What is the niqab and what is its ruling, and was it present in early Islam?

The niqab is a covering with openings or slits for the eyes. It is a garment for Muslim women that was known in the early days of Islam. It was mentioned in the noble prophetic hadith (definition) regarding the prohibitions of ihram (definition) for women: "A woman in ihram should not wear a niqab nor gloves." Some scholars have mentioned that a woman should expose her left eye to see the path, and if she needs to expose both eyes, she should make the opening just enough for the eye. Caution must be exercised to ensure that the openings of the niqab are not too wide, lest they reveal the beauty of a woman's eyes and transform it into a means of enticement instead of being a covering for a woman's adornment.