RIYADH – Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Aal Alsheikh has asked Sheikh Ahmad Al-Ghamdi, former Makkah chief of Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia), to repent for his recent comments on niqab (face veil) which have created a lot of controversy in the country. During a local program presented by Dr. Badriya Al-Bishr, a prominent Saudi media personality, Al-Ghamdi said women were not required to wear niqab (face veil). Al-Ghamdi was accompanied by his wife without a niqab. Grand Mufti said there are Quranic verses that say hijab (head cover) is obligatory for each and every Muslim woman and that women should cover their faces, MBC.net reported. Alsheikh cited the following Quranic verses: “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused.” (33:59) “And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.” (33:53) The Grand Mufti said some scholars claim that it was permissible in the Shariah for women to uncover their faces and that face covering is a social habit, not a religious obligation. “This is wrong. Face covering is obligatory in the Shariah. That's why a man who proposes to a woman can only see her face during engagement,” he said. “Some of our Muslim brothers, May Allah guide them to the right path, embarrass their wives in front of the public. This act reflects stubbornness on their part. It's a dangerous thing. I pray to Allah to make them repent and guide everyone to the right path,” Alsheikh said. Sabq.org also reported that Alsheikh talked about some scholars who maintain that face covering is a social habit. He said: “It's an Islamic habit. My message to Sheikh Al-Ghamdi is to fear Allah and I ask him to repent to Allah and retract his statements before he meets Allah with such sins. I also ask whoever helps him to repent to Allah. They shouldn't let their daughters and wives go on TV screen with their faces uncovered. I pray to Allah to lead Al-Ghamdi to the right path.”
