Why is it impermissible for a woman in ihram to cover her face with a niqab, as long as she is required to cover it with something else?

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade a woman in a state of ihram from wearing the niqab and gloves, because these are garments tailored to the shape of the face and hands. This does not mean that she should not cover them at all.

For this reason, women in a state of ihram during the time of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to cover their faces with something other than the niqab when foreign men passed by. This is similar to the prohibition for a man in a state of ihram from wearing a shirt and trousers; he does not remain naked, but rather covers his body with an izar (loincloth) and a rida’ (cloak).

Scholars have unanimously agreed that a woman should cover her face and hands with something other than the niqab and gloves, such as lowering her khimar (head covering) over her face or covering her hands with her abaya.