Niqab (face veil)

Niqab, in the lexicon, is a cover the woman puts over her nose to hide her face. ¹

Most jurists hold the face is not 'awra, so covering or uncovering it is allowed; the Malikis dislike the veil in every case. ² A woman in ihram may not veil her face, on the hadith of Ibn Umar; in prayer the veil is disliked by most jurists, but not when needed (for example in front of strangers). ³

For the Hanafis a marriage with a veiled woman is valid when she is pointed out or known to the witnesses. ⁴ Testimony about a veiled woman: the Hanafis accept it on name and lineage; the Malikis require unveiling unless the witnesses know her; the Shafi'is do not allow testimony on voice behind a veil, and allow it once she is known by sight or by name and lineage. ^{4 5}