This is supported by what I heard from our scholars regarding its obligation and prohibition. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtaar).

The above narration is mentioned by Imam al-Nawawi in his commentary on Sahih Muslim, he is narrating it from Qadi Iyad. Thus, we have major Imams, one  from the Maliki Madhab and another one from the Shafi Madhab alluding to scholarly agreement upon the fact that the face veil (Niqab) is not obligatory.

قَالَ الْقَاضِي قَالَ الْعُلَمَاءُ وَفِي هَذَا حُجَّةٌ أنه لا يجب على المرأة أن تستر وجهها فِي طَرِيقِهَا وَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ سُنَّةٌ مُسْتَحَبَّةٌ لَهَا وَيَجِبُ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ غَضُّ الْبَصَرِ عَنْهَا فِي جميع الأحوال. (المنهاج شرح صحيح مسلم بن الحجاج)

Al- Qadi said: The scholars said, there is evidence in this that it is not obligatory for a woman to cover her face whilst on the road. Rather that is a recommended Sunnah for her. And it is obligatory for men to lower their gaze from her in all circumstances. (Imam al-Nawawi 676H, Sharh Sahih Muslim).

Later Hanafis

Usually we find later Hanafi scholars inclining towards the face veil being obligatory. However, Imam Ibn Nujaym cited the above and reiterated the potential Ijma on Niqab not being obligatory. Then he went on to assert that it is more appropriate for a woman to refrain from uncovering the face. He seemed to negate the obligation of Niqab.

وَظَاهِرُهُ نَقْلُ الْإِجْمَاعِ فَيَكُونُ مَعْنَى مَا فِي الْفَتَاوَى لَا يَنْبَغِي كَشْفُهَا. (البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق)

It appears to be the narration of consensus (Ijma). So the meaning of what is in al-Fatawa is that it is not appropriate for her to unveil (her face). (Imam Zayn al-Deen Ibn Nujaym 970H, al-Bahr al-Raiq).

 

The above seems to be close to the position Imam Ibn Humam has narrated in Fath al-Qadeer. Namely, it is recommended to cover the face but not obligatory. However, if a woman in Ihram covers her face then she must do so in a manner that keeps the veil from touching the face.

قَالُوا: وَالْمُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ تَسْدِلَ عَلَى وَجْهِهَا شَيْئًا وَتُجَافِيَهُ. (فتح القدير)

They said: It is recommended for her to drape something over her face. But keep it away (from touching the face). (Imam Ibn Humam 861H, Fath al-Qadeer).

Conclusion

The claim of Ijma on Niqab being obligatory is clearly an error. Rather we have senior Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah alluding to the opposite. Namely, Ijma that Muslim women are not obliged to cover their faces. However, this is unlikely to be upheld upon scrutiny. Many claims of Ijma fall short when scrutinised.

The face veil should never be undermined. Sisters who wear it, are engaged in a great act of devotion and that must be respected. Many of those scholars who claimed Ijma upon the Niqab not being obligatory, recognised that it is recommended.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (07.07.24)