FatwaSarawakDress, Awrah & Adornment
Kemusykilan Agama
Is it sinful for a woman who has worn the niqab for a long time to stop wearing it, and what are the rulings on adding an extra rak'ah in prayer and missing the first rak'ah of Friday prayer?
Short answer
According to the majority of Shafi'i scholars, a woman's awrah before unrelated men is her whole body except the face and both palms, so removing the niqab is not a sin.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Sarawak State Mufti Department
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad (Koleksi Kemusykilan Agama)
- Topic
- Dress, Awrah & Adornment
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
According to the majority of Shafi'i scholars, a woman's awrah before unrelated men is her whole body except the face and both palms, so removing the niqab is not a sin. Comparing it to a woman uncovering her hair is an inaccurate analogy, since hair is clearly awrah. A person who realises they have added an extra rak'ah must sit at once for the final tashahhud if not yet performed, then it is recommended to perform the prostration of forgetfulness before the salam. A follower who joins the imam only after the ruku' of the second rak'ah of Friday prayer has missed Friday prayer and completes it as the four-rak'ah Zuhr prayer.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Oleh yang demikian, dapatlah difahami bahawa muka bukanlah aurat yang wajib ditutup dan membukanya bukanlah merupakan suatu dosa.
Read the full fatwa on the Sarawak website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Sarawak State Mufti Department. “Kemusykilan Agama”, 2 October 2023. https://muftinegeri.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/irsyad_list/#2023-10-02-kemusykilan-agama. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/niqab-extra-rakaah-friday-prayer-rulings/