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Is the niqab obligatory in Islam, and does wearing it cause difficulties in social and daily life?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The woman is commanded to cover her entire body, with the exception of the face and hands, according to some jurists. The opinion that necessitates covering them with a niqab or otherwise is also relied upon. When there is disagreement, a Muslim should examine the evidence and act upon what he finds most preponderant, if he is qualified to do so; otherwise, he should follow the fatwa of someone he trusts. The statement that the niqab has no basis is incorrect, as Islamic law has commanded the covering of the face and the drawing close of their cloaks (jalabib). The wives of the Prophet and the female companions used to veil themselves and cover their faces, as indicated by texts from the Qur’an and Sunnah, and the sayings of the people of knowledge. The difficulty in dealing with the niqab is an illusion that can be remedied by wearing it properly, and its presence does not affect public life such as work or weddings. The niqab is either obligatory or recommended, and it protects and safeguards the woman.

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

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