Are countries where women do not cover their faces considered astray? And what is the ruling concerning their scholars?

Covering a woman's face is obligatory when there is fear of temptation, by consensus. When there is no such fear, scholars differ, and many of them consider it obligatory, which is the more preponderant view due to evidence such as the Almighty's saying: "O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments." (Quran 33:59), and His saying: "and to draw their headcovers over their chests" (Quran 24:31). Accordingly, covering the face is obligatory, but countries that do not adhere to this ruling are not described as misguided because the matter is subject to scholarly disagreement. Scholars must clarify the truth to the people; if they do so, there is no sin upon them if the servants do not comply. If they do not clarify the truth, they have erred.