An Analytical View on the Ruling of Face Covering (Part 7)
A Historical Review of Face Covering After Islam
In this section, we will examine the history of “face covering” after the advent of Islam, focusing on how women covered their faces during this time. Did women wear the niqab or burqa during the era of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? Furthermore, how has the practice of face covering evolved since the time of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in subsequent eras and centuries?
1. Covering the Face in the Era of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH)
It is evident from the following narrations that women during the era of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) covered their faces and wore burqas on their heads and faces:
1. Hazrat Umm Salama, may Allah be pleased with her, describes the actions of women during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “When the verse: «يُدنِينَ عَلَيهِنَّ مِن جَلَٰبِيبِهِنَّ» descended, the women of Ansar dressed themselves like black crows when they left.”
2. In Sahih Bukhari, Sunan Abu Dawud, and other books of hadith, it is stated that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “A woman should not wear a veil or gloves while in Ihram.” This indicates that Muslim women during the era of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) typically covered their faces with a burqa, except during the state of Ihram, when they might uncover their faces as necessary. The intention behind this ruling is not to allow people to see women’s faces during the Hajj season; rather, the main purpose is that the veil, which is part of regular clothing, should not become part of the Ihram.
3. Hazrat Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, recounts: “When we were in Ihram and horse riders would pass in front of us, each of us would lower our veils from our heads. Once they had passed, we would lift the burqa from our faces.”
4. It is mentioned in Imam Malik’s Muwatta that Fatimah bint Munzar said: “We used to cover our faces when we were with Asma bint Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with her, while in Ihram, and Asma did not consider this to be inappropriate.”
5. The great historian, Ibn Hisham, in his book, refers to an incident regarding the conflict between the Muslims and the Jews of Banu Qaynuqa, where a Muslim woman was forced to uncover her niqab/burqa in the shop of a Jewish goldsmith. This incident highlights a conflict between the Muslims and the Jews of Medina.
6. Bostani states: “One of the most important and common coverings of Arab women in both the Jahiliyah and Islamic eras was the niqab/burqa.” Other names for the niqab or face covering, such as al-Barqa and Letham, are also mentioned in historical sources.
7. Umm Kulsum bint Uqbah was a woman who migrated from Makkah to Medina during the time of Islam. She recounts her journey from Makkah to the house of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The point relevant to our argument comes at the end of her story when she says: “When I entered the house of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), I saw Umm Salama, the wife of the Prophet. At that time, I was wearing a niqab, and Umm Salama did not recognize me. I introduced myself, removed the veil from my face, and she asked: ‘Have you migrated to Allah and His Messenger?’ I replied: ‘Yes.'” This narration further confirms that Muslim women wore burqas on their faces during the era of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
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