FatwaFederal TerritoriesDress, Awrah & Adornment
AL-KAFI #247 : PERSOALAN TENTANG NIQAB
What is the ruling on women wearing the niqab, and is it true that it is a Jewish custom?
Short answer
A woman's obligatory awrah is her whole body except the face and the palms.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Dress, Awrah & Adornment
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
A woman's obligatory awrah is her whole body except the face and the palms. If a woman fears temptation, she may cover her face to protect herself and her honour. Describing the niqab categorically as a Jewish custom is inaccurate, since Aisha covered her face when meeting the Prophet's companions. The niqab is neither obligatory nor rejected, and moderation is advised while covering the awrah that is agreed upon.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Jika seseorang wanita itu bimbang kepada fitnah, maka boleh menutup wajahnya untuk menjaga dirinya.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #247 : PERSOALAN TENTANG NIQAB”, 14 April 2016. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/1386-al-kafi-247-persoalan-tentang-niqab. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-women-wearing-the-niqab/