Niqāb

A woman wearing a niqāb in Yemen

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Islam Portal

A niqāb (Arabic: نِقاب‎ "mask") is a veil which covers the face, worn by some Muslim women as a part of sartorial hijāb. Niqab is most common in the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE. It is also common in Pakistan.

Women who wear the niqāb are often called niqābīah; this word is used both as a noun and as an adjective. However, some prefer the participial form munaqqabah (plural munaqqabāt) as "niqābīah" may be used in a derogatory manner (much as with "hijābīah" versus muhajjabah).^[1]

Because of the wide variety of hijab worn in the Muslim world, it can be difficult to definitively distinguish between one type of veil and another. The terms niqāb and burqa are often used interchangeably.^[1]

Origin

It is sometimes alleged that the face-veil was originally part of women's dress among certain classes in the Byzantine Empire and was adopted into Muslim culture during the Arab conquest of the Middle East.^[2] However, although Byzantine art before Islam commonly depicts women with veiled heads or covered hair, it does not depict women with veiled faces. In addition, the Greek geographer Strabo, writing in the first century CE, refers to some Persian women veiling their faces;^[3] and the early third-century Christian writer Tertullian clearly refers in his treatise The Veiling of Virgins to some pagan women of "Arabia" wearing a veil that covers not only their head but also the entire face.^[4] These primary sources show that some women in Arabia and Persia veiled their faces long before Islam.

Niqāb in Islam

Rationale

The majority of Islamic scholars say the niqab is not obligatory in Islam and is merely a custom that dates back to tribal nomadic societies living in the Arabian desert and other dusty and dry areas before Islam began, in order to provide protection against dust and sand.^[5] But the issue has continued to arouse debate between Muslim scholars and jurists both past and present concerning whether it is fard (obligatory), mustahabb (loved to do), or forbidden for a woman to wear niqāb.^[6] Many Salafi Muslims believe that a woman's awrah in front of unrelated men is her entire body including her face and hands.^{[7] [8][9][10] [11][12][13][14][15]}

Salafi women in countries such as Saudi Arabia veil their faces because they believe the face of a woman is considered awrah. Awrah denotes the parts of the body that are not meant to be exposed in public.^[16] However, wearing the niqab is not exclusive to Salafi Muslims and some other Muslims whether Shia or Sunni, regard niqab as mustahabb (seeking the love of Allah).^{[17] [18]}

The claimed rationale of the niqāb comes from the Qur'an and Hadith. It was known that the many wives of Muhammad were made to cover themselves around men they did not know. However the Quran explicitly states that the wives of the Prophet are held to a different standard. ^[19] It is claimed that under Islam the niqāb is a requirement for all women, since womanhood is mentioned along with the wives of Muhammad in the Qur'anic dictat to cover.^[20] The following verse from the Qur'ān is cited as support for this:^[21]

O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and the women of the faithful, to draw their wraps over them. They will thus be recognised and no harm will come to them. God is forgiving and kind.^{[Qur'an 33:59 (Translated by Ahmed Ali)]}

This verse was in response to harassment on the part of the "hypocrites"^[22]. When asked why they were harassing Muslim women, they responded that they didn't know they were free women. The covering indicates they were free as opposed to slave women, which presumably were more easily subject to sexual harassment. ^[23]However, this Quranic verse does not clearly refer to covering the face itself. It is argued by some Muslims that the reasons for the niqāb are to keep Muslim women from worrying about their appearances and to conceal their looks.^[21][24]

Hadith

The hadith (Arabic plural:ahādīth) are narrations supposedly originating from the words and deeds of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. They are traditions and are therefore not quotes from the Qur'an. As with all traditions, it cannot be definitively proved that they are accurate representations of the time.

The Arabic word jilbāb is used in the following traditions:

• Narrated Aisha (part of a much longer narration): "...When he reached my place in the morning, he saw the figure of a sleeping person and he recognized me on seeing me as he had seen me before the order of compulsory veiling (was prescribed). So I woke up when he recited Istirja' (i.e. "Inna lillahi wa inna llaihi raji'un") as soon as he recognized me. I veiled my face with my head cover at once, and by Allah, we did not speak a single word, and I did not hear him saying any word besides his Istirja'. (Volume: 5, Book Number: 59, Hadith Number: 462)

• Narrated Aisha: The woman is to bring down her Jilbāb from over her head and [then place it] upon her face. {Bukhari:6:60:282}, {Sunnan Abu Dawud 32:4091}
• Narrated Aisha: The riders used to pass by us when we were with the Messenger of Allaah in ihrām When they came near, each of us would lower her Jilbāb from her head over her face, and when they passed by we would uncover our faces. 1:1833
• Narrated Aisha: Safwaan ibn al-Mu’attal al-Sulami al Dhakwaani was lagging behind the army. She said, “He came to where I had stopped and saw the black shape of a person sleeping. He recognized me when he saw me, because he had seen me before Hijāb was enjoined. I woke up when I heard him saying ‘Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return),’ and I covered my face with my Jilbāb Sahih Muslim, 2:2770
• Narrated‘Aasim al-Ahwal: We used to enter upon Hafsah bint Sirīn who had put her Jilbāb thus and covered her face with it, and we would say to her: May Allah have mercy on you. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And as for women past childbearing who do not expect wedlock, it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment” [al-Noor 24:60]. And she would say to us: What comes after that (of the āyah)? We would say: “But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them”. And so she said: [Referring to, ‘But to refrain is better for them’], “It is to keep the Jilbāb.” Sahih al-Bukhari, []
• Narrated Ibn ‘Abbās: Allah commanded the believing women, when going out of their homes for some need, to cover their faces from above their heads with their Jilbābs, leaving one eye(or both) to see the path.^[25]
• From Asmā’ bint Abi Bakr, that she said, “We are used to cover our faces from the men, and cut our hair before that in Ihrām (for Hajj).^[26]
• From Asmā’ bint Abi Bakr, We would cover our faces while we were Muhrim, and while doing that we would be with Asmā’ bint Abi Bakr As-Siddeeq.^[27]
• From Ibn Abi Khaythamah, We entered upon Umm Al-Mu’minīn on Yawm At-Tarwayah and we said to her, ‘Oh Mother of the Believers! Here is a woman who refuses to cover her face and she is a Muhrimah (in ihrām). So ‘Aa’ishah lifted her Khimār from her chest, and covered the woman’s face with it.^[28]
• Narrated Aisha: "When (the Verse): "They should draw their veils over their Juyubihinna," was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces. Sahih al-Bukhari, []
• Narrated 'Aisha: The Apostle of Allah used to offer the Fajr prayer and some believing women covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with him and then they would return to their homes unrecognized Sahih al-Bukhari, []
• Narrated Um 'Atiya: We were ordered the Apostle of Allah to bring out our menstruating women and veiled women in the religious gatherings and invocation of Muslims on the two 'Eid festivals. These menstruating women were to keep away from their Musalla. A woman asked, "O Allah's Apostle ' What about one who does not have a niqab?" He said, "Let her share the veil of her companion." Sahih al-Bukhari, []
• From Anas that the Muhammad said: And if one of the women of Paradise looked at the earth, she would fill the whole space between them the earth and the heaven with light, and would fill whatever is in between them, with perfume, and the veil of her face is better than the whole world and whatever is in it."Sahih al-Bukhari, []
• Narrated Thabit ibn Qays : A woman called Umm Khallad came to the Prophet while she was veiled. She was searching for her son who had been killed in the battle. Some of the Companions of the Prophet said to her: You have come here asking for your son while veiling your face? She said: If I am afflicted with the loss of my son, I shall not suffer the loss of my modesty. The Apostle of Allah said: You will get the reward of two martyrs for your son. She asked: Why is that so, oh Prophet of Allah? He replied: Because the people of the Book have killed him."Sahih al-Bukhari, []
• All of a woman is awrah. Whenever she leaves her home Satan reachs by her."2:311
• A woman called Umm Khallad came to the Prophet while she was veiled. She was searching for her son who had been killed in the battle. Some of the Companions of the Prophet said to her: You have come here asking for your son while veiling your face? She said: If I am afflicted with the loss of my son, I shall not suffer the loss of my modesty. The Apostle of Allah said: You will get the reward of two martyrs for your son. She asked: Why is that so, Apostle of Allah? He replied: Because the people of the Book have killed him. (Book Number: 14, Hadith Number: 2482) If she was wrong in her understanding, Muhammad would have corrected her.

Criticism

Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy, previous dean of Al-Azhar University, called full-face veiling a custom that has nothing to do with the Islamic faith. “The niqab is a cultural tradition and has nothing to do with Islam.”^[29] The decision came from an incident involving a school girl to remove her niqab during a visit to an Al-Azhar school, when Tantawi reportedly said that he would call for an official ban for the face veil in Islamic schools. Tantawi's decision stem from his views that more younger Muslims have lost touch with traditional Islamic scholarship and have come under the influence of extremist imams who have little or no formal training in Islamic scholarship.

Styles

A woman in Palu, Indonesia

A woman wearing a niqāb in Monterey, California

There are many styles of niqāb and other facial veils worn by Muslim women around the world. The two most common forms are the half niqāb and the gulf-style or full niqāb.

The half niqāb is a simple length of fabric with elastic or ties and is worn around the face. This garment typically leaves the eyes and part of the forehead visible.

The gulf-style or full niqāb completely covers the face. It consists of an upper band that is tied around the forehead, together with a long wide piece of fabric which covers the face, leaving an opening for the eyes. Many full niqāb have two or more sheer layers attached to the upper band, which can be worn flipped down to cover the eyes or left over the top of the head. Contrary to common belief, eyeveils do not generally restrict vision any more than a dark pair of sunglasses would. While a person looking at a woman wearing a niqāb with an eyeveil would not be able to see her eyes, the woman wearing the niqāb would be able to see out through the thin fabric.

Other less common and more cultural or national forms of niqāb include the Afghani style burqa, a long pleated gown that extends from the head to the feet with a small crocheted grille over the face.^[1]. The Pak Chador is a relatively new style from Pakistan, which consists of a large triangular scarf with two additional pieces.^[1] A thin band on one edge is tied behind the head so as to keep the chador on, and then another larger rectangular piece is attached to one end of the triangle and is worn over the face, and the simple hijāb wrapped, pinned or tied in a certain way so as to cover the wearer's face.

Other common styles of clothing popularly worn with a niqāb in Western countries include the khimar, a semi-circular flare of fabric with an opening for the face and a small triangular underscarf. A khimar is usually bust-level or longer, and can also be worn without the niqāb. It is considered a fairly easy form of headscarf to wear, as there are no pins or fasteners; it is simply pulled over the head. Gloves are also sometimes worn with the niqab, because many munaqabāt believe no part of the skin should be visible other than the area immediately around the eyes or because they do not want to be put in a position where they would touch the hand of an unrelated man (for instance, when accepting change from a cashier).

Most munaqabāt also wear an overgarment (jilbab, abaya etc.) over their clothing, though some munaqabat in Western countries wear a long, loose tunic and skirt instead of a one-piece overgarment.

In different countries

A woman wearing a niqāb in the United Arab Emirates

Egypt

On October 8 2009, Egypt's top Islamic school and the world's leading school of Sunni Islam, al-Azhar, banned the wearing of the niqab in classrooms and dormitories of all its affiliate schools and educational institutes.^[5]

Europe

Classical Greek and Hellenistic statues sometimes depict Greek women with both their head and face covered by a veil. Caroline Galt and Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones have both argued from such representations and literary references that it was commonplace for women (at least those of higher status) in ancient Greece to cover their hair and face in public.

For many centuries, until around 1175, Anglo-Saxon and then Anglo-Norman women, with the exception of young unmarried girls, wore veils that entirely covered their hair, and often their necks up to their chins (see wimple). Only in the Tudor period (1485), when hoods became increasingly popular, did veils of this type become less common.

For centuries, women have worn sheer veils, but only under certain circumstances. Sometimes a veil of this type was draped over and pinned to the bonnet or hat of a woman in mourning, especially at the funeral and during the subsequent period of "high mourning". They would also have been used, as an alternative to a mask, as a simple method of hiding the identity of a woman who was traveling to meet a lover, or doing anything she didn't want other people to find out about. More pragmatically, veils were also sometimes worn to protect the complexion from sun and wind damage (when un-tanned skin was fashionable), or to keep dust out of a woman's face, much as the keffiyeh is used today.

Iran

A woman wearing a niqāb in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran

The Niqab was traditionally worn in Southern Iran from the arrival of Islam until the end of the Qajar era. There were many regional variations of Niqāb, which were also called Ruband or Pushiye.

The 20th century ruler, Reza Shah, banned all variations of face veil in 1936, as incompatible with his modernistic ambitions. Reza Shah ordered the police to arrest women who wore the niqāb and to remove their face veils by force. This policy outraged the clerics who believed it was obligatory for women to cover their faces. Many women gathered at the Goharshad Mosque in Mashhad with their faces covered to show their objection to the niqāb ban.^[30]

Between 1941 and 1979 wearing the niqāb was no longer against the law, but it was considered by the government to be a “badge of backwardness." During these years, wearing the niqāb and chador became much less common and instead most religious women wore headscarves only. Fashionable hotels and restaurants refused to admit women wearing niqābs. High schools and universities actively discouraged or even banned the niqāb, though the headscarf was tolerated.^[31]

After the new government of Islamic Republic was established, the niqāb was not enforced by officials.

In modern Iran, the wearing of niqāb is not common and is only worn by certain ethnic minorities and a minority of Sunni Muslims. The Shi'ite Muslim majority who form 89% of the country do not wear the niqāb. Some women in the Arab-populated province of Khuzestan still wear niqab.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi women are not required by law to wear the niqāb. However, in cities such as Dammam, Riyadh, Mecca, Medina and Abha most women observe niqāb as tradition and it remains de facto obligatory. Women may be harassed by the religious police if they do not cover their faces. Jeddah, as the most liberal city of Saudi Arabia, is an exception.

The Saudi niqāb usually leaves a long open slot for the eyes; the slot is held together by a string or narrow strip of cloth.^[32] Many also have two or more sheer layers attached to the upper band, which can be worn flipped down to cover the eyes. Although a person looking at a woman wearing a niqāb with an eyeveil would not be able to see her eyes, she would still be able to see out through the thin fabric. In 2008, the religious authority in Mecca, Mohammad Habadan called on women to wear veils that reveal only one eye, so that women would not be encouraged to use eye make-up.^[33]

According to Saudi Arabia's Shariah law, women's clothing should meet the following conditions:

• Women must cover their entire body, but they are allowed to expose one or both eyes in necessity.
• Women should wear abaya and niqāb thick enough to conceal what is underneath, and the abaya should be loose-fitting.
• Women should not wear brightly coloured clothes or clothes that are adorned so that they may attract men's attention.^[34]

Syria

1200 niqab-wearing teachers were dismissed because the face veil was undermining the secular policies followed by the state as far as education is concerned.^[35] In the near future, other ministers are expected to do the same as Ali Saad, the Syrian Minister of Education.^[35]

Yemen

Since antiquity, the Arab tradition of wearing the niqāb has been practiced by women living in Yemen.^[36] Traditionally, girls begin wearing veils in their teenage years.^{[37] [38]}

Enforcement, encouragement and bans

Enforcement

Covering the face was enforced by the Taliban regime with the traditional Afghan face veil called the burkha.^[39] While some women wholeheartedly embraced the rules, others protested.

Non-governmental enforcement of niqab is found in many parts of the Muslim world. In Saudi Arabia, all Saudi Muslim women are required to wear the niqab in cities such as Mecca, Medina and Taif. In other cities such as Dammam and Abha, women are not required to wear it by law but it remains de facto obligatory. In southern cities also, most women observe niqab. The Saudi niqāb usually leaves a long open slot for the eyes; the slot is held together by a string or narrow strip of cloth. In 2008, the religious authority in Mecca, Mohammad Habadan called on women to wear veils that reveals only one eye, so that women would not be encouraged to use eye makeup.^[40]

Politics

The niqāb has had a significant role for women in the West Bank during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many Palestinian women, especially students, have worn white niqābs during protests against Israel's actions.^[41][42] These women often wear green banners with Arabic messages in them. Female candidates from the Hamas party in the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections campaigned in niqābs, even in photographs. Since Hamas took over Gaza strip during the Battle of Gaza (2007) women are wearing Niqab in large numbers.^[43].^[44]

Sultaana Freeman gained national attention in 2003 when she sued the U.S. state of Florida for the right to wear a niqāb for her driver's license photo.^[45] However, a Florida appellate court ruled that there was no violation in the state requiring her to show her face to a camera in a private room with only a female employee to take the picture, in exchange for the privilege of driving.

In 2005, a non-Muslim student at Eastern Michigan University spent a semester wearing a niqāb for a class project (she referred to the face veil as a 'burqa,' a term which can be used to describe both the full, "gulf-style" niqab she wore and the Afghani style head-to-toe garment). Her experiences, such as feeling like no one wanted to be near her, led her to conclude that conservative Muslim dress is disapproved of in the United States.^[46]

The niqāb is outlawed in the Muslim country of Tunisia. In Turkey, where the overwhelming majority of the population is Muslim, the traditional womenswear in cities at the turn of the twentieth century was called çarşaf (an outer garment similar to the Iranian chador) which would be accompanied by a piece of semi-transparent clothing to cover the lower face, called peçe. Although this combination is still being worn in some localities, the practice of covering the face has largely died off. In Turkey today, niqabi women, just like women wearing hijab, cannot work as public servants, neither can they continue studies at schools, including the private schools. Although there is no single law banning niqab at private companies, it would be nearly impossible for a niqabi woman to find work.

In February 2010, an Arab country's ambassador to Dubai had his marriage annulled after discovering that his bride was cross-eyed and had facial hair. The woman had worn a niqab on the occasions that the couple had met prior to the wedding. The ambassador informed the Sharia court that he had been deliberately deceived by the bride's mother, who had shown him photographs of the bride's sister. He only discovered the problem when he lifted the niqab to kiss his bride. The court annulled the marriage, but refused a claim for compensation.^[47][48][49]

Europe

Although the burqa is a more emphatic symbol, the niqāb has also been prominent in political controversies on Islamic dress in Europe. The Netherlands government plans a legal ban on face-covering Islamic clothing, popularly described as the 'burqa ban', which includes the niqāb.^[50]

On 29 April 2010, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives adopted a law prohibiting people to wear "attire and clothing masking the face in such a way that it impairs them to be recognizable". The penalty for violating this directive can run from a penalty of up to 14 days imprisonment and a 250 euro fine. Even though there is no direct mention of the burqa or niqāb, this decision practically does prohibit its use in public spaces. This new law has spurred a lot of anger amongst members of the traditional islamist community.

In the United Kingdom, comments by Jack Straw, MP started a national debate over the wearing of the "veil" (niqāb), in October 2006. This was further inflamed by extensive media coverage of the case of Aishah Azmi, a teaching assistant in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, who lost her appeal against suspension from her job for wearing the niqāb while teaching English to young children whose first language is different. It was decided that being unable to see her face prevented the children from learning effectively. Azmi argued that it was helping the children understand different people's beliefs.^[51]

On 13 July 2010 France's lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approved a ban on wearing burqa-style Islamic veils. The legislation would forbid face-covering Muslim veils in all public places in France and calls for fines or citizenship classes, or both. The bill also is aimed at husbands and fathers — anyone convicted of forcing someone else to wear the garb risks a year of prison and a fine, with both penalties doubled if the victim is a minor. In Italy, by a Law issued in 1975, is strictly forbidden wearing any dress or supply that could hide the face of a person. Penalties (fines and imprisonment) are provided for such behaviour.

North America

United States

The niqab in its extreme forms is uncommon in the US.^[52] In 2002, Sultaana Freeman, (aka Sandra Keller, who converted to Islam in 1997 when marrying a Muslim man) sued the U.S. state of Florida for the right to wear a niqāb for her driver's license photo.^[45] However, a Florida appellate court ruled that there was no violation in the state requiring her to show her face to a camera in a private room with only a female employee to take the picture, in exchange for the privilege of driving. The prevailing view in Florida is currently that hiding one's face on a form of photo identification defeats the purpose of having the picture taken, ^[45] although 15 other states (including Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and Louisiana) have provisions that allow for driver's licenses absent of an identifying photograph in order to accommodate individuals who may have a religious reason to not have a photograph taken^[53].

Canada

Elections Canada, an independent agency responsible for elections and referendums, stated that Muslim women can cover their faces while voting. The decision was criticized by Conservatives, Liberals and the Bloc Québécois. The New Democrats did not oppose this decision.^[54]

More recently the Conservative Government has introduced legislation which would bar Muslim women from voting if they show up at polling stations with a veiled face. This law was proposed in the wake of the Government's recent dispute with Elections Canada, which has refused to bar people with veiled faces from polling places.^[55]

The niqāb became an issue in the 2007 election in Quebec after it became public knowledge that women wearing the niqāb were allowed to vote under the same rules as electors who did not present photo ID, namely, by sworn oath in the presence of a third party who could vouch for their identity. The chief electoral officer received an overwhelming number of complaints that this policy was too accommodating of cultural minorities (a major theme in the election), and had to be accompanied by bodyguards due to death threats. All three major political parties were against the policy, with the Parti Québécois and Action démocratique du Québec vying for position as most opposed. The policy was soon changed to require all voters to show their face, even if they did not carry photo ID. However, Quebec residents who wear the niqāb stated that they had no issue with showing their faces for official purposes, such as voting.^[56] Salam Elmenyawi of the Muslim Council of Montreal estimated that only 10 to 15 Muslim voters in all of the province wear the niqāb, and that since their veils have become controversial, most would probably not vote due to threats and concern for their safety.^[57]

In October 2009, the Muslim Canadian Congress called for a ban on burqa and niqāb (though not the hijab), saying that they have "no basis in Islam."^[58] Spokesperson Farzana Hassan cited public safety issues, such as identity concealment, as well as gender equality, stating that wearing the burqa and niqāb is "a practice that marginalizes women."^[58]

See also

• Islamic dress controversy in Europe
• List of types of sartorial hijab

References

Niqaab A Seal On The Debate by Kamillah Khan

External links

• [4]
• In Defense of Niqab in Islamic Law
• Niqab Page
• Religion and Ethics - Beliefs: Niqab, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), 13 April 2007.
• Modesty Gowns for Female Patients, BBC, 5 September 2006
• The Veil and the British Male Elite, Social Science Research Network (SSRN)
• The Obligation of Veiling
• Niqab is Not Obligatory
• The Last Straw!
• A dissertation on 'Niqaab- its Islamic ruling and controversy in the West'
• Why the Veil Liberates Women
• Niqab Debate in Egypt: Divided Scholars