What is the ruling on distributing religious booklets that state that the niqab is recommended, while the distributor is convinced that it is obligatory? And what is the ruling on distributing other booklets that stipulate that the abaya in the hijab must be very wide, while the booklet does not mention this condition?

First: A woman must cover her entire body, except for the face and hands, according to some scholars, while others believe it is obligatory to cover them to prevent temptation. Some have favored that it is not obligatory to cover them, but the relied-upon opinion is that covering is obligatory.

Second: It is permissible to distribute booklets that advocate for covering (even if it is incomplete or disputed covering) to women who are not properly covered, because moving people from a forbidden act to one that is less bad is considered a benefit. However, it is not advisable to distribute them to women who wear the hijab (definition) or niqab unless there is another benefit, lest it make it easier for them to be lenient about covering. It is preferable to point out the obligation of covering the face if possible.

Third: The hijab is not necessarily an abaya and a khimar. Rather, the Shar'i hijab is anything that covers the body and is free from prohibitions, such as being transparent or tight. A woman's abaya must not resemble a man's abaya; rather, it must be wide and loose. The custom of the people should be observed as long as it does not contradict Islamic law.