Covering the hands and face

Question:

I wear a hijab and clothes that don’t reveal my body shape, colour and also cover my whole body except for my hands and face . I am very happy with my modest clothing style . but recently I heard a man say that if a non maharam looks at any body part of a woman (be it hands or face) that part of her body will burn in hell fire .this really pained me , can you please tell me if this is intact true or just a misunderstanding !

Answer:

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

We are pleased to note that you observe hijab and conceal the form and shape of your body. It is also compulsory (wajib) upon you to cover your face as the face is the control point of beauty of a woman that attracts the gaze of men. You should therefore conceal your face by wearing a niqab (veil).^[1]

It is not necessary for a woman to cover her hands. If a man looks at a woman’s face with lust and desire, both will be sinful. The man will be sinful as he ought to lower his gaze in front of a ghair mahram woman. The woman will be sinful as she did not cover her face and became a cause of attracting a man’s gaze on her. However, the information that the face and hand of a woman will burn in Jahannam is incorrect.

And Allah Ta‘āla Knows Best

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

^[1](مجمع الأنهر، ج ١، ص ٨١، دار احيا التراث)

وفي المنتقى تمنع الشابة عن كشف وجهها لئلا يؤدي إلى الفتنة وفي زماننا المنع واجب بل فرض لغلبة الفساد

(فتاوى قاضيخان، ج ١، ص ١٤١)

وإن أرخت شيئاً على وجهها تجافي وجهها لا بأس به فدلت المسئلة على أنها لا تكشف وجهها على الأجانب من غير ضرورة

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