Hijab in Ihraam

Aisha (radi Allahu anha) narrated: “We were with the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) in the state of Ihram (during Hajj). When men passed by us, we used to pull our shawls down in front of our faces; and when they passed us, we used to lift the shawls up.” [Abu Dawud]

There is such an emphasis on Hijab in the Shariah of Islam that even in the state of Ihraam it is necessary to observe Hijab.

Due to a lack of knowledge, many people believe that Hijab is not necessary in the state of Ihram because it is not permissible to have clothes or anything else touch the face while one is in Ihraam. Such beliefs are obviously due to their ignorance as it is clear from the above Hadith that Hijab is necessary even in the state of Ihraam: Although there is a slightly different way to observe Hijab during Ihraam.

For example, wearing a hat with a projected flap around it and wearing a veil on top of it in such a way that the veil does not touch the face. The Wives of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) also covered their faces with their shawls in front of non-Mahram men during Ihraam.

 Aisha (radi Allahu anha) narrated that a woman should hang her shawl in front of her face in the state of Ihraam. [Fath-ul-Baari, Book of Hajj] The Muwatta of Imam Malik also states that the Sahabiaat would cover their faces with their shawls and Asma bint Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anha) who was with them did not stop them from this, saying that it is not permitted to cover one’s face during Ihraam.