What are the limits of the legal hijab, and does it include the face, hands, and feet, and what is the evidence for that from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah? Is it permissible for a woman to uncover her face in front of elderly male mahrams, such as her husband's paternal uncle or maternal uncle, who are over sixty or seventy years old? Is it permissible for her not to wear gloves if she is harmed by doing so?
The religiously mandated hijab must cover the face and hands. It is not permissible for a woman to uncover them in front of any non-mahram man, whether he is a relative of her husband or an elder. Indeed, a warning was issued concerning the in-law (al-hamu), whom the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, described as "death." A woman is permitted not to wear gloves if doing so causes her harm, but she must then strive to conceal her hands when meeting non-mahram men, and she should return to covering them once the harm is removed.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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