who are not her mahrams?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, Allaah has permittedelderly women to uncover their faces before
non-mahram men, but that is subject to the condition that they do not
uncover anything of their adornment that may be a cause of fitnah, so
theyshould not wear attractive or fancy clothes or put any cosmetics
on their faces to beautify them.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And as for women past childbearing who do notexpect wedlock, it is no
sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way asnot
to show their adornment. But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their
outer clothing) is better for them. And Allaah is All-Hearer,
All-Knower"
[al-Noor 24:60].
Abu Bakr al-Jassaas (mayAllaah have mercy on him) said: With regard
tothe words of Allaah,"women past childbearing who do notexpect
wedlock" [al-Noor 24:60], Ibn Mas'ood and Mujaahid said: Women past
childbearing who do notexpect wedlock are those who do not want it,
and their outer garments are their jilbabs.
Then he said: There is nodispute that the hair of an elderly woman is
'awrah and it is not permissible for a non-mahram to look at it, as is
the case with the hair of a young woman. If she prays with her head
uncovered, then like a young woman (in the same situation), her prayer
is invalid. So it cannot be that the meaning is that she may take off
her head covering in the presenceof a non-mahram man. Rather it is
permitted foran elderly woman to take off her outer garment in the
presence of men, after she has covered her head, and it is permitted
for her to uncover her face and hands, because she is not desirable.
Allaah says(interpretation of the meaning):"But to refrain(i.e. not to
discard their outer clothing) is better for them" [al-Noor 24:60]. So
He has permitted her to take offher jilbab, but He says that
refraining by not taking off her garment before men is better for her.
End quote.
Ahkaam al-Qur'aan(3/485).
Ibn al-'Arabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
This is mentioned only for women past childbearing age, in exclusion
to others, because they are no longer desirable, but refraining by
keeping the full covering is better than doing that which is permitted
to them, namely taking off their outer garments. End quote.
Ahkaam al-Qur'aan(3/419).
Al-Sa'di (may Allaah havemercy on him) said (p. 670):
Women who are past childbearing are those who no longer have any
interest in intimacy and desire,"women past childbearing who do
notexpect wedlock" [al-Noor 24:60], i.e., theydo not hope to get
married and they are not wanted in marriage, because they have grown
old and are not desirable. "it is no sin onthem" i.e., there is no
blame on them, "if they discard their (outer) clothing" i.e., outer
garments such as the khimaar and so on, concerning which
Allaahsays"and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their
bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)" [al-Noor 24:31]. It is permissible
for these women to uncovertheir faces, because there is no fear of
temptation. And becauseallowing them to take off their outer garment
may be taken as meaning that they are allowed to adorn themselves, the
matter isclarified by the words: "in such a way as not to show their
adornment" i.e., without showing their adornment to people, by
beautifying the outer garment or striking their ground with their feet
so as to let people know about their hidden adornments, because the
mere fact that a female is wearing adornments, even if she covers
them, and even if she is not desirable, is a cause of fitnah which
causes the one who looks at it to fall into sin."But to refrain (i.e.
not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them" [al-Noor
24:60]. End quote.
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
Is it permissible for a woman of advanced years, such as 70 or 90
years old, to uncover herface before her non-mahram relatives?
He replied:
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And as for women past childbearing who do notexpect wedlock, it is no
sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way asnot
to show their adornment. But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their
outer clothing) is better for them. And Allaah is All-Hearer,
All-Knower"
[al-Noor 24:60].
Women past childbearing are elderly women who are not desired in
marriage and who do not put on adornment. There is no sin on them if
they uncover their faces before non-mahrams, but for them to observe
hijab is better and is more on the safe side, because Allaah says"But
to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for
them" [al-Noor 24:60]. And in some cases seeingthem may cause fitnah
because of their beautiful appearance even if they are old and not
wearing adornment.But if they are wearing adornment, it is not
permissible for them to refrain from observing hijab. Adornment
includes beautifying the face with kohl and the like. And Allaah is
the source of strength. End quote.
Fataawa al-Mar'ah al-Muslimah(1/424).
And Allaah knows best.
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