Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Is it permissible in Islam for a woman to not hide her face and arms if she is dwelling in a non-Islamic society? 

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Answer:

What to cover in hijab

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 59:

O Prophet, enjoin your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons. It is expected that they will thus be recognized, and not molested. Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24 Surah An-Noor verse 31:

And O Prophet, enjoin the believing women to restrain their gaze and guard their private parts and not to display their ‘zeenata hunna’ (beauty, adornment, etc.) except that which is displayed of itself, and to draw their veils over their bosoms and not to display their ‘zeenata hunna’ (beauty, adornment, etc.) except before their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons and the sons of their husbands, their brothers, their brothers sons, their sisters’ sons, their female associates, and those in their possession and male attendants incapable of sexual desire, and those boys who have not yet attained knowledge of sexual matters. Also forbid them to stamp their feet on the ground lest their hidden ornaments should be displayed.

Allah Subhanah has directed the Command towards the Prophet (saws) commanding him to enjoin his wives, his daughters and the believing women that when in the presence of non-mehram males, they should cast their outer garments over their full body, except what is displayed of itself. All the schools of thought in Islam are unanimous in their opinion that the casting of an outer garment or ‘jilbaab’ is absolutely obligatory on every believing woman who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day.

The difference of opinion amongst the scholars is what exactly is included in the command ‘….except that which is displayed of itself’. There are two opinions amongst the scholars in Islam regarding this part of the verse: One opinion is that it means the face, hands and feet may be left uncovered, and the other opinion is that the face also has to be covered (naqaab), and only the hands and feet may be left uncovered.

The most accepted opinion is that if the women covers everything except her face, hands, and her feet, she would be following the Command of Allah; and if she chooses to cover her face with a ‘naqaab’, then it will be purer and closest to the Command of Allah. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Respected sister, regardless of whether a believing woman chooses to live in an Islamic or non-Islamic society, she is bound by her covenant to appropriately adorn herself in the manner prescribed by her Lord when in the presence of non-mehram males.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan