Abstract
In the opinion of Dr. Muhammad Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the famous Egyptian scholar of Islam, wearing niqab for Muslim woman is not obligatory. He however, respects the opinion of those scholars who are in its favour but does not agree with some sheikhs who regard it as an innovation or tradition that has no base in Islam. According to him majority of scholars agree that face is not `awrah (something to be veiled in the presence of members of the other sex). But a school of fiqh holds the view that it is `awrah and that wearing niqab is obligatory, a view espoused in some Muslim countries, such as in the Gulf region, especially those among them who follow the Hanbali School of fiqh. Moreover, Muslims in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have also adopted this opinion, even though they follow the Hanafi School. He expressed his views about the matter of niqab in one of his legal verdicts (fatwa) declaring the covering of face, i.e. wearing niqab for a Muslim woman saying that "If a Muslim woman is convinced that wearing the niqab is obligatory and the face is `awrah, we have to respect her choice and avoid being an obstacle to her religious commitment. We should not force her into a situation contrary to her conviction. I call on European countries to respect the personal and religious freedoms of people, of which they are advocates. These freedoms are regarded as sacred in the West. Ironically, they restrict the freedom of Muslim women who choose to wear the niqab or ╒ij┐b, whereas they allow other women to freely dress in a revealing and provocative manner". The present article throws light on the views of Sheikh al-Qaradawi.