What is the legal ruling regarding a Muslim female doctor residing in Canada uncovering her face, while wearing the niqab, for work and study purposes, to avoid dismissal from the hospital and to preserve the opportunity for study and specialization, and is there a previous fatwa in this regard?
It is permissible for a female student to uncover her face for the study of anesthesia if she cannot pursue the specialization in a country that does not require uncovering the face, and her intention is to cover the awrah (private parts) of Muslim women, and she fears expulsion if she does not uncover, and she is secure from fitna (temptation/tribulation) in her religion. This ruling is based on the principle of "committing the lesser of two harms," for the harm of uncovering the face is less than the harm of men seeing the awrah of Muslim women.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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