Islam Question and Answer - Ruling on a woman covering her face when praying because non-mahram men may pass by

Sat 4/4/1431 - 20/3/2010

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Principles of Fiqh » Jurisprudence and Islamic Rulings » Acts of Worship » Prayer » Rulings on prayer
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Ruling on a woman covering her face when praying because non-mahram men may pass by

Is it obligatory to cover the face when praying if there are non-mahram men present or they may pass by, as happens in the Haram? Or is it o.k. to uncover the face?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said:

When a woman is praying her whole body is ‘awrah and she must cover all of her body except her face, if there are no non-mahram men present.

If she is alone or with men who are her mahrams, then she may uncover her face when praying.

But if she is in the presence of non-mahram men, then she should cover her face when praying and at other times, because the face is ‘awrah.

Fataawah al-Mar’ah al-Muslim, 1/315.

See also the answer to question no. 21803 and 1046.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A