Q: My wife and I went to Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Makkah, the Honored) intending to perform Umrah (lesser pilgrimage). However, she was wearing Niqab (face veil) on her face while knowing that the Burqu` (face veil) is prohibited during Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka`bah) but she did not know whether or not the Niqab is prohibited. Please inform me of the ruling on this. May Allah reward you with the best. (Part No. 10; Page No. 156

A: If the case is indeed as mentioned in the question and your wife knows that it is impermissible for her to wear the Burqu` (face veil) during her Ihram (ritual state for Hajj and Umrah), then she must make a Fidyah (ransom): slaughtering a sheep, feeding six Miskins (needy persons) or observing Sawm (Fast) for three days. At the same time, she is to make Tawbah (repentance to Allah) for doing something that the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade a woman from doing while in Ihram. He (peace be upon him) said: A woman (in the state of Ihram) should not wear Niqab or gloves. (Related by Al-Bukhari, in his Sahih (Authentic Hadith Book), and Imam Ahmad in his Musnad (Hadith compilation of) Imam Ahmad, vol. 6, p. 119). Therefore, it is prohibited for a woman to wear Burqu` or Niqab during Ihram for Umrah or Hajj before the minor Tahallul (partial ending of the ritual state for Hajj and Umrah through shaving or shortening the hair and throwing pebbles at Jamarat-ul-Aqabah before performing Tawaf-ul-Ifadah).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.