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Is the area under the chin from the nakedness of a woman?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: Until recently I was under the impression that the area bellow the Chin of a woman is not awrah. Occasionally I have seen some ladies covering that part of their face and thought they are most probably being cautious. But I heard it from a “major female scholar” that this part women are supposed to cover as it is not considered part of the face which we hanafi women are allowed to show. I have been praying, as well as making up years of my prayers for a long time now, without covering that part. Does it mean all my prayers until now would be considered invalid and I have to make them all up again as well as the make ups that I have been doing?

Answer: In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Walaikum assalam,

I asked Mufti Mahmoud Ashraf Usmani about this last year: He said that the scholars do not emphasize that the area under the chin is necessarily from the awrah that must be covered, because of the difficulty of covering it (and the wide hardship in insisting on such a ruling).

However, it would seem to fall under the legal definition of awra. Therefore, one should try to cover it. Many scholars emphasize it strongly.

I had asked Shaykh Adib al-Kallas (may Allah preserve him in good health and spirit), about this a few years ago. He said that the area should be covered, but because it is small in area, and little of it is generally visible from the sides, it would not invalidate the prayer if left uncovered.

And Allah knows best, and He alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Faraz.


This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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