Is the hijab the covering of the entire body except for the face and hands, or does it include the face and hands, knowing that Asma bint Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with her, entered upon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in thin clothes, so he turned away from her and said: "O Asma, when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it is not proper that anything should be seen of her except this," and he pointed to his face and hands? And is it permissible to remove the niqab when going to the sea or traveling and suffice with long, loose clothing while covering the hair and body?
The legal hijab that a woman must wear is that which covers her entire body, including her face and hands, and is not an adornment in itself. It should be thick and not transparent, loose and not revealing, not perfumed or scented, and should not resemble the clothing of men, disbelieving women, or immoral women. It should also not be a garment worn for show.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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