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Am I sinful or accountable if my wife does not wear the niqab?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

A woman must cover her face and hands in times when people's religious commitment deteriorates and unlawful gazes become widespread. This is an obligation agreed upon by all jurists. The husband must command his wife to cover her face and assist her in doing so. If the wife does not comply, she is considered disobedient (nashiz), and she can be dealt with according to the verse: "As for those [wives] from whom you fear defiance, admonish them, forsake them in beds, and strike them. But if they obey you, do not seek a way against them." It is advisable to be patient and pray for her guidance. A woman's uncovering of her face leads to men looking at her, and this gaze may involve enjoying the woman, which is an exclusive right of her husband. It is as if she has disposed of this right unlawfully, in addition to disobeying her husband's command.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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